Crossing one of Nepal’s famous hanging bridges on the Sacred Lakes hike
In October, I joined a transformative journey with the Takure and Trek program, organized by Conscious Impact in Nepal. Going to Nepal had been a dream of mine for five years, and finally, I had the opportunity to explore this beautiful country. From the moment I arrived in Kathmandu to trekking through the Himalayas, Conscious Impact supported me every step of the way.
Exploring the historical neighborhood of Patan in Kathmandu
Upon landing in Kathmandu, I was greeted by a member of the Conscious Impact team at the airport who took me to a lovely hotel in Patan, known as the city of craft. Patan's rich culture and intricate details in every aspect of life were a mesmerizing introduction to Nepal. My husband and I arrived a few days before the program began to adjust to the time zone and explore, and even during this time, the CI team was incredibly supportive.
Volunteering in the tree nursery in Takure with Conscious Impact
The program arranged for drivers to transport us from Kathmandu to Takure where we were welcomed right away. The warmness of the Nepali people made us feel like part of their community from the start. During my time in Takure, I had the opportunity to contribute to various projects, including tending to the garden and meeting local farmers who were cultivating mushrooms as part of the Conscious Impact initiative. Conscious Impact works to educate and encourage farmers to grow reliable, higher priced products like these mushrooms. It was amazing to see how crops like mushrooms provided a more sustainable source of income for the farmers.
Apart from learning about regenerative agriculture, I was immersed in Nepali culture. Dining together on Dal Bat, a traditional Nepali dish, and listening to their stories allowed me to connect deeply with the community. Our visit happened to coincide with the Dashain holiday, a 15-day Hindu festival. During this time we were invited into local homes to celebrate Dashain with families. This was such a special way to interact with the community and understand what this holiday means to them.
Spending time with Narayan “Mama” Bhattarrai, a local community leader that also generously hosted us in his home in Takure.
The trek itself was remarkable. It was a beautiful opportunity to experience the mountain lifestyle of Nepal people. Our group consisted of three volunteers, a guide, and a porter. Our guide, Babi, and porter, Mansing, not only navigated the mountains expertly and adapted the plans when needed, but shared so much about their cultures, celebrations, hardships and ways of life over the five day trek.
Our little group had two people from Wisconsin and one from Florida, all sea-level regions. Thanks to Babi and Mansing’s guidance and gradual ascent, none of us experienced any altitude sickness.This hike was an excellent introduction to higher-altitude trekking, requiring some training but nothing too extreme.
The trek offered stunning views, showing off the diverse bioregions of Nepal, from dense forests and waterfalls to snow-capped peaks, we saw it all! Each day our route included stops at tea houses for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It was wonderful to be welcomed in for a hot meal and not have to worry about carrying all our food. Each tea house was a little glimpse into Nepali mountain life and the way these people have co-existed with the mountains for millenia.
A waterfall view from one of the bridges we used to cross the river along our hike
Since Nepal was on my list for so long, I am immensely grateful for the Takure and Trek program, which perfectly blended cultural immersion, volunteering, and Himalayan trekking. My husband and I stayed a month in Nepal and the Conscious Impact team helped us with recommendations, drivers, etc well beyond the program time. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking for an authentic Nepali experience coupled with a life changing mountain trek.
