These Wellness Treks empower the individual to act with more consciousness and awareness of how their actions impact themselves, others around them, and the environment at large. I believe that mental health and planetary health are deeply connected; healthy, happy, conscious people will make compassionate, collective choices.

  1. Environmental Policy
  • Our office uses energy company Octopus Energy; all their electricity comes from 100% renewable sources
  • Guesthouses electricity and showers are more often than not powered by solar so turn off the lights when you leave your room and take short showers to save valuable water.
  • To minimize plastic waste in a country that sadly does not have an effective waste or recycling system: avoid buying plastic bottled water. Bring your own bottle and fill it with boiled water / purified water from your lodge, or you can use the sterilizing pen that I have. ACAP provide numerous drinkable water re-filling stations around the Annapurna region where water bottles can be refilled with UV treated water for a minimal cost. Carry purifier drops or tablets as a backup, as at high altitudes water refill stations don’t operate.
  • We recommend ordering same meal as your trek buddies to save precious fuel. Eating local, traditional food (Dhal Bhat or veg curry) is a popular choice as it is what all the guides and porters eat and it is the most nutritious dish on the menu
  • Take harmful trash back home with you – batteries back to the UK to be disposed of properly
  • We encourage clients to have an empty plastic bag with them so they can pick up a bit of litter every now and then – there is often too much to focus on but every little helps and influences other trekkers and locals alike. Locals are incredibly grateful and happy when they see you doing good things for their community.
  • We aim to have (and leave) no adverse impact on the environment or the community.
  1. Social Policy
  • We endeavor to engage our client’s interest in the environment and community through which they are travelling. Our experiences allow clients to see both the positive and negative aspects of the society they are visiting.
  • Our guide speaks good English and is able to inform clients on local culture and politics that shape the lives of citizens in Nepal.
  • With its ancient culture and the Himalayas as a backdrop, landlocked Nepal was closed to the outside world until the 1950s.
  • Since then the country has seen the creation of a multi-party parliamentary system, a decade-long Maoist insurgency from 1996 – 2006 and the abolition of its monarchy.
  • Flanked by China and India, it is home to eight of the world’s highest mountains including Mount Everest, known locally as Sagarmatha.
  • As one of the world’s poorest countries, Nepal’s economy relies heavily on aid and tourism.
  • A devastating earthquake in April 2015 killed thousands of people, flattened villages and reduced numerous heritage sites to ruin.
  • Since then political infighting has delayed much of the reconstruction despite billions of dollars having been pledged.
  • You’ll learn and be inspired by the Nepalese hospitality and humility. Over the course of the retreat you strip back to living the simple life – shelter, good food, great company and exquisite nature – and the de-cluttering of the mind and happiness that entails.
  • Values driven responsibility: we’ve supported Earthquake relief programs and Kopan Monastery – Nepal is the environment that holds space for our work and these incredible adventures and Kopan Monastery has provided courses that have helped myself and past clients feel more confident and more masterful of our mind and actions, so our support reflects our gratitude to Nepal and the path paved to our personal development.

How can you minimise your negative impact on local cultures?

  • The standard of living in villages on Nepal’s main trekking circuits has improved immensely with the influx of tourists and by buying local handicrafts in the mountains, it skips the middlemen and gives a fairer price to the seller.
  • Nepal has different social customs to us is the West. It is important to respect the local culture, dress and act modestly, and always seek permission before taking photographs. Women should have their legs and shoulders covered and men should wear full-length trousers and tops with long sleeves. Respectful engagement with local communities is fundamental to our approach, and we work with suppliers that do this.
  • There are donation boxes on route for you to give money to schools in the Annapurna Sanctury region. This small money can go along way out there to providing more educational facilities and is regulated. It’s not helpful to encourage children to beg by indiscriminately handing out money, candy or pens: they will ask.
  • By learning and using a few Nepali phases you’ll get the warmest smile in return – it goes a long way.
  • The local customs considers it good manners to give and receive most things with the right hand. To show respect, offer money, food or gifts with both hand. The left hand is seen as dirty.

Local guides:

  • There are many Buddhist monuments in Nepal. I have extensive knowledge of Buddhist practices and I inform my clients of the practices and prayers Buddhists make while circulating clockwise around these monuments.
  • When entering a monastery there will be a donation box where we will give a small donation that will go to conserving the monastery and allowing the monks to continue their spiritual practice.
  • On the last evening we have dinner in Boudhanath, which has one of the largest unique structure’s stupas in the world. Tibetan merchants have rested and offered prayers here for many centuries. When refugees entered Nepal from Tibet in the 1950s, many decided to live around Boudhanath. The Stupa is said to entomb the remains of Kassapa Buddha. We meet a local guide to give us a deeper description of the mythology and history before enjoying a cocktail and our final celebratory dinner together.

Destination visits to local social projects with direct or indirect benefits to the host community?

  • If you have time, I highly recommended the retreats / introductory courses designed for westerners to learn more about the philosophy and psychology of Buddhism at Kopan Monastery.  https://kopanmonastery.com/courses-retreats/courses/course-calendar
  • I have personally attended many retreats at Kopan Monastery. My favorite ones being ‘10 day introduction to Buddhism’ and ‘Sitting with Disturbing emotions.’ Retreats that cultivate patience, humility and compassion – These retreats will complement the health coaching you’ll receive in the mountains.

 

Health Coaching

  • “I (Bella) help to inspire and empower people to overcome negative behaviour habits so they can calm the mind, find balance, build confidence, and find what they’re passionate about so they can live a life filled with purpose and fulfillment.
  • The retreat offers a fresh start to help break bad habit patterns that are difficult to break back home when you’re surrounded by familiar temptations, triggers and pressures.
  • Having struggled with my mental health and eating habits, I share with others the tools I used to find my own balance.
  • I’m a certified Health Coach from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and a Yoga Teacher
  • My coaching is a two-steps-forward, one-step-back approach…learning from mistakes, letting go of perfection, and accepting you’ll make mistakes again in the future”

 

Coaching:

  • Personalised Health History consultation via Skype
  • Follow up personal session via Skype after returning home.
  • Daily group coaching in the mountains
  • Morning Meditation: 10 mins: wrapping up with a reminder of the intention behind doing meditation and a gratitude practice

 

Group coaching topics in the Mountains:

  • Holistic Wellness
  • Goals and Intentions
  • Identity Development
  • Fear and Procrastination
  • Happiness
  • Relationships
  • Career Congruency
  • Exercise
  • Spirituality
  • Stress and Self-care
  • Sugar
  • Habits
  1. Economic Policy
  • By travelling to Nepal you’re supporting a struggling economy: Nepal is an amazing country that is in a geographical poverty trap with weak trade routes being mountainous and a landlocked country that is dependent of China and India for good relations. Therefore, Nepal relies on tourism as the foundation of its economy.
  • We pay a fair price for services and goods that are oganised by our DMC in Nepal: organizing transport, employing local guides, porters and drivers, and booking accommodation.
  • We communicate clearly with suppliers to share good environmental practices.
  • We stay in family run guesthouses each night that employ local people
  • The affordable nature of these treks makes it more accessible; making a profit is not our ‘overriding objective’, rather to help people gain more control and peace of mind, and the freedom that that entails, and give you unforgettable memories; a Transformational Travel experience.

If you feel we do not live up to our responsible travel intentions, we would love to hear about it. If you have any ideas of other ways you think we could improve, we’d also love to hear about that too. Email our founder directly Bellasomerset@gmail.com

We hope to be a positive impact on your life and a positive impact on the country fosters such a healing environment. The mountains are a very special place.