Nepal Honey Hunting

Itinerary of Nepal Honey Hunting

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Essential Information - Nepal Honey Hunting

Honey hunters from Nepal

People collect wild honey from the feral bee colonies Apis Laboriosa. It lives within the isolated forest in the Himalayan mountains of Nepal. The world’s largest honey bee, Apis Laboriosa (the giant Himalayan honey bee), maybe a wild bee. It makes its comb cliff overhangs on the Rockies.

Within the foothills of the Nepal Himalaya lives a brave tribe of Gurung people. They risk their lives climbing up cliffs to reap honey from one of the most dangerous honey bees in the world. The locals have been following this tradition for many years. It holds great religious and cultural importance to the people here.

A Nepali honey hunter hunts honey within the cliffs or rocks. Most of these hunters are farmers, cultivating rice, corn, and vegetables for their use. According to the local people, about 200 years ago, two tribes of Gurung and Ghale people left Tibet. They then settled in the Lamjung’s honey hunting site.

From then, the locals started collecting wild honey from the cliffs and trading it. First, they prepared ropes made from braided strips of bamboo. Some hunters made the ladders from those ropes, and others stayed down to collect the honey. According to the honey hunters, the highest quality is in May and June.

The honeybees usually made their beehives on gigantic cliffs in the Jungle. They collect nectar from poisonous Jungle flowers, making natural organic honey. The hunters first pray and respect the spirits of the forest. They also perform a ceremony to appease the cliff gods. They preferably offer flowers, fruit, and rice and pray to the spirits for a secure hunt.

Enjoy the traditional Nepal honey hunting.

A traditional group of people from a local village carry out Nepal honey hunting. The honey hunters are part of the Mogoals tribe and live in different parts of Nepal. This tradition has been passed down for generations, and the locals are still following it. Honey was the primary source of sweets in ancient times when there was no sugar.

Some indigenous Nepali communities, like Gurungs and Magars, are in this process. There are many mountain cliffs in Nepal where you can see wild honeybees. The Manaslu and Annapurna regions hills near the forest have few of them. Nepal honey hunters will mostly go to hunt in the Annapurna and Manaslu regions.

It makes hives on the vertical slopes of these cliffs, so it is a dangerous activity. We can see some cliff sites with local names of honey hunters who died during honey harvesting. Nepal honey hunting is an ancient tradition in the mountain areas of Nepal. In the past, people used to organize religious ceremonies before collecting honey.

They do this to protect themselves from the honeybee’s attack and any misshapen. The honey hunter from the local village celebrates honey hunting as a festival. They offer flowers, grains, and sheep to God before shooting. People organize the worship to respect the hard work of honeybees.

They honor their contribution to human survival. Everyone gets excited and curious to watch honey hunters working at the cliffs.

Taste the wild honey.

The well-experienced villagers hang from cliffs as tall as 300 m. They climb with the help of homemade ropes and Bamboo ladders. The leaders of the hunters collect honey in the bucket from the beehives and pass it down to another person. You can also taste the wild honey if you are in the hunting time.

This wild honey still exists and has excellent medical purposes. It has medicinal value and is worth much money in the international market. Nepal honey hunting tours are still part of traditional livelihood. It is more interesting for tourists. They get to know the Nepali traditional knowledge and skills of honey hunting.

The trekking routes to and from the honey bee hives are exciting and breathtaking. Nepal honey hunting allows guests to see the beauty of the Nepali terrain and nature. At the same time, tourists can experience the culture. Thus, it adds more color to our delight.

The Nepal Honey hunting tour is the best adventure. It allows you to experience traditional wild honey harvesting and hunting methods. It is worth a visit.

Enjoy the Nepal honey hunting tour with the best view in the village of Annapurna region.

We can arrange a Nepal honey hunting tour in different parts of Nepal. On this honey-hunting trip, we take you to the Annapurna region, one of the best Gurung villages. Honey hunting is usually done in October and November in Autumn. It is also done in springtime from mid-April to May.

You will stay at the local homestay accommodation during the tour. We specially arranged the Nepal honey hunting tour in Lamjung District. It is near the famous Ghale Gaon village. It is a renowned cultural Village. You can ask us for any alternative honey hunting itinerary in different areas.

What to pack for Nepal honey hunting

Mad Honey Hunting in Nepal is an easy and short tour, so you can pack your belongings in your daypack. Below is an idea of what to take.

• Trekking boot
• Flip flop/sandals
• Sleeping bag -10 degree
• Socks
• Walking stick
• Shorts
• Trekking trousers
• T-shirt
• Wind stopper, warm Jacket
• Hat (sun/cold)
• Rucksack/backpack with cover Weatherproof pack cover
• Head torch
• Water bottles
• Sunglasses
• Sunblock
• Raincoat or Umbrella
• Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, floss, etc.)
• Small first aid kit, e.g., plasters, paracetamol, antiseptic wipes, etc
• Some snicker, chocolate, candy

Health & Fitness

Nepal’s honey-hunting tour is short and easy so anybody can do it. It is best for families with children and first-time trekkers with limited time. During the hike, we must walk at medium altitudes (800 m-2500 m). We need to have regular health conditions and average physical fitness.

There are also transport facilities on the alternate route. So, if you have any problems, you can drive back to Kathmandu.

When is the best time for Nepal honey hunting?

Mad Nepla Honey Hunting is not possible throughout the year. We can do the honey hunting in two seasons, late spring and late autumn. As a result, these are the times when you have the most chances to see the hunters at work. We run the tour two times a year.

The best time for a Nepal-made honey hunting tour is October/November and mid-April to May. The local people harvest honey during the summer (April to May). They also gather it during Autumn (October or November). Therefore, you can only go on the trip at a particular time.

Yet, hunting in autumn is often done in low-altitude belts of the Annapurna region and other areas. If you want to see the high-altitude honey hunting, it is a long day’s trip in the spring.