Welcome to the Community Action Treks Web Site

Working in Partnership

Community Action Treks’ most recent collaborative trek with a Charity took place this autumn with two treks involving 18 young people in the care of Scottish local authorities, together with their adult supporters and supporters of the charity Who Cares? Scotland. The original aim of the trek was to fundraise for Who Cares? Scotland as well as Community Action Nepal. True to the title under which this project has been operating – Reaching Higher – the group have exceeded their aims.

The trek not only introduced 54 people for the first time to the delights of trekking in Nepal, it also provided employment for 85 Nepalese porters, Sherpas, cooks and guides.

The challenge was to reach the lake at Bahra Pokhari at 3050m – which all 54 of them achieved. Some of the group had the opportunity to reach higher – a view point a few more hours climb further up – a challenge that a small group rose to.

One of the outcomes of the trek is that Who Cares? Scotland have now formed a link with Chite Tilahar, one of the villages they visited. The young people were so moved by the enthusiasm of the children in the school whilst at the same time being struck by the lack of the school’s basic resources– from teaching materials to a clean water supply and sanitation. They pledged there and then to raise further funds to send to Nepal to try and address some of these deficiencies. This encounter has left a lasting impression on them and the group are now dedicated to working, hand in hand with Community Action Nepal and the community in the village.

The opportunity for all the young people to interact was one of the highlights.

The group has set up a blog on their website www.reaching-higher.org.uk and one of the supporting participants – Cathy Jamieson MSP has also posted a very good account of what it is like to trek in one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

http://www.cathyjamiesonmsp.co.uk/cathys-nepal-blog

Another trekker - Angus Skinner, who was obviously taken with the words so often used on trek to ensure that we pace ourselves and take in the whole experience : ‘Bistari Bistari’– Slowly Slowly - has written this of the experience:

“Those of you who have been engaged with the trek in Nepal, raised aspirations to the top of the world.

There is much to be done. Slow and carefully we shall proceed. The goal of providing £6k for water and toilets is within reach. The goal of working with the young people of Nepal to build new facilities is being worked on - slowly and carefully it will be achieved. Who Cares' remarkable life-affirming trek in Nepal will have many outcomes for each of us. How? Bistari Bistari”

The faces of some of the young people who participated says it all. They all embraced the opportunity to Trek in Nepal of wholeheartedly. As one of them said at the end of the trip :

“If someone had said to me two years ago - ’Look you’ve got the chance to go to Nepal’ - I’d have laughed in their face. You know stuff like that doesn’y happen, especially when you live in care.”

Community Action Treks was very privileged to be part of making it possible and is looking forward to facilitating further work between Who Cares? Scotland, Community Action Nepal and the people of Nepal.

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Community Action Treks is the fundraising arm of the UK charity Community Action Nepal. Once our running costs are covered, the proceeds from our treks go to fund community development projects in the areas where we take trekkers. Working closely with the local people, who always contribute to the funding and construction work, we fund projects like schools, health posts, clean water supplies and income generating schemes, that benefit whole communities. Community Action Treks (CAT) is a travel company specialising in trekking and climbing in the Himalaya and other mountain regions. It was founded by mountaineer Doug Scott and supported by trek leader Jeff Frew.
Our combined experience of running treks and climbing expeditions mean we are truly specialists in the areas where we operate. We are fully bonded members of ATOL, which protects any money you have paid us for your holiday.
Martin West, a knowledgeable trekker and business consultant, has joined Doug and Jeff to lead the business operations and is backed up by experienced office and field staff.
To learn more about Community Action Nepal click here and to see Doug's lectures, click here.

Tourism for Tomorrow Awards

Community Action Treks was delighted to be selected by the World Travel & Tourism Council as one of just three finalists for their Tourism for Tomorrow Award –Community Benefit category this year. These really are the “Oscars” for the international travel industry and follow on from our recent award of the Best in Mountain Environment Prize as part of the Virgin Travel Responsible Tourism Awards – see below. The judges were impressed with our link to Community Action Nepal and our combined efforts to improve the quality of life for the communities with which we work.

Responsible Tourism Award

We are delighted to be awarded the prize for 'Best in Mountain Environment' by the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2008 for "... the example they have set in using tourism for the economic and cultural benefit of communities, for the provision of health and education services, and for their work with porters which contributed to the development of the International Porter Protection Group. " We are obviously flattered by this, but to be honest it is only what we have striven to achieve over the years. Our approach to the way we treat our staff and react to local communities is summed up in The Trekkers Code, a document we produced some years ago and sponsored by Berghaus. If you are planning to visit any of our destinations, please take time to read it.