According to figures released by Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA, Kathmandu) tourist arrivals via air in the month of January 2012 have increased by 27.7 percent recording total 42,031 visitors in January 2012 compared to the same month last year. Arrivals from South Asia posted a positive growth of 27.7 percent. Other Asian markets have also shown significant growth. Arrivals from China have increased significantly by 107 percent. Likewise arrivals from Japan, Singapore, Thailand and South Korea have also increased by 6.4 percent, 5.2 percent, 8.4 percent, and 7.9 percent respectively. Arrivals from European markets, Australia, Canada and USA also rregistered growths of of 22.8 percent. 8.6 percent, 27.8 percent, and 7.7 percent respectively.
This sustained growth in visitor arrivals bodes well for the country’s economy, especially the tourism sector. If this positive trend continues there will be more employment opportunities and development of tourism infrastructure in the country.
Visitor Arrivals in January 2012
Himalayan Luxury Heli Tours
If you have always dreamt of journeying into the high Himalayan mountains and witnessing the awe inspiring Himalayan panorama up close, but have had to shelve your plans owing to lack of time or fitness issues, then rejoice! Explore Himalaya has come up with itineraries just for you. These exclusive luxury weekend/ short tour packages have been created keeping in mind high end clients with busy schedules or clients with a taste for luxury travel. These short trips takes you on an exhilarating heli tour to some of the most popular and iconic destinations (for eg. Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Base Camp). Along with heli sightseeing, you enjoy guided sightseeing tours to Kathmandu’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Aerial views of some of the tallest peaks in the world (Mt. Everest, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri etc.), visit to the World’s Highest Meeting Point (Kala Patthar 5242m), breakfast with champagne at the World’s Highest Resort (Kongde Resort - 4200m), magnificent Himalayan vistas, visits to medieval monuments and boating in the serene Lake Phewa are but some of the highlights of these trips. Overnight accommodation will be at luxury resorts or five star hotels.
Check out our Himalayan Luxury Heli Tours, and plan your weekend holiday today!
Everest Heli Tour
(Pic courtesy : Fishtail Air)
Buddha Air to launch flights to Varanasi & Kolkatta
Buddha Air, a private Nepali airline company will be operating flights to the Indian cities of Varanasi and Kolkatta. Beginning March 1, 2012 the airline will be launching its Varanasi flights from Kathmandu. According to the airline, the Varanasi flights will be launched targetting pilgrims from both the countries. The flights will be operated 4 days a week on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The flight to Kolkatta is slated for a September launch.
An extraordinary journey across Tibet
Tshering,our Tibet Tour guide took an extraorninary trip across Tibet with our Australian agent/ partner Travel Director's tour group last year. She shared with us snapshots from her journey. Here we reproduce some from the collection.
About to embark on the World's Highest Train Journey- Beijing to Lhasa by train
Magnificent landscape – from aboard the train
Sightseeing in Lhasa – the iconic Potala Palace
Stroll through the busy Barkhor Market, Lhasa
Tibetan Opera
Ready to kickstart - Bikers ready to hit the road from Lhasa to Kathmandu
Picnic by the lakeside – At Naghatse
Ride to Shigatse
At a stopover – bikes & support vehicle
Himalayan panorama
The Grandest View ever!! North Face of Mount Everest – The ultimate destination for any hard core biker – Everest Base Camp, Tibet - the highest place any biker can ride to!
Rongbuk(5000m), Everest Base Camp ( North Side)
A meal above 5000m is bound to be an unforgettable one – At Everest Base Camp, Tibet
Lhasa- Kathmandu Motorbike Tour
(Photos courtesy : Tshering Dhoka)
Saga Dawa Festival – 4th June 2012
"Saga Dawa” is an important Tibetan Buddhist festival, held each year on the full moon day of the fourth lunar month of the Tibetan calendar. This festival is observed to celebrate Sakyamuni's (Lord Buddha) enlightenment and many Buddhist pilgrims, tourists and researchers from different parts of the world visit Tibet during this time. The ‘Saga Dawa’ festival demonstrates how religion and spirituality is deeply imbedded in the lives of Tibetans. Though celebrated all over Tibet, the festival is mainly observed at Tarboche in Mount Kailash. Tibetans travel from their hometowns and villages to Tarboche carrying their own flags. On the day of the festival the existing flagpole is replaced by a new flagpole where people attach their flags. The flagpole should stand perfectly upright after it is erected, or else locals believe that something unfortunate may happen in Tibet. The whole ceremony is led by a Lama from the nearby monastery.
If you wish to witness this wonderful cultural event, Explore Himalaya Travel and Adventure is organizing a fixed departure tour focusing on ‘Saga Dawa’ festival. You can combine your visit with a tour to Lhasa and Everest Base Camp (North Face). Pilgrims who do not wish to visit Lhasa or Everest Base Camp can directly drive back to Kathmandu with our Nepali supporting crew member.
For fixed departure date & tour cost contact- kailash@explorehimalaya.com, vivek@explorehimalaya.com.
