THE NEPAL CHALLENGE 2011 - Dorothy House Hospice Care · 147,181km2 bordered by Chinese Tibet to the north and by India to the south, east and west. For a small nation, the ... a

Dorothy House Hospice Care, Winsley, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, BA15 2LE T: 01225 721480 E: [email protected] Registered Charity No. 275745 www.dorothyhouse.org.uk

This trip is operated by The Different Travel Company (ATOL 6706) for Dorothy House Hospice Care. The Different Travel Company Ltd. is a company registered in England, number 05324268.

Information Pack



Trek Nepal and Hospice Project 25 April – 6 May 2020

Nepal Nepal is a landlocked Himalayan country covering an area of 147,181km2 bordered by Chinese Tibet to the north and by India to the south, east and west. For a small nation, the Nepali landscape is diverse, ranging from the humid Terai in the south to the lofty Himalaya in the north. Nepal is a country of highly diverse and rich geography, culture and religions. The mountainous north contains eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including Annapurna I and Mount Everest.

Kathmandu Kathmandu is the largest city in Nepal and the capital. The city is at an elevation of 1400m and is home to around one million people. This bustling city features numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites, famous temples, holy rivers and sprawling residential areas. In tourist areas such as Thamel, souvenir shops, restaurants and bars abound making this a big draw to backpackers and travellers. This incredible city is the perfect start and end to your challenge and offers an experience not to be missed.

The Hospice Project You will spend two days helping a non-profit hospice care organisation in Kathmandu which offers services and support patients with life-limiting illnesses, and their families. It was set up by a team of local doctors in 2000 and since then has provided free medicine, therapy and support to those in need. The tasks we expect to be involved with will include basic refurbishment at the hospice, such as repainting and decorating rooms or improving the kitchen or bathroom facilities. More details on the specific project tasks will be provided before departure.



Trek Overview This five-day trek is a great opportunity to witness the culture and tradition in the Nepalese countryside. Along the way you will enjoy the views of the snowy peaks of the Annapurnas, stay in quaint locally-owned teahouses and enjoy awe-inspiring panoramic views. A highlight will be the sunrise views which unfold from Poon Hill (3400m), the highest point on the trek. Who accompanies us? The trek is accompanied by English-speaking first aid trained local guides, assistant guides, and porters, who together make your journey possible. You will also be accompanied by a Different Travel Company UK tour manager. How tough is it? This trek is graded challenging because of the combination of long days trekking over varying terrain (including some days where you will trek uphill all day), the increasing altitude as the trek progresses, and the basic conditions at the teahouse accommodation. What is the terrain like? The terrain will vary throughout the 5 days but overall there will be lots of undulating terrain each day. The first two days you will gain altitude so you will spend more time going uphill. On day three you will spend the morning ascending and the afternoon descending, and the final two days will be descending. It is critical that your training includes hill walking and trekking up and down gradients. Underfoot you will find stony trails, muddy forest floors, rocky steps or scree slopes. In some places it will be very dusty (bring a ‘Buff’ to cover your

nose/mouth). There are some suspension bridges to cross. Each day’s trek is between 5 and 8 hours in duration (variable depending on group pace).

Where will we stay? You will stay in a hotel in Kathmandu, a guesthouse in Pokhara and teahouses during the trek. Teahouses are locally owned lodges which are comfortable but basic. They feature a main lounge/dining area which is heated with a yak dung burning stove in the centre which makes it a very cosy environment. You will eat breakfast and evening meal in this room and may wish to play cards and relax here each evening too. Battery charging facilities, mineral water, soft drinks, hot drinks, snacks and souvenirs may be available to purchase at many tea houses along the way.



What are bedrooms like at the teahouses? The bedrooms usually have two or three single beds per room which have mattresses and occasionally pillows and blankets. You will need to bring your own sleeping bag and earplugs are strongly recommended.

What about bathroom facilities? The tea houses may have hot (or tepid) water showers or access to buckets of hot water for washing (available at a fee payable locally). Toilet facilities at the teahouses usually offer a mix of Western and Asian style squat toilets and these are usually flushing. Please ensure you dispose of toilet paper in the bins provided and do not put it into the toilet as this will cause blockages. Toilet paper is not provided so you will need to bring your own. During the trek you will need to pack up any toilet paper you use to dispose of properly at camp. NEVER leave toilet paper or other litter on the trail. What will the climate be like? Temperatures will be dependent upon the weather which is usually clear and sunny in the morning, with clouds, and possibly rain, coming in during the afternoon. You can expect days to be sunny and warm (between 15˚C to 25˚C) and nights to be colder (between -5˚C to 5˚C). It’s important to be prepared for all weather conditions and temperatures by packing technical non-cotton layers, and waterproofs.

