Potomac Pathways Recovery Travel Events!



Mountain Temple in Nepal



Potomac Pathways Recovery Adventure
Nepal 2010
July 12 - July 31, 2010

TRIP INFORMATION:


We're excited! I mean we are really, really excited! Join us for the journey of a lifetime to Nepal! Kathmandu is our starting point for a 20-day exploration of the ancient, sacred culture of Nepal. We are starting the planning early this year-- in order to give you as much time as possible to plan for the trip.
 
We've been able to reduce the cost of the trip from last year. We'll be charging you $3,250 for the trip, less than last year's $3750. However the airfare will cost around $1500, which is about the same as last year's. It's worth it. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

We will be trekking in the Annapurna region of Nepal, with views of Annapurna (26,545 ft). The Annapurna circuit is a classic Nepal trek that circles Annapurna and it's sister Himalayan peaks which are all over 25,000 feet. Our trip is planned so that we will have plenty of time to aclimatise to the higher elevations. Actually, Muktinatha, at 13,000 feet will be our highest elevation. But at all times we'll be seeing the tallest mountain peaks in the world. Except when we're sleeping.


Annapurna in the summer-- 26,545 ft

You'll be joining Brooke Brody, LCSW-C, Chad Wilkes of Upward Enterprises, and other Potomac Pathways staff, along with our Nepali trekking guides-- and of course, other clean and sober teens and young adults like yourself. This is not a difficult technical mountain climbing expedition. It is fairly easy trekking, covering short distances (maximum 5 miles, minimum 1 mile) each day, and the terrain will be easy to moderate. But every moment is guaranteed to be a peak experience as you soak in the beauty of the Himalayas, and revel in the sacredness of one of the oldest pilgrimage routes in the world.

Oh yes, did I mention that we will have a Nepali cook accompanying us on the trek? That's the way they do it in Nepal. The cook will go ahead of us and set up the kitchen tent and the dining tent (no joke!) and will have our Nepali/Indian dinner waiting for us when we pull into camp. It's the ancient Nepali way.

We will be staying in hotels in Kathmandu. Along the trekking route we will be camping on half the nights and staying in "tea houses" the other nights. Tea houses are essentially small inns or hostels. All this is included in your cost (see below).

 Here's the itinerary for the trip (subject to minor modifications, but this is the basic trek itinerary).

Trek Itinerary in Nepal:

Day 1 & 2:     Arrive in Kathmandu. Check into hotel. We'll probably want to sleep after the long flights. We will spend two days at the beginning of the trip in Kathmandu, exploring, taking pictures and getting immersed in the culture. Connect with Prem Thapa, our Nepali adventure guide.

Day 3:    Drive to Pokhara, a city in central Nepal, which is the starting location for many of the classic Nepal treks. Our trek is on the classic Annapurna circuit, which is a well-worn trail that circles Annapurna and it's sister mountains. All these mountains are over 25,000 ft., so the entire journey is staggering. The weather in this part of Nepal is perfect for trekking during the summer (whereas the Everest area is experiencing monsoons during the summer).




Nepali village

Day 4 - 6:  Fly to Jomsom, Nepal, and trek toward Muktinath. Muktinath is an ancient pilgrimage spot for Buddhists and Hindus, and has thousand-year-old temples.

Day 7- 16:  Annapurna circuit trek from Muktinath including camping out half of the days, and staying in local Nepali "tea houses", which are essentially hostels along the trekking route. We will have a Nepali cook travelling with us, in addition to our guide, who will prepare meals for us, as is the custom for treks in Nepal.  We'll be visiting hot springs along the way, visiting sacred sites and spending time in quiet reflection, journaling or meditation. And we'll be doing some day hikes with some bouldering possibilities. Every day along the trek is guaranteed to be a "peak experience"! 

Day 16 -19:  Final day in Pokhara, return to Kathmandu, final day in Kathmandu before departure.


This is you trekking in Nepal!

 COSTS:

$3250 per person. Airfare is additional. Airfare will be approximately $1500.

Trip cost includes:
  • All accomodations, including hotels, camping permits and use of tents, and hostels along the trekking route
  • Meals, including restaurants in Kathmandu and Pokhara and meals along the trekking route.
  • Transportation within Nepal including flights and ground transportation
  • Clinical supervision

Additional costs (not included):
  • Airfare to and from Nepal
  • Travel insurance-- always a good idea--recommended
  • Bring money for snacks, souvenirs, extra drinks, etc.
  • Visa for Nepal ($40)

Passport information:

You will need a passport for this trip. Start the process now if you don't already have one. It can take 4-6 weeks to receive your passport.

Also, you will need a visa to enter Nepal. You can get the visa in advance or you can wait and get it at the airport in Kathmandu. For information on how to obtain the visa click on the following link (you will need your passport first):

http://www.nepalembassyusa.org/visa.php

To register for this event:

http://www.potomacpathways.org/register/

For more info contact:

Brooke H. Brody, LCSW-C, LCADC
15720 Seneca Rd
Darnestown, MD  20874
301-987-PATH (7284)
bbrody@potomacpathways.rog



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