Kidapawan's Lake Agco

0 comments Sunday, December 20, 2009

Experience the beauty of nature, lake Agco is now one of the tourist spot in the Philippines in Mindanao it is said to be the Kidapawan’s hidden Eden where Mount Apo is also located. It is full mystery, adventure and excitement, experience also the hot spring and cold spring of the resort where in you can relax and enjoy the place with nature. walk trough and hike in-in the water falls, steam bath mud pits and also the cool and amazing steaming and boiling water of Mount Apo.

photo by me | capturing using samsung GH-g600


Lake Agco is really awesome. Seeing a small pond of murky but boiling water and felt the hot steam, I was quite scared of going near the lake. It was all natural! I smell sulfur all around; steam and hot water bursting from the ground. Though little bit terrified upon realizing that I was standing at one of the outlet of the volcano, Mount Apo, I still felt excited that time. A small resort was built near Lake Agco. A chilling cold swimming pool is just beside the large “hot bath tub.”

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Trekking full information in nepal

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Trek Gradation:
In order to enjoy your trekking in Nepal it is necessary to know which trek matches most with your physical capabilities. Thus, we have categorized all our treks in the following ranks.

Grade Description
Easy Easy trekking by Himalayan Standard is generally up to 2000m. There are plenty of ups and downs on well-maintained trails. Any one who leaves a reasonably active life can enjoy this trip .This types of trek involves 3 to 7 days, and walking is about 4 to 5 hours a day.
Easy- Plus It involves longer treks (five to ten days) on maintained trails, including perhaps day excursions to higher elevations. Some previous hill- walking experience is desirable. In general, the altitude attained on these treks will be between 900m to 3000m. This trek is best described as moderate trek.
Moderate It is a reasonably demanding trek at an altitude up to 4000m with side trips to higher elevations. This is classified as ill ?defined trails, away from habitation.
Moderate - Plus These treks must be fully supported. The altitude varies between 3500 to 5000m. It involves several night stays above 4000m. Clients should be fit and enthusiastic hill walkers prepared to tackle difficult terrain in remote areas.
Challenging This is also graded as Alpine Trek. This trek is of in excellent health, capable of carrying a backpack. Sometimes the treks will be in very remote areas reaching crossing. It includes crossing snow - covered passes in very remote areas or climbing up to 6500m where some previous experience of handling axes and crampons is normally expected. Medical certificates are required prior to be accepted on these trips.

Trekking Permit

A trekking permit is a must to visit restricted areas mentioned below. To visit normal trekking areas, no permission is required.

Restricted areas which have been opened for Group Trekking
The following restricted areas are open only for group trekkers. And a trekking permit will not be issued to individual trekkers for such areas. The areas and required fees are as follows:

S.N. Area
Fee (Per Person)
1. Areas of lower Dolpa For the first 4 weeks per week per person US$ 10 and after 4 weeks per week per person US$ 20.
2. Taplejung District (Kanchanjanga Region):-Areas of Olangchunggola, Lelep, Papung and Yamphudin Village Development Committee.
Sankhuwasabha District (Makalu Region):-Areas of Kimathanka, Chepuwa, Hatiya and Pawakhola Village Development Committee.
Solukhumbu District (Everest Region):-All north-west area way from Thame to Nangpala of Namche Village Development Committee. For the first 4 weeks per week per person US$ 10 and After 4 weeks per week per person US$ 20
3. Rasuwa District :-Thuman and Tingure per week per person US$ 10
4. Manang District:- Areas of Nar, Phu, and Northern area of Tilche Village of Thochhe Village Development Committee For September to November per week per person US$ 90 and December to August per week per person US$ 75.
5. Mugu District:- Areas of Mugu, Dolpu, Pulu and Bhangri. For the first 7 days per person US $90 and After 7 days per day per person Us$15.
6. Baihang District:-Areas of Kanda, Saipal, Dhuli. For the first 7 days per person US $90 and After 7 days per day per person Us$15.
7. Darchula District:- Areas of Byas Village Development Committee. For the first 7 days per person US $90 and After 7 days per day per person Us$15.
8. Upper Mustang and Upper Dolpa District:- For the first 10 days per person US $700 and After 10 days per day per person Us$70.
9. Gorkha District (Manaslu Area):- For Sepetmber to November per week per person US$ 90 and December to August per week per person US$ 75.
10. Humla District (Simikot and Yari):- Areas of Limi and Muchu village village Development Committee, and area way to Tibet via Tangekhola of Darma Village Development committee. For the first 7 days per person US $90 and After 7 days per day per person Us$15.


