Sunday, August 30, 2009
Welcome to Visit Nepal.
In Nepal, there are numerous fine rivers which offer excellent rafting and kayaking. You can relax and glide through roaring white rapids, in the care of expert river guides. You can find clear sandy beaches to camp or to take meals. There are some nice pools for swimming, but you need to be guided by your River Guide. Longer river trips offer you the best range of scenery and rapids. Longer river trips also allow enough time for participants to develop their rafting skills. Most of the longer river trips in Nepal offer you more excitement and wilderness.
The most popular rivers in Nepal for Rafting are:- Trisuli, Seti, Marshyandi, Kaligandaki, Karnali, Sunkoshi, Tamur, Bhotekoshi etc.
Trisuli River = 1-3days ( grade 3+ )
This River is most popular and easily accessible from Kathmandu and Pokhara. For the first- time rafter it offers plenty of excitement. Many tourists choose this river trip on the way to Royal Chitwan National Park. A trip on this river can be made for various different lengths of time, depending upon the availability of time and interest.
Kaligandaki = 3days (grade 4-5)
This river flows through remote canyons and a deep gorge, which is also known as the deepest gorge in the world. The rafting starts from Maldhunga near Baglung. Maldhunga is about 55 kilometers drive from Pokhara. Some tourists start this rafting trip after they end their Annapurna trek via Tatopani and Beni. Rafting is for 3 days only, because of Kaligandaki hydro- power project.
Seti Khola River = 2days(grade 2-4)
This river starts from Machhapuchere Mountain; it flows through the centre of Pokhara city. But there is a dangerous gorge in the centre part of the city which was made by this river. That’s why rafting is not possible from Pokhara city. You have to drive to Damauli, which is 50 kilometers from Pokhara on the way to Kathmandu . This river is suitable for first- time rafters and middle- aged people. From Damauli this river winds through vast canyons and untouched tracks of forest, and the trip lasts for two days.
A company called Ker & Downey provides a luxury-tented camp with rafting in this river. Many European and American agents sell this trip . www.visit-nepal.com/ker&downey.htm
Bhote Koshi=Two days ( 4-5 )
Sun Koshi=8 to 10 days ( 4-5 )
Karnali =10 days( 4-5 )
Adventure travel
Adventure travel is a tourism, involving exploration or travel to remote or exotic areas, where the traveler should "expect the unexpected". Adventure tourism is rapidly growing in popularity, as tourists seek different kinds of vacations. According to the U.S. based Adventure Travel Trade Association, adventure travel may be any tourist activity, including two of the following three components: a physical activity, a cultural exchange or interaction and engagement with nature.
Adventure tourism gains much of its excitement by allowing its participants to step outside of their comfort zone. This may be from experiencing culture shock or through the performance of acts, that require significant effort and involve some degree of risk (real or perceived) and/or physical danger. This may include activities such as mountaineering, trekking, bungee jumping, mountain biking, rafting, zip-lining and rock climbing. Some obscure forms of adventure travel include disaster tourism and ghetto tourism.[1] Other rising forms of adventure travel include social tourism, jungle tourism and overland travel.
Access to inexpensive consumer technology, with respect to Global Positioning Systems, flashpacking, social networking and photography, have increased the worldwide interest in adventure travel.[2][3] The interest in independent adventure travel has also increased as more specialist travel websites emerge offering previously niche locations and sports.
Contents [hide]
1 Tour operators, travel agencies & retailers
2 Disabled
3 Types of Adventure Travel
3.1 Disaster Tourism
3.2 Ghetto Tourism
3.3 Jungle Tourism
3.4 Overland Travel
3.5 Urban Exploration
3.6 Ethno Tourism
4 See also
5 References
6 Further reading
Tour operators, travel agencies & retailers
Many organizations and companies worldwide cater to adventure clientèle. Some geographic regions are promoted by both private and public agencies as adventure travel destinations, such as the Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica, one of the worldwide leaders.
