Tag Archives: Nepal

Cultural Travel, experiential travel, international travel, luxury travel

Luxury Gold’s ‘Once-in-a-Lifetime’ Journey to Nepal and Bhutan; Discount for Booking by Dec. 18

Luxury Gold guests can take a gentle hike to the Taskshang Monastery in Bhutan

With its ancient cultures, mountainous backdrops, and oasis of tranquility, Nepal and Bhutan each hold a wealth of centuries-old stupas and temples. Recently described as a “once in a lifetime journey” by the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) and AFAR Magazine ambassador, Luxury Gold’s Magnificent Nepal and Bhutan journey is nothing short of an “A-list” bucket-list experience ifor travelers seeking authenticity, exploration and cultural immersion.

“I was met with this sort of awe each moment of my journey with Luxury Gold, as our Traveling Concierge kept my journal occupied, and my camera at the ready,” said AFAR Magazine ambassador, Ryan Neal Cordwell, in his recent USTOA blog. “It isn’t only the absorption of undiluted insight, but the ability to participate interactively, that stamps this page of the world with gold.”

Luxury Gold’s dedicated and knowledgeable Traveling Concierges, VIP treatment, delectable dining, and immersive, local experiences bring together the true beauty of this enchanting region.

Just a few exceptional highlights of Luxury Gold’s culturally enriching 10-day journey to Nepal and Bhutan: 

As a VIP experience in Kathmandu, meet with the monks of Boudhanath stupa for a private puja (blessing) ceremony. Hear traditional chanting, drumming and tales of the monks lives inside the temple. You’ll be cherished by this visit by being blessed by the monks. Later, meet a local pottery craftsman who will explain the traditions and processes of their works, before guiding you to try for yourself. 

While in Paro, choose a private traditional mask dance and cultural show or learn about the passion the Bhutanese have for the national sport of archery, attending a range to interact with the locals. You can also join a gentle hike to Taktshang Monastery known as the Tiger’s Nest. 

In Thimphu, you’re invited into the home of a local family for a delicious home-cooked meal of typical regional fare. Visit the National Memorial Chorten, dedicated to world peace, along with Tasichho Dzong, known as the fortress of the glorious religion. Visit the bustling market, an opportunity to mix with the locals. 

In Punakha, stay at the luxurious Dhensa Boutique Resort, which sits in lush Punakha Valley and offers spectacular views. Visit the winter residence of the monk body that is also the capital of Bhutan – Punakha Dzong and can walk to Chimi Lhakhang temple and admire the magnificent views over the Losesa Valley. 

At the Dochula Pass, participate in a prayer flag hoisting ceremony, an integral part of Bhutanese landscape. It is believed that when prayer flags flutter, they carry a blessing to everyone around. 

Luxury Gold is bringing back the golden era of travel with the launch of their worldwide collection by offering a 10% Early Payment Discount if you book and pay in full by December 18, 2019.

For reservations, contact your local Travel Advisor, call 1-888-428-1503, or visit www.luxurygold.com.

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Cultural Travel, international travel

World Spree Travel Offers 14-Day India, Nepal Air-Inclusive Tour for $1899

The fabled Taj Majal in Agra is visited on World Spree Travel’s air-inclusive tour combining India and Nepal © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Bellevue, WA —Imagine a trip that combines the exotic and colorful country of India with the Himalayan nation of Nepal to the north.  All for only $135 a day—including includes deluxe hotels like Marriott, Hilton and Crowne Plaza and air fare.   World Spree Travel makes that happen with its Exotic India and Kathmandu Tour in the fall, when the 14-day trip costs $1,899.

That price includes not only round-trip international airfare from San Francisco, Los Angeles or New York, but also 5-star hotel accommodations, daily buffet breakfasts, three lunches, four dinners, all transportation in India and Nepal, comprehensive sightseeing tours with entrance fees, wonderful English-speaking tour guides, baggage handling and audio earphones. A mind-blowing flight to Mount Everest for a close-up view is optional and extra.

