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Auyan Tepui Table Mountain Trekking
& Angel Falls Jungle & Dugout Canoe Expedition

Unforgettable trekking tour with native Pemon Indians to the world’s largest table mountain – Mt. Auyan Tepui. The Angel Fall – the world’s largest waterfall, the wild Kavac Canyon and, of course, the fascinating table mountains await us! Trekking in the “lost world” as described by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, an imposing landscape with incredible natural scenery of the world-famous unique table mountains in Eastern Venezuela, following the traces of the Pemón Indians and Jimmy Angel

The tour’s highlight is a 7-day trek to the largest and most mysterious of the famous table mountains – Mt. Auyan Tepui. Supported by our Pemón Indians, we will explore the legendary table mountain. Until recently, large parts of Mt. Auyan Tepui remain completely unexplored. As a result of the isolation from the up to 1,500 m lower savannah landscape, a unique habitat of flora and fauna developed, with 85% of endemic species existing only there. In the language of the Pemón Indians, Tepui means "House of the Gods", and indeed, the world of the Mt. Auyan Tepui Plateau appears to be an unreal kingdom located between earth and sky. But also other stations of our tour promise some unforgettable impressions and unique experiences: the giant Kavac Canyon, a breath-taking flight in a bush plane over the world’s largest waterfall - the Salto Angel, digging for diamonds in an abandoned Indian mine, exploring the mission station Kamarata and hiking the deepest of jungles, climb Mt. Temun Tepui to find diamonds there ….

Day 1 – Arrival at Caracas and Flight to Ciudad Bolivar
Arrival by plane at the bustling capital of Venezuela, in the afternoon. We continue right away toward the eastern part of the country on a quick flight, to the old colonial town of Ciudad Bolivar, where our English-speaking guide will welcome us. During dinner, we discuss the tour in detail before going to bed in a simple, but very typical small hotel. (-/-/-)

Day 2 – Flight over the "Angel Fall", Temun Tepui Trek
Early in the morning, we head for the town’s small airport. Our flight in a bush plane lasts some 90 minutes, crossing the Gran Sabana, raging torrents and colorful Indian villages until finally the first table mountains appear on the horizon. Tension mounts! Our pilot checks the weather, hoping we will be lucky. Then the plane comes out from behind the clouds and all of a sudden it is there, below us: Salto Angel, the largest waterfall on earth! We take a quick shot with our cameras and dive again into the clouds.
Angel Fall or Kerepakupai Merú
In the year 1923, Jimmie Angel was persuaded by an alleged mining engineer in Panama to fly him for 5000 Dollars to a certain mountain in the Venezuelan rainforest. He indeed managed to land his plane on the rugged mountain plateau. Within a few days, from one of the rivers the two men dug out a large amount of gold. Only with a nosedive start over the steep mountain edge, they were able to take off again. From then on a gold seeker, flying along the Río Churún Canyon, on November 16, 1933, Jimmie Angel, discovered a giant waterfall. When two years later together with his wife and a scientist, he dared to land on the high plateau, his machine crashed. Today, his plane can be seen in front of the airport of Ciudad Bolívar (Venezuela). Only after eleven days, the group managed to descend into the jungle over a steep step which today is called the Second Wall. Alberto Vázquez-Figueroa’s novel “Icarus” tells the story of Jimmie Angel, the search for gold and diamonds and the discovery of the waterfall. The U.S. American photo reporter Ruth McCall Robertson (1905–1998) was the first person to reach the foot of the waterfall and measure it, on Mai 12, 1949, as a result of an overland expedition initiated be her.
Landing on the small sandy runway of the mission station of Kamarata is one of the most exciting moments of today! We then continue on foot through the wide savannah to the River Akanan, which we cross paddling in a small dugout. Then our way leads us past Indian fields, across primary rainforest until we arrive at the small Temun Tepui. There we finally may stretch our legs and enjoy the sunset with a view on the surrounding table mountains.
We will spend the night in our cozy Churuata (typical Indian round hut) in hammocks with mosquito nets. (-/L/D)

Day 3 – Temun Tepui - Diamond Digging
Diamond fever! After a short walk we reach our mine – a small river in the middle of the jungle, where each of us may try their luck! In the afternoon, we walk on to an imposing waterfall that comes down the Tepui in several steps. Want a shower of refreshing water? Or rather only enjoy the fantastic view? After a delicious dinner the Indians prepared for us, we will spend the night again in the Churuata camp. (B/L/D)