Note : To get a group trekking permit an application form with other relevant documents should be submitted through any registered trekking agency of Nepal.

Trekking Permits Issuing Offices:
Dept. of Immigration, Bhirkutimandap, Kathmandu.

Miscellaneous Fees
a. Travel document (in case of loss/damage/theft/or expiry of the passport)-US$ 20
b. Issuance of Entry Visa from the Dept.-25% additional fee along with regular entry visa fee.
c. Certification of Arrival or Departure stamps or replacement of trekking permit US$ 1 (one).

National Park & Conservation Area Entrance Fee:

1. National Park Entrance Fee:
National Parks Nationality Fee (Per Person)
Himalayan National Parks (Sagarmatha, Langtang,Rara, Makalu Barun, Shey Phoksumdo, Khaptad) SAARC Per Entry NRS. 100/-
Others Per Entry NRS. 1000/
Chitawan/Bardia SAARC Per day Nrs. 200/-
Others Per day Nrs. 500/-


2. Conservation and Wildlife Reserves:


Conservation/Wildlife Reserves Nationality Fee per person
Annapurna/Manaslu SAARC Per entry Nrs. 200/-
Others Per entry Nrs. 2000/-
Kanchenjunga SAARC per entry Nrs. 100/-
Others per entry Nrs. 1000/-
Shuklaphanta/Parsa SAARC Per day Nrs. 200/-
Others Per day Nrs. 500/-
Dhorpatan SAARC Per entry Nrs. 200/-
Others Per entry Nrs. 500/-

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Helicopter tour in nepal

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Helicopter tour in nepal
Written by nabaraj thapa


Tour Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Group Size: Max. 5
Tour Cost: USD 2820.00 (sharing)
Best time for this tour: January through May and September through December
Note: This tour is operated in charter basis for individuals, couples, families and group of friends.

This 1 hour and 30 mintutes tour commences from Tribhuvan International Airport and departs for a scenic flight to Langtang valley, naturally you will be rewarded by breathtakingly beautiful display of Himalayas plus it presents you an excellent opportunity to visit Langtang valley for about 30 minutes enabling you to make perfect commune with the place and enjoy natural serenity for a peace of mind.

The key highlights of the tour are panoramic Langtang range, spectacular geographical features, unbeatable natural beauty and others. If you wish to experience these diverse attractions that too in a short phase of time, this tour is highly recommended. On top of that, Langtang National park is also major object of attraction of this area. Also, Himalayan Red Panda can be sighted here.


or to get more info, please
Tour Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
Group Size: Max 5
Tour Cost: USD 6580 (sharing)
Best time for this tour: January through May and September through December
Note: This tour is operated in charter basis for individuals, couples, families and group of friends.
The flying visit to the top of the universe Mount Everest presents visiters with an incredible and awesome sight of pristine mountain peaks at close. World’s tallest mountain, the mount Everest is prime attraction of the tour. Apart from this, it also gives an opportunity to get a close look at natural beauty and eyeful view of the entire Himalayan range.


or to get more info, please
Tour Duration: 3 hours
Group Size: Max 5
Tour Cost: USD 5640.00 (sharing)
Best time for this tour: January through May and September through December
Note: This tour is operated in charter basis for individuals, couples, families and group of friends.
Nepal is definitely the ultimate destination for mountain enthusiasts. This tour has been described as an ideal choice for those having limited time in hands. The opportunities to see some of the outstanding Himalayan peaks of Nepal adored with huge lumps of snow stand in all their glory including entire Annapurna range, Mt. Dhaulagiri, Mt. Fishtail and others certainly make your tour a unique experience. Truly, the fine display of Kaligangaki Gorge – the world’s deepest gorge sighted by this flight is worth mentioning here.

