We decided to go with 3 Sisters Adventure Trekking, a Pokhara-based trekking company and as in their name, owned and managed by three Nepali sisters. The Chhetri Sisters story is typical of what the majority of women who have overcome many social and cultural barriers when it comes to empowering women in Nepal. Women trekking guides is astonishingly a new concept for Nepalese society and we are more than happy to give them our business.
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Day 1: Pokhara – Hille
A 1-hour drive takes us to Nayapul ~ the starting point of our trek. We follow the river and then slowly ascend through rice fields to Hille (1475m) and stop for the night.
Hiking hours: 5 and it covers 7 km
Day 2: Hille – Ghorepani
We start our day with a steep ascent to Ulleri (m) where we get our first view of the Himalayas. We then continue through forests of rhododendron until we reach our destination ~ Ghorepani (2855 m).
Hiking hours: 6 and it covers 8 km
Day 3: Ghorepani – Poon Hill – Tadapani
An early climb to the summit of Poon Hill (3200 m) to watch the sun rise across a magnificent Himalayan panorama. After breakfast we follow a long ridge through rhododendron forests to Deurali. We then walk through impressive river gorges with the chance to see Langur monkeys in the trees. Our destination is Tadapani (2680m)
Hiking hours: 5 and it covers 10 km
Day 4: Tadapani – Ghandruk
We walk along a shaded forest trail, followed by terraced fields of maize and potatoes to Ghandruk (2170m). From here we have fantastic views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhare. It is a major settlement of the Gurung, an ethnic group of Nepal. It is a very famous Gurung village with terraces and offers excellent mountain views. After arriving, it is possible to take a short walk to explore the village, visiting a cultural museum and monastery.
Hiking hours: 4 and it covers 5 km
Day 5: Ghandruk – Nayapul – Pokhara
Today we leave the mountains behind us. A 5-hour hike and an hour’s drive takes us back to the relaxing Lakeside of Pokhara.
Hiking hours: 5 and it covers 10 km
By Rexy
Related film about 3 Sisters: Trailblazing: The Women of Nepal’s Trekking Industry.
Film Synopsis
Shot in the beautiful Annapurna region of the Nepal Himalaya, the 24-minute film profiles the fledgling few women working in the heavily male-dominated adventure tourism business as trekking guides. The film profiles women in the business of guiding female tourists who come to Nepal to “trek” the mountainous routes from village to village. Through the telling of their stories, the kinds of gender barriers that exist for them, not only alongside the predominately male workforce, but also as Nepali women are seen.
The film opens with the remarkable story of three determined sisters who operate the first and only female owned trekking agency in the highly competitive adventure tourism industry in Nepal. 3 Sisters Adventure (www.3sistersadventure.com) caters mostly to women travelers requesting female trekking guides and porters. The sisters saw a niche in the market when women tourists returning from treks told of incidents of inappropriate behaviour from their male guides.
To meet the high demand for female guides, the sisters have now developed a training program to expand capacity for women in the industry. The sisters, who are experienced guides themselves, now train approximately 20 to 25 young women twice a year. This is also a first. 3 Sisters is a ‘social enterprise’, diverting 5% of the annual income generated through their trekking company and guesthouse to a training organization for female guides and porters.
The film captures the pioneering spirit and determination of the sisters as they continue to break down gender barriers and stereotypes in a non-traditional field for women. It tells of how their entry into the field challenged the social order of the marketplace. The film also profiles several young trainees in the program and provides a sense of the social conditions and limited expectations for young Nepali women within this conservative mountain culture. Female tourists from Sweden, Canada and America are also featured.
The film is in English (no subtitles) with a small portion in Nepali (English sub-titles). The project was funded in part by the Canadian International Development Agency.
Source: http://trailblazing.ca