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Cycle tourism becomes popular in Mustang

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Cycle tourism becomes popular in Mustang

MUSTANG: Cycling has become an attractive activity among tourists in Mustang district. It is not only the fuel shortage that has encouraged visitors to take to cycling; the lower part of the district, in particular, offers excellent terrain and stunning scenery for adventure seekers.

Bidur Bikram Kuikel, chief of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Jomsom, said the region was becoming an increasingly popular destination for sight-seeing and cycling. As cyclists can stop at any place to take panoramic photos of the Himalayan region, the activity has been drawing an increasing number of tourists in recent days he said.

Mustang-cycle-tour

Michel, a visitor from Poland, said he had been attracted by the snow capped mountains and hair pin bends on the trails in the region. It is fascinating to ride a bicycle in the pleasant environment, said Michel, who was one of the participants of an eight member European team which plans to bicycle all around lower Mustang.

The present time being the main tourist season, the favourable climatic condition has also added to the enjoyment of the bicycle riders.

A bicycle trip around lower Mustang takes three to five days. Many tourists bring their own bicycles while some hire them in Pokhara before visiting the Himalayan region.

Dhruba Bahadur Thapa, an entrepreneur from Pokhara, said he had been renting bicycles to tourists for the last eight years. According to him, he has rented dozens of bicycles this year too. He added that he recently accompanied a group of cyclists travelling on the Jomsom Kagbeni Muktinath Magi route.

Thapa said most visitors who like to travel by bicycle choose the Himalayan region. The scenery and the trails are the main attractions, he added.

Meanwhile, the flourishing bicycle renting business has led to the establishment of more than half a dozen mountain bike adventure services in Pokhara, the gateway to Mustang. According to the entrepreneurs, the Jomsom Muktinath Marpha cycling route in lower Mustang is the most popular route among cyclists.

Pradeep Thakali, an entrepreneur from Thini, said tourists enjoy the snow capped mountains, lakes, traditional villages and wildlife along the cycling routes.

If we can manage the cycling route properly, we can attract a greater number of tourists, he said.

The growing popularity of cycling among tourists has encouraged the authorities in Pokhara to plan to develop it as a bicycle friendly city.

Apart from Mustang, Pokhara rural areas are also highly popular destinations among bicycle riders.

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Govt to reduce trekking permit charge for Dolpa, Mustang

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A seminar between Development Committee of the Legislature-Parliament, officials at Ministry of Tourism and tourism entrepreneurs has announced to reduce trekking permit fee to increase the number of tourists visiting Nepal after the devastating April 25 earthquake.

upper_mustang

A decision has been made to charge USD 100 per person for 10 days from the existing USD 500 for trekking in Mustang and Dolpa.

Likewise, agreement has been reached to adopt one door policy for permission for trekking in restricted areas through Department of Tourism, provide multiple permits on charge of single permit and extent the permit period for Annapurna and other regions to one month among others. The concerned expects that the decision will help to revive tourism impacted by the earthquake and send out a message that Nepal is safe for tourists.

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Source: Republica

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Nepal trekking routes condition – update

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Nepal trekking routes condition – update

Here’s the latest from our team in Nepal on the current state of many of the trekking routes and climbing areas. Overall, it’s a very positive message.

Nepal-trekking-updates

Dolpo – All the trails are intact. This area didn’t even feel the tremor of the earthquake. Just a few days ago a group flew to Phoksundo and walked back down to Juphal. Some private groups are still trekking from Juphal to Jomsom. Tarak Shahi, our contact in Juphal, says he has bookings at his lodge for this monsoon. All the locals are busy in Yarsa Gumpa harvest and traveling to high mountains to collect Yarchagumba (an aphrodisiac herb which earn them a fortune).

Dhaulagiri Circuit – No damage to the trekking trails, Karma Gyalze (one of our senior Sirdars) contacted the Tea house owner at Italian base camp and the Trans Himalaya lodge in Marpha. Similarly, Sirdar, Lhakpa ‘Tomato’ has checked on the trail from Beni-Darbang-Italian base camp, where there is no evidence of damage or changes to the trail. The locals who run little tea shops at Italian BC have just came down to villages for their off-season break.

Phu Naar – No damage to the trekking trails, but there is a section in-between Koto and Metha through the woods which is prone to rock fall. This appeared after the second earthquake, with locals warning of precaution moving across this section. BB Rai through local contacts confirmed that trail to Phu – upper route – Kangla pass – Manang are fine.

Annapurna Circuit – Mingma collected information through a lodge owner, Amrit Gurung, of the Thorong La lodge at Besisahar. The trails in this area are fine, though some sections are prone to landslides when descending to Jomsom via Tilicho Lake.

