Honey Hunting Trek
"Twice a year high in the Himalayan foothills
of central Nepal teams of men gather around cliffs
that are home to the world's largest honeybee, Apis
laboriosa. As they have for generations, the men come
to harvest the Himalayan cliff bee's honey. The harvest
ritual, which varies slightly from community to community,
begins with a prayer and sacrifice of flowers, fruits,
and rice. Then a fire is lit at the base of the cliff
to smoke the bees from their honeycombs. From above,
a honey hunter descends the cliff harnessed to a ladder
by ropes. As his mates secure the rope and ladder
from the top and ferry tools up down as required,
the honey hunter fights territorial bees as he cuts
out chunks of honey from the comb." A chance
to view and experience the traditional honey hunting
harvest of the Gurung people. The Bees Apis laboriosa
and Apis dorsata are indigenous to the region and
traditional methods of harvesting the honey on steep
cliffs have remaned unchanged for generations. The
introduction of non indigenous plant species and the
Eurporean honey bee Apis mellifera have put pressure
on these local bees to compete, and they need to fly
further and further to forage their prefered plant
species. This along with over harvesting has resulted
in the bees' decline. The Himalayan Honeybees project
for the International Center for Integrated Mountain
Development (ICIMOD) in Kathmandu has been actively
involved in the sustainable management of honey hunting
and work with the local communities to ensure the
survival of the species. Tourism in this area helps
communities protect the flora and fauna, and so gives
the bees and local hunters a chance to co-exist and
continue.
Honey hunting techniques :
"Each area has its own distinctive style
of honey hunting to suit local resources and bees.
The basic method of lighting fire under the bee cliffs
to smoke the bees from the combs appears to be universal.
However, socio-cultural and spiritual practices carried
out prior to hunting honey are quite different from
community to community. A group of about a dozen men-with
ropes, ladders, poles, baskets and pots proceed to
the cliff. First, a worship and sacrifice is performed
and cliff god is offered with flowers, fruits and
rice grains. At the base of the rock a fire is made
from wood and foliage, so that the smoke rise to disperse
the bees upwards from the lower edges of their combs,
leaving the brood and honey sections of the combs
clearly visible. A ladder is suspended from the top
of the cliff, tightly secured to trees at both upper
and lower ends. Honey hunter is fastened to the ladder
by a rope and descends the rope ladder while others
at the top of the cliff make sure that the rope is
held securely. Two to three persons are responsible
for checking, raising and lowering the rope to send
items down from above and pull items up from the floor
as necessary. One person, who perches on overhanging
tree, looks the event carefully and gives signals
to others. Near the ladder a large woven collecting
basket is lowered to the nest site through another
rope. When the honey hunter gets near the nest to
be harvested, he uses a long stick to balance the
collecting basket exactly under the comb. Its base
is guided by a rope held by the people at the base
of the cliff. First the brood portion of the comb
is separated. The honey hunter uses a bamboo stick
to pierce a hole in the brood comb area of the colony
to be harvested. By piercing the comb and attaching
hook to the comb, honey hunter cuts the brood portion
of the comb safely. After that, wooden or iron sickles
fixed to the bamboo stick cut honeycombs. Basket is
guided to catch the chunks of honey as they drop down.
When full, the basket is lowered down to the ground,
emptied and used again. The whole operation from start
to finish is very delicate. It may take 2-3 hours
or more just to harvest one of the many colonies.
|
Duration :
|
4 days, 2NT Chitwan, 2NTPKR,1NT
kurintar, 3NT KTM,5NT trek |
|
Trekking Option :
|
Camping & Home Stay. |
|
Max. Elevation :
|
2100 Meters. |
|
Start/End Point :
|
Pokhara/Khudi or VV |
|
Season :
|
For trek September to may, for
honey hunting August & December. |
Outline Itinerary
Day 01 : Arrive in Kathmandu,
Arrive in Airport, meet our office representative
assist you to transfer to Hotel.
Day 02 : In Kathmandu
We explore the Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa,
Shyambhunath Stupa and Patan Durbar square.
Day 03 : Drive to Khudi 186
Kms, 6hrs.
We drive along the prithivi highway across beautiful
villages, colorful peoples, landscapes, all the we
drive along the River Valley.
Day 04 : Trek Khudi to Ghalagaun
at 2050 Mtrs/6-7hrs trek.
After B/F, trail Ascend all the way to Ghalagaun,
The trail passes through the beautiful forest, if
you are lucky enough you will also get to see some
of the wildlife's. This area holds a tremendous potentiality
for bird watching. It really can be a birdwatcher's
paradise
Day 05 & 06 : observe honey
hunting in Ghanpokhara & Ghalegaun. It is
beautiful place to enjoy breathtaking views of numerous
Mountains, it self situated at beautiful mountain,
it is populated by Gurung Peoples who have wonderful
culture & tradition.
Day 07 : Ghalegaun to Pasgaun,
1800 Mtrs/6-7 hrs trek.
After B/F, Trail descend to Bhujung all the way, After
the Bhujung trail ascend to Passgaun.It is long &
Hard day trip.
Day 08 : Trek Pasagaun to Pakharikot
or Nanngdidhar at 1900 mtrs-5-6hrs. Trail ascends
gently through jungles, beautiful waterfalls and the
chirpings of the birds. After lunch, it again is a
time for an as descends. It is a steep descend for
half an hrs;
Day 09 : Trek to Thumsikot,
drive to Pokhara.
Trail descends about 1150 Meters & drives approximately
3 hrs by jeep through unpaved Road.
Day 10 : In Pokhara.
An early morning drive to Sarankot to have close view
of Mt. Fishtail and Annapurna. Return to Hotel, entire
day sight seeing in Pokhara.
Day 11 : Fly or drive to
Kathmandu, transfer to Hotel,
Day 12 : Drive to Royal Chitwan National Park,
Day 13 : Full Day Jungle activities
Day 14 : Drive to Kathmandu
Day 15 : Free day for personal Activities
Day 16 : Transfer to Airport
Price Feature in US$ Each Person.
Standard Tour Package Cost
