TREKKING IN NEPAL
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TREKKING IN NEPAL
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This site is dedicated to the memory of David Williamson, O.B.E., Q.C., W.S. If the navigation bar at the left side of this page is not visible, disable your pop-up blocker. "Namasté! 
Nepal is famous throughout the world for its fabulous scenery, its friendly people and its welcoming climate. As a trekking destination, it is second to none. Whether your idea of a trek is three weeks among the high peaks of the Himalaya or three days walking with your young children among fields of rice, Nepal has something for you. My name is Dasha Ratha Rai (everyone calls me "DR"). I was born and brought up in Solu Khumbu District in the East of Nepal. I started trekking as a porter in 1990 and became a guide in 1994. Because I work as a freelance, the trekking experience I offer is much more affordable than that offered by regular trekking companies – I cut out the middleman! I don't claim to be the cheapest but when you trek with me you need not trouble your conscience over the wages earned by the porters – I make sure they are paid the going rate. Furthermore, when you book a holiday with me, you know that, unless I am already committed to guiding another group, I myself will be your guide. If I am unable to take you myself, I will use my intimate and personal knowledge of the trekking scene to appoint as your guide someone I would entrust with my own life." Yes, now is a great time to visit Nepal. The kingdom of Nepal, like most of its neighboring countries, continues to be not just one of the world's best travel destinations, but a safe one as well. The Nepalese are peaceful and tolerant people, and now that the decade–long political unrest that had affected some areas of Nepal is behind us, and many of the old travel "advisories" from western governments have been downgraded, this is the time to take advantage of lower prices and fewer crowds. A range of treks is set out on our TREKS page. The routes listed include some of the most popular routes and also some less well-trodden ones. If you wish, your trek can be tailor-made to suit your budget, holiday itinerary and fitness level. Just tell us your requirements and we will do the rest. For visitors on an extended holiday, there is an even more varied spectrum of adventure, be it rafting on sparkling rivers, going on a jungle safari, trekking to explore further into the land of perpetual snow and glistening glaciers, or for the more intrepid travellers, scaling any of the 18 minor trekking peaks. A list of the additional services we can provide to enable you to make the most of your time in Nepal is set out at the foot of this page. If you are interested in any of these services, please e-mail us for more information. The consummate experience in the Himalaya is to commune with nature, cutting loose from the trappings of concrete jungles and the frenzy of modern life. Such an experience is both rewarding and rejuvenating. We are especially careful to ensure that our treks are environmentally-friendly. For example, on our camping treks, all refuse is collected and properly disposed of and nothing is left behind. We believe in the motto: "Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints". A trek in Nepal is a unique and unforgettable experience for a whole number of reasons but perhaps above all for the scenery. Eight out of the fourteen highest mountains in the world are in Nepal and if you want to see these up close you must walk. But while trekking you see far more than the mountains. You can walk from the tropical lowlands to alpine meadows and glacial moraines while in the spring Nepal's rhododendrons will be in bloom and you may see rare species of birds. For more information on this subject, see our GEOGRAPHY, CLIMATE & ECOLOGY page. There is, however, one problem in Nepal of which I would like you to be aware: Although Nepal is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, it is also one of the poorest. When poverty strikes, it is often the children who suffer most, and none more so than orphaned children. Many of these children sleep rough on the streets of Kathmandu and other cities, where they are exposed not only to starvation and disease but also to abuse of every description. In addition to my tourism business, I am one of a small group of people who have set up and now run Grace Home, a small orphanage in the Thamel district of Kathmandu. At present, the orphanage cares for 10 children (see photos below) at a total cost of £130 per month, and also pays for their education at a further cost of £100 per month. If you have any spare time when you are in Kathmandu, a visit to the orphanage could easily be arranged and the children and their carers would be delighted to see you. My aim is to pass 15% of the profits of my tourism business to the orphanage, so, if you book your holiday with me, you can congratulate yourself that, out of every dollar, pound, euro or yen that you spend enjoying yourself in this wonderful country, a sizeable proportion will go towards relieving this terrible problem.
OTHER SERVICES
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