Altitude You will slowly ascend to an altitude of 3400m by day three, after gradual acclimatisation on the previous two days. 3400m is above the generally agreed threshold for some people to start feeling some mild symptoms of altitude exposure. Your local guides are very experienced in spotting the signs of altitude sickness but it is important that you also do some research into the effects so you can be aware of how your body is adjusting. A great source of information can be found at http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Altitude-sickness/Pages/Introduction.aspx or http://www.traveldoctor.co.uk/altitude.htm Common mild symptoms of altitude sickness are headache, nausea, loss of appetite, disturbed sleep and fatigue. These generally subside after a few days, once your body acclimatises to the altitude. It is vital that you make your guides and tour manager aware of any symptoms immediately so you can be monitored.

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Altitude-sickness/Pages/Introduction.aspx

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Altitude-sickness/Pages/Introduction.aspx

http://www.traveldoctor.co.uk/altitude.htm



Important information about altitude:

Stay well hydrated. You need to drink lots of fluids to remain properly hydrated (at least three litres per day from water, soup, tea, juices etc.). Urine output should be copious and clear to pale yellow. If you begin to show symptoms of moderate altitude sickness, don't go higher until symptoms decrease.

Avoid tobacco, alcohol and other depressant drugs including, barbiturates, tranquillisers, sleeping pills and opiates such as codeine. These decrease the respiratory drive during sleep resulting in a worsening of symptoms.

Eat a high calorie diet while at altitude

Take it easy and don't overexert yourself when you first arrive at altitude.

Different people acclimatise at different rates. You must keep aware of your own health and any symptoms.

If symptoms increase, you must descend immediately. Your tour guide and tour manager’s decision for you to descend must be respected.

Acclimatisation is inhibited by overexertion, dehydration, and alcohol.

How fit do I need to be? You should have a good level of fitness to ensure fast recovery from each day’s exertions while trekking and during the project activities. An ideal candidate would be someone who enjoys being out of their comfort zone and trying something new. If you do not already regularly exercise it is crucial that you start training (including plenty of hills!) before departure to ensure your best chance of enjoyment on the trip. You must be prepared to carry a daypack weighing 6-7kg. If you attempt to complete the trek without training, it will be more difficult than necessary and may detriment your experience and the experience of your teammates.

Will I receive advice and support on training? You will be supplied with training tips and hints when you book. The best training for trekking in the mountains is hill walking for extended periods of time. If you are not a regular walker, slowly build up your stamina by gradually increasing the length of your walks and difficulty of the terrain – do not attempt a very long, challenging hilly walk as your first training walk as you may suffer an injury or feel demotivated. Starting small and building up is the most effective way to train and track your progress. Walking can be complemented with running, cycling, gym workouts, team sports, boot camps etc. You can download a number of free apps, which will help you train and track your progress. E.g. MapMyWalk, C25K (couch to 5k run), MyFitnessPal etc.



Medical health declaration We require a medical form to be completed by everyone and any pre-existing conditions, medications used and other medical issues must be noted and (if relevant) signed off by your GP. Any conditions that develop must be declared and a new medical form completed and signed.

Is there an age limit? You must be 18+ to participate on this trek unaccompanied. It may be possible for you to participate if you are 16 or 17 years old but you must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. There is no upper age limit. What is the trip cost? To register there is a £395 deposit payable at the time of booking then you are asked to fundraise a minimum of £3,500 for Dorothy House Hospice Care. A self-funded payment option is also available.

Trip Includes: Flights from London (inc. airport taxes), all transfers and transport in Nepal, accommodation in a hotel in Kathmandu (four nights), guesthouse in Pokhara (two nights), teahouses on trek (four nights), all meals, local expert English-speaking guides and support crew, National Park entrance fees, trekking permits, project materials and coordination, a UK Different Travel tour manager. Trip Does Not Include: Personal expenses (such as drinks, souvenirs, etc.), bottled water or other drinks, any vaccinations required, Nepal visa (current cost US$25), travel insurance, tips (approx. £25-35 per person), and personal trekking kit. How will I fundraise £3500? Most people find that this is far easier than they imagined, and we will give you as much support as you need to reach, and even exceed your target. Here are some examples showing how you could exceed your target. We will send you more ideas when you book.

Non-uniform day at local school: £300

5x supermarket bag-packs: £500

Car boot sale/ eBay auction: £250

2x quiz nights: £400

Sponsorship (friends, family etc.): £300

Host a party, charge £10 to attend: £500

Ask five friends/ family members to raise £100 each: £500

2x dress down days at work: £300

Donate your skills - ironing, babysitting, gardening, DIY: £250

Karaoke night: £250

Sponsored beard-shave/ leg wax: £200

4 cake sales at work: £50 a time: £200

Bucket collection at supermarket: £100 Total: £4,050 (target exceeded!)