Day 4 – Mission Station Kamarata
Early in the morning, we start our descent to the River Akanan, from where we ride in a dugout on the black water river to the small mission station of Kamarata, the starting point of Jimmy Angel.s expedition! Canaima, with its approximately 800 inhabitants is the largest settlement of the Pemón Indians. 42,000 Indians of this tribe currently live in Venezuela and Guyana, the majority of which live in their traditional manner along the rivers and in the savannah. Here we overnight at the heart of the village, in very simple accommodations. First, however, in the afternoon, there will be sufficient time to get to know the village on our own. (B/L/D)

Day 5 – Kavac Canyon
Today we walk along Mt. Auyan Tepui across the savannah to the Indian settlement of Kavac, with the roofs of houses and huts covered with palm tree branches and by far the most beautiful canyon of the national park. We start our exploration into the impressive canyon.
Unimposing and untouched, it lies in front of us: Kavac Canyon with its gorgeous waterfalls. Those who like may take a swim in the canyon to approach the 40 m high waterfall. Exhausted but happy, in the evening we return to our hammocks hanging in the simple round huts. (B/L/D)

Day 6 – Mt. Auyan Tepui Trek - Guarayaca
For a long time, Mt. Auyan Tepui was considered too extreme a mountain to climb in Venezuela. Only in 1958, the hermit Alexander Laime discovered our current path. He even claimed to have discovered gold, diamonds and small dinosaurs there. We follow his and Jimmie Angel.s traces through the wide savannah, surrounded by the table mountains. Many of the so-called Tepuis have never been touched by a human being. After some kilometers of prairie-like grassland and some minor rivers, we finally reach the point from where our ascent of Mt. Auyan
Tepui begins! It.s the highlight of the entire trip! Pull out your hands from your pockets and go for it, uphill over rocky terrain! Every now and then we look down into the valley, and after a finish through a scrubby plain, we reach Camp Guarayaca, exhausted. Let.s take advantage of the last sunbeams to pitch our tents and go for a refreshing bath in the river. (B/L/D).

Day 7 – Mt. Auyan Tepui Trek - El Peñon
At daybreak we get up again, still feeling yesterday.s efforts in our bones. We fight our way through the dense jungle and high bush lining the Tepui. In the late afternoon we feel immensely relieved: We arrive at “El Peñon”, a giant rock under which we pitch our tents.
Today.s shower: a waterfall gorging down the table mountain hundreds of meters in the form of a cascade. Are there brave ones among us who dare to take a shower here? (B/L/D)

Day 8 – Mt. Auyan Tepui Trek - El Libertador – El Oso
Crawling on all fours, we advance through intricate root networks and swampy terrain, but we are in for more: Secured with a rope and assisted by Indians, we cross a 10-12 m high rock until reaching the apparently almost invincible steep face of the table mountain. We hike along it until we reach the high plateau. Mission accomplished, we have conquered Mt. Auyan Tepui! It is a sublime moment and our joy is great! Now we head for “El Libertador”, the highest point of Mt. Auyan Tepui (2,280 m)! The view is overwhelming, so we may well have a rest until we continue to the rock “El Oso”, where we spend the night at. (B/L/D)

Day 9 – Mt. Auyan Tepui Trek - Campo Lecho
In this bizarre landscape, we hike down over giant rock ledges to a sidearm of the Churun River. A refreshing bath in it serves us just fine. Then we extensively explore the summit plateau. In the afternoon we reach “Campo Lecho”. (B/L/D)

Day 10 – Mt. Auyan Tepui Trek – Summit Platform – El Oso
We continue with some more intensive exploration hikes, then we return to camp “El Oso”. Sunk in our thoughts, our eyes follow the shooting stars before passing this last night on the summit plateau in the open air. (B/L/D)

Day 11 – Mt. Auyan Tepui Trek - El Peñon
Descent! We abandon the summit platform hiking down to El Peñon. When we arrive at the rock, we are quite surprised: the Indians, who accompany us on our tour, have long gotten there and have a hot cup of tea waiting for us. (B/L/D)

Day 12 – Mt. Auyan Tepui Trek - Uruyen
After breakfast we hike back to Guarayaca, our first overnight camp. South American temperament has "infected" us: after noon we hold a little “Siesta”. Then we must go on: We cross Río Ocoñe and finally arrive at the Pemon village of Uruyen. In our giant hammocks we have plenty of time to rethink our adventures over once again. (B/L/D)

