Nepal features sixth on the list of top ten countries to visit in 2010 as recommended by Lonely Planet. El Salvador, Germany, Greece, Malaysia, Morocco, New Zealand, Portugal, Suriname, and the United States are the other countries in the list.

They’ll take you from the familiar to the far away, both geographically and culturally, and more than likely have you reaching for your travel bag, says Lonely Planet about the destinations mentioned.

It chose Nepal for its trekking routes.

Nepal is famous for white water rafting, national parks such as that at Chitwan, and above all,trekking. Trekking, which is a cross between the casual hike and the strenuous mountain accent, has taken off in several regions of Nepal.

I was lucky enough to enjoy three weeks in Nepal in 2007. The country had seen a dramatic drop in western tourism due to Maoist Activity and was on the rebound with the best regions reopening to trekking. In fact, Maoist stamps which provided access to some trekking areas, were becoming a collectors item. With stability and a virtual truce between government and Maoists came a lull and I set off to explore the country.

In Kathmandu I met Chudamani “Mani” Barakoti who would become our guide. He runs Great Adventure Treks and Expedition located in the tourist ghetto of Thamel , Kathmandu. Mani took the time to not only guide us but to really explore Nepal with us , sometimes on HIS time. Mani has 13 years of guiding experience and is government licensed and trained. Mani was kind enough to talk to me when i was re-researching Nepal as a travel destination for adventurers.

Nepal has two excellent trekking seasons Mid-September to Mid -December and Mid-March to Mid-June. I was there last in July and found the country less crowded and more soggy. Trekking was akin to walking on a slip and slide, but if you can stand the mud and the leeches at the height of our summer, the trails are blissfully empty.

Nepal is duly famous for it mountains, namely Everest and the Annapurna Range. The Khombu /Everest Area and the Annapurnas , along with the Lang Tang region are the most popular trekking areas. Treks range from the 8 day “instant Everest ” trek , in which you fly into the closes airstrip to the mountain and walk a few days from there to the 22 day pilgrimage to Base Camp, which I had done in a past visit to Nepal. All treks include Sherpa ( the native people of Nepal) porters, food , accommodations (tents or hostels), land and air transportation, permits, insurance for the hike (must come with travel insurance from your home country as well), airport transfers in Kathmandu, guide, trekking equipment (except boots, heavy parka, backpack-all available in Kathmandu). It is also recommended by Mani that you have hat , sunglasses, sunscreen, sleeping bag, good socks and gloves if trekking at high altitudes such as the trail to Base Camp.

Prices depend on the number of people in a group , the location of the trek. Trekking Nepal , no matter where you do it , is magnificent and a very life-changing experience. There is nothing comparable in my opinion to finding yourself dwarfed by the high mountains staring at infinity as far as the eye can see. Truly it is humbling.

Guest Post by Cynda Fuentes

In June this year, arrivals from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have witnessed positive growth of 16%, 4%, and 7% respectively. The Indian market, considered as a major market for Nepal, showed a decline of 6%.

In aggregate, the SAARC segment shows a 4% decline compared to the same month last year.

Similarly, Chinese arrivals have increased by 17% along with Thailand (37%), Malaysia (3%), South Korea (55%) and Singapore (8%). The Asian market to decline in this month was Japan (4%).

The most encouraging results came from European markets, having registered an overall positive growth of 25%, the release said. Arrivals from UK have maintained the increasing trend with a growth of 15%. Nepal’s major generating markets in West Europe: Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Norway all have posted significant increases of 27%, 30%, 34% and 17% respectively. However, France recorded 2% decrease in the arrivals.

Tourist arrivals from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and United States of America have also registered positive growth of 27%, 5%, 11% and 21% respectively.

Nepal observed a remarkable growth of 15.8% in April 2009 but suffered a trough in May with a decline of 5% in the visitor arrivals to Nepal.

A total of 28,210 foreign tourists departed from TIA in June 2009. The number of Nepali arrivals stood at 40,337 while 45,541 departed from TIA in June 2009.

Adventurer Holly Budge, 29, described the experience as “amazing, just spectacular” after making a safe landing at 3,900 metres (12,870 feet). The Hampshire camerawoman was one of three skydivers in Nepal to make the first plunge from above the world’s highest peak.

“We had one minute of freefall and while we were above the clouds you could see Everest and the other high mountains popping out of the top,” she said.

The trio, described by onlookers are looking “like tiny birds flying in the blue sky”, faced sub-zero temperatures and fast-changing weather when they touched down in the foothills of the mountain.The event, organised by British adventure travel company High and Wild, will see up to 30 more skydivers from around the world perform the same feat in the coming days. Each of its clients have paid about 13,500 for the experience.

