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Nepal Honey Hunting

StarStarStarStarStar Based on 5 Reviews
Duration 06 Days
We offer special group discounts, please contact us for the offers.
Trip Duration 06 Days
Group Size 2-10 people
Maximum Altitude Ghale Gaon (2,100m)
Difficulty Grade Easy
Start & End Point Kathmandu/Kathmandu
Best Seasons Apr-May, Nov-Dec

Trip Highlights of Nepal Honey Hunting

  • Enjoy the scenic drive to Khudi via the countryside road.
  • Mountain Nepal Honey Hunting in the rocky stone small hills.
  • Enjoy the homestay experience with the local Gurung community
  • Capture the best picture in your camera collecting honey from Himalayan cliffs.
  • Nepal Honey hunting is an age-old tradition following till now.

Overview of Nepal Honey Hunting

Nepal Honey Hunting is one of the unique adventure tours that include the fantastic and surprising scenes of Nepal. Nepal is one of the richest countries in the world in honeybees and is a better place for mad honey hunting. There are at least five different species of honeybees in Nepal. The wild honey bees make the beehives on the mountain’s big rocks. This tour can be a challenging tour. If you know rock climbing and are brave enough to take the risk. On this tour, We will get the chance of viewing and experiencing the traditional honey harvest of the Gurung people. Honey hunting is a tradition twice (spring and autumn) a year to collect the wild mad honey from the hive hanging on a rock hill.

Nepal Mad Honey hunting

Nepal Mad Honey is collected by the local community in the mountain region of Annapurna and other areas. The Mad Honey is understood for its use medicinal benefits and psychedelic hallucinogens. it’s thanks to the presence of a chemical called Grayanotoxin which is present in the pollen of rhododendron flowers. Mad honey is being harvested by an indigenous tribe called “Gurungs.” in Nepal. The knowledge and benefits of honey harvesting are being passed from generation to generation among these local people. it’s still unknown to several people within the country that this honey exists.

Wild bee hunting in Nepal is the unique and best traditional method in the world. where the honey is collected directly from the cliffs where the enormous bees naturally wish to build their hives. Nepal Mad honey collection in Nepal is getting more popular now. The honey collection from mountain cliffs may be a risky job and seasonal as harvesting is merely done twice a year in spring and fall.

Thousand of tourists visit Nepal to enjoy the mad Nepal honey hunting tour. The world’s giant honey bees are in the Himalayan rock where they build their hives in the crevices of towering cliffs. The mad Honey from Nepal was once a secret treasured by the Himalayan tribes people for centuries to cure their pains, stress, anxiety, and insomnia (sleeping disorders). Everest Organic Home brings proven medicinal honey to the world.

During this Nepal honey hunting tour, Discover our magical Himalayan Cliff Honey and enjoy the taste of this Himalayan treasure. Feel the symbiosis of natural ingredients and the great taste of wild honey. This mad honey tour of Nepal will bring you the pleasure of a new experience.

Itinerary of Nepal Honey Hunting

DAY
01
Greetings at Kathmandu Airport, transfer to hotel.

Arrive at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. Our representative will meet you thereafter you finish your immigration formalities, you can get a sim card if you need it and we will take you to your hotel. When you have had your time to settle in and freshen up after your long flight. We will have a short meeting for a briefing about your program. The evening is free at your leisure, you can enjoy a delicious dinner in one of the best restaurants. Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

Accommodation Hotel
Meals Dinner
Altitude Kathmandu (1,400m)
DAY
02
Kathmandu drive to Khudi overnight at guest house.

Today after having breakfast, you will drive for your honey hunting tour. After 4 hours drive from Kathmandu, you will arrive at Vimal Nagar, where you can visit Siddha cave (the biggest cave in Asia). Then from here, after driving for about more 3hrs, you will reach Khudi village. The villagers heartily welcome you. In the evening, have a slide show program about bee hunting.

Car 7 hrs
Accommodation Guesthouse
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Altitude Khudi Village (461m)
DAY
03
Khudi to Base camp village

This is the point from where you start trek for the Honey hunting village site. Today you trek for six to seven hours for the Honey Hunting site. We can see the natural sceneries with spectacular mountain views.

Walking 6-7 hrs
Accommodation Teahouse
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY
04
Enjoy the honey hunting

Today you enjoy thrilling honey hunting programs at the cliff. Honey hunter prays before they start. After you enjoy the honey hunting program, return to the base camp village.

Accommodation Teahouse
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY
05
Trek back to Khudi Drive back to Kathmandu

Today you’ll retrace your path back to Khudi. On the way, the stream invites you to swim at a natural swimming pool. We can also have a short pleasant walk to the Marshyangdi River and Khudi stream. Drive back to Kathmandu with a journey of about 7 hrs drive. Transfer to your hotel and spend your free time.

