Nepal — The Annapurna Highlands

Twice a year — spring and autumn — Gurung and Kulung honey hunters descend from bamboo ladders onto sheer Himalayan cliffs to harvest from the massive hives of Apis laboriosa, the world's largest honey bee. The nectar comes from high-altitude rhododendron species whose grayanotoxins transfer directly into the comb. The practice is centuries old, ritualized, and increasingly endangered by climate change and commercial poaching. A 2017 documentary by Ben Knight brought global attention to the tradition; today, a handful of mission-driven brands source directly from Gurung cooperatives, paying fair-trade premiums that sustain the hunters' way of life.