Spirit of Adventure

Mike Wood from the Peregrine Travel Centre in Perth has just returned from the recently-opened area of Nar and Phu in the Himalaya.

Our 26-day Nar, Phu & Tilicho Lake trek started out on the legendary Annapurna Circuit, where we spent the first four nights in tea house accommodation. We then branched off into a barely noticeable side valley, and in an instant, all other trekkers disappeared, we were on our own.

The trail into the valley was through a sheer sided gorge, with a path carved into the walls high above the river below. It was easy to see how this place remained unvisited! In fact, the upper parts of the valley had actually been settled from Tibet, and it was only in the last 30 years that the Nepali Government became aware of villagers in the valley.

As we passed through green spruce forests we gradually emerged into a more Tibetan landscape, almost lunar at higher altitudes.

We trekked through long-abandoned settlements with ancient carvings, decaying chortens and collapsed houses. There were some signs that people were returning, with one village starting to build a lodge in the hope that the newly opened route will see trekkers staying overnight like they do in the Annapurnas.

Phugoan is an ancient Fort Town, perched on to the top of a hill for defence. We camped in the fields next to the town and explored the fort and surrounding area. The Gompa (monastery) was particularly impressive, although only a small number of monks now live there. The nearby village of Naar seemed wealthier and had large numbers of yaks grazing in the fields. They also had a small water powered generator that allowed them to have light at night and which powered other amenities including a satellite phone.

From here we crossed the infamous Kangla Pass (5300m), which like many Himalayan passes, tempts trekkers with numerous false summits, until finally, around mid-morning, we crested the summit and began the descent down through the scree to the Marsyandi Valley.

If you are interested in following in Mike’s footsteps, the next departures of the trek are on 4 April 2010, 10 October 2010 and 3 April 2011.

Lou Day, our resident trekking expert, shares one of her tales from the trail.

When reflecting on what has been my favourite trek to date I must admit I was torn as to what to choose. Having been lucky enough to work at Peregrine for over 10 years now, I have had the fortune to be able to pursue my passion for trekking in some of the most spectacular places across the globe.

My travels have taken me through the Annapurna’s and the high trails of the Everest region in Nepal, to the moonscapes of Ladakh, the trenches along the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea and recently to the top of Kilimanjaro! Not to mention the feeling of remoteness and untouched beauty I experienced when trekking through the Simien Mountains of Ethiopia. To experience the unique culture and learn more of the proud heritage of the Ethiopian people was a privilege.

However whilst it pains me to choose a ‘favourite’ I cannot go past Nepal, it is my favourite place in the world! I love everything about it - the nervous laughter that fills your small aircraft as you land on what I believe is the most dramatic airstrip in the world - Lukla , the gateway into the Everest Region. It is from where you commence trekking to Everest Base Camp, and if you have time branch off to visit the Goykyo and Khumbu Valleys. Our group was a mixture of Australian, British and Canadian travellers, all with that common goal of reaching Base Camp. Part of the appeal of the trek to Base Camp I believe is that you have a genuine feeling of being on an expedition and the camaraderie we felt, helping each other to achieve our own personal goals, was a special one. Our group still remains in touch some five years later as the experiences you share on the track are hard to replicate once you return home. Perhaps that’s why I get back to Nepal every year I can.

Kerry Lorimer shares her moving story from a recent trek in the Annapurna region…

When Mick Chapman, Peregrine Himalayan Operations Manager, announced funding for two teachers’ salaries for the next five years, the crowd gathered at Swanta school went wild. We’d arrived in Swanta – a tiny, terraced village in the Annapurna region of Nepal, several days’ walk from the nearest road – on day seven of the Annapurna Dhaulagiri trek, and received a hero’s welcome. The entire village had turned out for the party: there had been dance performances and speeches, but the revelry stepped up a notch with Mick’s announcement. It meant that the villagers could now educate their kids from kindergarten to year 12 at the village school.

