Royal Mountain Travel Magazine Royal Mountain Travel Magazine Issue 3 | Page 6

Editorial
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The focus of this, the third issue of Royal Mountain Travel, is on
the less well-trodden or unusual things that you can do while
travelling to Nepal and its surrounding neighbors. Whether this
is trekking in Nepal’s most recently developed trekking trail in
Manaslu; mountain biking in the Himalayas: eastern Bhutan,
Ladakh or Tibet; or just catching a tempo or local bus in
Kathmandu; these are just a few of the less typical things that
can be done to make your visit more memorable.
Heading up to the newly opened Manaslu area, Jess Tyler gives
an account of her trek there, accompanied by her father, a guide
and a porter. Less developed than many of the other routes, this
trek offers unrivalled views of the Annapurnas and a wonderful
glimpse into the lifestyles of the local people, whose lives have
changed very little over the centuries.
For those wanting to try something different, mountain biking in
the Himalayas in eastern Bhutan, cycling up to Leh in Ladakh in
India, or riding the road from Lhasa in Tibet down to Kathmandu,
these are described by Piet van der Poel. Piet works in Bhutan and
is a keen mountain biker, hiker, amateur-lepidopterist (butterflies),
and geomorphologist (study of landforms). He introduces eastern
Bhutan, an area that is only just now starting to open to tourism.
Unspoilt, it is very much off the beaten track. Piet also describes
his experience along the better known, but even more challenging
route from Manali to Leh in Ladakh, India, and along the impressive
highway from Lhasa in Tibet down to Kathmandu.
In Kathmandu there are several hidden and lesser known places
that should not be forgotten. Many people miss the charming
old British Cemetery, tucked away behind the Indian and British
Embassies, which gives an insight into a side of Kathmandu not
often seen. Taking local transport is a great way to get closer
to the local people and to see another side of the city too. And
while there might be some complaints that road building might
be spoiling the countryside for tourists in some places, a look at
how a new road going to Solukhumbu down from the Everest
area, shows how roads can revolutionize the lives of rural people.
Royal Mountain Travel is firmly committed to responsible tourism
and is involved in many projects to help the less well-off. As well as
supporting Kiran Namaste over the years in their work with single
mothers and their children, RMT provides employment to some of
the ladies who stay there. Not only supporting homestay projects
at Panauti, Nuwakot, and community lodges in the Annapurnas,
RMT has introduced American students to the school at Nuwakot
where they met the students and stayed with families there.
RMT hope that you enjoy this issue of TRAVEL.

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ROYAL

Royal Mountain Travel - Nepal
Lal Durbar Marg, Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: [phone]
www.royalmt.com.np
Editor
Shiva Dhakal
Marianne Heredge
Cover Photo
Sudan Budhathoki
Contributors
Piet van der Poel, Jess Tyler, Marianne Heredge,
Glennis Pallier, Thupten Gyatso, Tashi Sherpa,
Sudan Budhathoki, Amar B Shrestha, Dennis
Olivier Poulet and Sudeep Singh
Design & Layout
Verve Media Pvt. Ltd.
Printer
Crayons Printing Initiatives Pvt. Ltd.
ISSN 20457502

Shiva Dhakal
Managing Director

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May 2014