Disabled
With the trend of increasing accessible tourism, available to disabled persons around the world, some tourism areas are developing adventure tourism specifically for the disabled. Whistler, British Columbia and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada have been taking the lead with the 2010 Winter Paralympics. Adventure travel for the disabled has become a $13 billion USD a year industry in North America.[4]
Notable disabled adventurers include: Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind person to climb Mount Everest; Casey Pieretti, an amputee skater; and Caroline Walsh, founder of the Access to Marine Conservation for All International.
Some adventure travel destinations offer diverse programs and job opportunities developed specifically for the disabled.[5] Esprit Rafting, located in Pontiac Regional County Municipality, in Quebec, Canada, designs rafting trips for people with spinal cord damage.
Types of Adventure Travel
Disaster Tourism
Main article: Disaster tourism
Disaster tourism is the act of traveling to a disaster area as a matter of curiosity. The behavior can be a nuisance if it hinders rescue, relief, and recovery operations.
If not done because of pure curiosity, it can be cataloged as disaster learning.
Ghetto Tourism
Main article: Ghetto tourism
Ghetto tourism refers to the growing popularity of tourism in ghettos.
Ghetto tourism includes all forms of entertainment — "gangsta rap," video games, movies, TV, and other forms that allow consumers to traffic in the inner city without leaving home.
Jungle Tourism
Main article: Jungle tourism
Jungle tourism is a rising subcategory of adventure travel defined by active multifaceted physical means of travel in the jungle regions of the earth. Although similar in many respects to adventure travel, jungle tourism pertains specifically to the context of region, culture and activity. According to the Glossary of Tourism Terms, jungle tours have become a major component of green tourism in tropical destinations and are a relatively recent phenomenon of Western international tourism.
Overland Travel
Main article: Overland travel
Overland travel or overlanding refers to an "overland journey" - perhaps originating with Marco Polo's first overland expedition in the 13th century from Venice to the Chinese court of Kublai Khan. Today overlanding is a form of extended adventure holiday, embarking on a long journey, often in a group. Overland companies provide a converted truck or a bus plus a tour leader, and the group travels together overland for a period of weeks or months.
Since the 1960s overlanding has been a popular means of travel between destinations across Africa, Europe, Asia (particularly India), the Americas and Australia. The "Hippie trail" of the 60s and 70s saw thousands of young westerners travelling through the Middle East to India and Nepal.
[edit] Urban Exploration
Main article: Urban Exploration
Urban exploration (often shortened as urbex or UE) is the examination of the normally unseen or off-limits parts of urban areas or industrial facilities. Urban exploration is also commonly referred to as infiltration, although some people consider infiltration to be more closely associated with the exploration of active or inhabited sites. It may also be referred to as "draining" (when exploring drains) "urban spelunking", "urban caving", or "building hacking".
The nature of this activity presents various risks, including both physical danger and the possibility of arrest and punishment. Many, but not all, of the activities associated with urban exploration could be considered trespassing or other violations of local or regional laws.
[edit] Ethno Tourism
Ethno tourism refers to visiting a foreign location for the sake of observing the indigenous members of its society for the sake of non-scientific gain. Some extreme forms of this include attempting to make first contact with tribes that are protected from outside visitors.
Two controversial issues associated with ethno tourism include bringing natives into contact with diseases they do not have immunities for, and the possible degradation or destruction of a unique culture and/or language.[6]
[edit] See also
Adventure recreation
Hang Gliding
Jungle tourism
Mountain biking
Mountaineering
Outdoor education
Parachuting
Paragliding
Rafting
River trekking
Travel journal
Travel documentary
Urban exploration
References
^ "Citypaper online". http://www.citypaper.com/special/story.asp?id=11846. Retrieved 2007-11-10.
^ "The Flashpacker: A New Breed of Traveler". Hotel Travel News. 2006-03-24. http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/article/20060324134038880. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
^ The Development of Social Network Analysis Vancouver: Empirical Press.
