Coffee Origin Trip with Nepal’s first Q Grader

Arrive into Kathmandu (Tribbuvan International Airport) and transfer to Chhahari Lodge Retreat. We will begin with welcome drinks, after which we will have a short orientation and introduction session about the lodge and what you can do to relax while at the lodge. You will receive your room keys so you can relax. After which you will have some time to walk and explore the village life near the lodge.

Dinner this evening will be a mix of Nepali and Western dishes, while enjoying the night views of the Kathmandu Valley.

CHHAHARI RETREAT in Kathmandu on Twin Share with meals (Lunch, Dinner)

Today you will get the opportunity to visit some of the most famous landmarks in the city. After breakfast at Chhahari, first, we drive to Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple). This is most famous for buddhists. Then, we will drive to Kathmandu Durbar Square. At the square, we will visit small coffee shops. We will probably have lunch in Kathmandu Durbar Square.

From here, we will drive to Patan Durbar Square, a medieval city. We will spend the rest of the day visiting some smaller coffee shops, and learning about the coffee culture in Kathmandu.

CHHAHARI RETREAT in Kathmandu on Twin Share with meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

After a delicious western style breakfast that includes fresh orange juice and fruit, we will leave Chhahari lodge and head towards the coffee farm. Today’s drive will take us north west out of the Kathmandu Valley, and onto the “Trishuli Highway”. We will leave behind the bustling streets of the city for the rural terraced countryside that is so famous in Nepal. The terraces amaze even well-seasoned travelers as they rise and descend for thousands of feet around you. In about an hour and half, we’ll stop at the village of Kakani and Rani Pauwa where we’ll have a beautiful views of the Ganesh Himal Range, Annapurna Himal Range, as well as other snowy himalayan summits to the north of us. We’re nearly at our destination and soon will arrive at Paintish kilo. We’ll have a short tour of the village of Paintish Kilo, and then we will walk down a winding dirt road to arrive at Lekali Coffee estate after about 40 minutes. Your duffle bag will be transported to the Lekali farm by our staff.

Upon arrival, lunch will be served in the trekking style of tables and chairs while overlooking a 250ft waterfall, the surrounding thatch roof villages, and of course the coffee farm. Tents will ready for you to relax and recharge your self. Toilet tents will also be erected a discreet distance from our camp site. Meals will be authentic Nepali food; tasty, but with some western touches (not too spicy). Dine will be set inside a dining tent, or use the space inside the processing building every evening. A hot water shower tent is also available you, if you wish the simple pleasure of overhead bucket to freshen yourself up.

In the evening, Lekali Coffee operation Manager, Tenzing Sherpa will provide an orientation about the farm, cherry picking techniques so much more. Tenzing will introduce and go over Nepali coffee history, the challenges, and future opportunities of coffee in Nepal. During this, you will be introduced to our, staff, who will be your helping hands at the farm. You will meet our farm in-charge, and family who live there all the year round. They are the people for next few days talking and walking with you, you will be a team! Today there are no major activities planned, this is a relaxing day to walk around the camping site, get to know the surrounding trails, the villagers, perhaps spot a colorful Himalayan squirrel or simply relax.

TWIN SHARE TENT Accommodation with meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)

Awaken to the sounds gregarious Red Bill Magpies and other birds who are greeting your day. The morning begins with a hot cup of tea or excellent Lekali coffee. Breakfast will be prepared and served in the dining tent.

After breakfast, it is time to get dressed for coffee cherry picking. You will need: rubber boots, and gloves that will be provided to you. You can fill up your water bottles while at the dining tent. Lekali coffee crew member will arrange / provide everyone with a cherry picking bag. Tenzing will divide everyone into groups and teams. Each group / team will be given a block, the groups will need to harvest the coffee cherries from the assigned blocks.

We will be picking around 10:00 a.m. this is when the local village coffee pickers will also gather at the farm to begin their work day. You will be working with the local cheery pickers and farmers during this. Don’t hesitate to connect with the local farmers, they might be able to teach you some tips and tricks during the cherry picking. This is also an opportunity for you to get involved and included in the coffee farmer community. Volunteer yourself to pick as much cherries as you can. After the cherries are picked, and each bag is filled, all the coffee cherries will then be brought to the collection center for processing. Everyone will need to register their name and the total weight of coffee cherries that they have picked on their very own bags. Time will fly and it’s soon time for a lunch break.

After lunch, make sure to refill water bottles and stay hydrated; grab your cherry bag for some more fun with the coffee trees, until another bag is full and it is time to register that one too. Our coffee cherry picking will last until there are enough cherries to put into the processing machine.

Processing: Lekali will check and decide if there are enough cherries that can be processed. Lekali coffee tries to minimize the waste of energy and time, so a minimum 200 kilos of fresh coffee cherries are required to save energy and time while processing. The freshly picked cherries are soaked in the fresh water until enough cherries are ready to be processed in the machine.

TWIN SHARE TENT Accommodation with meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)

Today, after the breakfast around 8 am, you can have a walk around the villages. The fresh cool air will help you awaken your mind and heart to nature. Our local farmers will gather around 10 am, and then we will begin the same process again, as previous day, Day 4.

TWIN SHARE TENT Accommodation with meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)

After a late breakfast around 9 am, we will walk up to Jurethum where our ride will be waiting. We will then drive back to Kathmandu. After arriving back to Chhahari; we will check in.

You’ll have plenty of time to freshen up, relax and enjoy the afternoon at Chhahari lodge with drinks.

CHHAHARI RETREAT in Kathmandu on Twin Share with meals (Lunch, Dinner)

Today we will visit more famous landmarks in and near the city. After having breakfast at the lodge, our first destination site is the famous Hindu shrine Pashupatinath Temple. It is famous and religious temple among the Hindus. Pashupatinath temple offers a great prospective on Hindus. Approximately about 5 km north-east of Kathmandu, is situated amidst many other temples on the right bank of the River Bagmati. Pashupatinath is the guardian spirit and the holiest of all Shiva shrines in Nepal. Pashupatinath area is regarded as one of the most important places of pilgrimages for the followers of Hinduism. Thousands of devotees from within and outside the country come to pay homage to Pashupatinath every day. And on special occasions like Ekadasi, Sankranti, Mahashivratri, Teej Akshaya, Rakshabandhan, Grahana (eclipse), Poornima (Full moon day) people congregate here in far greater numbers. Pashupatinath area is also included in the list of world cultural heritage.

After Pashupatinath, we will walk towards Boudhanath. Boudhanath Stupa is primarily for Buddhists. You will see many people walking clockwise around Boudhanath. We will also walk around. Buddhist walks around this temple, the process of walking around the Stupa is known as KORA. You will find locals, and elderly folks walking and praying around this Stupa. The Great Stupa of Boudhanath is the focal point of the district, and in fact until the 1980s there were very little else here. Since then, there has been a construction boom, and outwardly, at least, there is little these days to distinguish it from any other congested Kathmandu suburb. The culture, though, remains very much Himalayan with a strong presence of Tibetans and Sherpa. This can be evidenced by the number of restaurants selling momos and thukpa and other Tibetan favorites.

In fact, when traveling into the area, you will often see maroon clad Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns indicating you are getting close. Boudhanath remains a fascinating area with many Buddhist temples and eccentric characters. Although, don’t come expecting to find a peaceful and quiet environment to sit and contemplate the wonders of the Stupa. If you do, you’ll be disappointed.

CHHAHARI RETREAT in Kathmandu on Twin Share with meals (B, D) Lunch will be included during tour.

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your final departure from Kathmandu. Breakfast will be included!

Breakfast included