Day 13 – Dugout Tour - Arenal
Now we are glad to feel four wheels below us once again. In the Indians. open pickup vehicle we get to the banks of Rio Akanan. We embark on a motorized dugout and together with our friends, the Pemon Indians continue through many minor rapids to Camp Arenal. Underway there is yet another surprise: Out of nothing appears a DC-3 aircraft. We stop and get to know the incredible story of how the plane got here. (B/L/D)

Day 14 – Dugout Tour – Angel Fall – Salto Sapo & Canaima
Through more rapids we ride on to the Angel Fall base camp. One highlight follows another. Hike through the deepest of jungles to the waterfall basin. We bathe under an almost 1,000 m tall shower. After this unique experience, we head to Salto Sapo passing by Mayupa Rap-ids. We hike around the giant Sapo waterfall and bathe at marvelous beaches. Then, after days in the wild, in Canaima, only reachable by plane or dugout, we are back in contact with civilization. The Indian village has some 1,200 inhabitants, which makes it the largest village in the 30,000 km² national park, one of the largest in the world. In 1994, UNESCO declared it a World Natural Heritage Site. Simple beds and a bath with shower await us. (B/L/-)

Day 15 – Canaima – Ciudad Bolivar
Time flies. Today morning you can enjoy some free time on your own. For example, you can relax at the lagoon of Canaima, visit the village of Canaima or get some souvenirs of this unforgettable trip. In the afternoon, the bush plane takes us back to Ciudad Bolivar. We are back to the bustling streets of South American vitality. Ciudad Bolivar, a town caught between Caribbean serenity and frantic commercial life. Overnight in the hotel of our trip.s first night in Ciudad Bolivar (-/-/-)

Day 16 – Ciudad Bolivar – Caracas – Departure
Our adventurous trip is coming to its end. In a regular flight, we fly either from Ciudad Bolivar or Puerto Ordaz back to Caracas. The time has come to say good-bye to South America and a trip we will surely remember our whole life.

Highlights:
• Demanding 7-day Mt. Auyan Tepui Trekking with native Pemon Indians to the 2,600 m high, 700 sqm table mountain plateau – unique scenery!
• Flight in a bush plane over the world’s highest waterfall – the Salto Angel
• Jungle hike through the deepest of rainforests to Mt. Temun Tepui for diamond digging in an abandoned diamond mine
• Exploration of the Kavac Canyons and Bathing under giant waterfalls
• Bathing in the basin of Salto Angel, a waterfall thundering down over 1,000 m
• Dugout canoe expedition with native Pemon Indians of the mission station of Kamarata from Salto Angel and on to Canaima
• Stay in jungle settlements without any road connection: Kamarata, Uruyen, Kavac and Canaima
• Colonial town of Ciudad Bolivar with boat ride to sunset on the Orinoco River

Services Included:
• English-speaking guides from / to Ciudad Bolivar (days 2 to 16)
• English-speaking transfer guide in Caracas
• Pemon-Indians as natural guides, mountain guides, porters (for camping equipment, expedition cooker and food in trekking) and cook in trekking and dugout expeditions
• All flights, rides, transfers, excursions, walks as stated in tour description
• Accommodation in 2x ** hotels in Ciudad Bolivar with bathroom / WC, 1x simple posada in Canaima, 6x in tents (tents will be provided!) during Auyan trekking tour, 6x in hammocks during jungle & dugout tour, on Temun trek and in Pemon villages of Kamarata, Kavac & Uruyen
• Meals as stated in tour description (full board starting with lunch Kamarata, day 2, through lunch Angel Falls, day 14)
• 15kg of free luggage on bush plane flights

Not Included:
• Tips, personal expenses
• Meals not listed and drinks in towns (approx. $110)
• Entrance fees, domestic and international airport and exit taxes, national park fees (all together approx. $140)
• Porters for personal luggage (max. 12kg) for Temun & Auyan trekking (10 days) – approx. $300 (please register prior to tour start)
• Sleeping pad and sleeping bag

Travel Dates & Prices 2011 / 2012:
• Oct. 20-Nov. 4, 2011– Price (to/from Caracas): 1920 US$
• March 30-April 14, 2012– Price (to/from Caracas): 2010 US$
• June 26-July 7, 2012– Price (to/from Caracas): 2010 US$
• Oct. 19-Nov. 3, 2012– Price (to/from Caracas): 2010 US$

Number of participants: 4 - 12 Pax

Requirements:
team spirit, abdication of comfort, surefootedness, respect for foreign cultures. Ascent to table mountain is demanding and subject to weather conditions (walking time 6-8 h per day / hot humid cli-mate).

Eastern Venezuela tour / Southern Venezuela tour