^ Stan Hagen - Tourism Minister of British Columbia
^ The Equity: "Esprit rafting to be featured in commercial", Wednesday, May 14th, 2008, print edition
^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/jul/25/tribal-adventure-ethical-tourism-jarawa
Adventure tourism gains much of its excitement by allowing its participants to step outside of their comfort zone. This may be from experiencing culture shock or through the performance of acts, that require significant effort and involve some degree of risk (real or perceived) and/or physical danger. This may include activities such as mountaineering, trekking, bungee jumping, mountain biking, rafting, zip-lining and rock climbing. Some obscure forms of adventure travel include disaster tourism and ghetto tourism.[1] Other rising forms of adventure travel include social tourism, jungle tourism and overland travel.
Access to inexpensive consumer technology, with respect to Global Positioning Systems, flashpacking, social networking and photography, have increased the worldwide interest in adventure travel.[2][3] The interest in independent adventure travel has also increased as more specialist travel websites emerge offering previously niche locations and sports.
Contents [hide]
1 Tour operators, travel agencies & retailers
2 Disabled
3 Types of Adventure Travel
3.1 Disaster Tourism
3.2 Ghetto Tourism
3.3 Jungle Tourism
3.4 Overland Travel
3.5 Urban Exploration
3.6 Ethno Tourism
4 See also
5 References
6 Further reading
Tour operators, travel agencies & retailers
Many organizations and companies worldwide cater to adventure clientèle. Some geographic regions are promoted by both private and public agencies as adventure travel destinations, such as the Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica, one of the worldwide leaders.
Disabled
With the trend of increasing accessible tourism, available to disabled persons around the world, some tourism areas are developing adventure tourism specifically for the disabled. Whistler, British Columbia and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada have been taking the lead with the 2010 Winter Paralympics. Adventure travel for the disabled has become a $13 billion USD a year industry in North America.[4]
Notable disabled adventurers include: Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind person to climb Mount Everest; Casey Pieretti, an amputee skater; and Caroline Walsh, founder of the Access to Marine Conservation for All International.
Some adventure travel destinations offer diverse programs and job opportunities developed specifically for the disabled.[5] Esprit Rafting, located in Pontiac Regional County Municipality, in Quebec, Canada, designs rafting trips for people with spinal cord damage.
Types of Adventure Travel
Disaster Tourism
Main article: Disaster tourism
Disaster tourism is the act of traveling to a disaster area as a matter of curiosity. The behavior can be a nuisance if it hinders rescue, relief, and recovery operations.
If not done because of pure curiosity, it can be cataloged as disaster learning.
Ghetto Tourism
Main article: Ghetto tourism
Ghetto tourism refers to the growing popularity of tourism in ghettos.
Ghetto tourism includes all forms of entertainment — "gangsta rap," video games, movies, TV, and other forms that allow consumers to traffic in the inner city without leaving home.
Jungle Tourism
Main article: Jungle tourism
Jungle tourism is a rising subcategory of adventure travel defined by active multifaceted physical means of travel in the jungle regions of the earth. Although similar in many respects to adventure travel, jungle tourism pertains specifically to the context of region, culture and activity. According to the Glossary of Tourism Terms, jungle tours have become a major component of green tourism in tropical destinations and are a relatively recent phenomenon of Western international tourism.
Overland Travel
Main article: Overland travel
Overland travel or overlanding refers to an "overland journey" - perhaps originating with Marco Polo's first overland expedition in the 13th century from Venice to the Chinese court of Kublai Khan. Today overlanding is a form of extended adventure holiday, embarking on a long journey, often in a group. Overland companies provide a converted truck or a bus plus a tour leader, and the group travels together overland for a period of weeks or months.
Since the 1960s overlanding has been a popular means of travel between destinations across Africa, Europe, Asia (particularly India), the Americas and Australia. The "Hippie trail" of the 60s and 70s saw thousands of young westerners travelling through the Middle East to India and Nepal.