The tour starts in the capital, Delhi, with (cycle rickshaw) sightseeing in Mughal Old Delhi’s narrow alleys, mosques and bazaars, and monumental New Delhi’s colonial architecture reminiscent of the British Raj. There’s also a visit to Mahatma Gandhi’s former residence. Then it’s on to Agra, the second city of India’s famed Golden Triangle, and that legendary symbol of love, the beautiful white marble Taj Mahal, considered the finest monument of Mughal architecture.

On the way to Jaipur, the 10th-century Chand Baori (Stepwell), merits a stop. (This incredible well, with 13 floors and 3,500 steps, inspired the centerpiece sculpture in New York City’s new Hudson Yards.)  Jaipur, the third city in the Golden Triangle, is the capital of Rajastan, the “pink city” that starred in “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.” Here there’s a tuk-tuk ride to see historic mansions, palaces and temples, as well as a jeep ride up to the famous Amber Fort, and a visit to a home for underprivileged children.  Then it’s back to Delhi for an overnight and the flight to Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, which is surrounded by the high peaks of the Himalayas..

In Kathmandu, sightseeing includes the array of temples and Nepali royal palaces in Durbar Square, and the “Monkey Temple” with its impressive stupa. Other UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley include Bhaktapur, the nation’s cultural gem with its appealing crafts, ornate palaces, temples galore and 19 Buddhist monasteries, and Patan, full of old charm, traditional brick houses. temples and monuments.  Then there’s Pashupatinath, Nepal’s most important Hindu temple on the  holy Bagmati River. And, of course, that thrilling flight to Mount Everest, which is optional and costs $220. After a short flight to Delhi, there’s a farewell dinner and then the flight back home.

For additional information about the Exotic India and Kathmandu Tour visit www.worldspree.com, and click India, or call toll-free 1-800-652-5656.

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Cultural Travel, international travel

World Spree Offers Early-Bird Special to Book 2019 Air-Inclusive Exotic India & Nepal Trip

World Spree’s Exotic India and Nepal trip includes a visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Bellevue, WA —Chances are you’re never going to climb Mount Everest, so the next best way to see the world’s highest mountain (along with the most fascinating cities of India and Nepal) is on World Spree’s Exotic India and Nepal trip.  If you can plan ahead for an Early-Bird Special, the 14-day air-inclusive tour costs $1,799 in May of 2019.  In the meantime, the price is higher, but still a good deal.

The tour includes round-trip international air fare from Los Angeles, San Francisco or New York to Delhi, flights to and from Kathmandu, accommodation in deluxe hotels (familiar names like Hilton and Marriott), 11 buffet breakfasts, three lunches and four dinners, all ground transportation, baggage handling, sightseeing and entrance fees, and professional English-speaking guides.

The tour starts with sightseeing in Old Delhi, a chaotic but spellbinding scene of markets, mosques and Mughal Empire remains.  A sharp contrast is the colonial architecture of New Delhi, built by the British  in the early 20th century.  The tour continues with two days in the enchanting city of Agra, home to that legendary symbol of love, the beautiful white marble Taj Mahal. Then it’s on to  the capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur,  known as the “pink city” for its rose-hued buildings, and a jeep trip to the hilltop Amber Fort.

A short flight  takes the tour to Kathmandu, the  capital of Nepal that’s surrounded by Himalayan peaks and known for its Durbar Square, graceful temples, elegant palaces, and picturesque streets.  Several UNESCO World Heritage Sites grace the Kathmandu Valley, including Bhaktapur, the nation’s cultural gem with its appealing   crafts, ornate palaces, temples galore and 19 Buddhist monasteries.  Then there’s Patan, full of old charm, traditional brick houses, temples, monasteries and monuments.  And super-photogenic Boudha, with Asia’s largest stupa, where Tibetan monks wander the prayer-flag-bedecked streets and pilgrims spin prayer wheels.

On the last day in Nepal, it’s possible to take an early-morning flight (Optional Tour: $220 per person, to be paid directly in Nepal) above the mighty Himalayas for a close-up view of Mount Everest and the surrounding mountains, an easy way to see the world’s tallest peak. Then it’s back to Delhi for a celebratory farewell dinner and transfer to the airport for the flight  home.

All prices are per person, double occupancy and are subject to availability.  For more information, visit www.worldspree.com, click Destinations and then Nepal, or call toll-free 1-866-652-5656.

