Mountain, Forest, Village, Cliff, River, Waterfall
Region of Nepal
Region of Nepal
Annapurna Region, Manang
Max. Altitude
Max. Altitude
1370m./4521ft.
Overview
The Honey Hunting tour begins in Kathmandu, where you prepare for the trip. Then, a long drive takes you to Besisahar. Next, you follow the road trip across off-road tracks to reach Bulbule. Further, the drive continues north to settle Chamje. Spending two days there with honey hunting activities then drive back to Kathmandu.
Background
Annapurna Honey Hunting Tour is one of the very adventurous Tours that includes the amazing and surprising scene of Nepal with it. This ancestral job of honey hunting still continues in many remote villages of Nepal while offering high tourism potential. The traditional way of honey hunting is taken as adventure tour in the world. The honey hunters are a tribe of Mongol in Nepal who follow the tradition of honey hunting, a tradition passed down since generations. The honey is taken as the main source of sweets in ancient time when there was no sugar produced. Extracting honey from rock bees that live in steep slope is an age-old tradition of some of the indigenous Nepali communities like Gurungs, Magars and Tamang. Among many mountain cliffs in Nepal, the Marshyangdi valley and the Cliffs in Annapurna region have a notable presence of wild bee which makes hive on the vertical slopes of these cliffs. Hunting cliff honey is a dangerous activity and most of the cliffs are named and remembered by the names of honey hunters who died during honey harvesting.
Honey Proceeding
Honey hunting can be taken as a very old tradition in the mountain areas of Nepal. In the past, people used to organize religious ceremony before collecting honey to protect themselves from the attack of honeybees and any misshapen. The locals celebrate the honey hunting as a festival by offering flowers, grains, and sheep to the God before hunting. The worship was organized also to respect the hard work of honeybees and their contribution to the survival of human beings.
Honey Hunting, the collection of Honey from the nests of wild Bees built on steep cliffs, is an age-old tradition. Local honey hunters show their exceptional skills by hanging themselves from cliffs as high as 300 meters using Bamboo ladders and hemp ropes while harvesting the honeycombs. Everyone is thrilled to watch honey hunters at work.
Species of honeybee
There are at least five different species of Honeybee in Nepal. The wild honeybees make the beehives hanging on the rock. This tour can be a challenging tour for those with knowledge of rock climbing and are brave enough to take the risk. With honey hunting, there is the chance of viewing and experiencing the traditional honey harvest of Gurung people. Nepal honey hunting is a tradition twice (spring and autumn) a year to collect the wild honey from the hive hanging on a rock hill.
We offer!
We organize this kind of honey hunting tour with part of Trekking around Chamje in Annapurna area. We have well experienced Honey Hunters with us to do the Job, you will enjoy the trip ! Don’t forget your camera!!
Honey Hunting Video shooted by Nepal Alternative Treks, Click here !
Experience and excitement of honey hunting proceeding by local hunter and team at Chamje Clif .
Enjoy the beginning part of Annapurna trekking trail through Budi Gandaki River and remote gurung villages.
Adventurous drive to Chamje.
Test local honey .
Catch the majestic panoramic view of Annapurna I (8091m), Manaslu (8169m.), Machhapuchhre, Nilgiri, and Gangapurna.
Day-to-day-Itinerary
Day 1
Drive to Besishahar
Day 1 Facts
Trekking Time Average
160km Drive to Besisahar (Avg. 5hrs)
Accommodation
Hotel Yumphu or Similar category
Altitude
(820m/2706ft.)
Included meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, you’ll embark on a scenic 5-hours road journey towards Besisahar in Lamjung District by bus. Begin the drive along the beautiful Trishuli River and take a detour north alongside the Marshyangdi River. A 5-6 hour long drive will bring you Besisahar Town. Overnight in Besisahar.
Day 2
Drive towards Chamje - Honey hunting preparation day
Day 2 Facts
Trekking Time Average
20km. drive to Chamje ( Avg. 2 hrs.)
Accommodation
Hotel Chamje or Similar category
Altitude
(1430m./4719ft.)
Included meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, the scenic trail goes upstream along the Marshyangdi River towards Chamje village. Meet with honey hunter and Local team then experiment the preparation hunting equipments and tools as a ladder, kinfe, basket, face cover, bamboo ropes etc . They fix the hunting site for next day.
