Overview
Experience one of Nepal’s last surviving indigenous traditions — wild honey hunting — in the
dramatic cliffs and dense forests of Lamjung, home to the Gurung community. Watch fearless
honey hunters scale 200-meter cliffs using handmade bamboo ladders and ropes to harvest
mad honey from the world’s largest honeybee (Apis laboriosa). A rare mix of adventure,
anthropology, and cultural immersion.
Highlights
●Witness live cliff honey-hunting rituals using smoke and ropes
●Panoramic views of Annapurna and Lamjung Himal ranges
●Homestays in traditional Gurung villages
●Pre-hunt ceremonies, local feasts, and cultural dances
●Scenic forest hikes with rhododendron and terraced landscapes
Honey Hunting Experience
This is not a staged demo — it’s a raw, real, and dangerous ancestral ritual practiced only twice
a year. You’ll trek to the cliffside with local villagers, observe offerings to cliff spirits, and then
watch the hunters descend vertical rock walls, dangle midair, smoke out giant bees, and collect
glowing golden combs.
Expect:
● Crackling bonfires and drumming the night before
● Full-day expedition to the honey cliffs
● Fresh honey tasting directly from the hive
● Cultural storytelling and photography opportunities
Who is it for?
Cultural travelers and documentary seekers
Nature and tradition lovers
Photographers and anthropologists
Moderate hikers and soft adventurers
Not suitable for people expecting luxury or lowland comfort
Best Season
● Mid-April to Mid-May (Spring Hunt) – Best weather & bloom season
● Late October to Early November (Autumn Hunt) – Clear skies, post-harvest rituals
●Avoid Monsoon (June–September) – Unsafe cliffs, leeches, landslides
Add-Ons
● Combine with Annapurna circuit or Lamjung hiking loop
● Stay 1 extra night in Ghalegaun for cultural photography
● Visit Begnas Lake or Barpak village en route
● Add a mad honey tasting workshop in Kathmandu
Why Choose This Trip?
● One of Nepal’s most unique and endangered cultural practices
● Genuine participation — no tourist gimmicks
● Get behind-the-scenes access with local guides and real honey hunters
● Combine nature, heritage, and adventure in one trip
● Support sustainable tourism and community conservation
● 7:00 AM – Private Jeep transfer to Besisahar (6–7 hrs)
● 3:00 PM – Overnight stay in a local guesthouse
● 5:30 PM – Briefing about the honey hunt
● 8:00 AM – Drive to Khudi, start trek (3–4 hrs)
● 1:00 PM – Reach Ghalegaun, welcome by Gurung hosts
● 6:00 PM – Traditional dinner and cultural program
● 5:30 AM – Trek to the honey-hunting site
● 8:00 AM – Observe preparation, rituals, offerings
● 10:00 AM – Live honey hunting begins
● 1:00 PM – Picnic lunch at the cliffside
● 4:00 PM – Return to village
● 7:00 PM – Honey tasting and storytelling by elders
● 8:00 AM – Descend to Khudi
● 11:00 AM – Drive back to Besisahar
● 5:00 PM – Optional overnight or return to Kathmandu
● 7:00 AM – Return by Jeep
● 1:00 PM – Arrive in Kathmandu, trip ends