Trek & Painting at the foothill of Everest
                                                                
                                                             1st April to 16th April

                                                17 Days Paris - Paris - Easy trek -  Maximum 3000 m



This tailor-made trek, ideal for you, take us off the beaten track, walking along easy trails, and avoiding crowded paths. In an inspiring setting on the foothills of the Everest massif, hone your skills, sketching, and ink painting in the unmatched wilderness of the Himalayas.

An Artistic Journey in the Himalayas

The art of monochrome spiritual painting inspired by Chan Buddhism in China, which became Zen in Japan, was generally practiced by literate nature lovers who often refused honors and careers in the administration to devote themselves to their passion for ink and brush. They retreated to the mountains that were and remain the privileged refuge for hermits, poets, and painters.

Accompanied by Jérome Edou, a resident of Nepal, who has been practicing meditation for years and graduated from the International Institute of Ink Painting, this trip offers an introduction or a more in-depth practice of sketching in nature and painting with ink. We will alternate between walking days, sketching, and painting days in small lodges in the mountains. We will visit small temples and monasteries in the villages to get an introduction to Buddhist meditation.

Discover Nepal: from the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Kathmandu valley to the foothills of Everest, it is a unique opportunity to learn and practice sketching, painting, and meditation in the footsteps of amateur painters in the spirit of old Chan.

www.peinturechan.com

HIGHLIGHTS
- An easy trek in Sherpa country among the chortens, monasteries and prayer flags.
- Buddhist pilgrimage site of Namobuddha and the historic cities of the valley: Patan and Bhaktapur.
- Full days dedicated to Chan painting and meditation.
- Travel accompanied by Jerome Edou.


-

Gallery

Itinerary

  • Level of Trek: Easy
  • Best Period: 1 Avril au 16 Avril 2023
  • Duration: 17 Days
  • Number of walking days: 0
  • Highest Altitude: 3000 Meters
  • Accomodation: Hotel in Kathmandu & Lodge/Homestay during trek
Leave No Trace

For your next trek with us in the Himalayas, travel light and aware: Base Camp offers you a biodegradable soap made in Nepal, to leave no trace ...

Day

Welcomed by our representative at the airport, Check-in at the hotel and rest.
Afternoon walk around Boudhanath stupa.
- Overnight at Shambaling Hotel in Boudha on BB Basis.

In the morning, we visit the old city of Patan, where statue making still thrives, and check out the extraordinary Patan Museum. Back to Boudha Stupa, a major landmark of Kathmandu surrounded by numerous Buddhist monasteries and hordes of devotees circumambulating the stupa.
- Overnight at the same hotel on BB Basis

Embark on a beautiful drive through Nepal to reach Phaplu (8 hr) in the heart of Sherpa country.
- Accommodation: lodge in Phaplu.

We start the trek hiking through a dense forest of rhododendron and climb up to the monastery of Chiwang on the mountainside. Founded in 1923, Chiwang Monastery organizes the popular festival of Mani Rimdu, the most important religious festival of the Sherpas. Depending on the availability of room and size of the group, overnight at the monastery or descend to Surke (2,500 m).
 In the afternoon we do the painting and meditate near the monastery.
+ 350 m
- Duration of hike: 3 hr
- Accommodation: Monastery or lodge.

After the morning work with the monks, descend from Chiwang and take an easy walk down to Ringmo, a Sherpa village in the middle of apple orchards, perched on the eastern slope of the Dudh Koshi valley.
In the afternoon we do the painting.
- Duration of hike: 3hr
- 650 m
- Accommodation: lodge.

Easy climb to Takshindo Danda.the highest point of the trek
Meditation at the monastery, then return to Ringmo
- Duration of hike 2 ½ hr
- + 350 m
- Accommodation: same lodge in Ringmo

After sunrise, we cross the Dudh Khola (Milk River) which has its source in the Numbur Himal glacier. We make a gradual ascent to Phurteng, and are greeted by a beautiful sight: the Everest range and Thamserku.
In the afternoon we do the painting.
- Duration of hike: 3hr
-  + 250 / -450
- Accommodation: Lodge summary

Painting day in this small hamlet facing Everest
Same lodge

We cross the Junbhesi Khola and reach the beautiful town of Junbhesi.
Afternoon painting.
2-hour walk -200
Accommodation: Comfortable lodge.

Painting day.
At the end of the afternoon climb to the monastery which dominates the village for a meditation session.
Accommodation: Same lodge.

An easy day without elevation to reach Phaplu along the river. Nice atmosphere for sketching in nature.
3 hours of walking + 200/-100
Accommodation: Lodge.

Early in the morning, we take the road towards Kathmandu and leave the region of the foothills of Everest. We follow the Sunkoshi River for a long time before climbing to the heights around the Kathmandu Valley and turning off at Namo Buddha, a Buddhist high place.
5-6 hrs drive
Accommodation: Luxury lodge at Namo Buddha with full board

In the morning we visit this Buddhist pilgrimage of Namo Buddha where there is a small stupa dedicated to the sacrifice of Buddha who donated his body there to a hungry tigress and her cubs. Depending on the occasion that presents itself.
Painting day at Namo Buddha.
Accommodation: same luxury lodge at Namo Buddha
Morning drive to Bhaktapur (2 hr) one of the beautiful historic cities of the Kathmandu Valley.
After lunch, drive to Kathmandu (1 hr).
Accommodation: Hotel Shambaling in Kathmandu on BB plan ( or similar)
Free day in Kathmandu. Afternoon transfer to airport for those who choose a night flight with arrival in Europe the next morning.
Or spend an extra night in Kathmandu (included) for the next day flight on day 17 April.

