A2Z Adventures blog

Alcino Serras from A2Z Adventures & Haglöfs Trail team achieve the first victory of the season at the Almonda Trail last 11th July. This victory (together with the previous ones at Ultra Trail Serra da Freita 2009 and 2010) added an extra motivation to participate this year at the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc on August 27th.

The Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc is one of the most important Ultra Trail races in the world with, 166 km and 9500 meters of positive altitude change. A real challenge with 2300 runners from all over the world.

If you would like to follow the same steps of these mountain warriors, but with time to enjoy all of what the alps have to offer, you can join A2Z Adventures trek Alps, Tour of Mont Blanc from 15 to 22 August. A full week of amazing treks visiting 3 countries around the highest mountain of Western Europe.

Just received news from our Indian guide in Himalaya, Raju. His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give teachings on Atisha’s Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment (jangchup lamdron) on 18th August 18. On 19th August he will confer the Heruka (dechok) and on 20th August he will confer the Avalokiteshvera (chenresig) Initiations. The teachings will take place in Jispa, Himachal-Pradesh, the starting point of A2Z-Adventures Himalaya trail (MTB) and Himalayas, Shingo La & Zanskar Trails (trekking) that will take place two weeks before.

Tiago Pedrosa, one of A2Z co-founders and guide, finally published the movie with his living experience at Kargyak, India.

Tiago was a volunteer at the Sun School for Kargyak for almost 4 months were he was a teacher and managed the school.

If the movie inspires you to visit such places, give a look at our Trekking - Himalayas, Shingo La & Zanskar Trails or MTB - Himalayas trail, and live in first hand the experience of living at 4200 meters.

O grupo A2Z chegou finalmente a Kargyak a 4200 metros de altitude, depois de 4 longos dias de caminhada em Zanskar nos Himalaias (Índia).

Todo o grupo se encontra com o espírito elevado e aproveita a motivação extra “provocada” por todas as crianças da Sun School de Kargyak.

Certamente que a oportunidade de rezar com o Dalai Lama em Padum também contribuiu para para uma atmosfera ainda mais especial durante o trekking. Definitivamente não foi só uma oportunidade única de ver o Dalai Lama a apenas 5 metros de distância mas também a oportunidade de partilhar com os habitantes de todos os vales circundantes, com os seus vestidos coloridos tradicionais e com pedras turquesa, os ensinamentos espirituais do Dalai Lama.

Após esta breve pausa de um dia em Padum, era tempo de começar a caminhar em direcção a Kargyak. A beleza do trek deste ano deve-se ao facto de termos sido acompanhados por dezenas (ou mesmo centenas) de aldeões que retornavam as suas casas. Definitivamente esta companhia tornou a caminha mais fácil e divertida com vários momentos para recordar de conversas sem sentido: nos sem conseguir falar Ladakhi, e eles sem conseguir falar inglês.

Agora o grupo prepara-se para deixar Kargyak em direcção ao Shingo La e mais tarde a Manali, deixando uma importante contribuição na escola de Kargyak com varias árvores plantadas pelo Michel, um novo jogo de lógica proposto pela Giovanna (Soduko), um check-up medico completo as crianças pelo António e Ângela e novos lenços doados pela Maria de forma a que os seus sorrisos não sejam disturbados pelos narizes sujos. O grupo também deixou para trás o Tiago e Patrícia que ficam na escola como voluntários até Setembro.

Durante a estadia em Kargyak o grupo teve um jantar em casa do Dorge, seguido de uma festa com as amas (mães) de Kargyak. Um jantar de momos de vegetais regado a Shang e Arak (as bebidas locais feitas de cevada). Nenhuns comentários sobre a festa que envolveu musica tradicional Ladakhi e (para delicia dos locais) portuguesa, mas foi divertida e moderada o suficiente para recomeçar a caminhar o dia seguinte.

The A2Z Adventures trekking group finally arrived to Kargyak at 4200 meters, after four long days of trekking in the Himalayas, Zanskar, India.

All the group is in high spirits and enjoying the stamina provided by all the children of Kargyak Sun school.

The group also had the very special opportunity to pray with the Dalai Lama in Padum - this certainly helped to create an even more special atmosphere!

It was an unique chance not only to see the Dalai Lama so close to us but also to share the moment with villagers from the surrounding valleys, dressed in their most traditional clothes full of color and turquoise stones.
After this short one day stop in Padum it was time to start the walk towards Kargyak. The beauty of this year´s route was that it was followed by dozens (or even hundreds) of villagers that were returning home. This definitely made the walk easier and more enjoyable with several moments to remember the most unusual dialoges between the group and the locals: us unable to speak Ladakhi; them unable to speak English.

Now the group is getting ready to leave Kargyak heading to Shingo La and later Manali, leaving behind a great contribution to the school - new trees planted by Michel, a new logic challenge proposed by Giovanna (Soduko), a complete medical check-up by Antonio and Angela and new handkerchiefs by Maria so the children smiles are not disturbed by dirty noses!
The group also left behind the A2Z members Tiago and Patricia that will stay here until September helping out at the school.
During the stay in Kargyak the group also had dinner at Dorge’s house followed by a party with the amas (mothers) of Kargyak. A dinner made with vegetable momos (dumplins) and watered with Shang and Arak (the local barley drinks). A great party that involved traditional Ladakhi and (to the delight of locals) Portuguese music, but it was moderated enough to start the trek the other day…

That’s our A2Z group in Turkey / o grupo A2Z nas montanhas da turquia

3250 mts, 6-8-2009, 14h10

kerem, our super local guide

Giuliana Ferro’s - our Italian zanzarina - Himalayas trekking photos are now online.

277 photos of a once in a lifetime experience!

Check out the photos here.

Giuliana Ferro - a nossa zanzarina italiana - colocou online as fotos do Trekking nos Himalaias.

277 fotografias de uma experiência única.

Veja as fotografias aqui.

Tiago Pedrosa disponibilizou as suas fotografias do Trekking de Marrocos do passado mês de Dezembro.

Visite o álbum de fotografias on-line.

Check out Tiago Pedrosa´s pictures from the Trekking in Morocco trip that happened in December.

Visit the Photo Gallery on-line.

We are all getting ready for our trip to Morocco. 10 women (6 Portuguese and 4 Norwegian) and 4 men (all from Portugal) will leave for Marrakech on the 27th of December for our hiking trip in this fantastic country. New Year´s will be celebrated together with our Moroccan friends in a very special party!

Prontos para Marrocos!

Quase tudo pronto para partir rumo a Marrakech, no dia 27 de Dezembro. 10 mulheres (6 portuguesas e 4 norueguesas) e 4 homens (todos portugueses) ultimam os preparativos para o programa de Trekking neste belo país africano. O Ano Novo será celebrado em conjunto com os nossos amigos marroquinos, numa festa muito especial preparada só para nós!