The village of Marpha is situated in the Kali Gandaki Valley of the Annapurna Conservation Area at an altitude of 2.650 m. The exact geographical location is 28°45' Northern latitude, 83°42' Eastern longitude. It lies in a very remote region. The next road starts in Beni (2 to 3 days by foot); the next big market is Pokhara (3 to 4 days by foot). Marpha is also accessible by plane; from the small airport in Jomsom (1 hour by foot) it takes only half an hour to Pokhara by plane.

 

When we first decided to do a project on apple farming in Marpha, we did not know what to expect. Except for what was told to us by Prof. Haffner of our department we could gather only very little information about Marpha and its surroundings. So the idea was to decide on concepts and methods when we had had a chance to get a rough picture of the situation.

 

Once in Marpha we got the impression that almost every household seemed to be engaged in apple farming to some extent. Also any literature we found in the village library stretched out the economic importance of apple production for the region. Thus we decided to conduct interviews with a small number of sample households participating in apple farming. The teachers of the secondary school of Marpha helped us to select families for the interviews. They chose them according to their financial and social status and the approximate number of apple trees they own.

 

Once we had worked out a set of questions which seemed on one hand precise enough to provide us with an overview of the farmers' financial situation without on the other hand invading their privacy, we were facing the next severe problem: How to talk to Nepalese families who mostly speak only little English while our Nepali did not reach further than two or three words? Fortunately, one of the teachers, Mr. Shalikram Lamichhne, spent many hours of his spare time translating for us. Without his and many other people's friendly help and advice our work would not have been possible. The families we interviewed were without exception friendly and helpful and answered our questions willingly even though it took them at least half an hour of their free or even working time.

 

In the following chapters we first specify the objectives of the project and methods used. In the following results part we present after a short history of apple farming in the Marpha region a variety of economical and social aspects connected to apple farming. Finally, sustainability of large scale apple farming is discussed in the conclusion.

Day 01: Arrive In Kathmandu
Day 02: Kathmandu City Tour
Day 03: Kathmandu - Pokhara
Day 04: Pokhara - Jomsom - Marpha

Day 05:  Marpha Apple Farm Visit
Day 06:  Visiting Apple Brandy Factory

Day 07:  Marpha - Kalopani
Day 08: Kalopani - Tatopani (1190m)
Day 09: Tatopani - Ghorepani (2819m)
Day 10: Ghorepani - Poon Hill - Tadapani
Day 11: Tadapani - Landrung
Day 12: Landrung - Dhampus
Day 13: Dhampus - Pokhara
Day 14: Pokhara City Tour
Day 15: Pokhara - Rafting - Royal Chitwan National Park
Day 16: Royal Chitwan Natinal Park
Day 17: Royal Chitwan National Park - Kathmandu
Day 18: Departure

Trip Cost Based on Camping Arrangements

Deluxe Hotels Option		Standard Hotels Option		Economy Hotels Option
Group Size	Cost in US$ Per Person	Group Size	Cost in US$ Per Person	Group Size	Cost in US$ Per Person
01 - Person	000.00	01 - Person	000.00	01 - Person	000.00
02 - Person	000.00	02 - Person	000.00	02 - Person	000.00
03 - 05 Person	000.00	03 - 05 Person	000.00	03 - 05 Person	000.00
06 - 09 Person	000.00	06 - 09 Person	000.00	06 - 09 Person	000.00
10 - 14 Person	000.00	10 - 14 Person	000.00	10 - 14 Person	000.00
15 & Above	000.00	15 & Above	000.00	15 & Above	000.00
Single Supplement	000.00	Single Supplement	000.00	Single Supplement	000.00
Trip Cost includes: 1. Airport transfers on private vehicle. 2. Twin sharing accommodation in Kathmandu as per the category of package trip taken on Bed & Breakfast basis. 3. An English speaking tour guide for city sightseeing. 4. An English speaking trekking guide for the trekking with necessary Cook & porters. 5. All meals included during the trek prepared by Adventure Silk Road's cook in aid of kitchen boy and other helpers. 6. Wages of guide and other members of the team. 7. National park fees, Govt. taxes and other applicable fees. 8. Domestic airfare as mentioned in the above itinerary.
Trip cost does not include: 1. International Airfare. 2. Nepalese Visa fee and airport departure tax. 3. Lunch & dinner in Kathmandu. 4. Personal / Travel / Medical insurance and any other insurance for the members. 5. Expenses of personal nature viz. tips, laundry, phone calls, alcoholic beverages, bottled drinks etc. 6. Emergency evacuations. 7. Any other cost, which is not mentioned in cost inclusive field above.
Preferred Hotels For The Different Packages
Deluxe Tour Standard Tour Economy Tour Kathmandu 5-Star: Shangri-La or Similar 4-Star: Vaishali or Similar Hotel Nature or Similar Pokhara Shangri-La Village or similar Hotel Baharhi or similar Hotel Shikhar or similar Chitwan Island J. Resort or similar Jungle Safari Lodge or similar Rhino Lodge or similar Vehicle All Vehicle with A/C All Vehicle non A/C All Regular Vehicle

Trip Cost Based on Mountain Lodges (Tea Houses)

Deluxe Hotels Option		Standard Hotels Option		Economy Hotels Option
Group Size	Cost in US$ Per Person	Group Size	Cost in US$ Per Person	Group Size	Cost in US$ Per Person
01 - Person	000.00	01 - Person	000.00	01 - Person	000.00
02 - Person	000.00	02 - Person	000.00	02 - Person	000.00
03 - 05 Person	000.00	03 - 05 Person	000.00	03 - 05 Person	000.00
06 - 09 Person	000.00	06 - 09 Person	000.00	06 - 09 Person	000.00
10 - 14 Person	000.00	10 - 14 Person	000.00	10 - 14 Person	000.00
15 & Above	000.00	15 & Above	000.00	15 & Above	000.00
Single Supplement	000.00	Single Supplement	000.00	Single Supplement	000.00
Trip Cost includes: 1. Airport transfers on private vehicle 2. Twin sharing accommodation in Kathmandu as per the category of package trip taken on Bed & Breakfast basis. 3. 3 meal (breakfast, Lunch & Dinner) in local restaurants along the trekking trail. 4. Accommodation in guesthouses (Tea House) on trekking trail. 5. An English speaking tour guide for city sightseeing. 6. An English speaking trekking guide for the trekking with necessary porters 7. Wages of guide and other members. 8. National park fees, Govt. taxes and other applicable fees. 9. Domestic airfare as mentioned in the above itinerary.
Trip cost does not include: 1. International Airfare. 2. Nepalese Visa fee and international airport departure tax. 3. Lunch & dinner in Kathmandu . 4. Personal / Travel / Medical insurance and any other insurance for the members. 5. Hot water for shower during the trek. 6. Expenses of personal nature viz. tips, laundry, phone calls, alcoholic beverages, bottled drinks etc. 7. Any other cost, which is not mentioned in cost inclusive field above.
Preferred Hotels For The Different Packages
Deluxe Tour Standard Tour Economy Tour Kathmandu 5-Star: Shangri-La or Similar 4-Star: Vaishali or Similar Hotel Nature or Similar Pokhara Shangri-La Village or similar Hotel Baharhi or similar Hotel Shikhar or similar Chitwan Island J. Resort or similar Jungle Safari Lodge or similar Rhino Lodge or similar Vehicle All Vehicle with A/C All Vehicle non A/C All Regular Vehicle