[edit] Urban Exploration
Main article: Urban Exploration
Urban exploration (often shortened as urbex or UE) is the examination of the normally unseen or off-limits parts of urban areas or industrial facilities. Urban exploration is also commonly referred to as infiltration, although some people consider infiltration to be more closely associated with the exploration of active or inhabited sites. It may also be referred to as "draining" (when exploring drains) "urban spelunking", "urban caving", or "building hacking".
The nature of this activity presents various risks, including both physical danger and the possibility of arrest and punishment. Many, but not all, of the activities associated with urban exploration could be considered trespassing or other violations of local or regional laws.
[edit] Ethno Tourism
Ethno tourism refers to visiting a foreign location for the sake of observing the indigenous members of its society for the sake of non-scientific gain. Some extreme forms of this include attempting to make first contact with tribes that are protected from outside visitors.
Two controversial issues associated with ethno tourism include bringing natives into contact with diseases they do not have immunities for, and the possible degradation or destruction of a unique culture and/or language.[6]
[edit] See also
Adventure recreation
Hang Gliding
Jungle tourism
Mountain biking
Mountaineering
Outdoor education
Parachuting
Paragliding
Rafting
River trekking
Travel journal
Travel documentary
Urban exploration
References
^ "Citypaper online". http://www.citypaper.com/special/story.asp?id=11846. Retrieved 2007-11-10.
^ "The Flashpacker: A New Breed of Traveler". Hotel Travel News. 2006-03-24. http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/article/20060324134038880. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
^ The Development of Social Network Analysis Vancouver: Empirical Press.
^ Stan Hagen - Tourism Minister of British Columbia
^ The Equity: "Esprit rafting to be featured in commercial", Wednesday, May 14th, 2008, print edition
^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/jul/25/tribal-adventure-ethical-tourism-jarawa
Changing Concert tour
Nepal’s diverse terrain is a mountain biker’s dream adventure comes true. Mountain biking offers an environmentally sound way of exploring this magnificent country; it’s landscape and living heritage. Because this is a Spartan, laborious mode of travel, it is also considered the way to travel by the ‘purists’.
There are plenty of dirt roads and trails in Nepal to meet every mountain biker’s wildest fantasy. Mountain biking is also recommended if you wish to explore the urban centers such as Pokhara and Kathmandu, plus the outskirts. Imagine, if you will, a ride through lush green rice fields, through hamlets, up and down the hillside, along the riverbank, around temples, past the street-roaming cattle, along the suspension bridge, along the highway, you name it. Through snow, monsoon downpour, wonderful light effect, or fierce head winds, depending on place and season. The adventurous souls may plan extended trips to such exotic locales as Tibet, Namche Baazzar, and western Nepal. You could even do the entire length of Nepal across the plains. What you can or cannot do on mountain bike is limited only by your imagination.
It was in the mid 1980s that biking activity really took off in Kathmandu. Enthusiasts flew with their bikes from East Asia to Tibet to do a 2-weeks journey from there over the passes (17,000 ft.) to Nepal. This landmark event put Nepal squarely in mountain bikers’ map. Thus Kathmandu today is considered a mecca for mountain bicyclists, drawing hundreds of enthusiasts from all corners of the world every year. Some of the regular routes that cover the valley are those, which weave in and out of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan.
Day 01: Kathmandu (24 km/3-4 hours):
Start from the nerve center of old Kathmandu, the Durbar Square, and wind your way up to holy Swayambhu, also known as the money temple. Then ride up and over ring road, to way, Kakani, and re-enter Kathmandu from the northwest corner through terraced farmland and hamlets abandoned by time.
Day 02: Bhaktapur (30 km/4-5 hours):
Begin at Thimi, the restored capital of Bhaktapur, and head up the tortuous road to Changu Narayan Temple and return via farming villages. Then head down to Pashupati along the bank of the Bagmati river, and finish up at a Buddhist shrine, the Bouddhanath Stupa.
