Nepal: Women's Expedition

13 Days | Experience the natural beauty and culture of Nepal from a woman’s perspective

5 out of 5 based on 9 reviews submitted.
Women's Expedition
From
EUR €1,240
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With inspiring cultural experiences and days spent trekking in the Himalayas, this women’s only expedition will give you a unique insight into the diverse lives of Nepalese women. Meet a range of female trailblazers, from chefs at a social enterprise to women campaigning to end menstruation discrimination to your all-female mountain guides and porter’s crew. Listen to personal stories shared by locals and spend time reconnecting with nature at a female-run village homestay on the fringes of Chitwan National Park, which is helping to conserve wildlife in the area. Connect with Buddhist nuns as you get an inside look at an all-female nunnery challenging patriarchal traditions. Listen, connect and be inspired on this 13-day female-run adventure.

Trip overview

Map of Nepal: Women's Expedition including Nepal
Start
Kathmandu, Nepal
Finish
Kathmandu, Nepal
Theme
Women's Expedition
Destinations
Nepal
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Original
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
HNSW
We’re in the process of figuring out how much CO2-e this trip generates. In the meantime, find out more about our climate commitments and carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Enjoy a five-day hike in the incredible Annapurna Mountains, wholly supported by an all-female crew of leaders, guides, assistants and porters.
  • Get to know the locals during a Madi Valley homestay run by women working to alleviate the human impact on the surrounding wilderness and wildlife.
  • Visit an NGO working to abolish the practice of Chhaupadi – the illegal but socially common practice of forbidding women to enter their homes, kitchens, schools and temples during their menstrual cycle as they're believed to be rendered temporarily impure.
  • Learn how to create traditional dishes while supporting a unique social enterprise that has changed the lives of disadvantaged women and learn the secrets to creating the perfect MoMo during a cooking class at a Tibetan refugee camp.
  • Swap stories and learn about the lives of local Buddhist nuns as you visit an all-female monastery challenging patriarchal Buddhist traditions.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Sagarmatha Next. Donations help them remove waste responsibly and turn rubbish into art in the Everest region.

Is this trip right for you?
  • You’ll need a high level of fitness for the trekking portion of this trip, as you will be walking for between five to seven hours a day some days. You’ll ascend and descend uneven ancient stone steps for much of the trek, so it’s recommended you use hiking poles (which you can purchase in Nepal).
  • While you’re trekking, you’ll be provided with a duffel bag that a female porter will carry. Your porter can carry up to 8 kg per traveller and any other luggage can be left in Pokhara to collect at the end of the trek.
  • The reality of road travel in Nepal is that things always take longer than you expect. Some roads will be bumpy, dusty or even unexpectedly blocked requiring reroutes and plenty of patience – but that’s all part of the adventure. To make the most of your time in Nepal, you take domestic flights when you have long distances to cross.
  • Accommodation in some destinations may vary in standard and facilities and on occasion hot water may be limited. In more remote parts of Nepal, eating at the hotel restaurant may be practical rather than heading out for optional meals.
  • While Intrepid would love to open these unique experiences to all our travellers regardless of gender, it’s simply not yet possible to do so while operating in a socially responsible and culturally sensitive manner. If you want to travel to Nepal on a similar itinerary, check out some other itineraries or consider booking a private group tour.

Itinerary

Map of Nepal: Women's Expedition including Nepal

Inclusions

Meals

8 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle, Plane

Accommodation

Hotel (4 nights), Guesthouse (2 nights), Homestay (5 nights), Jungle Resort (1 night)

Activities
  • Kathmandu - Welcome dinner
  • Kathmandu - Cooking class at Seven Women
  • Khachoe Ghakyil Ling - Kapan Nunnery Visit
  • Pokhara - Orientation Walk
  • Pokhara - Yes Helping Hands Handicrafts
  • Pokhara - Tibetan community visit with momo lunch
  • Pokhara - Annapurna Homestay Trek (5 days/4 nights)
  • Ghandruk - Guided Village Tour
  • Ghandruk - Gurung Women Cultural Dance
  • Pokhara - Phewa Tal Lake boat trip
  • Pokhara - International Mountain Museum
  • Madi Valley - Cultural performance
  • Madi Valley - Cooking class
  • Chitwan NP - Jeep safari
  • Chitwan NP - Village tour
  • Chitwan NP - Tharu village visit
  • Kathmandu - Days for Girls NGO Visit
  • Kathmandu - Dinner at The Village Cafe
  • Kirtipur - Newari Traditional Pedicure
  • Kathmandu - Durbar Square
Add on activities
  • Kathmandu - Spiritual Nepal Experience Urban Adventure - USD68
  • Kathmandu - Rickshaw Night Explorer Urban Adventure - USD55
  • Kathmandu - Everest Scenic Flight - USD240
  • Activity - Free
  • Chitwan - Bird watching walk - Free

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. A Single Supplement to have your own room is available to purchase and is valid for all nights on the trip except for those spent in teahouses (Days 3-6).
2. Please bring 2 passport size photographs for your trekking permit.
3. Between June and August, it is monsoon season in Nepal. If you do choose to travel during this time, please note that you will encounter wet conditions, obscured views, and an extra leech or two. During the monsoon, there is a chance that your itinerary may be adjusted pending water levels in rivers. Don't forget to pack rain proof jackets and trousers. Please see alternative monsoon season itinerary in the weather section of these notes.
4. Please be aware that in the event of an emergency evacuation, Intrepid does not have control over which helicopter service may be used. Some helicopters are not in regular use with Intrepid and have not passed our internal safety auditing.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

5 out of 5 based on 9 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Caroline · Traveled November 2023
I got really lucky with the group of woman attending, as we all got along so well! But overall the trip was incredible. Highly recommend!
Review submitted 26 Dec 2023

Sarah · Traveled November 2023
This was truly a spectacular trip. Srishti was an exceptional, supportive & inspiring leader, constantly bringing a beautiful, positive energy that bolstered us as a group. Nandu was also such an amazing assistant guide, and I felt so safe having her around to guide us through the trek. All of the team and porters were wonderful overall. The trek was immensely beautiful and the activities that followed were so much fun and a great way to experience the magic of Nepal. I was fortunate to be blessed with an amazing group of women, which made the experience all the more special. Would definitely recommend!
Review submitted 01 Dec 2023

Kathryn · Traveled November 2023
This tour is fantastic - great introduction to hiking in the Himalayas region! Our tour leader, Srishti, really made out trip so special - I learnt so much about Nepal, the people, women's experiences in Nepal and some of the fantastic work going on to support women! So much good food and what a beautiful country.
Review submitted 03 Dec 2023

Luzia · Traveled November 2023
I had an amazing experience on the Nepal Women‘s Expedition. It gave a wonderful insight into Nepali culture. Our all female crew were an amazing example of female empowerment. The group was absolutely lovely and our leader Srishti was an absolute joy, entusiastic, knowledgable and helpful. I would absolutely recommend this trip.
Review submitted 03 Dec 2023

Brittni · Traveled November 2023
This trip is truly an experience of a lifetime. It was so special to have a trip dedicated to Women's empowerment, especially in a very patriarchal country and culture. It felt impactful to have a trip that was so focused on supporting and empowering the women of Nepal and hearing the stories from everyone we met including our guides and porters was so special. Our leader Srishti made the trip an amazing experience as well with her knowledge, her huge smile, and knowledge and support the whole way through. This trip was fun, educational, safe, and empowering. I would recommend to any woman looking to travel to Nepal!
Review submitted 05 Dec 2023
Nepal: Women's Expedition
From
EUR €1,240