Day 3
Honey Hunting day - Drive towards Besisahar
Day 3 Facts
Trekking Time Average
Hunting day - 20km - Drive to Besisahar
Accommodation
Hotel Yumphu or Similar category
Altitude
(820m/2706ft.)
Included meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Whole day enjoy honey hunting with local people team. You can capture pictures, videos, interviews with local people and hunter . You can also test the honey only after asking to local people, sometimes wild honey can drunk seriously. After accomplishing the tour, you will drive towards Besisahar. Overnight in Besisahar.
Day 4
Drive to Kathmandu
Day 4 Facts
Trekking Time Average
170km Drive to Kathmandu (Avg 8hrs)
Altitude
(1295m./4273ft.)
Included meals
Breakfast, Lunch
Your incredible journey ends with a 8-hour drive from Chamje to Kathmandu. The initial part will be taking local jeep to Besisahar and then taking the bus to Kathmandu. You’ll drive on a familiar road alongside the Marshyangdi and Trishuli Rivers, enjoying the view of villages, small towns, rivers, and beautiful landscapes.
What do you get in the Trip?
Included
Tribhuwan International Airport transfer ( Airport + Hotel + Airport ) in Kathmandu.
Overland transportation as per itinerary.
All meals ( breakfast, lunch and dinner ) along the tour.
All lodge ( Twin share basis ) accommodation during the tour.
One professional English speaking guide and his all expenses as meals, salary, accommodation, transportation and insurance etc.
All honey hunting local crues expenses in Chamje village.
ACAP ( Annapurna Conservation Area Project) and necessary documents.
Assistance for emergency rescue evacuation.
Government tax and service charge.
Public Liability Insurance.
Not included
Hotel accommodation and meals in Kathmandu.
Beverages, alcoholic drinks, mineral water, boiled water during the trip.
The given rates are per person with guaranteed departure schedules. If the given dates are not appropriate for you, please feel free to contact us for requesting a new dates, we will gladly personalize the itinerary and schedule of the trip that fits for you.
Oct 2022
We booked the Honey Hunting trip for 4 days. Tej helped to have all the permits ready on time, met us before the trip, everything was very smooth. The food was great, basic guest houses but all of them had clean rooms. The guide was nice and he took very good care of us. An unforgettable eperience!
5.0
Jenny AlexG
Calgary, Canada
"Having my vacation in Nepal was such a great experience. Thank you to this company. They treat us as their own family, they provide us also a great tourist guides and everything in here is amazing...definitely, I will come back for more..."
ACAP ( Annapurna Conservation Areap Project) : NPR. 3000 for foreigners and NPR 1000 for SAARC.
Note: Child below 10 years are free
Meals and Accommodation
We don’t provide any hotel and accommodation facilities. Make sure you take care of that by yourself. But, during the tour, we provide meals 3 times a day. And, you also provide a proper resting place at the nearby lodges.
Best time to visit
Spring and Autumn seasons are highly recommended to visit this place as it provides a favorable climate for the visit. Similarly, if you visit this place during this time you will be able to trek on a clear day and enjoy the scenery.
Difficulty of Trip
This tour is a difficult trip. You have to be both physically fit and experienced as well. In addition, the landscape of the place is also very dangerous. In addition, if you don’t come fully prepared for this trek then your difficulty will add up.
Transportation
The transportation is done by driving a vehicle on the first and the last day. So, between the trek, we only travel on foot. Similarly, we also provide a deluxe bus service for the tour from Kathmandu.
Tour availability
The tour is mostly available in the spring and autumn season. These seasons are considered to be the best seasons for the tour. Although it is available mostly throughout the year. Similarly, you can travel here with friends and family.
Tour Duration
The tour duration is for 4 days only. Therefore, enjoy as much as possible during the tour. During this time, you will have a lifetime experience. So, enjoy yourself as much as possible. Similarly, while on this trek you will get to experience the vast biodiversity of the place.
Frequently
Asked Questions
Is this tour route safe for tourtists ?
Yes, this route is safe for tourists. This area has not been affected by the earthquake in 2015. Also, there is no burst of epidemics or viral diseases, or covid -19 in this region. The government and other respective bodies are continuously are trying to facilitate accessible communication, comfortable and safe internal travel, proper healthcare facility, and services of accommodation for tourists. We will take measures and precautions during honey hunting day at the spot to stay safe and enjoy the moment with photography and videography .
What are the physical fitness and other criteria required for this tour ?