Day 03: Patan (51 km/8-9 hours):
Start in Patan, winding your way though the maze of alleys with ornately carved windows, taking in historical sites such as the Golden temple, Krishan temple, and Patan Durbar Square. Then head southeast past Ring Road to Panauti along a difficult off-road trail. Then return to Kathmandu via a paved road or the same trail. Alternatively, you could head off to Dakshin Kali or Godavari.
Other outlying places popular with the enthusiasts are Nagarjuna, Nage Gompa, Tokha, Ichangu Narayan, Gomcha, Bungamati, Kakani, Dhulikhel and Nagarkot.
Further mountain bike trips are those extending from:
a) Dhulikhel to Kodari (82 km), near the Tibetan border.
b) Naubise to Royal Chitwan Park along the Rajpath though such scenic places as the Palung Valley, Daman, and the not-so-scenic industrial town of Hetauda in the plains.
c) Hetauda to Mugling by way of Narayanghat.
d) Lakeside Pokhara up and along the ridge to Sarangkot point, and continuing on to Naudanada from where you could take in the breathtaking close-up view of the Himalayas and the Pokhara Valley.
e) Naudanda to Pokhara through Lumle, Beni and Birethanti, or Naudanda to Pokhara (32 km) either via Sarangkot trail described in (d) or the highway track, which starts with a tortuous 6 km descent into Modi Khola Vally.
There are many more options if you are willing to take the time to find out and blaze your own trial.
There are plenty of dirt roads and trails in Nepal to meet every mountain biker’s wildest fantasy. Mountain biking is also recommended if you wish to explore the urban centers such as Pokhara and Kathmandu, plus the outskirts. Imagine, if you will, a ride through lush green rice fields, through hamlets, up and down the hillside, along the riverbank, around temples, past the street-roaming cattle, along the suspension bridge, along the highway, you name it. Through snow, monsoon downpour, wonderful light effect, or fierce head winds, depending on place and season. The adventurous souls may plan extended trips to such exotic locales as Tibet, Namche Baazzar, and western Nepal. You could even do the entire length of Nepal across the plains. What you can or cannot do on mountain bike is limited only by your imagination.
It was in the mid 1980s that biking activity really took off in Kathmandu. Enthusiasts flew with their bikes from East Asia to Tibet to do a 2-weeks journey from there over the passes (17,000 ft.) to Nepal. This landmark event put Nepal squarely in mountain bikers’ map. Thus Kathmandu today is considered a mecca for mountain bicyclists, drawing hundreds of enthusiasts from all corners of the world every year. Some of the regular routes that cover the valley are those, which weave in and out of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan.
Day 01: Kathmandu (24 km/3-4 hours):
Start from the nerve center of old Kathmandu, the Durbar Square, and wind your way up to holy Swayambhu, also known as the money temple. Then ride up and over ring road, to way, Kakani, and re-enter Kathmandu from the northwest corner through terraced farmland and hamlets abandoned by time.
Day 02: Bhaktapur (30 km/4-5 hours):
Begin at Thimi, the restored capital of Bhaktapur, and head up the tortuous road to Changu Narayan Temple and return via farming villages. Then head down to Pashupati along the bank of the Bagmati river, and finish up at a Buddhist shrine, the Bouddhanath Stupa.
Day 03: Patan (51 km/8-9 hours):
Start in Patan, winding your way though the maze of alleys with ornately carved windows, taking in historical sites such as the Golden temple, Krishan temple, and Patan Durbar Square. Then head southeast past Ring Road to Panauti along a difficult off-road trail. Then return to Kathmandu via a paved road or the same trail. Alternatively, you could head off to Dakshin Kali or Godavari.
Other outlying places popular with the enthusiasts are Nagarjuna, Nage Gompa, Tokha, Ichangu Narayan, Gomcha, Bungamati, Kakani, Dhulikhel and Nagarkot.
