Introduction
Deep in the remote valleys of eastern Nepal exists a mystical journey called the Last Honey Hunter Trail. This is not a path for adventure-seekers heading for Everest or Annapurna, but rather a raw and primal, intimate experience connecting travelers with the ancient traditions of the Kulung Rai people. It is this trail that describes one of the world’s most dangerous and sacred professions-honey hunting from high and steep cliffs.
Where does The Last Honey Hunter Trail go?
The Last Honey Hunter Trail is in Bhojpur District, Eastern Nepal, at the foot of the Makalu-Barun National Park. The trek begins near Saadi Bazar and extends through dense forests, bamboo groves, and traditional Kulung villages.
The documentary film The Last Honey Hunter by National Geographic has just opened up this off-beat destination to intrepid trekkers as of recent.
The Legend of the Honey Hunters
For centuries now, the Kulung generation people have engaged in a sacred ritual to collect hallucinogenic honey from cliffside hives that carved themselves into those of the great Himalayan cliff bee (Apis laboriosa). Foremost every hunting trip the chosen honey hunter is exposed to a cleansing by local shaman spiritual purification ritual.
“Climbing ladders hand-weaved without any modern gear, they risk life climbing these rope ladders to reach the hivesog kind determined honey, a honey said to reflect not only special spiritual and medicinal powers.” Today, the last practicing honey hunter is Mauli Dhan Rai, featured in the documentary.
Why You Should Explore the Last Honey Hunter Trail
I. Trekking Experience
The trek can be completed in 5 to 7 days, depending on the route and pace. The trail takes one through well-defined rhododendron forests, valley rivers, and pretty little Kulung settlements. The walking path remains untouched by the hands of tourists, thus providing a truly Himalayan experience.
II. Cultural Immersion
You will stay with homestays with the local Kulung community which is rich in culture and very much connected with the nature and animistic beliefs of the community. Most trekkers witness the traditional dance and music linked with their spiritual practices evolved from thousands of years.
III. Auditory Witnessing of the Hunt
While sightings of an actual honey hunt are rare and seasonal (usually in spring and autumn), travelers may be lucky enough to witness the ceremonial preparations or even a live hunt, depending on timing and local permission.
Best Time to Visit
The appropriate months to go on trekking in the Last Honey Hunter Trail are between March to May and in September to November when mostly, honey harvesting will be occurring.
Responsible Travel Tips
Traveling with a local guide: Preferably, one from the Kulung community would help and promote the local economy and, at the same time, sensitively navigate the cultural etiquette.
Leave No Trace: The locality is pristine and should remain such.
Respect local beliefs and rituals: The honey hunting tradition is sacred and has to be respected.
How to Get There
Fly from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar Airport and thereafter drive in a jeep for about 5-6 hours to reach Saadi Bazar. It is from there you will start the trek into Kulung heartland.
Final Thoughts
The Last Honey Hunter Trail is more than a trek — it is a passageway into a dying world where myth and survival intersect. It is crucial that as tourism begins to reach out to this remote area, we travel respectfully so that the culture of the Kulung people will always remain the same.
If you’re an adventure seeker looking for an eccentric Himalayan trek with dense cultural significance, then, this trail might as well be Nepal’s best-kept secret.
You May Also Read: The Ultimate Guide To Hotels In Nepal
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