Nepal Recovery Adventure

July 6 - July 29, 2009

It's a 21-day recovery journey to Nepal, in early summer 2009. And it is going to be the experience of a lifetime, in the company of other awesome clean and sober kids like yourself! Prepare yourself for an amazing adventure! We will be doing a 7-day trek in the mountains, with views of Mt. Everest! Sherpas will accompany us and cook Napalese food for us along the trek! We will be going on side trips to remote, historic and sacred places, and spending several days in a tropical national park with wild elephants on the India border! There has been a lot of interest in this trip, so we recommend reserving your space early and--- get your passport and camera ready!!

Itinerary
(some of these plans will change somewhat as we continue to develop the itinerary, but this is the basic plan):


Highlights
  • Kathmandu Cultural Tour.
  • Visit to UNESCO World Heritage City of Bhaktapur.
  • 2 days in Pokhara, the Gem of Nepal, home of Lake Phewa and starting point of Annapurna treks.
  • 7-day trek to view 5 of the top 10 mountains on our planet.
  • 3-day Jungle Tiger Safari in Royal Chitwan Park on the Indian border.
  • Micro-light flight with views of Annapurna.

Ancient Cities
Kathmandu, our start and end point for this trip, offers a wide range of interesting cultural sites and heritages to discover. Founded in the 8th century, Kathmandu is comprised of three royal cities, Kathmandu (capital city), Patan & Bhaktapur (Bhadgaon).

More About Bhaktapur
   
   
Bhaktapur means "the city of Devotes" in the Sanskrit language. It is also known as Bhadgaon and was founded by in 889 AD by King Anand Dev. Today it covers an area of four square miles and is flanked by Khasa Khusung and Hanumante Rivers. The palace complex in the middle of the city portrays the prosperity of the Malla years and the details at which the crafts people then worked. The Palace of Fifty-five Windows stands in the square and it was home to many kings of Bhaktapur. They even ruled over Kathmandu and Patan from the twelfth century to the 14th century. The massive gate to the square was made by King Bhupatindra Malla (1696 to 1722) who took pride in his own engineering and building skills. His skills must have been impressive indeed as the gate, though it looks small now, was among the biggest in the valley and daunted many enemy. It is sturdy even now and stands firmly. Among the other monuments in Bhaktapur are the big bell, the Golden Gate, the five-tiered temple of Nyatapola, the Bhairab Temple, and the Dattatreya Square with its woodcarving and metalwork museums. Surrounded by beautiful farming area, the traveler to Bhaktapur will easily fall in love with the city. Bhaktapur is perhaps the most popular of the three Newar towns of the Kathmandu Valley. Newar art and architecture here rival the best craftsmanship of the Malla period (from the 12th to the 18th century). Though a massive earthquake of 1934 destroyed many temples, bahals (monastery courtyards), and residences, the city is still a living proof of the highest craft standards in this part of the world. As the visitor wanders through narrow brick paved streets, many alleys will show hidden shrines and statues. Clay craftsmanship as well as cloth weaving is still practiced here very much as in the past. Fourteen kilometers east of Kathmandu, this peaceful, conservative town stands in sharp contrast to the bustle of its two adjacent cities.


Trekking through Natural Beauty
The 7-day trek takes us to Dhampus and Ghandrung, with spectacular mountain views. The Annapurna and famous "Fishtail" mountain peak of Machhapuchhare tower over the tropical setting of Pokhara.

The trek is a great introduction to the beauty of the Annapurna range and to the Buddhist Gurung culture. Siklis is one of the largest Gurung villages in Nepal and offers an opportunity to learn about this unique traditional culture. A model trekking village, Siklis is a central part of the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA). On this trek, we explore the northern side of Pokhara, which offers amazing views of the entire Annapurna range. You will see Dhaulagiri, Lamjung Himal, Fish Tail and other giants from a uniquely scenic angle. This moderate trek starts and ends in Pokhara.



 


Upcoming Events

November 22, 2008: Weekend Wellness Afternoon — An afternoon of yoga at Sacred Space Yoga in Rockville. It's a great place, and it's going to be a really relaxing and uplifting experience... followed by a drum circle at Potomac Pathways w...
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November 25, 2008: Parent Support Group — The one and only Carrie Hawkins from Alldredge Academy facilitates this group for parents only! It's an opportunity to share your experiences on the journey, and to learn more about the ch...
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November 26, 2008: Wednesday Evening Recovery Group — The Wednesday evening group is a supportive experience for teens in recovery. Featuring positive peer association with kids who are ultra-cool and rock-solid in their recovery. Make it a cen...
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Helping to create a life in balance in an environment of recovery and wellness.