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The Millennium Expedition for Young Australians will be mounted in the Marsyandi valley region of Western Nepal, in an area that is rarely seen by trekkers and travellers. Between the often trekked Annapurnas and the Ganesh Himalaya, the area offers spectacular scenery both in the foothills and mountains. The terrain is steep and challenging, and will take your breath away (one way or another!).
The Expedition will begin with a flight out of Australia on the 30th of November 2000 and end with the return flight leaving Kathmandu on the 16th of January 2001. Both Christmas and the dawn of the new millennium will be celebrated in fine style with your new friends in Nepal.
Scientific projects are likely to embrace botany, zoology, entomology, aquatic zoology and other specialist disciplines.
Community projects are likely to include the organisation and assistance of a cataract surgery clinic (in association with the Nepal Eye Program Australia) and a variety of medical clinics.
The Adventure component of the expedition will include treks in the Himalaya, including traverse of high mountain passes, and an option to climb some of the local peaks. The climbing will be led by world class mountaineer and dual Everest summitteer, Mr. Tim Macartney-Snape AO.
Most of the projects and adventure will take place in the rugged mountainous regions of the Marsyandi Valley and its surrounds.
Potential expeditioners will be assessed based on the information provided in an application form. Please complete all sections of the form fully and, if you wish, add information in support of your application, so that we may determine your suitability to take part in this unique activity.
When considering the waiver of liability, please note that the expedition has a Public Liability Policy and requires that you arrange your own personal accident insurance, along with cover for medical evacuations by whatever means necessary.
Potential project leaders and other staff are selected based on their suitability. Until the leader selection is completed, the program of specific projects will remain in outline.
Based on information in your application, you will be assigned to a group for the duration of the expedition. Those with no specialty background should not fear that they will be unable to participate, as full training in the tasks required will be supplied.
The expedition fee will be $4,500, which covers leadership, food, tentage, equipment and travel from a capital city in Australia. $500 is required with your application, of which half is non-refundable on cancellation prior to 60 days before departure, and all of which is non-refundable after that date. If you are not selected, the initial $500 is refunded in full.
If selected, you will be required to pay the remaining $4,000 by the end of September 2000.
Fund raising for your trip could be quite a challenge if you haven’t the necessary funds. You might approach relatives or friends for help, and commercial concerns, charitable trusts, local industry, service clubs and the like could yield results. You might, for example, offer a presentation evening (a talk accompanied by slides or video) on the Expedition in return for some financial assistance.
We may also make some places available for a limited number of expeditioners who are outside our 17-25 age range.
As soon as you are selected, we will send you more information, including a list of gear you will need, instructions for getting fit, and so on.