Starting from Tribhuvan International Airport, the flight takes you via Langtang Himalayas range - Pokhara - Poonhill - Jomsom - Muktinath. The helicopter will land at Poon hill (3190m) for a short time to enjoy breath taking view of Annapurna Himalayas ranges including Mt. Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Mt. Fishtail, Annapurna south.


or to get more info, please
Minimum Group Size: 5 (Five seater helicopter)
Tour Cost: USD 4500.00 per person.
Best time for this tour: March through October
Note: This tour is operated in charter basis for individuals, couples, families and group of friends.
Mt. Kailash, the most consecrated pligrimage site which stands as no more than the world's most venerated spot where pligrims passionately enroll despite many days stint of demanding and mind-boggling journey. Moreover, it may even be dream of miles away for many people who opt just straight forwarded and stress - free trip to holy Kailash. Himalayan Rebublican Trekking is now here to put your dream into practice through the most luxurious way where reality exceeds your anticipation offering you heartwarming and satisfying trip. Helicopter chartered tour from Nepaljung to Hilsa - borderside of Tibet and Nepal, that makes ones journey 100% trouble - free and convenient. Additionally, awe- inspiring miraculous scenery during your tour; that is almost beyond ones imagination. So fed up of strenous traveling over rugged and hardy landescapes??? Just set off your disconcerting and join us for cool, extremely comfortable and incredibly pleasurable helicopter tour to Kailash.


Itinerary:



Day 01
Your arrival at Kathmandu Airport. Thereafter you will be received by our Airport Representative and transferred to hotel. O/N at Kathmandu hotel.
Day 02
Today you will take extensive sightseeing tour around the valley including Pashupatinath temple, Boudhanath stupa, Swayambhunathnath stupa and Kathmandu Durbar Square. O/N at hotel.
Day 03
Fly to Nepalgunj. O/N at hotel.
Day 04
Fly to Hilsa by Helicopter and drive to Purang. O/N at Guesthouse.
Day 05
Drive to Manasarovar. Tented camp.
Day 06
Drive to Darchen. O/N at Guesthouse or tented camp.
Day 07
Trek to Derapuk Monastery. Tented camp.
Day 08
Dolma La Pass (5600m.) and trek to Zudulpuk Gompa (Camp).
Day 09
Half day trek to Darchen and drive to Purang. O/N Guesthouse.
Day 10
Drive back to Hilsa boarder and fly back to Kathmandu by plane.
Day 11
Sightseeing tour at Patan & Bhaktapur Durbar Square (Hotel).
Day 12
Departure.

1. Sightseeing tour in Kathmandu valley as per above program.
2. Charter helicopter to and from Hilsa boarder as per above program.
3. Land Transfer by Jeep in Tibet Part.
4. Supporter Truck.
5. Chinese visa, and Tibet travel permit.
6. English speaking guide during the tour.
7. Twin sharing accommodation as per tour program.
8. Camping gears for Kailash tour like two men tent/dining tent/kitchen tent/toilet tent & all kitchen gears.
9. Full board meal during the camping section.
10. Yak and Yak men for Mt. Kailash cora, Nepali guide, cook, helpers.
11. Staff insurance.

Alcoholic beverages, Lunch & dinner in Kathmandu other than breakfast, Nepal visa, Nepal Re- entry visa, Travel insurance, tips for guide, porters, driver, and yak men.

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Top 10 Backpacking Travel Destinations for 2010

0 comments Wednesday, December 9, 2009

top backpacking destinations Top 10 Backpacking Travel Destinations for 2010We all know Cancun, Miami and Cabo are great for spring break. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the company of drunken college chicks and cheap tequila on the beach. But this year, we urge you to dig a little deeper. An entire world of similarly (likely more) satisfying experiences lie ahead and the best time to begin exploring them is now. From the best beaches, most picturesque scenery to the best drinks, food and art, OTP has you covered. Based on our network of backpacking buddies who have traveled the world throughout 2009, here is our list of the Top 10 Backpacking Destinations for 2010:

Cheapest: CAMBODIA

Travel guides have advised their readers to go to Thailand for years because it’s a cheap travel destination. Subsequently, swarms of backpackers, then tourists, congested the shit out of Bangkok. For this reason, we say forget Thailand and go to Cambodia before it gets tourist trapped. Although getting to Cambodia will cost you some cash (about $1000), once you’re in, you will feel like a millionaire. Since bargaining is common practice in most of Southeast Asia, it is said that you should aim for getting whatever you want for half of what people initially offer. Just to give you an idea: a pack of cigarettes is 20 to 25 cents. Breakfast: about $1. Hostels run $5 per day (if you get ritzy, a nice hotel is $15-$30 per day). The most expensive thing you should encounter is the entrance fee to the Angkor Temples (about $20 per day). These ancient ruins are not to be missed and will be worth spending a few dollars on.