Multiple 7 hrs trek, 7 hrs drive
Accommodation Hotel
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Altitude Kathmandu (1,400m)
DAY
06
Final Departure, Airport Drop

You can extend your trip also with us or if it is your final day here. We will take you to the Airport. We will wish you a happy journey traditionally and culturally of Nepal and hope to see you again.

Includes/Excludes

What's Included?
  • Kathmandu Airport to Hotel and back to Airport transfers by private car.
  • Your hotel twin sharing accommodation in Kathmandu, Includes breakfast.
  • Guesthouse/homestay accommodation during the honey hunting tour
  • hiking guide, honey hunter expert, honey hunting crews,
  • daily meals during the tour ( breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
  • all needed royalties and permits for honey hunting
  • Comprehensive pre-departure information.
  • Above the Himalaya Gifts
  • Welcome/Farewell Nepali Dinner in Kathmandu
  • Offical paper works, Service charge, and all Government Taxes
  • Local transportation to and from the starting and ending points of the tour by private vehicle.
What's Excluded?
  • Meals other than breakfast in Kathmandu.
  • Nepal entry visa fee, you can get it at Nepal Airport.
  • International Airfare/Airport tax.
  • Alcoholic, hot and cold drinks, hot water,
  • Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, sweets, snacks, beverages and bar bills, camera battery charging.
  • Travel Insurance
  • Tips for tour/ staffs
  • Any others expenses which are not mentioned in the Price Includes section.

Essential Information - Nepal Honey Hunting

Honey hunters from Nepal

Wild Honey is collected from the wild bee colonies Apis Laboriosa found within the isolated forest in the Himalayan mountains of Nepal. The world’s largest honey bee, Apis laboriosa (the giant Himalayan honey bee) may be a wild bee and makes it combs cliff overhangs on the Rockies.

Within the foothills of the Nepal Himalaya lives a brave tribe of Gurung people that risk their lives climbing up cliffs to reap honey from one of the most important and most dangerous honey bees within the world. This tradition is followed by locals for many years and holds great religious and cultural importance to the people that live here.

A honey hunter of Nepal Honey hunting the honey within the cliffs or the rocks. Most of these hunters are farmers, cultivating rice, corn, and vegetables for his or her own use. According to the local people, about 200 years ago, two tribes of Gurung and Ghale people left Tibet and settled in the Lamjung honey hunting site. from that time the locals start to collect wild honey from the steep cliffs and commenced trading it.

First, they prepared the ropes made from braided strips of bamboo. Some hunters made the ladder, which is comprised of those ropes, and others stay down to collect the honey. According to the honey hunters the highest quality in May and June.

The honeybees usually made their beehives on gigantic cliffs in the Jungle. They collect nectar from poisonous flowers within the jungle which make the real organic honey. The hunters first do the pray and respect the spirits of the forest. They also perform a ceremony to placate the cliff gods. They firest offer flowers, fruit, and rice, and pray to the spirits for a secure hunt.

Enjoy the traditional way of Nepal honey hunting

Nepal honey hunting is doing by a traditional from local village people. The honey hunters are the tribe of Mogoals and they are in the different part of Nepal. A tradition passed down for generations they locals are still following this tradition. Honey is taken as the primary source of sweets in ancient times when there was no sugar produced. Some of the indigenous Nepali communities like Gurungs and Magars are in this process.

There are many mountains cliffs in Nepal where you can see the wild bee honey. The Manaslu and Annapurna regions hills near the forest big stone has few of them. Nepal honey hunting will mostly go to hunt in Annapurna and Manaslu regions. As the which makes hive on the vertical slopes of these cliffs that’s why it is dangerous activity. We can see some sites of clifs which has local names of honey hunters who died during honey harvesting.

Nepal honey hunting is a very old tradition in the mountain areas of Nepal. In the past, people used to organize the religious ceremony before collecting honey to protect themselves from the attack of honeybees and any misshapen. The honey hunter from the local village celebrates honey hunting as a festival by offering flowers, grains, and sheep to God before shooting. The worship is organized to respect the hard work of honeybees and their contribution, to the survival of human beings. Everyone is excited and curious to watch honey hunters working at the cliffs.

Taste the wild honey

Nepal Honey hunting tour is doing by well experience villagers who hang from cliffs as tall as 300 m 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 is used for a medical purpose which still exists and has medicinal value with a great deal of money in the international market.

Nepal Honey hunting tour is still part of traditional livelihood; that is why it is more interesting for tourists to know the Nepali traditional honey hunting knowledge and skills. The trekking routes to and from the honey bee hives are exciting and breathtaking. Nepal honey hunting gives the visitors to take in the beauty and magnificence of the Nepali landscape and wildlife. At the same time, tourists can experience the culture. Thus, it adds more color to our delight. Nepal Honey hunting tour gives you the best experience of the traditional method of wild honey harvesting and hunting which 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. We take you to the Annapurna region one of the best Gurung villages this honey-hunting trip. Honey hunting is usually done in October and November in Autumn and in springtime from Mid-April to May. You will stay at the local homestay accommodation during the tour.

