Please note:
After the registration deadline on May 10th, we will be sending out an email to registered participants to determine their preferred Sustainability Tour option.
Tour 1: ICIMOD Sustainable Mountain Development Site
The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development’s (ICIMOD) regional site is located in Godavari village in the foothills of Phulchoki Mountain, about 17 km from central Kathmandu. Participants will be guided through demonstrations of sustainable technologies like hydroponic farming, solar PV systems, biogas plants, and rainwater harvesting models. Meet with experts pioneering research on ecosystem resilience, community adaptation methods, and policy solutions for long-term mountain sustainability.
Price per person: Euro 60
Tour 2: Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park is an oasis of natural beauty and biodiversity located just 7 km north of Kathmandu. As the country’s oldest national park, established in 2002, it plays a vital role in environmental conservation and sustainability efforts in the region.
On this full-day sustainability tour, participants will trek through lush broadleaf forests and high-altitude grasslands that are home to 177 species of birds and numerous rare mammals like the Himalayan black bear and leopard. Local guides will provide insights about the flora, fauna and the crucial ecosystem services this 144 sq.km. protected area provides – from regulating water flows to sequestering carbon.
You will stop to take in majestic views of peaks like Langtang, Dorje Lakpa, and Gaurishankar from the View Tower at 2,732 m. And learn how indigenous Tamang communities are collaborating in conservation projects based on sustainable use of forest resources. Experience first-hand innovative sustainable tourism models like the eco-lodges and homestays jointly managed by communities and the National Park.
The goal is for participants to appreciate the immense natural and cultural value of protected areas like Shivapuri Nagarjun, the complex challenges in balancing conservation goals and community needs, and to get inspired by the sustainability solutions being pioneered.
Price per person: Euro 60
Tour 3: Bhaktapur Durbar Square Walking Tour
Soak in over 5 centuries of heritage as you wander past exquisite palaces, stone temples, and statues surrounding the Golden Gate in Nepal’s medieval capital city of Bhaktapur. Observe traditional artisans at work using sustainable practices to maintain sites like the intricate 55-window Palace of 55 Windows and the towering Nyatapola Temple.
Price per person: Euro 60