Now support staff mandatory for trekkers

Tourists traveling to any trekking destination will have to take at least a support staff (porter or guide) with them from September. Government officials say the decision has been taken for the safety of tourists.
According to a recent policy decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs, tourists, who                         want to trek solo in Nepal, must hire at least a porter or a guide. Trekkers traveling in groups are already required to take the service of government registered  trekking agencies.
Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) has welcomed the decision and urged the  government to include the decision in the Tourism Act  for effective implementation. “The decision will help promote Nepal as a safe destination for tourists at a time when international media are questioning the safet of foreigners in Nepal,” Mohan Lamsal, general secretary of TAAN, said.
Recent murder of a Belgian trekker in Langtang National Park along with some other cases of   disappearance of trekkers have created negative image of  Nepal in international market, according to Lamsal. Rana Bahadur Khadka, first vice-president of TAAN, said the  new policy decision means all trekkers will have to take  the service of government registered trekking agencies. He said this will control illegal operation of trekking  business.
According to trekking operators, the new policy change will increase budget of FITs by only around $10 per day. “This is a very nominal amount and it won´t affect tourist arrivals,” Anjan Thapa, treasurer of TAAN, said. The Ministry of Home Affairs had taken the decision earlier this month following  mounting pressure from tourism entrepreneurs, diplomatic  missions and kin of missing tourists.

TAAN team completes Dolpo exploration

A team of Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal returned to Kathmandu on August 8 after completing 24-day exploration of the Dolpo Region.The team led by TAAN President Mahendra Singh Thapa comprised of report writer, cartographer,videographer and photographer along with support staff.
The team entered Dolpa via Jumla airport and progressed through Chharka, Phoksundo, Shey Gumba, Sallaghari, Kangla Pass, Saldang, Dho Tarap, Narpani, Tarako and Duani before flying by to Kathmandu from Juphal airport.“This trip was focused more on studying the  condition of existing trails rather than developing new    routes,” President Thapa said, adding that they would  recommend the government to lower permit fee to the area  so that more trekkers visit the Dolpo region. “This will help uplift socio-economic status of people living in  the area.”Thapa also said they had to  enter Dolpo region via Jumla because flights to Juphal airstrip from Nepalgunj were cancelled due to bad  weather. “Jumla can be the gateway to Dolpo because it  has blacktopped airstrip that can be operated round the  year. If it is not possible to fly to Dolpa, we can enter the region via Jumla,” added Thapa. He also said  the dirt road between Jumla and Dolpa can be one of the   best places in Nepal for mountain  biking.According to Thapa, will prepare maps,   updated itinerary and a documentary to promote trekking     and adventure tourism in Dolpa. together with  Nepal   and Nepal Tourism Board is planning to develop     existing trails in Dolpo into  Cultural  Circuit.The association has been organizing exploration  treks in different parts of the country over the past year. It has already explored Kanchanjunga Region, Lower Manaslu and Ganesh Himal Area. It is planning organize similar exploration trip to Humla within a  couple of month.

Fewa Lake

Fewa Lake is located in the south of the pokhara valley. The stream-fed lake is regulated by a dam to form a reservoir because of which the lake is classified as semi-natural freshwater lake. It is the second largest in Gandaki zone followed by Begnas Lake. It covers an area of about 5.23 sq. km with an average depth of about 8.6 m with maximum water capacity of the lake is approximately 4,600,ooo cubic metres. TheAnnapurna range on the north is only about 28 km away from the lake, and the lake is famous for reflection of mount Machhapuchhre and other mountain peaks of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges on its surface. The Barahi Temple is situated on an island in the lake.

Map reading training for trekking guides

Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) recently organized a two-day map reading training for trekking guides.

A total of 25 participants from different member agencies of TAAN participated in the training. Theoretical class of the training was held at TAAN Secretariat, Maligaun while the practical classes were conducted at Kakani.http://www.himalayastrek.com/

Theoretical class was held at TAAN Secretariat and practical classes were taken in Kakani. The classes were taken by Kaji Thapa.

According to Krishna Hari Khatri, coordinator of Human Resource & Training Department of TAAN, the training was organized to enhance knowledge of trekking guides. “I am hopeful that this training will be of great help to trekking guides who take groups to different rural areas in the country,” he added.

TAAN has been organizing various trainings and orientation programs trekking guides, support staff and staff members of members agencies in a bid to enhance their professionalism.

In Kathmandu the hotels plan tariff hike as bookings

Most of the five star hotels in Kathmandu have been planning to hike their tariffs by up to 20 % with the peal tourist season starting from September some of them have already upped the rates encouraged by increased bookings
The hoteliers said that it was a conventional hike driven by market demand as they need to keep prices competitive to maintain a good value destination.
For advenutre travel remembared us : http://www.himalayastrek.com/everest-trekking.php

 News by Kathmandu post.

In  Kathmandu the hotels plan tariff hike as bookings

 Most of the five star hotels in Kathmandu have been planning to hike their tariffs by up to 20 % with the peal tourist season starting from September some of them have already upped the rates encouraged by increased bookings.

The hoteliers said that it was a conventional hike driven by market demand as they need to keep prices competitive to maintain a good value destination. News by Kathmandu post.

For adventure trekking visit  us: http://www.himalayastrek.com/everest-trekking.php

Chamere Gupha

0ne of many caves in pokhara, the Bat cave or chamero Gufa called by locals is one of the best caves in pokhara. Bats are seen hanging on the celling of the cave.