There is no physical work required during the journey as you will drive to Chame and return the same way. You will walk to the honey hunting spot but it is an easy walk and no need to climb on the cliff. But participants with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung, and blood disease should inform us before booking the trek and are advised to seek medical advice or consent from their doctors before the tour .
When is the best season for honey hunting tour ?
The favorable season for honey hunting is during spring (March to May) as the trails become more vibrant and pleasing with the blooming of different wildflowers and Rhododendrons. The days are clear and perfect for a tour. The bees give good honey at this time.
Another season for this route is during autumn (September to November) as the weather is stable, dry, and clear. Also, the atmosphere is merry during these seasons, as autumn is the major festive season of the country. Bees provide good amount of honey this time too.
Do you have other dates available that match my timing?
Even though this trip has pre-fixed group departure dates, we can tailor it to accommodate your specific requests and schedule. Please review our designated departure dates, and if they do not suit your timeframe, let us know your preferred timing so that we can manage your itinerary accordingly. We organize this trek as per your wishes and convenience.
As a single traveler, may I join fixed departure ? Will it be possible to get a separate room?
This group package is designed in such a way that they suit single travelers too. It is a great way to get to know new people with similar interests, and most people find that group dynamics are very friendly and comforting. Single trekkers will share accommodation with other individual trekkers of the same gender on our group journeys.
If you are a single traveler wishing for a private room, we can manage that as well, but you will have to inform us about it while booking the trip. Also, please note that you may have to pay some additional charges for single rooms.
Can we change money along the route ? Can we pay by credit card or foreign currency ?
No, you won’t be able to change money along the route. So, we recommend changing money at Thamel. Credit cards and foreign currency are not accepted along the route. You are better to take enough cash from Kathmandu/Pokhara.
How do we get there ? How many travelers can accommodate in a jeep ?
Usually, we arrange one Jeep for 6 travelers and one tour guide but we can customize as per your preference to travel if you want to drive more comfortably. The cost will be subject to change if we decrease the number of travelers in a jeep.
What kind of food will be provided during this tour ?
Our package includes three meals per day, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dinner and lunch include the authentic Nepali Daal-Bhat (rice and lentils) along with seasonal vegetables, spinach, and pickle. If you do not like it, you can choose any item from the wide range of menu offered by the lodges.
Tea houses and lodges serve Nepalese, Asian, and Continental food, and even pizzas. The food is prepared hygienically, but the taste of western food might not meet your expectations as there are minimal resources available. We usually suggest eating vegetarian food to avoid falling ill.
How can drinking water be managed in the mountain ?
Bottled plastic water is readily available along route at USD 1 per liter. However, we recommend you carry your own water bottles. You can fill them up with filtered water wherever possible and purify it using chlorine or iodine. We shall provide water, purification drops, and tablets. You can fill up safe drinking water stationed by Annapurna Conservation Area.
How long will it take to reach Chamje ?
It takes 8 hours of driving to reach Chamje via Besisahar, including breaks for meals as needed. The distance is 180 kilometers from Kathmandu.
Along the way, you will have many chances for photography and other personal interests such as bird watching and discovering local areas of interest like natural springs, hot water ponds, and even exploring flora and fauna.
What are the documents that we need to bring for this tour ?
You need to submit the following documents that should be sent via email :
A copy of passport,
Passport-sized photos,
Flight details
What are the accommodation arrangements during the tour ?
In this route, the accommodation options are teahouses and lodges only. Nepal Alternative Treks generally manages your accommodation in the best available teahouses or lodges that provide single or double rooms, mostly in dormitory-style. The bed has a mattress, pillow, and blanket. The teahouses offer a room with a heater, and the blanket provided by the teahouse alone will not be enough to withstand the cold. So, it would be better to carry a warm sleeping bag. You can buy or hire one at the rental shops in Kathmandu.
What kind of toilet facilities are there? Will we be able to take a shower ?
Lodges and teahouses in this route have excellent infrastructure and are likely to have western-style toilets, and sometimes even attached toilets. Finding toilet paper is costly in these areas, so we advise you to carry plenty of your own.
If you need to use the toilet while driving, we will try to find the nearest lodge, if possible; otherwise, you will have to manage it somewhere in the forests. Please respect the environment by placing the used toilet paper in a plastic bag so that you can dispose of it later.
Usually, Nepal Alternative Treks arranges accommodation with proper shower facilities.