Annapurna Sanctuary – Mingma collected information through lodge owners at Chomrong, Bamboo, Himalaya, Deurali and Machhupuchare Base Camp. The trails are fine, with lodges running as normal. The owner of the Mountain View lodge reported that at least 2 to 3 groups were heading towards Machhupuchare BC every day.

Annapurna foothill trek – The owner of the Green View lodge in Ghorepani told us that the Annapurna foothill trek was accessible, the trails from Demuwa-Thulo Chaur-Jogikuti-Ghorepani-Tada Pani–Ghandruk and Nayapul are fine, with locals travelling from Ghorpani, Ullare to Jaljale to collect grasses for cattle, wild mushroom and dry wood almost everyday.

Mustang – Trails in this region are fine but most of the monasteries were damaged in the quake and a few collapsed. As per Ram Bista, a lodge owner at Lo-Mathang, the King’s Palace in Chharang and Lo-Mathang also suffered some damage.

Everest Base Camp – Local guide, Chogba, reported that the trail from Jiri –Shivalaya-Junbesi-Thaksindo–Kharikhola–Paiya- ukla or Phakding is fine, with the locals travelling along this every day. The trail near Phakding was blocked by a landslide about 20 metres wide, but the locals have already made a new trail which avoids it. The trail from Monjo to Namche is fine. Tenzing, the previous monk of Tyangbuche Gompa and the owner of Rivendale and Gomba lodge, said that a few lodges are damaged in Phakding, Monjo, Namche, Tyangbuche, Debuche, Pheruche, Dingbuche and Lobuche, but most of them have been rebuilt and are ready to business.

Mera Peak – Gyalzen TT and Dawa Tamang have contacted the locals in Khare. They said that there is no damage to trails but a few tea houses suffered damage. Rebuilding is in progress and all affected lodges are expected to be in working condition for the autumn season.

Island Peak – Conditions are fine, with a few people having climbed the mountain since the earthquake.

Kangchenjunga – Karma (Chinese) has contacted the locals in Yamphudin. The trail from Gopetar to Yamphudin and across the Sele La to Ghunsa is fine. Mingma also talked with Chungdak Sherpa, a lodge owner at the Kangchenjunga Guest house in Ghunsa. He said that the route above Ghunsa to Pangpema was fine, as was the route down to Taplejung and Suketar. The locals have been travelling back and forth along this as usual.

Rolwaling – no update as yet.

Manaslu – no update as yet, though reports are that much of the trail has been affected by the earthquake.

Langtang – as has been widely reported, the Langtang Valley was devastated by the earthquake. It is difficult to imagine trekking being possible here for some time to come.

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Source: www.jagged-globe.co.uk

TIMS card made mandatory of all trekking areas

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TIMS card made mandatory of all trekking areas

Foreigners will now have to take Trekking Information Management System (TIMS) cards to trek in all trekking areas of the country.

Trekking-in-Nepal

A new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for implementation of TIMS signed between Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) makes it mandatory for foreigners to take TIMS cards before travelling to all trekking areas of the country.

Earlier, such card was mandatory for trekking trails in Everest, Langtang and Annapurna regions only. Nandini Lahe Thapa, acting CEO of NTB, and Ramesh Prasad Dhamala, president of TAAN, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective institutions on March 19.

As per the MoU, foreigners interested to walk on trekking trails in Kanchanjunga, Makalu-Barun, Everest, Rolwaling, Panchpokhari-Bhairavkunda, Langtang-Helambu, Ganesh Himal-Ruby Valley, Manaslu, Annapurna Region, Mustang, Dolpa, Rara and Humla must get a TIMS card. Sagar Pandey, general secretary of TAAN, said trekkers will have to take TIMS card for all trekking areas and that they have to pay the amount in Nepali currency.

As per the new provision, group trekkers will be given ‘blue’ TIMS card upon payment of Rs 1,000, while Free Individual Trekkers (FITs) will get ‘green’ TIMS card after paying a fee of Rs 2,000 each. Similarly, mountaineers with climbing permits issued by Department of Tourism (DoT) and Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) will have to take ‘yellow’ TIMS cards by paying fee of Rs 2,000 each. Similarly, group trekkers and FITs from SAARC countries will have to pay fee of Rs 300 and Rs 600, respectively.

Foreigners working with government agencies or diplomatic missions need to acquire TIMS card by paying a fee of Rs 500 each. They, however, are required to submit their detailed itinerary and official request letter from their employers. Ang Tshering Sherpa, president of NMA, hailed the decision to levy TIMS fee on mountaineers. “I’ve learnt that certain percentage of amount collected from TIMS will go on workers’ welfare fund. It will be used for rescue and treatment of workers, among others,” Sherpa added.

