Schedule for this program:
After completion of the one-week orientation program in Kathmandu, the participant will depart to the Manang. It takes two days to get there. When they arrive on the third day, they will stay at a guest house or with a host family. Our local coordinator will then give them a brief orientation in the culture, region and general lifestyle of the local people.
From the fourth day onwards, the participant will perform study and research or photography programs for two weeks. In this program our coordinator will take participants to different villages. He introduces them to the local people and briefs them about local festivals, lifestyles and culture. Participants can enjoy mingling with the local people in their daily activities.
In the fourth week, participants will be taken to mountains, river and lakes sites for the trekking portion of our program.
During their stay in Annapurna region, participants can take part in unique festivals and celebrate with local people. They could also take part in monastery and school activities. Our coordinator or guide stays with the participant during the program.
Location: Annapurna Region.
Introduction:
Rich in culture and full of breath-taking vistas, it is the main trekking destination in the Himalayas. The region falls on the famed Annapurna Circuit trek and is visited by more than 50 thousands trekkers annually along with the same number of supporting staffs.
During the program, our volunteers/interns live in mostly in Manang district.
Physically, the district is divided into three distinct regions:
• Nyeshang Valley
• Gyalsumdo Valley and
• Nar Phu Valley.
The Nyeshang and Gyalsumdo Valleys fall on the circuit trekking trail where tourism business has become the main source of income, whereas the Nar Phu Valleys had been restricted to foreigners for a long time due to political turmoil. Now, the government has opened most of the restricted areas for foreigners.
The trek to Nar and Phu provides magnificent views of Kangaru Himal and Ratna Chuli, photogenic landscapes, and the experience of living the culture and way of life of locals. It also covers some of the famous climbing peaks such as Himlung and Pokhar Kang. It is one of the main habitats of the endangered snow leopard where large herds of blue sheep can be seen along the trail to Nar and Phu.
The Nyeshang people who live in the valleys of M anang originated in Tibet. They are still known in upper Manang as Nyeshangte, a Tibetan Buddhist group speaking a Tibeto-Burman language quite distinct from Indo-European Nepali.
The two dominant groups are Gurung and Ghale. In lower Manang people tell themselves as Gurung, Lama or Ghale. These people are descendants of the earliest migrants who mingled with other ethnic, lingual and cultural groups from the south.
Manang is proud of its various elements, especially its fabulous mountain scenery. As part of the Annapurna Circuit trek, Manang Valley is special for the mountains rising directly from the valley floor, which averages 3,400 meters (11,000 feet) in elevation. The Manang Valley is surrounded by mountains over 6,000 meters (20,000 feet) high on all sides.
These include:
• Lamjung Himal (6,932 meters or 22,740 feet)
• Pisang Peak (6,091 meters or 19,982 feet)
• Annapurna I (8,091 meters or 26,538 feet)
• Annapurna II (7,939 meters or 26,040 feet)
• Annapurna III (7,555 meters or 24,780 feet)
• Annapurna IV (7,525 meters or 24,682 feet)
• Gangapurna (7,454 meters or 24,449 feet)
• Tarkekang or Glacier Dome (7,202 meters or 23,623 feet)
• Chulu East (6,558 meters or 21,510 feet)
• Tilicho Peak (7,134 meters or 23,400 feet)
There are several lakes in Manang, mostly the result of glacier erosion. Tilicho Lake in the south is located 4915m above sea level and is very isolated. During winter the lake is almost frozen, but in spring and summer as the snow begins to melt and wild flowers bloom. The area is a wonderful place for foreigners, full of beautiful landscapes with a dense covering of natural floral carpets.
Many Himalayan Rivers take their courses throughout Manang, cutting narrow and steep valleys. Marshyangdi, Naar and Dudh khola are the main rivers in Manang. The Marshyangdi runs east-west, creating an elongated valley that is home to many settlements. The rivers flowing from the north tend to have very strong currents, creating narrower valleys, so there are fewer settlements.
Due to the range of geographical and climatic regions in Manang there is a diverse variety of flora. The more tropical parts of the area are filled with terraced paddy fields most of the year and it is also famous for its winter crop of oranges that can be bought along the trails in the foothills. As you progress further into the higher regions, the vegetation changes to more temperate plants and trees eventually give way to pine forests. In the rain shadow to the north the landscape is quite barren, being an extension of the Tibetan plateau, and mostly only stunted bushes and shrubs are found.
Manang is also home to a variety of birds and animals. It is known for its musk deer, which were hunted to near extinction for their musk. From December to early march, the Nyeshang valley is covered with thick snow. This is when the snow leopard descends from its rocky lair high in the mountains in search of blue sheep, its natural prey.