Swanta is the location for one of five new community lodges on the Annapurna Dhaulagiri trek route. They have been built by the local people, in association with Mick and our Himalayan operations team. Peregrine trekking groups will stay at the lodges, with proceeds going to village schools. The other lodges are at Baiyali, Chistibung, Kopra Ridge and Dandi Karka – and all will be open by this month.

Mick Chapman pioneered the Annapurna Dhaulagiri route 30 years ago, and it is still undoubtedly one of the most scenically-spectacular treks in the Himalaya. The route diverts from the main tourist trail and hence the villages we pass through haven’t really benefited from tourism revenue in the past. By staying in the lodges, we’re able to provide sustainable funding for the schools and other community projects. The gratitude shown to us by the villagers during this trek was simply overwhelming – with Mick’s announcement, there wasn’t a dry eye in Swanta!

For information on the Annapurna Dhaulagiri trek visit our website.

Nepal Explorer – 19 days

For an in-depth experience of Nepal and all that the Himalayan ranges has to offer, look no further than this comprehensive 19-day journey. On the new Nepal Explorer walking adventure you will discover the majestic Annapurna mountains and explore the jungles of Chitwan National Park, before heading over to the buzzing city of Kathmandu for your trek to Namche Bazaar where breathtaking panoramic views of Mount Everest await. This spectacular trip encompasses the best of Nepal and is a very achievable challenge for low-impact trekking enthusiasts wanting a complete first experience of this fascinating country.

Exploring Nepal promises to impress with its incredible natural wonders and the warm charm of its locals. You will leave this region wanting to come back time and time again and will always remember your amazing Nepal adventure.

The 19-day Nepal Explorer has departures throughout the year, to find out about other trips we have to this region click here.

Himalaya Unveiled – 20 days

If you’re looking to combine the three great Himalayan kingdoms of Nepal, India and Bhutan on one unforgettable journey then our new Himalaya Unveiled adventure offers you all the highlights of this incredibly beautiful region.

This 20-day journey will take you from the glorious Mughal Empire to the mountains of the mighty Himalaya and the treasures of the remote and enchanting mountain kingdom of Bhutan. An easy trek in the shadow of the Himalaya will show you the world’s greatest mountain range up close and exploring the busy markets of Jaipur, the ‘Pink City’, will introduce you to all the colours and flavours of India.

Unveiling the romance and mystery of Nepal, India and Bhutan’s mountains with your own local leader will introduce you to the wonderful world of the Himalayas and you are bound to leave completely in awe.

The 20-day Himalaya Unveiled trip has departures throughout the year, to find out about other tours to this region click here.

Our team in Nepal is very excited to introduce a new accommodation highlight featured on two of our trekking trips. The Kopra Ridge Lodge is stunningly located – perched right on top of the Kopra Ridge, the lodge is set amongst the splendour of the towering Annapurna mountains. With 360-degree views of this dramatic wilderness region and the towering mountain peaks of the Annapurnas, Dhaulagiri and Manaslu, this is surely one of the most spectacular vantage points in the Himalaya. It truly is set amongst the clouds, on top of the world.

The adventurous trekker will discover this ridge-top haven on our new 23-day Annapurna High Passes trek. A demanding trek (including some basic mountaineering with ice axes and crampons), this journey will take us into areas that are rarely visited by other trekkers. The trek sets out from the lowlands around Pokhara and heads up through local villages and terraced hillsides, moving through rhododendron and oak forests, before emerging at Kopra Danda, amongst the towering snowy peaks. Here we enjoy the spectacular mountain vistas from our Kopra Ridge Lodge accommodation. Travelling on, we get to the heart of our trek – the rarely-visited wilderness around Annapurna South, where we explore hidden valleys, view hanging glaciers and cross remote high passes. It’s a trek for those looking for a real adventure.

We also stay at the Kopra Ridge Lodge on our 17-day Annapurna Dhaulagiri trek, a classic journey that Peregrine pioneered in the 1970s.