As per the MoU, TAAN will levy 100 percent penalty on trekkers if they fail to produce TIMS cards at the check posts. “However, they can swap the permit taken for one area to another area in case of unavoidable circumstances by submitting an application within a week of issuance of cards,” said Pandey.

Of the total revenue collected from TIMS, NTB, TAAN, and joint fund of NTB and TAAN will get 30 percent each, while remaining 10 percent will go to Worker’s Welfare Fund.

“A three-member team under the leadership of director general of Department of Tourism will be formed to operate the fund. A board member of NTB (from private sector) will be the member, while President or representative of TAAN will be the member-secretary,” Pandey said, adding that NTB CEO will be in the committee as invited member.

Aditya Baral, spokesperson of NTB, said the new MoU will come into implementation within a week. “The changes should come into effect once the MoU is signed. But we need few more days for documentation and logistics. Also they (TAAN) need some time to set up check posts on different trails,” Baral added.

Source: Repbulica

5 places in Nepal you must visit before you die

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5 places in Nepal you must visit before you die

Nepal is country with one of the best landscapes in the world with stunning scenic beauty. It has been a tourism destination for people around the world for past hundreds of years. With 1310 magnificent mountains above 6000m, Nepal boasts of many fascinating places. Nepal is world famous for trekking, mountaineering, wildlife tourism, bird watching, jungle safari, river rafting and much adventurous stuff along with ethnic heritages and cultural richness.

Here, we have come up with 5 places in Nepal that you must, we repeat, YOU MUST VISIT BEFORE YOU DIE. Believe us; these places will blow your mind.

1. Rara Lake: Rara Lake tops them all. Situated in an altitude of 2990 m above sea level, Rara is the biggest lake of Nepal covering an area of 10.8 kilometers. The lake is surrounded by Rara National Park that protects unique and vulnerable species of flora and fauna. This shimmering blue jewel set in a ring of snowy peaks gives you fascinating, magnificent and marvelous views you’d have ever seen.

rara-lake

2. Everest Base Camp: You cannot find more spectacular place that the Everest region where four of the world’s six tallest peaks Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Makalu and Mt. Cho Oyu rise above everything else. The Everest Base Camp offers you one of the grandest walk with astounding mountain views and glimpses of the life of world famous Sherpas. On the way, you get opportunities to go sightseeing around Sagarmatha National Park, a home to large varieties of Himalayan floras and faunas. Trip to this place shall the most gratifying event of your life.

everest-base-camp

3. Upper Mustang: The Upper Mustang trek brings you into the hidden world of the old Buddhist kingdom of Mustang, also called Lo which used to be part of the Tibetan empire, and is therefore closely related to Tibet. Not only the culture, but also the landscape is very much related to Tibet. Mustang lies in the rain shadow of the Dhaulagiri and you walk in a complete desolate landscape, surrounded by rocks in all kind of colors and bizarre formations.  In this barren landscape the villages with their bright colored fields are like oases. The culture of the people living there is one of the major attractions for tourists and visitors alike.

upper-mustang

4. Annapurna Base Camp: Ask any travel agencies in Nepal for best trekking destination, most of them will have one answer – Annapurna Base Camp. Go during spring, and you will witness luscious rhododendron forests which gives you majestic feel. Annapurna Base Camp is one of the most popular treks in Annapurna region that takes you to closer to the Annapurna range. It combines so many different landscapes that you perhaps will experience one of the best adventures in your life.

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5. Tilicho Lake: Tilicho Lake is one of the highest lakes in the world at an altitude of 4919 meters located in the Annapurna range of the Himalayas in Manang district. It provides one of the most heart-throbbing views that will remain in your eyes for long time. It is an extremely adventurous terrain that provides you a very revitalizing experience. It was also the site of one of the highest ever altitude scuba divers. There are many trekking agencies in Nepal that will guide you to this enormously beautiful lake.

High-mountainous lake Tilicho

Source: Nepalb2b

Lo-Manthang witnesses more tourists

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Lo-Manthang witnesses more tourists

Lo-Manthang, a tourist spot in Mustang district, has witnessed an increase of 24 per cent in the influx of tourists this year.

Some 4,147 tourists have visited this place compared to 3,151 last year, according to Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), Mustang.

Mustang

Once believed to be the capital city of the forbidden kingdom, Mustang, Lo-Manthang is notable for its enchanting desert-like landscapes, remains of ancient caves, ancient monasteries and the Annapurna Trekking Route among others.

Bidur Kuikel, the Chief at ACAP, Mustang shared that the number of tourist wills likely surge in coming years since the tourists are found to return to the spot again.

The increment in the number of tourists to Lo Mangthan, situated at the altitude of 3,800 metres above sea level, could also be attributed to the recent construction of roads to the place, Kuikel opined.

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