Further mountain bike trips are those extending from:
a) Dhulikhel to Kodari (82 km), near the Tibetan border.
b) Naubise to Royal Chitwan Park along the Rajpath though such scenic places as the Palung Valley, Daman, and the not-so-scenic industrial town of Hetauda in the plains.
c) Hetauda to Mugling by way of Narayanghat.
d) Lakeside Pokhara up and along the ridge to Sarangkot point, and continuing on to Naudanada from where you could take in the breathtaking close-up view of the Himalayas and the Pokhara Valley.
e) Naudanda to Pokhara through Lumle, Beni and Birethanti, or Naudanda to Pokhara (32 km) either via Sarangkot trail described in (d) or the highway track, which starts with a tortuous 6 km descent into Modi Khola Vally.
There are many more options if you are willing to take the time to find out and blaze your own trial.
Nepal Trekking, Mountaineering and Expedition Agents
Our Trekking home page lists VisitNepal.com Sponsors alphabetically. See more trekking information in Related Topics below.
A1 Excursion Adventure
Able Eco Treks & Expedition
Above & Beyond Trekking
Above the Clouds Trekking
Above the Himalaya Trekking
Adventure Geo Treks
Adventure Gorkha Treks
Adventure Nepal Makalu Trekking
Adventure Specialists Trekking
Adventure Thirdpole Treks and Expeditions
Adventure Travellers Club
Adventure Pilgrims Trekking
Adventurous Nepal
Alliance Treks & Expedition
Amazing Adventure Treks and Expeditions
Botanical Treks & Excursion
Boundary Less Sherpa Trekking
Cross Culture Trekking
Destination Himalaya
Encounters Nepal - Eco Trekking
Environmental Trekking
Euro-Asia Tours, Travels, Treks Expedition
Everest Expedition Inc.
Expedition to Himalaya
Explore Himalaya Travel & Adventure
Fairsteps Adventure Holidays
First Environment Trekking
Getaway! Himalayan Eco-Trekking
Gorkha Treks Nepal
Great Adventure Treks & Expedition
Heritage Trekking
Hike Nepal
Himalayan Activities
Himalayan Holidays
Himalayan Human Adventure
Himalayan Scenery Treks
Himalayan Trekking
Himalayan World Adventure
Independent Trekking Guide
Independent Trekking Guide Nepal
Marvel Treks & Expeditions
Monterosa Treks & Expedition
Monviso Treks & Expedition
Mt. Manaslu Adventure Treks
Nature Adventure Trek
Nepal Nomad Trekking
Nepal Sanctuary Treks
Nepal Trailblazer Trekking
Nepal Uncovered
New Nepal Treks
Parikrama Treks & Expeditions
Peace Nepal Treks
Ramdung Go Trekking & Expeditions
Samye Trek and Expedition
Scenic Nepal Adventure
Shakti Trekking & Expeditions
Skyline Treks and Expeditions
Snow Leopard Trek
Solukhumbhu Treks and Expedition
Tibet Tours & Travel
Travel Company of Nepal
Unique Adventure International
Unique Path Trekking & Expedition
Vista Trek
World Adventure Trekking and Mountaineering
World Peace Trekking
A1 Excursion Adventure
Able Eco Treks & Expedition
Above & Beyond Trekking
Above the Clouds Trekking
Above the Himalaya Trekking
Adventure Geo Treks
Adventure Gorkha Treks
Adventure Nepal Makalu Trekking
Adventure Specialists Trekking
Adventure Thirdpole Treks and Expeditions
Adventure Travellers Club
Adventure Pilgrims Trekking
Adventurous Nepal
Alliance Treks & Expedition
Amazing Adventure Treks and Expeditions
Botanical Treks & Excursion
Boundary Less Sherpa Trekking
Cross Culture Trekking
Destination Himalaya
Encounters Nepal - Eco Trekking
Environmental Trekking
Euro-Asia Tours, Travels, Treks Expedition
Everest Expedition Inc.