cambodia Top 10 Backpacking Travel Destinations for 2010

Nightlife: Reykjavik, Iceland

With Ibiza dying out, Tokyo becoming increasingly expensive and Amsterdam (well it’s still a party if you don’t turn into a lazy stoner during your visit) we turn to Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, for insane nightlife. The nights are longer here which means the parties last and last. The girls and guys are hot, the temperature is cold, so dancing, drinking and debauchery are all accepted forms of keeping warm. Plan a trip for new years to get the best of the Icelandic party experience (fireworks and all). This is what Quentin Tarantino had to say about partying in Iceland. Hey if it’s good enough for him, it’s good enough for us.

party blue lagoon Top 10 Backpacking Travel Destinations for 2010

Beaches: The San Blas Islands, Panama

The world is over 70% water, that water is usually connected to land by beach. With so many beaches to choose from, how does one place stand out from the rest? The perfect beach must have all of the following: soft clean sand, clear water, a fair amount of nakedness, natural surrounding beauty and as few tourists as possible. Very few destinations can offer the seclusion from tourists necessary to have a perfect beachgoing experience. We think the San Blas Islands near the coast of Panama come the closest. San Blas, inhabited by the Kuna Indians, offers that little bit of seclusion that tourism has yet to ruin. Women dress in handmade molas (beautifully colored fabrics), everyone has a natural sun glow tan and fresh fish is caught daily by locals in handmade kayak boats. Get your beach skimpies on and head out to Cartegena, Colombia where you can catch a boat for $300 to the San Blas Islands. The fee includes a 5 day, all-inclusive stay in beach paradise. Can’t argue with that.

san blas 2 Top 10 Backpacking Travel Destinations for 2010

Sightseeing: ITALY

Though not a very off-track destination, Italy has so much to offer historically. Rome is home to the Vatican, Pantheon and Coliseum; Florence to the statue of David and then there’s that leaning tower in Pisa. Genoa is the proud home of Christopher Colombus and the roots of pizza lie in Naples. From Sicily to Milan, ancient Roman ruins are sprawled out in this land of history for you to see. Every corner of Italy will have your camera in overdrive. So read up on Italian historical events and head out to explore the land your history books only vaguely succeeded in describing.

Cinque Terre colombia Top 10 Backpacking Travel Destinations for 2010

Best Art Scene: Barcelona, Spain

Italy has the best classical art scene. But when the same naked figures, realistic religious scenes and landscapes get boring, drop Italy and cruise over to Barcelona to refresh your artistic eye. Two greats, Salvador Dali and Antonio Gaudi , rule Barcelona’s art culture. Both are pioneers of surrealism in painting (Dali) and architecture (Gaudi) and their art kicks ass. More than being visually orgasmic (Dali Painting, Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia), surrealism opened the door to a whole new world of art that Barcelona continues to redefine; a world where former rules of “fine art” are bent and distorted. Although some stuffy, snotty, overpriced art galleries do exist here, it’s easy to find your art fix on the streets of Barcelona. Gaudi’s trippy buildings are scattered throughout the city and the museum of Dali is only a 40 minute scenic train ride north to Figueras. If these guys don’t tickle you pickle, Barcelona is also packed with more thought-provoking graffiti than you can imagine, inspiring street performers and tons of off-beat artistic expressions (this cat statue for example).

barcelona Top 10 Backpacking Travel Destinations for 2010

Most Remote: LAMU

In our world of “been there, done that”, very few places can still be considered “remote”. Most regions in the world have been taken over by luxury hotels and tourist traps. It’s hard to set foot on land that is truly remote. On that note, OTP brings you Lamu. Off the coast of Kenya, the Lamu archipelago is the oldest inhabited settlement south of the Sahara, its inhabitants are still largely Muslim and here, deserted beaches are still a reality. Whereas most places in the world are locally navigatable by train, car, bus or at least moped, Lamu’s locals get around on donkeys ONLY (now that’s some serious remoteness).

