Table of Contents:
- Introduction to Shamanic Culture Experience - Guerrilla Trek
- Information Shamanic Culture Experience
- Detail Shamanic Culture Experience - Guerrilla Trek 17 days itinerary
- Necessary Trekking Gears.
Trip Highlights:
- Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve
- A dense Rhododendron forest (Nepal national flower)
- Highly respected Shamanism culture
- Major attractions Special Magar culture with Magar Shamanic culture and Bhumi puja
- Unique mixed culture living with harmony for ages
- Highest access of trek Jalajala 3420m
- Gurja, Kambon, Churen & Dhaulagiri(8167m) Himal Range
Shamanic Culture Experience - Guerrilla Trek
Nepal is a haven for trekking around the Great Himalayan regions and touring the historical plus cultural sites. You can find 8 among the 14 eight-thousanders in the world including the highest peak of the world, Mt. Everest (8,848m) in Nepal. There are almost all types of ecosystems protecting large varieties of biodiversity from lowland Terai to highland Himalayan belts. The presence of 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 15 sites included in the Tentative List has beautified this small Himalayan country making it a must-visit spot once in a lifetime.
Nepal contains about 125 ethnic groups speaking nearly 129 different languages. The diversity of ethnic groups with their unique socio-cultural practices has defined the beauty of this small country extending from the tropical forest region to the trans-Himalayan region bordering the Tibetan Plateau. There are many cultural heritage sites located in different parts of the country from Terai to Himalayan and from East to West. Tamang Cultural Heritage Trail of Langtang region, the Tharu Cultural Heritage Trail of Chitwan, the Gurung Cultural Heritage Trail of Gandaki Province, Rai Limbu Cultural Heritage Sites of eastern Nepal are some of the notable sites for witnessing cultural wonders.
As the majority of the settlers in this region are Kham Magar people, you can get a real-time experience of Magar Shamanic culture and tradition. You can participate in the traditional Shamanic Cultural dances performed in the course of healing physical and psychological ailments. To your wonder, you not only find male Shamans but also female Shamans active in this traditional healing process. Opened from Nepal Tourism Year 2011 as a new product of the Nepalese tourism industry, this trek gives you a glimpse of the guerrilla warfare that took place between 1996 and 2006. You can witness the mesmerizing view of the snowy peaks of Annapurna (8,091m), Dhaulagiri (8,157m), Mt. (5,400m), Churen Himal (7,371m) and Gurja Himal (7,193m).
Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve extended in Baglung, Myagdi, and Rukum districts is one of the major attractions of this off-the-beaten trekking in Nepal. Established in 1987 on 1,325 square kilometers, it is the only protected area of Nepal where hunters having licenses are allowed to shoot the game by obtaining the required permission from the concerned authority. The forests of rhododendron, oak, pine, juniper, bamboo, and other species of trees are the haven for large varieties of wildlife and vegetation.
Walking through the less crowded and clean track, you can observe the ethnic villages having typical socio-cultural aspects. Magar Shamanic cultural experiences of Rukum and Rolpa, Baglung, and Myagdi districts, the place where the Maoists' Guerrilla Warfare was formally started in 1996. Talking to the survivors of the decade-long Guerrilla Warfare about the devastating internal conflicts will make you realize the dark sides of the cruel war. On the other hand, you feel happy by meeting with the victims who are in the process of rehabilitating themselves in their previous state of normal life. The introduction of the Guerrilla trekking trail has given a better hope and medium for bringing about change and smiles in the lives of the people. Moreover, you observe the trenches dug for ambush, hideouts, shelters, and secret trails developed and used by the guerrillas during the armed revolution (1996-2006).
You also get to know closely about the organic food items prepared by the local people who serve in the best hospitality. Doing this community-based trek in Nepal, you get a noble opportunity to contribute to bringing positive change in the lives of the local people. You can be an important part of the process of restoring the devastated land and lives by sharing your ideas for improving the life standard.
There are two places in Nepal to begin the epic journey to the origin and the stretch of more than a decade-long Maoist insurgency. Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha is the one while the other is from Beni, Myagdi, the gateway to Lower and Upper Dolpo region trekking. Guerrilla trekking itinerary can be customized from 14 days to 22 days depending upon your vacation and budget. Some of the stopovers during this off-the-beaten-path trekking don’t have teahouses for food and accommodation facilities. Therefore, you have to spend the night at the tented camp giving you the experience of camping trekking in Nepal.