“It was worth the money - it is something that has never been done before,” Ms Budge, who has completed 2,500 skydives and who jumped to raise money for charities in Britain and Nepal.

Skydiving at altitudes just higher than the summit of Mount Everest created numerous challenges for the project. Due to the thin air, their parachutes were three times the size of regular ones, and the jumpers used oxygen tanks strapped to their waists. They also wore neoprene undersuits and thermal gear to keep out the freezing temperatures as they leapt out at about 8,940 metres (29,500 feet).

“The organisers have brought a plane over from Switzerland, and the permits have been very expensive, as has getting everyone to the jump site,” said Budge.

The oldest client slated to make the jump in the coming days is Alan Walton, a 72-year-old British partner in a bioscience company, organiser Nigel Gifford said.

“Although many are very experienced, others are making their first ever skydive and will be going in tandem with experts,” said Gifford, whose company has permission to operate in the area for another 13 days.”

The “Everest Skydive” is an event that has been 15 years in the making for Mr Gifford. “It came about because I have been a Himalayan mountaineer and took up skydiving. I love doing both and I thought it would be good to marry the two,” he said.

Krishna Aryal, an official with the logistical support agency Explore Himalaya, said: “They looked like tiny birds flying in the blue sky as they jumped from the plane. This is the first of its kind and has never been tried before.”

Along with Ms Budge, the New Zealander Wendy Smith and Canadian Neil Jones were in freefall for nearly half a minute and then opened their canopies before landing at a flat drop zone after cruising over Everest. New Zealand’s Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa first climbed Mount Everest’s 8,850-metre (29,035 feet) peak 55 years ago.

More than 3,000 climbers, among them a 16-year-old boy, a 76-year-old man, a man with an artificial limb and a blind person, have since reached the top of the mountain.

“It was stunning. I had never seen so many mountains before,” said Ms Smith. “To be on top of the world was simply stunning. Thank you.”

According to ZenNepal, it offers secure online hotel bookings with collaboration with a distribution partner already offering the same well-tested electronic commerce platform to its customers.

ZenNepals manager Rubi Chhetry says, With the tourist season fast approaching, we wanted to deliver a user-friendly yet comprehensive tool to our customers. To achieve the best results, we chose to license pre-existing technology from an international associateone who already has contracts with 4,000 hotelsall of which are supported by this platform.

Currently, ZenNepal (zennepal.com) has contracts with 60 hotels here in Nepal and the number is projected to reach 100 by June 2009. Like other hotel booking systems, travelers who choose to use the services of ZenNepal or one its many affiliate sites now have a wide selection of star-rated hotels and hotel amenities from which to choose.

ZenNepals international telephone number caters to travelers from abroad, while Nepalese travelers and Nepal-based hotel partners can receive the same service using the domestic numbers.

The tourist arrival by air in the month of August has decreased by 2 percent compared to the same month last year. However, figures until August this year represent an increase of 2 percent (224,679) in comparison to the same period last year.

According to Nepal Tourism Board, the tourism industry has shown some signs of revival in the form of softening in decline as compared to 19 percent decrease in July 2008.

India, the largest tourist generating market for Nepal, bounced back with a remarkable growth of 13 percent. The entire South Asian region has gained overall positive growth of 16 percent with Bangladesh (48 percent), Pakistan (45 percent) and Sri Lanka(31 percent).

Similarly, other Asian countries Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia have maintained the upward trend with 77 percent, 59 percent and 16 percent of growth respectively in each market.

Arrivals from the United Kingdom, one of the major source markets for Nepal, configured a notable growth of 35 percent. Australia and Norway maintained the increasing trend in the arrival figures.

However, other markets such as Japan, China, and South Korea witnessed decrease by 9 percent, 35 percent and 13 percent, respectively. European arrivals suffered a significant decline: Italy 44 percent, Germany 37 percent and Spain 28 percent.

Visas are available on arrival for citizens of most countries, and one passport-sized photograph is required. To complete the process, you must pay a fee: Transit ($5), 15 day ($25), 30 day ($40) or 90 day ($100.) Make sure that you fill in all of the forms and keep your departure card for when you want to leave. Facilities for taking passport-sized photographs are available near the immigration desk, though it saves a lot of time if they are prepared before arrival. SAARC nationals are exempt from visa fees.

There are no trains to Kathmandu, renting a car without a driver is not a reasonable option. You can hire bikes in India and ride up, but you need to be brave. Alternatively, catch a bus. They run from Varanasi and Delhi on a regular basis. Check with other travelers to find a safe bus line, some are quite dangerous and travel at stupid speeds through mountain passes. Many hotels will pick you up from the airport if you give them advanced notice. Otherwise, you can use a pre-paid taxi (the stand is on your right as you come out of baggage reclaim/arrivals.)