World Spree Travel, which started 12 years ago as China Spree, with tours of China, is a tour operator renowned for its 5-star trips at 3-star prices.  Based in Bellevue, Washington, World Spree has expanded all over Asia and now operators tours to China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bali and, yes, Peru. Japan and Ecuador are coming soon.  It is telling that 70% of World Spree’s tour participants are repeat clients who value well-planned trips at a reasonable price.

 

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trekking

Ace Holidays Announces 50% Discount on 15-Day Trek to Everest Base Camp Booked by Feb. 28

Trekking, climbing and adventure company Ace Holidays has just announced 50 percent savings to guests who book an epic trek, a 15-day Everest Base Camp Trek by Feb. 28, 2015.
Trekking, climbing and adventure company Ace Holidays has just announced 50 percent savings to guests who book an epic trek, a 15-day Everest Base Camp Trek by Feb. 28, 2015.

KATHMANDU, Nepal,– Trekking, climbing and adventure company Ace Holidays has just announced 50 percent savings to guests who book an epic 15-day Everest Base Camp Trek by Feb. 28, 2015.

“Our rationale for offering this incredible price is to re-introduce people to Nepal after last year’s Everest issues,” said Prem K. Khatry, founder and director of Ace Holidays. He referred to the April 18, 2014, tragedy that killed 16 Nepali mountain workers. Since then the number of foreign trekkers to this part of the world has declined.

The program is, after the discount, $950 per person, double, when people book using a designated promo code: HIMALAYA. Scheduled guaranteed departures are offered weekly from February to June and September to December.

The trip begins and ends in Kathmandu. Accommodations in hotels and while on the trek in guesthouses are provided, as well as meals and guide (English speaking) services, airport transfers, porters to carry luggage on the trek and the expenses related to them, Everest National Park Permit and Tims Permit for trekking, domestic air tickets and domestic airport tax, Ace Holidays’ duffel/kit bag, sun hat, all government taxes, vat, tourist service charges.

Participants enjoy an ever-changing panorama of mountains that are beautiful, impressive and awesome, even more so as the destination comes closer. A highlight is a view of Ama Dablam, thought to be the most beautiful mountain in the world that dominates the skyline of the Chukkung Valley. Enroute guests trek through Sherpa villages enjoying the warm hospitality and service found at their guesthouses and learning about Sherpa culture, colorful “chortens” and prayer flags. When from a base camp Everest is framed, guests mark off yet another bucket list life experience.

As for the true reason for the unprecedented discount offer, Khatry explains, “The decline in visitors and engagements for mountain workers is really hurting local economies. Nepal is safe for travelers and Ace wants to bring them back to help the local economy. Generally a Sherpa (mountain worker) makes 10 times the average Nepalese income by working two months on Everest. This money is used to support his family. Without foreign climbers to support on the mountain, the alternative sources of income for these Sherpa who rely on expedition work are scarce.”

Nepalese-Owned Company

Prem K Khatry founded Ace the Himalaya in 2006 after working for many years as a freelance tour/trekking leader. Prem founded Ace to be a 100 percent locally owned, inbound ground operator in Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. As a Nepalese-owned company, Ace offers wholesale tour operators the twin benefits of affordable ground services and superior quality itineraries and travel planning services. Today, the company employs a staff of 40 and has the distinction of having served more than 2,000 trekking groups in Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan. The company will soon offer itineraries in northern India and Rajasthan.

Ace Holidays, a division of Ace the Himalaya, is a value-priced trek, tour, and expedition company in Nepal. Its main purpose is to reveal the highest mountains of the world, as well as, the awe-inspiring natural beauty of Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. Ace Holidays also offers rafting, paragliding, mountain biking, bungee jumping, mountain and ultra mountain flights, jungle safaris, festival and cultural tours.

For more information and reservations contact Ace Holidays by phone (US and Canada) Toll Free: +1-877-306-0650; or by email at [email protected]. For a full list of programs, dates, prices and itineraries log onto: www.ace-holidays.com.