 Top 10 Backpacking Travel Destinations for 2010

Adventurous: The Himalayas (Tibet/Bhutan/Nepal)

Although these areas are quite difficult to get into (as the Chinese government expressly limits tourism here for tense political reasons, see our Volunteer Tibet Article for more info), once you’re in, the Himalayas will quench your thirst for adventure. Hiking these peaks isn’t for pussies. The elevation gets painfully high and the trek becomes difficult but if you can grow a pair, this destination offers the adventure of a lifetime. Hikes through the Himalayas are laced with spiritual hilltop villages, Buddhist temples and monasteries (where you can actually stay with monks and experience their peaceful way of life). A hike through the Himalayas not only awakens your physical sense of adventure but also connects you to a spiritual world unlike any other.

himalaya heavenly union2 Top 10 Backpacking Travel Destinations for 2010

Nature Filled: BOLIVIA

Everyone was exposed to the natural beauty of New Zealand following the release of Lord of the Rings. Yes, it is very green, lush and mind-blowing. But in the same vein, it’s also incredibly expensive to get to ($1400-$1800). Instead, feast your eyes on Bolivia. With no compromises in the natural beauty department (c’mon it’s in the Amazon), and a huge price cut ($800 roundtrip), Bolivia offers backpackers some amazing nature-related perks. This place has salt flats, sand dunes, zip lines, exotic animals and plants, incredible rolling green hills and enough ancient ruins to overload your senses into oblivion. Go get your Amazon on (bring bug spray).

death road bolivia Top 10 Backpacking Travel Destinations for 2010

Hottest Locals: BRAZIL

With so many beautiful people in the world, how do we pick just one place as the home of all that’s hot? Easy: Nakedness that’s how. Home of the Brazilian wax (necessary if all you’re wearing is body paint), Brazil offers up some incredibly sexy locals. Although the nakedness is at full force during Carnival (February) when Rio is torn apart by women wearing nothing but body paint and feathers, the best time to see the local hotties is in June during the Boi Bumba Festival. Fear not, the same nakedness is in store but minus the insane crowds that Carnival attracts. This annual festival takes place in Parintins (a small river community in northern Brazil) and is based on a legend about killing a bull and eating his tongue. Dancers are designated as various characters in the festival, each wearing very little and shaking their endowments all over the place. Here are some photos for visual convincing.

Brazil Beach Top 10 Backpacking Travel Destinations for 2010

Overall: COLOMBIA

Our best overall spot goes to a destination that embodies all the qualities of our top 2010 list and, to spice it up, adds a little danger into the mix. A long-time “no go” zone for Americans, Colombia is 2010’s hottest backpacking destination. It’s cheap as hell (1100 pesos, or $0.43 for a beer), has beautiful locals (Shakira, case closed), incredible artists (Botero: the fat man that does fatty art) and remote beaches (how does sleeping in a hammock hostel sound for $2 a night?). The danger element comes from rumors of American kidnappings and drug wars. Although in larger cities like Bogota and Medellin (home of Pablo Escobar), backpackers are advised to stay in at night, smaller places like Cartegena and Santa Marta are relatively safe at nightfall. Besides, a little danger always makes for a good time in paradise.

Cartagena colombia Top 10 Backpacking Travel Destinations for 2010

Whether its nature, art, history, hotties or beaches you seek, the above spots will satisfy whatever your craving may be in 2010. Don’t be afraid to get a little off track this year; drunken Cancun will still be around in 2011.

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NEPAL TRAVEL GUIDE

0 comments Friday, November 6, 2009


Nepal Travel Packages

Choose from our "12 Special Nepal Travel Package Programmes Exploring Nepal", and enjoy the Kingdom in the Himalayas that offers the highest mountains in the world, a cultural heritage that is among the riches in Asia and tropical jungles teeming with exotic wildlife.

Nepal Hotels

Nepal offers wide range of hotels provide warm hospitality, friendly welcomes and maximum ecstasy.


General Information

Nepal is the home of the world's highest mountains, with a strong historic tradition having population of more than 18 million people of different religion and Culture

Nepal Travel Guide

This category includes information about Visa & Passport, Money & Credit Cards, Banks and Travelling by air , by road , Domestic Air Service and Custom Formalities.


Explore Nepal

There are many beautiful and interesting cities in Nepal including Kathmandu (Capital), Patan, Bhaktapur, Pokhara, Chitwan, Lumbini, Tansen etc., known for their natural beauty.

Museums In Nepal

There are many museums in Nepal.The National Museum is the most popular among the Kathmandu people. These museums has a collection of some of the finest pieces of bronze, coins of second century B.C, beautiful paintings, 6,000 leaf handwritten books and documents etc.


