The Epitome of Strength: Women of Nepal

                For generations, women in Nepal have been subjugated to maltreatment, hard work, lack of education and health care, and discrimination. Within each caste in Nepal, the treatment and responsibilities of women varies, but the underlying tone is the same: Men are more important.

                It is the women who bear the brunt of the manual labour in farming and industrial areas. Women are often given lower wages for longer hours of work, and are still expected to take care of the children and the household. It is said that female wages in Nepal are some 25% less, than that of males in the same position. Studies have shown that malnutrition and poverty hit women of lower socioeconomic classes harder, as during times of food shortages, women and female children are given less food than their male counterparts.

                The government in Nepal has set up equal rights acts, but the lack of education has driven a deep divide in the equality of men and women in the country. The literacy rate has improved substantially over the past decades, but a huge percentage of women in Nepal are still unable to read.  There is said to be at least a 30% gap difference in literacy rates from women to men.

                Education is on the rise, especially in the wealthier castes of Nepal—and while this may guarantee financial security for women, this does not necessarily guarantee just social treatment. Many times, the status of a woman is left in the hands of her husband’s authority, and the prestige or lack thereof, of his family’s name. Arranged marriages, based on caste, are not uncommon in modern day Nepal. A woman can be completely and hopelessly in love with someone from another caste, and still may not be allowed to marry him because of the caste difference. More and more, this is being done away with in lower castes, but is still very prominent in upper Nepali societies. Once the woman is married, she is then in the hands of her new family. As with any marriage in the world, the gaining of in-laws can be either a positive experience or a negative one. In Nepal, however, this can mean a happy life or a miserable life, as the family ties here are still extremely strong.

                The women of Nepal are strong women, carrying the weight of the country on their shoulders. While they bear the majority of the work, they still have very little voice as to what goes on in their country. With Nepal’s progression into the modern age, and the dawn of a new government, one can only hope the treatment of women gets pulled along in the right direction.

Building our Skills

Trek Nepal Team and Jan B. @ Northfield Cafe for Seminar

      Since the beginning of Trek Nepal, our team has focused on building the skills and knowledge of our team as to provide quality services to our clients. We began with personally selecting top guides from Nepal's mountainous regions, as to ensure authenticity and knowledge that only comes from locals. We then invested and continue to invest in educational programs such as first-aid, emergency response, guide training, and English language skills. Many authentic trekking agencies in Nepal do this as well, but recently we started working with an international consulting agency as to put our guides on not only a knowledgeable level, but to also bring them up to an international standard of professionalism.

Office Staff and Female Guides

      On July 13th and 14th our entire team attended a specialized company seminar lead by Jan Beaderstadt. Jan helped our team by educating them further on interesting facts about Nepal. He also showed us different varieties of mammals, butterflies, and wildflowers of Nepal that would help our guides to better educate our clients and help them enjoy their treks more. The rest of the two days were spent learning about different clients and how to deal with them, protection against sexual harassment to our guides, as well what to avoid in order to keep things professional while on treks. We also learned about setting goals and furthering the careers of everyone in the company. We worked with team building and learned about the new GPS tracking system our company will be implementing in August. 

Trek Nepal Team

      All in all, it was a successful two days that made our guides not only more knowledgeable about their country, but also helped them to understand the international standard of business and conduct. It is our hope at Trek Nepal Int'l that seminars and training sessions like these will set us apart from the average, every day guide and will ensure each client has the trek of a lifetime.

Abundant Annapurnas

One of the most well known areas in Nepal is the ever-famous Annapurna region. This region is home to some of the world’s highest peaks, but also offers a variety of geographical differences sure to please every sort of traveller.

                The Annapurna region is named after the Hindu “Goddess of Plenty,” and rightly so as it is one of the most abundant agricultural hubs in Nepal. This region is not only abundant in agriculture, but in natural wonders, as well. The Annapurna region is home to 1,226 species of flowering plants, 102 mammals, 474 birds, 39 reptiles, & 22 amphibians. Here, you can also find the mighty Mt. Annapurna, which sits in the prestigious 8,000s Club at 8,091 m—coming in 10^th on the “World’s Highest” list. In addition, 13 peaks over 7,000 m. can be found, along with 16 more over 6,000 m. This region is also home to the world’s largest rhododendron forest, the world’s deepest gorge, and the world’s highest altitude lake. It’s no wonder this region is forever symbolized by the Goddess of Plenty.

More still, the Annapurna region is commonly known to be abundant in hospitality and culture. This region of Nepal is said to be the friendliest and most welcoming to foreigners and Nepalese alike. Here, the ethnic groups vary widely, which can give one a great, well-rounded, sense Nepali culture in all its variations. The Gurung and Magar people dominant the southern part of the region, while the Thakali, Manange, & Loba people dominate the northern part of the region. Gurungs and Magars are known for their bravery and military service both nationally and internationally. Most make their living from rice farming and sheep herding. Both ethnicities are similar to Tibetan and Burmese cultures. Gurungs are known for their love of music, while Magars are known for weaving, hunting, and fishing. Thakali people hail from Muktinath and have distinct Mongolian features, fair complexions, and narrow eyes. This group has made their style of the national meal, daal bhat, famous and readily available in almost all regions of Nepal.

                In this ever-abundant region of Nepal you can enjoy a number of treks such as Annapurna Panorma/Base Camp/Circuit, Mardi Himal, Dhaulagiri, and Pisang Peak. Come experience theabundance of the Annapurna beauty today!