Is the trip ATOL protected? Dorothy House Hospice Care is acting as agent for The Different Travel Company, ATOL 6706. The flight-inclusive trip in this brochure is financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay your registration fee you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate and ATOL Confirmation Invoice. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate.

How do I sign up? Complete the registration form and email it, with a photo of your passport data page, to The Different Travel Company on [email protected]. You will be emailed an invoice with details of how to pay the £395 deposit. Please check your junk mail folder. Alternatively you may post your form, passport copy and a cheque made payable to The Different Travel Company to: The Different Travel Company, 4 Downs Park Crescent, Totton, Southampton, Hampshire, SO40 9GH

Note: The day-to-day program is subject to flight schedules, weather, general conditions and the progress of the group. While we do not anticipate any changes to the itinerary, we cannot be held responsible for changes made due to unexpected circumstances. Ultimately the safety and health of the group takes priority in all circumstances.

http://www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate

mailto:[email protected]



Itinerary Day 1-2 (Saturday 25 – Sunday 26 April 2020): London to Kathmandu Depart for Kathmandu on an indirect overnight flight. Upon arrival in Kathmandu you will transfer to a central hotel. Depending on flight times there may be an opportunity for an introductory visit to the project before gathering together for a briefing on the days ahead. Welcome dinner at a local restaurant tonight. Day 3-4 (Monday 27 – Tuesday 28 April 2020): Kathmandu The next two days will be spent assisting at the hospice care project in Kathmandu on a range of tasks such as painting, decorating, gardening and so on. Day 5 (Wednesday 29 April 2020): Kathmandu - Pokhara After breakfast, we depart for the scenic drive to Pokhara (approx. six hours). You will spend the afternoon in this beautiful lakeside town where you can take in the sights or even do some last minute shopping in preparation for your trek! Overnight at a guesthouse. Day 6 (Thursday 30 April 2020): Pokhara - Nayapul - Ulleri This morning we transfer to Nayapul (approx. 2 hours’ drive) from where you commence the trek. You will follow the banks of the Bhurungdi Khola River as far as Tikhedhunga (1575m) where your final challenge for the day is a steep uphill walk to Ulleri where you stay the night in a teahouse (2073m). Approx. 10km trek / 530m ascent. Day 7 (Friday 01 May 2020): Ulleri - Ghorepani A day of ascent! Today we will gradually gain more altitude as we walk for about 5 hours uphill to the overnight teahouse in Ghorepani (2800m). As we approach Ghorepani we will pass through stunning rhododendron forests. Approx. 11km trek / 1400m ascent.

Day 8 (Saturday 02 May 2020): Ghorepani - Poon Hill - Tadapani An hour-long pre-dawn ascent gives us the opportunity to see the fascinating views of the Annapurnas and Dhaulagiri glowing in the morning sun from Poon Hill (3400m). After breakfast back at the teahouse, it is a mostly downhill walk through magnificent oak and rhododendron forests, to reach Tadapani, where you will have another chance to enjoy views of Annapurna South and Machapuchare (Fishtail Mountain). Overnight at teahouse in Tadapani. Approx. 11km trek / 330m ascent / 640m descent. Day 9 (Sunday 03 May 2020): Tadapani - Ghandruk The descent to Ghandruk is a shorter and easier walk, mostly downhill. From Tadapani you descend through mossy forests and deep gorges, before the scenery changes to a drier more sparse forest as we approach Ghandruk. Ghandruk is a beautiful Gurung Village, where many of the inhabitants are Gurkhas. Overnight in a teahouse. Approx. 8km trek / 700m descent. Day 10 (Monday 04 May 2020): Ghandruk - Pokhara Today is our final day of trekking as we descend to Birethanti, from where we travel by road back to Pokhara. Overnight in a guesthouse. Approx. 13km trek / 1000m descent. Day 11 (Tuesday 05 May 2020): Pokhara - Kathmandu Transfer back to Kathmandu (approx. six hours) and have a farewell dinner this evening. Day 12 (Wednesday 06 May 2020): Kathmandu - London Today you will transfer to the airport for your flight home (indirect). NB It is possible the flight will land the following day, Thursday 07 May, depending on flight schedules.

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THE NEPAL CHALLENGE 2011 - Dorothy House Hospice Care · 147,181km2 bordered by Chinese Tibet to the north and by India to the south, east and west. For a small nation, the ... a