Expedition to Himalaya
Explore Himalaya Travel & Adventure
Fairsteps Adventure Holidays
First Environment Trekking
Getaway! Himalayan Eco-Trekking
Gorkha Treks Nepal
Great Adventure Treks & Expedition
Heritage Trekking
Hike Nepal
Himalayan Activities
Himalayan Holidays
Himalayan Human Adventure
Himalayan Scenery Treks
Himalayan Trekking
Himalayan World Adventure
Independent Trekking Guide
Independent Trekking Guide Nepal
Marvel Treks & Expeditions
Monterosa Treks & Expedition
Monviso Treks & Expedition
Mt. Manaslu Adventure Treks
Nature Adventure Trek
Nepal Nomad Trekking
Nepal Sanctuary Treks
Nepal Trailblazer Trekking
Nepal Uncovered
New Nepal Treks
Parikrama Treks & Expeditions
Peace Nepal Treks
Ramdung Go Trekking & Expeditions
Samye Trek and Expedition
Scenic Nepal Adventure
Shakti Trekking & Expeditions
Skyline Treks and Expeditions
Snow Leopard Trek
Solukhumbhu Treks and Expedition
Tibet Tours & Travel
Travel Company of Nepal
Unique Adventure International
Unique Path Trekking & Expedition
Vista Trek
World Adventure Trekking and Mountaineering
World Peace Trekking
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Kathmandu Valley Rim Trek
The capital of Nepal, Kathmandu, has thousands of visitors each year paying homage to the many temples and shrines there. Apart from the religious aspect visitors also come to enjoy the exciting activities and entertainment available in and around the city. One of these activities is trekking or hiking, which includes both one day hikes and hikes that take you away for a couple of days.
Kathmandu Valley Rim is a wonderful hike to start off with if you do not want anything too strenuous. What this short trek does provide you with is stunning picturesque views of the countryside, snow covered mountains that surround you and of course Kathmandu city. The Kathmandu Rim trek takes you around the rims of the Kathmandu valley like its name suggest. What makes this hike different from some of the others is that, although it is an easy hike, you will need tents for camping as you will be away for three nights.
For families or groups of friends this is the perfect excursion and has been designed specifically to cater for such groups. Even if you have younger children with you the Kathmandu hike is perfect as it is more of a leisurely walk than a fast paced hike with a time limit. The hike gives people who are visiting the country for the first time a wonderful opportunity to learn about the local Nepalese people, their culture and lifestyle. As part of the Kathmandu Rim hike you will pass through some of the traditional villages and have an opportunity to see first hand how they live.
The total length of the Kathmandu Valley Rim experience is ten days, which incorporates other highlights to give you the complete Nepal experience. On the first day you are taken to Kathmandu city and settled in for the evening. The next day you are given a guided tour around the city to give you an opportunity to see the temples and try some of the local cuisine. The third day is when the real hike experience begins. Look out for the Himalayas mountain range, which you will be able to view from a distance and see if you can identify Everest the tallest mountain in the world.
On the sixth day of the hike you will make your way back to Kathmandu. Don't worry your adventure does not stop there; you will also get to see the Chitwan National Park and go on a full day safari through the jungle before ending the trip and heading back home with all your wonderful memories.
Kathmandu Valley Rim is a wonderful hike to start off with if you do not want anything too strenuous. What this short trek does provide you with is stunning picturesque views of the countryside, snow covered mountains that surround you and of course Kathmandu city. The Kathmandu Rim trek takes you around the rims of the Kathmandu valley like its name suggest. What makes this hike different from some of the others is that, although it is an easy hike, you will need tents for camping as you will be away for three nights.
For families or groups of friends this is the perfect excursion and has been designed specifically to cater for such groups. Even if you have younger children with you the Kathmandu hike is perfect as it is more of a leisurely walk than a fast paced hike with a time limit. The hike gives people who are visiting the country for the first time a wonderful opportunity to learn about the local Nepalese people, their culture and lifestyle. As part of the Kathmandu Rim hike you will pass through some of the traditional villages and have an opportunity to see first hand how they live.