Can we hire gears in Kathmandu?
Yes, there are plenty of shops around Thamel that sell as well as rent all the necessary gear for tour. These shops have great varieties of goods ranging based on their brand as well as price. We will help you with buying or hiring all the necessary equipment.
Are alcoholic beverages available in tour ?
You can easily find different types of alcoholic beverages of international as well as Nepalese brands in this route. In villages, however, you can either find local (home-made) drinks like Chyang, Raksi, and Tongba or other packaged drinks of Nepalese brands.
Is it possible to recharge batteries and electronics during the tour ?
Nowadays, all kinds of facilities, including recharging batteries and electronics, are available in this route and also have electricity and recharging facilities available for a minimal service charge.
Also, note that the Nepalese plugs are of Type D, and the voltage is about 220-240 V. So, make sure that your devices are chargeable. Otherwise, you shall require adapters and voltage stabilizers.
Is it possible to communicate with friends and family back home while on tour ?
There are mobile networks, internet data, and Wi-Fi available in this region, and you can connect to your friends and family back home.
For mobile network and internet data, you will require a Nepalese SIM-Card. If you wish to buy a Nepalese SIM-Card, we will assist you in getting it. You can buy a SIM-Card from local distributors easily with some fees. We recommend Namaste SIM to have better network coverage and 4G data uses.
What is the weather and temperature like we can expect during the tour ?
The temperature could range around and above 25 degrees Celsius in summers and decrease below -5 degrees Celsius in winters. During autumn and spring, the temperature ranges around 10 to 15 degrees Celsius, making it suitable for tour purposes.
Do we need to tip our honey hunting local team and tour guide ?
It is not mandatory to tip the local team and tour guide. It ultimately depends on your choice. As they play a big role in the success of your trip, from sharing experiences and entertaining your necessities to being fruitful of your trip, your tips reflect gratitude towards them. Hence, tipping is a recommended culture for guides in Nepal as a gesture of thankfulness.
We thank our guests for trekking with us, reviewing our services, and making us eligible for the prestigious awards. We also sincerely thank our dedicated staff for their unwavering commitment and continuous support of our company. Without their hard work, dedication, and passion, the awards and achievements we have received wouldn’t be possible.
My friend and I were lucky to find Tej online before visiting Nepal. We knew we wanted to do a trek, but we weren’t sure exactly which trek. Tej sent us a bunch of itineraries for different treks and we chose the Manaslu circuit. When we arrived our guide, Kumar, was waiting for us at the airport and Tej was able to get us all our permits for the trek done in less than 2 hours which was great. The manaslu trek was absolutely amazing! We were super happy with our whole trip and we were lucky to be able to make the pass even though we saw dozens of other people who had to turn back because of the weather. We are already looking forward to going back next year at the same time to trek Everest and we will definitely use Tej again!
“Nepal Alternative Trek addressed my needs according to my schedule and agenda. I stayed most of the time at his home-stay, shuttling between home and the places that I wanted to visit. Tej, the boss behind Nepal Alternative Trek, helped to make my stay in Kathmandu comfortable and productive. He walked me to the monasteries that I wanted to visit and even picked me up when I needed a ride back home.
The home-stay is hosted by his wife and I got to experience living with a Nepalese family, sharing their food, space and laughter.
For the home-stay:
1) Meals available upon request
2) Family get together and chats
3) Regular change of bed-sheets and towels
4) Free WIFI
5) Near Swayambhu and Thamel
6) Safe environment
7) Mountainous forest behind home
8) Walking distance to beautiful monasteries
9) Away from hustle and bustle of towns yet easy to get to town
Goal was achieved 4130 meter and 0 degree celsius, Annapurna Base Camp Trek. It was 6 months of preparation. It was challenging target for us. We had dense forest, mountain, and completely wilderness above the treeline, it was windy and terrain . There is a huge support team. Without them it would not be possible. We can do it , we just have to give time and practice. Mr. Gurung Ji, you with your entire 7 of team were wonderful. They were always ready to help us.
Thanks Mr. Gurung ji for all the support, and guidance that made the trip successful. While all of us focused on Mountain, big thing but there were so many beautiful things along the way, stream, flowers, flora, so many birds I took pictures. So, in summary, phenomenal, success and our confidence there. We know, we can do more and higher in next what bigger thing.