National Parks & wildlife

More than 10% of Nepal's land area is covered by National Parks & Wildlife reserves. Over 30 species of Large wild animals and 180 Species of mammals make their home here. Royal Chitwan National Park is the oldest national park in Nepal.

Adventure In Nepal

Nepal offers exciting opportunities for trekking, rafting, and mountain flight. Jungle safari is an exciting excursion to undertake when life is too overwhelmed with the mundane things of life.


Nepal Helpline

This category includes the addresses and important telephone numbers of Embassies, Banks, Hospitals, Ambulances, Police, Fire Brigades and Tourist Information lefts.

Festivals In Nepal

Nepal is known for its continous festivals. Nepalese are said to observe more festivals than there are days in the year. Some of the major and interesting festivals are given in this category


Shopping In Nepal

There are numerous tourist shops on the main streets and in the arcades of hotels, bursting with tempting jewelleries, image, carpets, clothes and typical Nepalese crafts and much more.

Cuisines in Nepal

Almost every kind of food like Chinese, Indian, Continental, Japanese, Tibetan, Napalese etc. representing the culinary arts of many parts of the world, can be found in restaurants

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Kathmandu tour

1 comments Thursday, November 5, 2009
Kathmandu Tour




(9 Nights - 10 Days)Delhi - Kathmandu - Patan - Chitwan - Pokhara - Dhulikhel - Kathmandu - Delhi


Day 01 : Delhi
Arrive in Delhi. Pick up at airport by tour executive and transfer. Overnight stay will be at hotel. Take a combined city tour of Old and New Delhi. The vistas of eight historical capital cities, spanning nearly 4000 years, provide a befitting commencement.

Day 02 : Delhi - Kathmandu
Transfer to the airport to board flight to Katmandu, the beautiful capital city of Nepal, which is about 25 km in length and 15 km in width. The beautiful snow-clad Himalayan mountain range, apart from the peak of Mount Everest, can be viewed from the Katmandu valley as tourists fly over it. Transfer to hotel. Enjoy daylong sightseeing. Overnight stay will be at the hotel.

Day 03 : Kathmandu - Patan - Kathmandu
Enjoy a full day excursion to Patan. The city of Patan lies to the south of Katmandu and is situated on the sacred Bagmati River. It is believed to be a city covered with a thousand golden roofs. The city is locally referred to as Lalitpur and is famous for its art and crafts. Keep the afternoon free after your return to Katmandu.

Day 04 & 05 : Chitwan
A 41/2 hour drive by road reaches you to Chitwan, the most ancient royal reserve of Nepal, having thousands of rhinoceros, 300 bird species, tigers and leopards. Overnight stay and breakfast the following day at a jungle lodge. Encounter wildlife on elephant back. At sundown, tribal folk will regale you with song and dance.

Day 6 & Day 7 : Pokhara
After daybreak feast, drive to Pokhra, 6 hours away. Arrive and check into hotel. Spend the afternoon trekking to Naudanda, a typical village. Overnight stay will be in hotel.

Day 08 : Pokhara - Dhulikhel
Close to the Indo-China border, the village of Dhulikhel offers a breathtaking view of the Himalayas and the farmed valley of Punchkhal. Sunset and sunrise are simply transcendental here. Overnight stay will be at hotel.

Day 9 : Back to Kathmandu
Daylong excursion by road, via the temples and palaces of Bhadgaon and a gigantic Stupa at Bodh Nath completes the Nepal experience. Transfer to hotel and then to airport for an afternoon flight to Delhi. Pick up at airport and overnight stay in Delhi.
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Trekking Peaks of Nepal

0 comments Wednesday, November 4, 2009


Thriving Heights...

Peaks of NepalOut of the 10 highest peaks in the world, eight lie in Nepal. No doubt Nepal is the favorite destination for mountaineers and trekkers, with more than 600 expeditions trudging up the Himalayas each year. But not all peaks in Nepal are open for trekking.

Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) has set aside a total of eighteen peaks that can be trekked with the pre-requisite permit of NMA.

Trekking Peaks
The 'Trekking Peaks' of Nepal gives hobby-climbers an opportunity to tackle the high Himalayan peaks without having to organize a major expedition. Although these peaks are lower than their more famous cousins - the 8000 meter peaks - many of the climbs are no less demanding and adventurous in nature. The climbing treks offer a chance to climb a Himalayan summit and a taste of being in the `white wilderness'. Most of these trips can be completed within a short period of time.