NOTES

Useful information

This trip is organized by Base Camp Trek, a Nepalese French - English-speaking travel agency in Kathmandu.

 Dates: - From 1 April to 16 April 2023 Paris / Paris

 

Level of the trek: easy.
Trek is accessible to anyone in good health (3/4 h maximum daily walking) and at a moderate altitude (max: 3000 m).

Painting: This trip is open to all practitioners of ink painting and beginners who want to learn. It is best to contact us directly by email to talk about it <Jerome@basecamptrek.com>

Trek & Painting: The idea of ?? this trip is to paint while walking, taking nature as a model. We alternate walks and days dedicated to painting.
- Sketch in kind to learn to isolate the essence of a subject and make a sketch (sketch) during the walks.
- Afternoons or some days are spent painting ink from these sketches or models.

Framing: This trip is guided by Jerome Edou. Writer, a specialist in Buddhism, and teaching meditation, he has been living in Nepal for 30 years. He practices ink painting (Chan) for about ten years and received in 2018 the diploma of the International Academy of Ink Painting directed by Robert Faure.
This trek is supervised by a Nepalese guide team, porters, and assistants.

Participants:
Small independent groups of 6 to 12 people maximum.

Accommodations:
Hotels with breakfast in Kathmandu ((lunch and dinner not included)
Nights in comfortable lodges, 1 night summary in the monastery, 3 nights in luxury lodge full board.

Trekking equipment recommended:
A down Sleeping Bag (-10 °) or a sewn sheet (the lodges are equipped with blankets)
Trekking shoes, light pants, and shorts,
Sweater or fleece, anorak or down jacket, rain cape, swimsuit, hat,
a pair of gloves, tights, scarf, sunscreen, lipstick, and sunglasses;
A Bottle (2 liters) or thermos, a Headlight,
A travel bag with a zipper limited to 13 kg (wheels and suitcases are not practical for carrying on trek);
Some books and a notebook.
And, of course, a little drink and/or a few sweets for the conviviality of the long Himalayan evenings!

Painting equipment:

- Portable drawing card that fits in your travel bag,
- a felt, 2 paper clips, and a palette for inking.
- A bottle of good quality ink and rags
- About 50 sheets of Chinese paper
- 3 basic brushes of good quality (small, medium, large)
- a sketchbook A4 + pencil or ballpoint pen
- a notepad

We recommend transporting the paper in a waterproof plastic roll. You can pre-cut some sheets to the size of your drawing board and keep another part in a large size

Budget:
In addition to the visa fee ($55), the entries to the sites ($35), the drinks, and a few
meals not included in Kathmandu, provide a small extra budget for tips. There is nothing obligatory but it is a usual practice in Nepal. (+/- 45 to 55 US dollars).

Pharmacy:
Your guide will be in possession of a basic pharmacy for first aid but also bring your own medicine.

NB: your guide is neither a doctor nor a nurse, even if he is well versed in the drugs of the pharmacy, has been trained to use them and knows the basics of first aid.

Nepal Visas:
The 30-day visa you can get at the airport upon arrival (easy): $ 50 + 1 photo or at the Embassy of Nepal and France. (more complicated)

International Flights and Appointments in Kathmandu:
Those who wish can take their international tickets directly
but they must imperatively be in Kathmandu on 1st of April and return either the 16 in the evening or 17th of April

The program ends on the evening of the 16.

* We can take care of international flights, to specify during your registration. The sooner you sign up, the cheaper are the tickets

Insurance:
You must be in possession of repatriation insurance; often included in your visa card or online at Chapka on the Base Camp Trek. website.

NB: check the conditions as the cancellation is generally not included in these packages.

Summary Bibliography of Ink Painting
Robert Faure: The spirit of the gesture, Ed.
François Cheng: The emptiness and the full, Point Wisdom
François Cheng: Chu Ta, the genius of the trait, Ed. Phebus
Yolaine Escande: Art in China, Ed Hermann
Yolaine Escande: The culture of Shanshui, Ed Hermann
Suzuki Roshi: Zen Spirit, New Mind, Wisdom Point
Alan Watts: The Spirit of Zen, Wisdom Point
Jerome Edou: In the beginning, there is the mountain ..., Graduation, on request.
Jerome Edou: Chronicles of Kathmandu, The Three Platanes
Jérome Edou: Machik Labdron, Tibetan woman and Dakini,

>>> Click here for general conditions.....

>>> Click here for the Registration form





What's included

- Transfers by private vehicle according to the itinerary
- 3 nights at the Shambaling Hotel in BB in Kathmandu
- 2 nights at Namobodha hotel full board in Namobodha
- Trek full board in the lodge
- Guide & trekking staff
- Carrying luggage up to 13 kg per person for all trekking
- Visit the sites of Kathmandu
- Accompaniment by Jerome Edou

What's not included

- Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
- Entrance fees in the valley of Kathmandu (+ / - $35)
- International flight
- Compulsory repatriation insurance
- Painting material
- Drinks including water, hot shower during the trek, tip (7 USD per person per day as a guide, for the entire local team), a sleeping bag.
Question? Make an inquiry or call (977-1) 451 55 73