OUR TREK LEADERSHIP TEAM: Dan Mazur is our trek leader and organizer. He has led and organized more than 25 treks and expeditions to Everest, Ama Dablam, Pumori, Mount Kailash, Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, and many others. He has trekked to this remote service area three times before, and knows very well the local people who we shall be meeting.

Day 1 of our trek: Ms. Elselien, Dr. Levin, and Ms. Kandu Sherpa, standing next to a Mani Wall, and the 7000 meter peaks of Numbur and Kwangde in the background. Everest and Lhotse are barely visible in the right hand of the photo.  Thanks again for all of your fantastic help and kindness in helping these very poor people of Nepal. Yours Sincerely, from Daniel Mazur and all of us at HimalayaTrek.com

Hello, here is a recent dispatch we emailed via satellite telephone powered by solar panel during our Service Trek in the Everest region. A group of us are just leaving Kathmandu today, heading for a remote sherpa village, in the far highlands of Nepal, near to Mount Everst National Park. It is in the foothills of the Himalaya, near to Mount Everest, and known as the Solu Khumbu. Because it is not on any popular tourist route, the area has never developed, and is basically the same as it was 100 years ago. During other visits here, we have never seen any other tourists in this region and the local people live very simple lives, with little or no chance to go to school, and no health care. There are no roads, and the environment there is incredibly beautiful, however, very fragile. We are about to embark on a service trek to this region, and we are under the auspices of the Mount Everest Foundation for Sustainable Development in Nepal and Tibet. Two years ago, a man and woman were chosen from this region and trained to become health care workers. Two months ago, they carried backpacks filled with medicine to a tiny village, where 4000 people live with no access to medical care or any health clinic. It is a three day walk from the nearest road. Now, our task is to trek out to the village to find out how the health care workers are faring and how we can help. We are also carrying medicines to re-supply the workers. During our trek, we hope to inventory the needs of the local families, in terms of schools, health care, and also asses the environmental conditions in regards to clean water, sanitation, and the overall condition of the environment, which includes many forests, jungles, grasslands, and river habitats.

The members include:

Dr. Lee Levin

Dr. Daniel Mazur

Mr. Niranjan Rai

Mr. Raj Kumar Rai

Mr. Gyaluk Sherpa

Mr. Gyelzen Sherpa

Mr. Jangbu Sherpa

Ms. Kandu Sherpa

Mr. Lakpa Kongle Sherpa

Mr. Mingma Sherpa

Ms. Puty Sherpa

Mr. Sapte Sherpa

Mr. Shera Sherpa

Mr. Sonam Sherpa

Ms. Elselien te Hennepe

Dr. John Vavruska

Please follow our trek as we spend the next week trekking and exploring this very remote and poor region near to Mount Everest. Thank you very much, from Daniel Mazur and all of us at HimalayaTrek.com

TREK DESCRIPTION: After a few beautiful and exciting days of exploring historic and exotic Kathmandu (1300 metres), our Service trekkers will fly together with our Sherpa staff in a twin-otter 18 seat propeller plane, the workhorse of Himalayan flying, to the remote airstrip of Phaphlu at 2364 metres, where our trek will begin. During the trip, we will be treated to exciting views of the Himalayan high peaks. The first day we will stay in the vicinity of Bitta Kharka (2100 metres), and the second day, we will walk down to the village of Dhaur Kharka, at 2100 metres. We will spend a day delivering needed medicine and supplise, and visiting  a new helath clinic, school, local families and temples, and wander around this extremely beautiful forested valley with its lovely streams and terraced farms. After a nice long visit these warm and friendly Sherpa's people's village, we will walk to Jamfre at 2500 metres and stay in a simple inn beside the trail. The following day, we will trace the ridgetops down to the market center town of Rumjatar at 1350 metres. The next morning we will fly to Kathmandu. This is a very beautiful plane trip. After a day of rest and celebraton with our new friends in Kathamndu we will fly back to our home nations. Thanks for being a part of our service trek!

* Our “full-service” trek includes: 

1. Trek Leader: Daniel Mazur, trekking in the Khumbu valley since 1991;

2. Nepalese Sherpa-English speaking guides for the group (we are also able to provide Sherpa French and German speakers);

3. Return round-trip domestic flights for you and your baggage;

4. Yak and porter transport of all your equipment from the beginning to the end of the trek;

5. Three hot, nutritious, simple meals per day during the trek.

6. All permit fees, trekking fees, and liaison officers;

7. Emergency equipment and supplies: first aid, etcetera;

8. Sleeping arrangements will be in simple tents and beds in inns; 

9. We will be carrying satellite communications equipment so we can send news and updates on our progress and stay in touch with our loved ones at home during our trek.

Dan typing emails, to be sent during our service trek via satellite telephone. The equipment is powered by solar panel (John Vavruska). There is no electricity, no telephone, and there are no roads in this area.

What is not included?

A. Hotels and meals in Kathmandu are a minimal expense, with our chosen Nepa Hotel (http://www.hotelnepaintl.com/) costing $20 for a single and $30 for a double. Three large western-style meals a day might cost $20, including beverages, etcetera. There are numerous delicious restaurants and cafes within a few minutes walk of our hotel. In addition, there are over 50 trekking equipment shops near our hotel, so you can easily purchase and hire all of the personal trekking equipment you might need, such as shoes, clothing, sleeping bag, etcetera.

B. Your visa is best obtained at the Kathmandu airport upon arrival. In June of 2004 the cost was $30 for a 60 day visa.

C. Additional expenses like bottled or canned drinks on the trek, tips and gratuities, and expenses of a personal nature (ie: laundry or gift shopping) are not included.

See the long ridge in the center of the photo? Look to the right and you will see a flat-topped mountain (Nuptse), and a large pyramid to the right behind the flat-topped mountain (Everest). Seen at sunrise from the ridge above the Dhaur Kharka health clinic, located near to Mount Everest National Park. Flying back to Kathmandu after our trek (Dan Mazur). Thanks for joining in!

• Groups of two or more.  Bring a friend!
• Combining this tour with one or more of our other tours.
• Referrals leading to new sign ups.  Tell your friends!

During travel and trekking, all group equipment and supplies are provided.  All you need bring is your own warm personal clothing, warm jacket, waterproof clothing, sleeping bag, and mattress, in a waterproof, locked travel bag.  If necessary, all items can be inexpensively purchased and/or hired in Kathmandu. Your porter and yak will be carrying these items in your locked travel bag.

To participate in this trek you must be a fit and active walker in good health.  Prior to joining our group, please see your doctor and obtain the necessary permission and advice, as well as medications for travel in extremes of altitude, and also for exotic locales. Please make sure you have properly trained yourself for this tour.