Mountain Peak Height
In feet In metres
Mera Peak 22,476 6,654
Kusum Kangguru 20,883 6,367
Gyachung Kang 25,910 7,897
Himalchuli 25,801 7,864
Nuptse 25,726 7,841
Makalu II 25,120 7,657
Jongsong Peak 24,472 7,459
Chamlang 24,012 7,319
Kabru 24,002 7,316
Baruntse 23,688 7,220
Gauri Sankar 23,440 7,145
Pyramid 23,400 7,132
Api 23,399 7,132
Ama Dablam 22,494 6,856

Helpline
Ministry of Culture
Tourism & Civil Aviation, Tourism Industry Administration
Mountaineering Division, Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu
Tel: +(977)-(1)-4256234

Nepal Mountaineering Association
Naxal, Kathmandu
Tel: +(977)-(1)- 4434525, 4435442
Fax: +(977)-(1)-4434578

Contact Our Tour Planner
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Nepal Pictures of Tourist Spots

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Nepal has many facets. It is crowned by Himalayas, the highest mountains in the world. It has an extremely intriguing culture which passed on through generations through centuries. It is an amazing blend of two religions: Buddhism and Hinduism which have intermingled in such a way that they cannot be seperated. Amazing landscape, impressive scenic views, evocative palaces and museums, sacred religious places, thrilling adventure activities, Nepal seems to have it all. Here is a collection of beautiful Nepal pictures. Have a virtual tour of Nepal with this photo gallery.
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Public private partnership in Tourism sector in Bangladesh

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Mohammad Shamsul Hoque

Tourism is the world's largest and fastest growing industry. In many countries in the world like the Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal, Malaysia, Thailand, France, Germany, Russia, Britain, tourism is the most money-spinning business where as Bangladesh are still failing to utilize plenty of resources due to lack of proper planning, business and investment climate reforms and economic governance.

Tourism industry in Bangladesh is emerging issue both for the public and private sector to establish eligibility for accomplishing successful business. Though the land of diverse attractions, bountiful nature and millions of friendly people with more than a millennium of cultural heritage, Bangladesh failed to utilise 10 per cent of its tourism potentiality due to lack of sufficient steps and entrepreneurship by the government and private sectors. It is proved that tourism plays vital role in diversifying the nation's economic base and source of foreign exchange through the promotion of international tourism, creation of more employment opportunities to absorb an ever increasing labour force, improvement in the quality life of both urban and rural dwellers, through provision of leisure facilities and amenities, in addition to fostering respect for cultural diversity, promotes and encourages active private sector participation, creates better international image and increased foreign investments. In Bangladesh, investment opportunities exist in tour operation, water sports, accommodation, conferences, textiles, crafts, resort development, beaches, sports and recreation, travel and food services, etc.

Parjaton has enormous scope to add value in our country and economy. The statistics showed that from the year 1950 to 2007 the tourist growth rate was 6.5 percent and this volume could be raised to much higher level and tourist arrival could be raised to ten folds. For the past several years, the inflow of foreign tourists to one of the low cost tourism destination of Bangladesh more than doubled from two lakh in 2005 to 4.67 lakh in 2008.

Government involvement in the tourism sector is channeled through Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC), the National Tourism Organization (NTO). Though it was established in the year 1972 with the dual responsibility of development and promotion of tourism in the country, the development of the sector is low. All the governments showed negligence and fewer initiatives has been taken to create a favorable environment. While the other tourists countries like SARRC and ASEAN countries attracted both domestic and foreign tourists enormously by taking public private partnership (PPP) ventures and implementing policy and guideline since the decades, Bangladesh recently adopted PPP approach to encourage the private sectors for tourist facilities to promote domestic and international tourism in the country. The present government has updated the Tourism Policy 2009 for the greater interest of tourism sector growth. As per the draft policy, 23 stakeholders governing body of Bangladesh Parjatan Board (BPB) will be constituted chair by the Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation while Members would be representatives from the Ministry of Culture, Home Ministry, Ministry of Environment and Forest, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Land Ministry, Roads and Railways Department, representatives from Travel Agency Organisations, Tour Operator Organisations, Hotels and Guest House Owners Association, Transport Organization, a lady expert on tourism and Chief Executive of the Board will be the Member-Secretary. A Jatiya Parjatan Council will also be formed with Prime Minister as President of the Council, Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism will be vice-president and 14 other ministers as members.