Many hotel and guest houses offer complimentary pick up and delivery from the airport. Taxis are also available. As always, negotiate the price beforehand with the driver. A taxi ride to Thamel or Boudha should not exceed 300 NPR. Otherwise, order a taxi at the pre-paid booth inside the airport, which costs 400 NPR. This is more than double the meter rate, but saves the hassle of long negotiations.

Try not to exchange money at the airport. Money changers at the airport not only charge service charge but also offer lower rate than that is offered in thamel or other money changers inside the town.

Drinking Water

Water in Kathmandu borders on being lethal, and water borne diseases are rife. Do not, under any circumstances, drink directly from the faucet or take salads and ice unless you have absolute proof that the water used in their preparation has been filtered and boiled. Also, use boiled and filtered water for brushing teeth and avoid swallowing water when taking a shower. Circumstances may differ in private locations or one of the better hotels in Kathmandu. (applies to foreigners only as Nepali’s are used to it)

According to the Fishtail Air Pvt. Ltd. (FAPL), an agreement between the FAPL and Eurocopter South East Asia (ESEA), Singapore was signed recently amid a function jointly organised by the FAPL and the ESEA. The agreement was signed by Bikas JB Rana, chairman of the FAPL and Gerard Maitrepierre, president of the ESEA.

Speaking at the function, Rana said that the helicopters would play a major role in the transportation as well as in the tourism sector of the country where the mountainous region has covered 60 per cent of the land.

“The helicopters will create new dimension in the operation serving the sector,” said Rana, hoping that the association between the FAPL and the ESEA would last long.

Applauding the management of the FAPL, Maitrepierre said that the agreement was considered as an achievement though Nepal is smaller in the area compared to its neighbors but richer in the arena of natural diversity and tourism.

Suman Pandey, Chief Executive Officer of the FAPL, said that the two brand new AS 350 B3 ‘Ecureuil’ helicopters, a deal of Rs. 350 million, would be delivered to the FAPL by November, 2009 and February, 2010 respectively. The agreement makes the FAPL the very first private Nepalese helicopter company to acquire brand new helicopters in the history of helicopter operation, he added.

“Unless we order earlier, we will not get the helicopters in time. The process of delivery takes longer time so we have signed the agreement now for forwarding the matters, Pandey said. “It may take even 36 months from the date of order. However, we are lucky we will be delivered in about one and a half years.”

On the occasion, dignitaries from diplomatic missions including French Envoy to Nepal Gills-Henry Garault, and the officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Culture and Tourism were present.

The FAPL, established in 1997 but started aviation journey from 1989, has now been operating Jet Ranger for transportation, sightseeing and rescue operation in the country.

The programme organized in partnership with NRN Switzerland was aimed at promoting Nepali tourism through active participation of NRNs and encourage them to motivate their friends and relatives for a visit to Nepal and raise awareness about Nepal as a premium holiday destination.

Speaking on the occasion, ambassador of Nepal to Switzerland Dr. Dinesh Bhattarai said that the historic political transformation that has taken place in Nepal in a peaceful manner within democratic framework has unleashed avenues for all Nepalis wherever they live to play role in the building of our nation.

Highlighting immense potentials of tourism in Nepal and unique attractions that it offers to visitors, he appealed to every Nepali living abroad to project Nepal as the most desired tourist destination and contribute to the process of socio-economic transformation in order to institutionalize the republic and strengthen the democratic process in the country.

He further said investment in Nepal, situated between the two fastest growing economies, offers huge market opportunities in the neighborhood.

President of NRN National Coordination Committee, Switzerland, Sanjay Mudbhary and former President of Swiss-Nepalese Society, Madhav Raj Acharya, also highlighted on the roles non-resident Nepali community could play for tourism promotion of Nepal.

A presentation of tourism promotional materials produced by Nepal Tourism Board was made.

The programme coincided with the arrival of Nepali cyclist Pushkar Shah to Switzerland as the 124th country of his tour.

Hundreds of pro-Tibet activists were arrested in Kathmandu on the eve of the opening of the Olympic Games. Further demonstrations could occur - travellers should avoid taking part in rallies.

Traveler’s to Kathmandu are advised to exercise caution, monitor news services and avoid any public demonstrations. Nepals unpopular monarchy was abolished in May; Ram Baran Yadav was sworn in as first president of the new republic in July; Nepalese Maoist leader Prachanda became the new Prime Minister in August. Despite the new political stability, crime and violence has spiralled in recent times and there is increasing consumer anger over rising fuel costs.

severity: Mid-level alert