Flagpole at Tarboche at the base of Mt. Kailash (Pic: Explore Himalaya)
12th Bird Festival at Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
Good news for animal lovers and bird watching enthusiasts, the 12th Bird Festival will be held at Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve from 2nd February 2012. Promoted with the slogan ‘Wetland Tourism: A unique experience, ’ the festival will be inaugurated at Kushaha of Sunsari district and will run for four days. The festival will feature quiz contests, games and cultural programmes. The event is being jointly organized by Government of Nepal, Department of National Park and Wild Life Conservation, Wild Life Conservation Fund Nepal, Nepal Bird Conservation Association and other international organizations.
The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is renowned for being one of the best locations for birding. It is the smallest (175 sq km) and easternmost reserve in Nepal, and lies north-east at the confluence of Sapt Koshi and Trijuga rivers.Over 280 species of birds has been recorded so far at the reserve. Swamp Francolins, White Ibis, Storks, Lesser Coucal, Striated Marsh Warbler, Black Bellied Tern, Imperial Eagle, Pied and Marsh Harrier, Common Quail, Bengal floricans (Eupodotis Bengalensis), and many other exotic and migratory waterfowl not found elsewhere in Nepal can be seen at the reserve.
(Photo courtesy : NTB)
For birding enthusiasts this article may also be helpful ! - Bird Conservation Nepal, ECS Nepal
Team Explore Himalaya attends ‘Success Mantra’
Team members from Explore Himalaya and Fishtail Air participated at the recently held one day workshop entitled “Success Mantra” conducted by management guru Mr. Ranjit Acharya at Hotel Radisson, Kathmandu on 20th January, 2012. Organized by Merojob.com (a career management site), the personality development workshop enlightened participants on how a positive attitude and an open mind could help one see an opportunity in every obstacle. Interspersed with personal anecdotes, examples from lives of iconic personalities, life changing tips, team games and interactive sessions, the workshop proved to be rather an eye opener and quite fruitful for most of the participants attending it. Participants included, besides the team from Explore Himalaya and Fishtal Air, professionals from banking sector, INGOs, private firms, media etc.
Mr. Suman Pandey, President of Explore Himalaya and CEO of Fishtail Air, who also attended the workshop was presented a special prize by the organizer for being the role model/ inspirational figure for most of the participants present at the workshop.
'Success Mantra' at Hotel Radisson, Kathmandu
Conquering fear by eating a 'ball of fire' - Krishna Aryal, Coordinator, Speicial Adventure, Explore Himalaya
Sharing his 'mantra' for success to a rapt audience – Mr. Ranjit Acharya
Team building game
A success icon for most of the participants – Mr. Suman Pandey
Mr. Suman Pandey recieving a special prize from Mr. Ranjit Acharya for being an inspirational figure
Group Photo – Team Explore Himalaya & Fishtail Air with Mr. Ranjit Acharya
(Photos Courtesy: Merojob.com)
Browse more phots of this event on merojob's facebook page
Promoting Sports Tourism – Explore Himalaya
Sport Tourism is emerging as one of the fastest growing sectors of the international travel and tourism industry. Large scale International sporting events like FIFA World Cup, Asian Games, Olympics etc has resulted in earning huge tourism revenue for the host countries. Nepal with its rough terrain and high mountains is a prized destination for holding adventure sporting events. Explore Himalaya, in keeping up with the trend, is involved in organizing high adventure sports events in Nepal. The company has been organizing an annual skydiving event (Everest Skydive) at the World’s Highest Drop Zone in Everest Region since 2008.
Everest Skydive
On February 2007 Explore Himalaya organized the First Ozark Mountain Biking Championship (46-km race course stretching from Ktm- Nuwakot/103 participants).
First Ozark Mountain Biking Championship
The company also handled the logistics for RacingThePlanet an international organization in holding a high endurance international race in the Annapurna Region (November 2011)( 213 competitors from 42 countries / distance:250 km).
RacingThePlanet:Nepal 2011 – High endurance race in Annapurna Region
Explore Himalaya boasts of skilled manpower, logistic facilities and 'know-how' to organize any large scale sporting event in Nepal.
(Pictures:www.everest-skydive.com & Explore Himalaya)
Great Himalaya Trail-Climate Smart Celebrity Trek Begins
Record setting mountaineer Apa Sherpa and Ambassador of ‘Climate for Life’ Campaign Dawa Steven Sherpa set out on their ‘Great Himalaya Trail-Climate Smart Celebrity Trek (GHT-CSCT)’ from Ghunsa in Taplejung,Eastern Nepal on Tuesday (January 16th 2012). They will be traversing the 1,700 KM long trail in about 120 days, hiking through the foot hills of eight of the world’s highest peaks and 20 districts in the mid-hills and low mountains of Nepal.
The Great Himalaya Trail
Visit Lumbini Year 2012 – Inaugural Ceremony at Lumbini
Nepal tourism campaigns ‘Visit Lumbini Year (VLY) 2012’ and ‘Tourism Vision 2020’ will be inaugurated by President Ram Baran Yadav at a special program in Lumbini on 14th January 2012. While the chief objective of ‘Visit Lumbini Year 2012’ is to promote Lumbini as the birthplace of Lord Buddha and to spread Buddha’s message of peace and brotherhood in the global community, ‘Tourism Vision 2020’ has been charted to improve the economic condition of the people through tourism. The formal closure of Nepal Tourism Year 2011 (NTY-2011) will also be announced during the program.
Lumbini - Birth place of Lord Buddha
(Photo courtest: Julien Van Loye)