A cabinet committee will also be formed to coordinate and implement tourism policy. The government in principle also agreed to formulate a time-befitting Bangladesh Parjatan Board Act.

In the meantime, a Strategic Master Plan for Tourism for the country has been prepared by the World Tourism Organization (WTO) with the assistance of UNDP. This comprehensive tourism plan has identified our major potential tourist products and types of tourist facilities to be developed in the country. The Government decided to setup and develop Special Tourist Zones (STZ) at different potential places of the country to cater to the needs and demands of the domestic and foreign tourists. These include Cox's Bazar, Sundarbans and Kuakata, Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Developing a sustainable tourism sector through PPPs require legal and governance framework which meets the demands of the international environment. In the present international and national context PPPs are imperative in promoting economic development in a country. The concept of PPPs has manifested itself to the tourism sector in Bangladesh.

The forces of globalisation in emerging markets and the requirement for good economic governance are pillars in promoting PPPs and developing a sustainable tourism sector.

To boost the sector, the government must concentrate on the Business Enabling Environment issues for creating a conducive environment, business entry costs, providing investment incentives, bank loan facilities, introducing adequate and supporting legislation including simplification of business and investment licensing and registration, reducing and building public sector capability for the formulation and prioritisation of projects and negotiations. Visa policy of government needs to be simplified. The process and number of days for getting visa should be reduced for the tourists. To ensure better communications telex, fax and international dialing services, e-mail and Internet connections through a satellite system need to be made available in the tourist destination especially in the Special Tourist Zones (STZs) in Cox's Bazar, Kuakata and other important spots. Adequate communication services especially railroads, highways, airways, and street in all tourism spots must be renovated. Roads from Dhaka to Chittagong, Chittagong to Cox's Bazar, and other spots need drastic improvement.

Government should allow Travel Agents Association of Bangladesh to import luxury coaches at reduced tax to carry tourists in the important spots, introduce tourist police to ensure security to local and foreign tourists. So creating such enabling environment, the government should formulate PPP framework and Guidelines focusing the development of tourism sectors as priority basis.

On the other hand, to explore Foreign Investment, government and private initiative may design a road map involving the foreign Embassy, Foreign Chambers of Commerce and Industry, International Travel Agencies. Strong and co-operative partnership between government departments as well as national tourism authorities, international and national trade associations, and the travel and tourism private sector is required. Besides, under the Bangladesh Parjatan Board, Public Private Tourism Network comprising of relevant governments, Chamber of Commerce and Industries, hotels, motels, resorts, airlines, tour operators, travel agencies, tourism training institutes, tourism publications, travel shops, and youth and adventure clubs should be formed to create tourism friendly business climate and economic development within country and internationally.

Tourist Zones' may also be extended with Nepal, Bhutan, India, Malaysia even with China as most of the western tourists want to enjoy a package tour.

The future of tourism is bright. But it relies heavily on the efficient management and development process of government-private sector cooperation, proper planning and implementation. Substantial business and investment climate policy and regulatory reforms are sine-qua non to attract the private and foreign investors. The tactful and attractive media blitz is needed to visualise the dreams for the global audience to maximise the gains from the development of the Tourism goldmine.
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Govt takes step to enact law to preserve tourists attractions

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BSS, Dhaka

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the government has taken steps to enact law to preserve tourists attractions across the country.

Replying to a question from treasury bench member Mollah Jalal Uddin, she told the house that steps have been taken to set up special tourism zone for foreign tourists.

Besides, Sheikh Hasina said her government is also planning to establish a regional tourism centre comprising Nepal and Bhutan on the basis of regional cooperation.

Describing Bangladesh as a prospective country in terms of tourism, she said that as a prospective sector it (tourism) could economically benefit Bangladesh and help glorify the country's image across the world.

About the mangrove forest Sundarbans, the Prime Minister said an integrated work plan has been taken for the development of the forest aiming at encouraging foreign tourists.

Listing different programmes undertaken by the government for the development of the country's tourism spots, she said her previous government has undertaken a project to construct marine drive in Coxs Bazar. But, she said that the past BNP-Jamaat government suspended the project.

The Prime Minister said different security measurers including introduction of tourist police have been taken for ensuring security of local and foreign tourists
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