8 days non trek city tour and 21days trek to EBC and chola pass
We love nepal and made 3 time visit to this beutiful country and rich culture. This time last year we came with 6 pax and visited Kathmandu , Pohkara and chitwan with a stay of 2 night in each place. We flew to Pohkara and got the van to chitwan and flew to Kathmandu. Tej arranged all transports overland and flights for us. We did not asked for a local guide but it was all smooth and no problem. We are happy with the service provided by Tej and he made all efforts to make us happy. His company performed professional with the very reasonable pricing. We encountered some small problem with the van transporting us back from nagarkot to kathmandu airport. This van was quite small and it came to pick up quite late that we almost missed the flight to pohkara. We told Tej about this and he must take care of this outsourced van company. Anyway the van in pohkara and to chitwan was excellent , big and comfy. So he has corrected the mistake.
Part 2 was our trek to EBC and chola pass for 21 nights. Tej arranged for flight and guide plus porter. For this trekking it was only me and my wife travelling together. We are about 50 years and used the service of 2 porters cause we bought a lot of dry food plus chocolate. We are difficult persons in terms of foreign food. Our guide Ammer and 2 porters are fabulous. They took care of us very well like we are part of their family.
Overall we strongly recommend this company. They are good and not high expensive tag. We will use their service again in June to trek in Langtang. Rocky
We had a fantastic experience on the Annapurna Circuit with Nepal Alternative Treks. Tej, the manager, was helpful, professional and efficient in dealing with our requirements and amendments, the arrangements worked smoothly and the information provided to us was excellent. Our guide Kul was brilliant. He was friendly, knowledgable and experienced and took changes in our itinerary in his stride. Our trekking experience was much better with his help in everything from planning the stages of the route to organising our food and accommodation. Just one warning: he is an ace card player and will probably beat you hands down!
A wonderful & interesting trek overall. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances ( heavy snow fall & Lie ping with a bad cold) we were unable to cross the Ganja la pass. However, our guide Simbir offered us as alternative trek which took us on a difference journey of Nepal. We had the opportunity to visit & stay in many local villages and meet Tamang, Gurung people experience, their lifestyle and culture. We visited our guide’s home town of Chalishgaun and timed it right to join in with Diwali celebrations!
Attempting Everest base camp trekking for me & my group was taking it to the next level. Before this, our limits were Kedarnath, MadMaheshwar & Tunganath with max distances of 18-19 kms spread over 2-3 days. Moreover, these tracks are such that people doesn’t necessarily have to trek. They have the option of ponies. EBC involves a lot for people like us (acclimatization to altitude, strength etc.), but above all, you need someone to provide logistical support, moral support that it can be done. This is where Nepal Alternative Treks does a great job. They organized it very well, guides and porters provided were very reliable and cost is reasonable when you compare to others. They can customize your travel plan according to your need.
A few weeks ago we went on a trip to Nepal, accompanied by a couple of friends who were on their second trip with Nepal Alternative Trek. Our first goal was to trek to the village of Chalish in Ruby Valley. We decided to go with the services of Nepal Alternative Trek to take us up there. We went there partly by jeep, partly walking through the cultivated terraces, meeting the inhabitants of the different communities who worked there.
I must say that the service that Tej offered us was perfect on all lines. First of all, before our departure, months before, Tej always answered our many questions (luggage, temperature, route to be revised, etc.) Always within 24 hours, he answered with a lot of patience.
All the equipment we thought we would need was available at his office.
Our guide Ammar led us to destination with confidence and professionalism. He knew all the trails, and especially all the shortcuts to avoid us having to go up or down too much along our road. He has managed all the difficulties we have encountered: due to personal reasons, we had to change and our itinerary, and our calendar, and he made everything possible. The whole team adapted to our changes. Our guide contacted Tej who orchestrated the changes without us even having to deal with anything.
The porters were attentive and were always in front of our needs.
Our journey continued towards Bandipur with the driver who made us know the various interesting points, from sunrise to sunset, making detours to take us to the most famous places. Then a 2 days stay in Chitwan, and return to Kathmandu again where the driver carried us without calculating from one place to another – God knows that traffic in Kathmandu, Bakhtapur and Patan can be complicated.
Thanks to Tej, and the whole Nepal Alternative Trek team. We will remember forever that amazing experience.
Many thanks to Tej – well organized, Dhan + hal worked Hard, we could not have done it without there Help, they were always there when needed, worked extra to help us when we were sick. Always kind and cheerful
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