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Honey Hunting in Nepal

Highlights

  • Death-defying Feat - Gurung honey hunters risk their lives hanging precariously from bamboo ladders on sheer cliffs to harvest honey from Himalayan bee colonies.
  • Ancient Tradition - This dangerous practice of harvesting wild cliff honey dates back centuries and is deeply rooted in the cultural traditions of the Gurung community.
  • Threatened Heritage - Deforestation, environmental changes, and modernization pose threats to the continuity of this age-old custom of daring honey hunting.

Overview

The Gurung people of Lamjung District in central Nepal have a unique tradition of honey hunting that goes back centuries. They risk their lives to harvest the precious wild honey from colonies of Himalayan honey bees found in towering cliffs and remote crevices.

The expert honey hunters, known as Khudke, rappel down the steep rock faces using handmade bamboo ladders and ropes. They use smoke to pacify the bees and carefully extract the honeycomb nested in the crevices. It is an incredibly dangerous undertaking requiring immense skill and courage.

The harvested honey is prized for its rarity and medicinal properties. Honey hunting plays an important role in the cultural traditions and livelihoods of the Gurung community. However, the ancient practice is threatened due to deforestation and modernization in recent times.

Itinerary

Day 1 : Kathmandu Arrival
Hotel

ACCOMODATION

Hotel

Airport Shuttle

TRANSPORTATION

Airport Shuttle

One of our representatives will pick you up at the airport to accompany you to the hotel. Depending on the arrival time, we will visit some of the most important places in the capital. Meeting at night in the hotel for the briefing of the entire trip.

Day 2 : Gear Preparation and Kathmandu Sightseeing
Hotel

ACCOMODATION

Hotel

Jeep

TRANSPORTATION

Jeep

Breakfast

MEAL

Breakfast

First half of the day, we will prepare our gear and equipment for the expedition and we will explore the historically and culturally rich Kathmandu Valley. Highlights include leisurely tours of Swayambhunath Temple (also known as Monkey Temple), Bauddhanath, Pashupatinath Temple, and Durbar Square. Before starting our rural cultural exploration, we can soak in these iconic sites that represent the essence of Kathmandu and the heritage of Nepal.

Day 3 : Drive Kathmandu to Besisahar
Hotel

ACCOMODATION

Hotel

8 Hours

DURATION

8 Hours

Jeep

TRANSPORTATION

Jeep

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

MEAL

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After having breakfast, we will start our journey by road drive to Besisahar in a private jeep or van. Road conditions are not so good so it will take us around 8 hours to reach our destination for the day, Besisahar.

Day 4 : Drive Besisahar to a Village of Lamjung
Home stay

ACCOMODATION

Home stay

Jeep

TRANSPORTATION

Jeep

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

MEAL

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Leaving the city area, we will head towards some of the rural villages of Lamjung district. We will drive around three hours by private jeep on bumpy roads to reach our destination village. We will explore naturally and culturally reach alleys of the village in the evening and overnight there at homestay.

Day 5 : Gurung Village Exploration
Home stay

ACCOMODATION

Home stay

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

MEAL

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The village is inhabited by the indigenous Gurung people who are renowned for their skill in honey hunting from Himalayan cliff beehives. The village retains its traditional lifestyle and unique ethnic culture with mud-brick houses, subsistence farming and livestock rearing practices. The village offers stunning views of the Annapurna Himalayan range and serves as a base for trekkers on the Annapurna Circuit trail.

Day 6-8 : Honey Hunting - Camping in wilderness
Tents

ACCOMODATION

Tents

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

MEAL

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We will depart from the village, embarking on our extraordinary honey hunting expedition. Our journey will take us deep into the heart of the Himalayan forests, where we will pitch our tents and spend the night amidst the untamed wilderness. With eager anticipation, we will witness every intricate process of this ancient tradition, as the skilled traditional hunters fearlessly scale the treacherous cliffs to harvest the precious wild honey. This rare and immersive experience will etch itself into our memories, leaving us with once-in-a-lifetime recollections that will forever be cherished.

Day 9 : Return to The Village
Home stay

ACCOMODATION

Home stay

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

MEAL

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Upon completing our awe-inspiring honey hunting expedition, we will make our way back to the village, eagerly anticipating an encounter with the unbelievable traditions that unfold only on the full moon of a specific month each year.

Day 10-11 : Full Moon Festival
Home stay

ACCOMODATION

Home stay

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

MEAL

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

As the lunar cycle reaches its zenith, this remote mountain community comes alive with a tapestry of rituals and customs that have been woven into the fabric of their culture for generations. We will bear witness to age-old practices that have been meticulously preserved, unveiling a world that few outsiders have had the privilege to experience. These traditions, steeped in mystery and meaning, will leave an indelible mark on our souls, forever etching this extraordinary journey into our memories.

Day 12 : Drive back to Kathmandu
Hotel

ACCOMODATION

Hotel

12 Hours

DURATION

12 Hours

Jeep

TRANSPORTATION

Jeep

Breakfast, Lunch

MEAL

Breakfast, Lunch

Finally after completing our expedition we will drive back to Kathmandu. It will take us around 12 hours to reach Kathmandu

Day 13 : Reserve / Rest Day
Hotel / Home stay

ACCOMODATION

Hotel / Home stay

Breakfast

MEAL

Breakfast

We will have one day as a reserve day for some unseen situations if they arise during our expedition. Or we will rest one day in Kathmandu to recall the whole journey and to relax our body and mind.

Day 14 : Departure
Airport Shuttle

TRANSPORTATION

Airport Shuttle

Breakfast

MEAL

Breakfast

You will be dropped off at the airport in a Van or jeep prior to your flight departure time.

Trip Route
Trip Code
#YOGIS-P000033
duration
duration
14 Days
transport
Transport
Jeep
Group
Group Size
1-14
Level
Level
Moderate
Accomodation
Accomodation
Hotel, Home stay, Tents
Accomodation
Best Season
Spring

Need Help?

  • Phone
    +977-9841603858
    Call us for info.
  • Mail
    himalayanyogiadventures@gmail.com
    E-mail us.

What is Included?

  • Pick up and drop off at the international airport.
  • Private jeep transportation (Kathmandu - Besisahar - Village of Lamjung - Besisahar - Kathmandu)
  • Accommodation in a three stars hotel in Kathmandu on BB basis.
  • Breakfast. Lunch, dinner and accommodation (home stay & tents) during the expedition. Tents, sleeping bags, and mattresses during the camping days.
  • A professional guide for your expedition.
  • Porters to carry our extra bags and tents.
  • Guide and porter’s salary, food, accommodation and insurance.
  • All necessary permits, government taxes and local community royalty.

What is Excluded?

  • Visa and travel insurance fees.
  • Drinks and personal expenses during your trip.
  • Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
  • Tips for guide and field staff.
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