PHOTOS: Tracing Nepal 2016 Experience!

February 4, 2017

As we get closer to revealing key information about the Tracing Nepal 2017 experience and opening the application once again, I believe now is the perfect time to share photos and talk about our Tracing Nepal 2016 experience.

In 2016, the for-profit purposeful travel program brought together a team of twelve Nepalese adults from the UK, Germany and USA. With Shraddha Gurung and myself as the team leader, the two weeks was spent with our partner organisation Children and Youth First for the first leg followed by a rural village stay in Sablakhu Gau, Taplejung for the second leg and eventually concluding the trip with a brief two-nights stay at the swanky Kasara Resort on the edge of Chitwan National Park. The tour program for the year was priced at £400 per person and included travel, food and accommodation for the two weeks (cost does not include international air travel).

During the first leg ‘Hamro Sano Paila’ at CYF, the group were divided into two where they involved themselves in painting the school gate, the dining area walls and digging a pit. They were taken on a hike to Bishankhunarayan Temple by the senior students where they had time to interact with the students. Tracing Nepal also announced the ‘Tracing Nepal Scholarship’ to support the education and boarding fees for a student at CYF for the next three years (starting in 2016).

Senior student Radha from CYF showing the team members around the site.

Group A gets digging for the recycling pit.

Group B gets their hands on a bit of paint.

Team member Rasna performs an impromptu dance during the welcome event by the CYF students.

There were some incredible and entertaining performances by the children.

The team members enjoy the welcome program.

A bit of magic by Shraddha on the dining area wall.

Tracing Nepal distributed 51 school bags to the students which was generously given by Helambu Education and Livelihood Partnership as part of their School In A Bag Initiative.

Following the first leg, the team travelled along the picturesque Sindhuli Highway to reach Birtamod where they rested before continuing north towards Taplejung for the second leg ‘In The East’. The two day travel by land was followed by a glorious three-hour uphill hike to reach Sablakhu Gau. In Sablakhu Gau, the group spent majority of their time at the Singhadevi Madhyamik Bidhyalaya which teaches up to Class 8. Apart from interacting with the students, teaching basic English and playing games, the team members also organised a mini-sports day on the day of Eid. During the stay in Sablakhu, the team were also involved in a small amount of daily agricultural duties.

The team before the glorious uphill hike to Sablakhu Gau

Kaki prepares the traditional tongba for the team members.

Team member Cholung learns a thing or two about cutting grass from kaki.

Cholung looks on as Basan and Pemba from Sablakhu prepare dinner.

Team member Prapti encourages a student during the mini-sports day.

The winning students with their medals and team captain.

Team members Nawal Mukti and Cholung play a game of football with the boys from Sablakhu.

Team member Mukti talks about his time in Sablakhu Gau during the final farewell afternoon.

Team member Jenny cant contain her excitement in the tea gardens of Ilam as the team head back to Birtamod.

Following the traditional Tracing Nepal itinerary, the final leg gives the team members time to unwind and relax. We chose to return to Kasara Resort in Chitwan as their luxury, delicious food and activities serves the perfect combination for a group like Tracing Nepal. During the stay at Kasara, the team enjoyed elephant bathing, nature walk, canoe safari, visiting the Crocodile Breeding Center and relaxing at the resort.

The traditional dugout canoe is ready for the TN16 team.

The team pose with the elephants and their mahouts along the Rapti River.

Guess who came to say Hello during the final dinner!

Everyone got to wear a traditional Tharu outfit too!

We look forward to sharing more information by the third week of February and follow that up by leaving the applications open for Tracing Nepal 2017 from mid-March to mid-April. Tracing Nepal 2017 is expected to run for two weeks in early September.

VIEW MORE PHOTOS ON TRACING NEPAL FACEBOOK PAGE

Follow Lex On Twitter!