We specially arrange the Nepal honey hunting tour in Lamjung District nearby the famous Ghale Gaon village. it is a famous cultural Village. You can ask us for any alternative honey hunting itinerary if you want to try it 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 day pack. below is the 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 mad honey hunting tour is a short and easy tour so anybody can go for it. Actually, it is best for families with children and first-time trekkers with limited time. During the hike, we just need to walk at medium altitudes (800 m-2500 m) but you must have a normal health condition and average physical fitness. the alternate way there are transport facilities also so if you have any problem you can take a 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 2 times a year, the best time for a Nepal mad honey hunting tour is in October/November and mid-April to May.

The local people harvest their honey first during the summer (April to May) and second time during the Autumn (October o November). Therefore, You can do the trip only at a special time. However, hunting in autumn is more often done in low-altitude belts of the Annapurna region and other areas. If you wanted to see the high-altitude honey hunting it is in the spring and it is quite a long day’s trip.

Most Asked Questions by Travellers

Mad Honey comes from the pollen of certain rhododendron varieties and can find in the mountain range of Nepal. Compounds called grayanotoxins are found within the flowers of the plant and these compounds hop a ride on the bees and make their way into the honey. The Grayanotoxins have a euphoric, enlightening, psychoactive effect on the mind. and make a cheerful madness, hence the name “Mad Honey.

Himalayan Mad honey is formed by bees that prey on rhododendron flowers, which provides it its psychoactive effects. Rhododendrons and other evergreen flowering plants that grow in temperate, mountainous contain chemicals called grayanotoxins.

The Mad Honey comes from the Annapurna regions of Nepal. this is also referred to as “cliff honey” by the local honey hunters within the mountains of Nepal.

Mad Honey Nepal has various health benefits:

  • It is effective for joint problems, and sore muscles.
  • Mad Honey Improves cholesterol levels and helps to prevent cancer and heart diseases.
  • Nutritional values we get from Mad Honey: Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, Vitamin C, calcium, amino acid, etc.
  • Antioxidants that prevent your body from cell damage.
  • Antibacterial and antifungal properties
  • Boosts Libido and heals wounds.
  • Helps with digestive issues.
  • Soothes a sore throat.

Reviews on Nepal Honey Hunting

5.0

Star Star Star Star Star
Based on 5 Reviews


Profile
Nellie F
USA
May 27, 2018
Amazing Tour Of Nepal

I was traveling with 2 friends. We did honey hunting tour in Nepal (Bhugung Taku bhir Lamjung). It was a wonderful experience especially the help of our guide and porters the trail was quite slippery, Puru the Owner provide us best guide and porters who are very familiar with us and took care every small thing. We have traveled by jeep between Lamjung Khudi.W e truly felt that the Above the Himalaya team had our best interests in mind the entire trek and tour – keeping us informed of every detail, being flexible to our requests, ensuring that we were taken care of in all guest houses, and teaching us about Nepali culture and language. Definitely consider booking with Above the Himalaya!
Thank you Above the Himalaya and team to make our trip memorable.

Nellie F

5.0
Star Star Star Star Star

Excellent

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klrachel
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
May 27, 2018
Honey Hunting Trip

It was an incredible experience, we wanted to see the honey hunters since long and find dream l came true. We did this trip with the great help from Above the Himalaya trekking team. Mr. Puru is so prompt on giving small details. The local guide Khem was so helpful and taken care of every small thing for us and gifted us wild be honey. We had best new experience in life.
Thank you for organizing such a great trip.

klrachel

5.0
Star Star Star Star Star

Excellent

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henry
USA
February 15, 2019

honey hunting is a facsinating experience to behold. the marvel of nature at its best

5.0
Star Star Star Star Star

Excellent

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Amanda
USA
February 8, 2022
Thank you for the great tour and tasty Mad honey

I have done the honey hunting tour in May and had a chance to get back to my home. This mad honey taste is great. Every day I eat 1 to 2 spoon and it gives me great energy make me active. Thank you for the great tour and nice Raw honey. Highly Recommended

Amanda

5.0
Star Star Star Star Star

Excellent

Profile
Kiara Clarkson
USA
May 6, 2022
Mad Honey

Mad honey is a special version of honey. It is extracted from the rhododendron flower. Rhododendron flower has Grayanotoxin. So, mad honey has hallucinogenic properties.

You can get Himalayan Red Honey or Mad Honey in the Himalayan Region of Nepal. Himalayan Red Honey can be found in the Besisahar which is located in the Lamjung District of Nepal. There you can get Mad Honey in purest and raw form. However, the processed and packed version of the same honey can be found in various shops in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

5.0
Star Star Star Star Star

Excellent

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