The total length of the Kathmandu Valley Rim experience is ten days, which incorporates other highlights to give you the complete Nepal experience. On the first day you are taken to Kathmandu city and settled in for the evening. The next day you are given a guided tour around the city to give you an opportunity to see the temples and try some of the local cuisine. The third day is when the real hike experience begins. Look out for the Himalayas mountain range, which you will be able to view from a distance and see if you can identify Everest the tallest mountain in the world.
On the sixth day of the hike you will make your way back to Kathmandu. Don't worry your adventure does not stop there; you will also get to see the Chitwan National Park and go on a full day safari through the jungle before ending the trip and heading back home with all your wonderful memories.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Elephant Safari in Chitwan National Park
If you plan to visit Nepal anytime soon a trip to the Chitwan National Park will no doubt make it onto your list of things to see. This magnificent wildlife conservation area offers some fantastic wilderness experiences that cannot be beaten. It also offers visitors the opportunity to do game viewing from the back of an elephant!
Founded in 1974, the Chitwan National Park is Nepal’s oldest national park. Its rich abundance of flora and fauna and its age has earned it World Heritage Status. As you can imagine there is plenty to see at this breathtaking location. Two very popular animals which live here but are not always seen, are the Bengal tiger (panthera tigris tigris) and the single-horned Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis). This national park is one of the last known refuges for these endangered animals.
While the Chitwan National Park was once a popular hunting spot, it now serves as a popular ecotourism destination. Facilities for canoeing, jungle walks and other eco-friendly activities have been well-established. However by far the most popular services is that of elephant safaris. Visitors are loaded onto these hulking, gentle beasts in a large custom made ‘cab’ and carried around the jungle. From this height, it is much easier to spot some of the 43 mammal species and 450 bird species that have made the Chitwan National Park. The soft footfalls of the elephants also make the animals more at ease, allowing visitors the chance to get really close to animals if they refrain from chatting too much.
Of course each elephant is guided along the trail at the hands of experienced elephant handler. Watching this person ply his trade gently and firmly without bridle or bit is also a part of the experience. It is truly inspiring to know that such a large, heavy animal can and does put itself in subservience to kind and respectful handlers One cannot escape the feeling that other animal handlers might learn something from this.
If you visit Nepal you simply have to go on an elephant safari in Chitwan National Park! It is an unbeatable, magical experience that will allow you to see far more than you would from the back of a car or on foot.
Founded in 1974, the Chitwan National Park is Nepal’s oldest national park. Its rich abundance of flora and fauna and its age has earned it World Heritage Status. As you can imagine there is plenty to see at this breathtaking location. Two very popular animals which live here but are not always seen, are the Bengal tiger (panthera tigris tigris) and the single-horned Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis). This national park is one of the last known refuges for these endangered animals.
While the Chitwan National Park was once a popular hunting spot, it now serves as a popular ecotourism destination. Facilities for canoeing, jungle walks and other eco-friendly activities have been well-established. However by far the most popular services is that of elephant safaris. Visitors are loaded onto these hulking, gentle beasts in a large custom made ‘cab’ and carried around the jungle. From this height, it is much easier to spot some of the 43 mammal species and 450 bird species that have made the Chitwan National Park. The soft footfalls of the elephants also make the animals more at ease, allowing visitors the chance to get really close to animals if they refrain from chatting too much.
Of course each elephant is guided along the trail at the hands of experienced elephant handler. Watching this person ply his trade gently and firmly without bridle or bit is also a part of the experience. It is truly inspiring to know that such a large, heavy animal can and does put itself in subservience to kind and respectful handlers One cannot escape the feeling that other animal handlers might learn something from this.
If you visit Nepal you simply have to go on an elephant safari in Chitwan National Park! It is an unbeatable, magical experience that will allow you to see far more than you would from the back of a car or on foot.
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