 

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ecotourism, experiential travel, international travel

Ace the Himalaya Pioneers “Home Stay Trek” in Remote Villages of Nepal

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Ace the Himalaya is pioneering a 13-day “Home Stay Trek” that brings visitors into homes in remote areas of Nepal’s Gorkha region where their hosts are often friends and families of Sherpas.
Ace the Himalaya is pioneering a 13-day “Home Stay Trek” that brings visitors into homes in remote areas of Nepal’s Gorkha region where their hosts are often friends and families of Sherpas.

KATHMANDU, Nepal – Trekking, climbing and adventure company, Ace the Himalaya Pvt Ltd., is pioneering a 13-day “Home Stay Trek” that brings visitors into homes in remote areas of Nepal’s Gorkha region where their hosts are often friends and families of Sherpas who dedicate their lives to the mountains (www.acethehimalaya.com/special-trips/home-stay-trek.html).

Time spent as special guest of each village along the route will allow visitors to experience the true Nepali spirit while enjoying and sharing in their daily activities and rituals such as visits to the local blacksmith and time spent with the village shaman. Daily, trekkers will journey to a different village staying with a local family in a shared room. Rooms in local houses are clean, warm and dry, with simple beds. Linen and quilts will be provided although it is recommended participants bring a sleeping bag.

“This Home Stay Trek is inexpensive in comparison to other trekking trips in Nepal, and the outcome is that the money really goes to villagers,” said Prem K. Khatry, managing director of Ace the Himalaya. This region fosters more Sherpas than any other in the country. “While it takes extra care to introduce outsiders to culture and lifestyles that are unchanged for centuries, these efforts also assist local people socially and economically.”

The package rate for a single individual is $1,210; for two to four, $660 per person, and for five and more $550 each.  Included are airport transfers, overnights at a Kathmandu hotel, accommodation in mountain homes, Nepali local food, guided city tour in Kathmandu by private tourist vehicle, local Ace the Himalaya-licensed English-speaking guide, the required number of local staff and porters to carry luggage during the trek (one porter for every two guests), food, accommodation, salary, insurance, equipment and medicine for all staff, ground transportation to and from Kathmandu in private vehicle, complimentary duffel/kit bag, sun hat and T-shirt, sightseeing/monument entrance fees in Kathmandu, government taxes, VAT, tourist service charges, official expenses and a farewell dinner in typical Nepali restaurant with cultural dance show before the trip ends.

The money visitors pay for this exclusive people-to-people experience is welcomed by host families and covers the cost of providing food and accommodation. Breathtaking views of Ganesh Himal, Manaslu and Annapurna are free for the gazing. Guests experience the hospitality of eight host families in as many villages, arriving at the conclusion of each day of trekking.

Typical Nepali foods are offered each evening and along the trek: dal, bhat, tarkari and achar (rice, curry, pickle), and possibly Gundrook- Dheedo, a sugar-free dish made of wheat, maize and dried green vegetable. The food is always high on nutrition levels and most outsiders find it quite tasty.

Most villages don’t have a flushing toilet; a sewage system is non-existent. All toilets during the home-stay are squat toilets made of either a ceramic basin on the ground or few planks precariously positioned over a hole in the ground. There usually is a tap and bucket next to the toilet for flushing. Guests supply their own toilet paper. Baths and clothes washing take place at springs, rivers and communal outdoor showers.

Culture Shock

The lifestyle in these small villages is very different from that in Nepal’s larger communities. Western culture has had little influence on these people and their traditions can foster a little cultural shock with clients. Here are some key differences:

Most villagers tend to speak loudly and somewhat aggressively. Hence one should be aware that this is just normal approach and not be offended.

Physical disciplining of children (such as hitting and using the strap) is common and an old practice in Government schools; although the Government is working on phasing this out, it will take some time.

Sacrifices of animals and birds occur in traditional Hindu rituals during festivals; a visit to a witch doctor is a normal cultural activity.

Tobacco is quite common and many villagers smoke cigarettes.

Hygiene levels are often much lower in the villages as the locals hold higher immune capacity. s visitors are advised to reduce the chance of getting sick by being aware when interacting with children, accepting food from villagers and drinking water.

For more information and reservations contact:
North America: Alexia Nestora, 303-898-3376, [email protected]
Head office in Nepal: E-mail: [email protected], 24-Hour Hot Line Phone: +977 98511 02225, website: www.acethehimalaya.com/.

 

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