Day to Day Itinerary:
Day 01: Arrival and Transfer to Hotel as per booking.
Day 02: Trek Briefing and Trek preparation.
Day 03: Kathmandu to Bhairawa by Flight about 35 minutes then drive to Lumbini, 30 minutes, and transfer to Hotel as per booking then Explore Lumbini Lord Budhha’s Birthplace & O/N at hotel as per booking.
Day 04: Lumbini- Sulichour – Jelbang by private Local 8-9hrs – O/N at Basic Homestay
Day 05: Jelbang – Jaljala 3100m O/N at Camp at Dharamasala
Day 06: Jaljala trek to Thabang, after enjoying the beautiful sunrise trek down, to Thabang 5-6 hrs O/N at Basic Homestay. (Steve up & down, should carry a packed lunch and Enough water)
Passing through Rhododendron forests, green fields of plums were all along the way. Thabang (1950m) a cluster of houses mainly Magar settlement is in Rolpa district. We were very excited. Thabang lies at the confluence of two rivers. It was headquartered during the Maoists’ People’s Movement. Thabang is a tourist village where homestay facilities are available. It has stone pavements, Magar culture, and a history of people's movement. Local People will be welcome, and be friendly. The ruins from the period of the Maoist insurgency can be seen even today
Day 07: Thabang Rest Day Explore village (Revolution and Cultural headquarters then enjoy cultural Typical Cultural Bhume nach Programme in the evening) O/N at Local Homestay
Day 08: Thabang- Lukum (2200m) 6-7 hrs (Watch cultural of Shamanism Best Magar Shaman Culture) O/N at Local Homestay
Day 09: Lukum- Taka Sera (2200m) Via Kyubang Chaur 6-7 hrs O/N at Local Home stay
Day 10: Taka Sera- NishelDhor (2700m) 6-7 hrs O/N at Local Homestay
Day 11: Nisheldhor –Dhorpatan (2900m) (Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve) 6-7hrs O/N at.
Community Home Stay Dhorpatan is a hunting reserve, a nice valley. Uttarganga Rive originated and flowed down to become Saano bheri in Rukum. A long day's walk from Chhyantung, trekking uphill journey and seeing beautiful Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, dogra, putha himal , the highest pass Falgune dhuri ( 3975m), and trek down for a couple of hours to the small valley of Thankur. One or two homestay facilities are available but people move during the high snow season.
Day 12: Dhorpatan to GurjaGhat (3050m) 5-6hrs O/N at Local Homestay
Day 13: GurjaGhat –Lamsum via Jalajala 3420m Lunch at Moreni O/N at Local Home stay.
Day 14: Trek to Machhima Village 4-5hrs O/N at local homestay
Day 15: Machhima Village - Darbang 4-5 hrs Get the Bus and drive to Pokhara Via Beni and Natural Hot Spring)
Singha Tatopni 2 hrs and stay overnight Beni is the headquarters of Myagdi, a Bazar with hotels, remittances, and shopping can be done. It is also the gateway to Muktinath, Dhaulagiri, and Dolpa trek. Overnight stay in Beni.
Day 16: Fly to Kathmandu and shopping.
Day 17: Departure to Home.
Necessary Trekking Gears:
- Duffel or Rucksack bag (Provided)
- Down Sleeping bag (Provided)
- Down Jacket (Provided)
- Daypack
- Hiking pants
- Waterproof & Windproof jacket
- Raincoat or Umbrella
- Full-sleeves shirts
- Jumper or Fleece jacket
- Pair of T-shirts
- Trekking Boots (waterproof is better)
- Sandal, Toilet paper
- Cotton thick socks (2 pairs), Woollen socks to wear with boots
- Sun hat & fleece hat
- Gloves
- Scarf
- Sun block for lips
- Sun lotion
- Goggles or Sunglasses
- Thermal long underwear sets
- Insulated pants
- Trekking poles
- Windbreaker pants
- Water bottle
- Flashlight or Headlight, Batteries
- Swiss Army Knife
- Personal Dry Towel
- Personal toiletries and medication should be labeled
- Crampons
- Snow Leg Gaiters