INSIDE HIMALAYAS | NEPAL | TIBET | BHUTAN
INSIDE HIMALAYAS | NEPAL | TIBET | BHUTAN
Note from the Managing Director
Community Homestays were born.
Nepal undoubtedly has some of the
best trekking routes in the world, but
the heart and soul of this country lies
in its people, hospitality, culture and
tradition.
For the past few years, one of our
proudest achievements at Royal
Mountain Travel has been building
the Community Homestay program.
Through a growing network of
community-based
homestays
throughout Nepal, travellers can
experience authentic Nepali life
while also making a direct economic
contribution to their host communities.
A few years ago, we recommended
that some guests visit and stay
at Panauti with the locals. After
returning, they told us that after
trekking in the mountains, staying
with a host family was the best thing
they did in Nepal. From there, the
Now, we’re even prouder to announce
that we have been one of ten
recipients of the 2018 Booking.com
Booking Booster grant, and have been
recognised as a sustainable tourism
startup. This grant will give us 12
months of mentoring and coaching
from a mix of Booking.com experts, as
well as opportunities to collaborate with
Booking.com on initiatives that will help
grow our sustainable business.
In an underdeveloped country like Nepal,
the tourism industry is a significant pillar
of the country’s economy. The travel
industry accounts for 30% of the world’s
trade of services, and 6% of overall
exports of goods and services. But, it
has been criticized as one of the main
sources of environmental pollution,
corruption of local culture and tradition
and making rich hoteliers even richer.
Our Community Homestays, however,
follow a different model. As a project
they solve social issues, benefit the
local economy, and help towards
protecting culture, tradition and the
environment. In addition, we’re a
driving force behind calls for gender
equality in Nepal.
In this year’s edition of Inside
Himalayas you can read several stories
celebrating the benefits of staying
with and interacting with the locals
around Nepal. While trekking the
Tamang Heritage Trail in the Langtang
region, Iuliana Marchian found that
a highlight was the encounters she
had with local people. In a hidden
corner of Lower Mustang—the Bon
village of Lubra—Michael D. Smith
and Yungdung Tsewang Gurung find
that tourism initiatives are trying to
preserve the unique, ancient culture
of the region.
Contributors
Iuliana Marchian, Michael D. Smith, Yungdung Tsewang
Gurung, Erin Green, Cristina Podocea, Jocelyn Powelson,
Ynske Boersma, Becky Carruthers, Herman Thapa,
Anisha Mandal, Kusum Kalikote and Hemanta Bhandari
The People You Meet on the
Tamang Heritage Trail
Above Gosaikunda ................................................................................................................. 15
The Lunar Losar Festival ..................................................................................................... 19
Gateway to Rolwaling ........................................................................................................... 22
Reaching New Summits While Climbing Island Peak ........................................... 28
The Annapurna Circuit on Two Wheels ........................................................................ 34
Lubra - The Hidden Bon Voyage of Lower Mustang .............................................. 38
Shiva Dhakal
Managing Director
SUBSCRIBE TO US!
Editor
Elen Turner
Executives, Production
Sudeep Singh and Sudan Budhathoki
Cover Story
We have many more stories of bold
adventurers in 2018’s magazine—from
Jocelyn Powelson, who cycled the
Annapurna Circuit solo (backwards!),
to Michelle Welsch’s experience at the
Lhosar festival to Cristina Podocea’s
ascent of Island Peak. Read on for their
gripping and inspiring stories. They’ll
definitely leave you wanting to book
your next trip to Nepal.
Managing Director
Shiva Dhakal
Cover Photo
SOPA Images Limited
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Tel: +977-1-4444378 Web: www.royalmt.com.np
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