destinations

Traditionally, Nepal has always been the dream destination for adventure
seekers. But Nepal has something for all tastes and pockets. The glorious
sunrise from Nagarkot, the majestic mountain flights, shopping for
Nepalese artifacts as well as for international quality brands, Nepal offers a
wealth of activities for leisure seekers also. Sports and other activities
such as nature or bird-watching walks, nature photography and fishing are
increasing in popularity. Gambling for fun has also become one of the
prime activities for leisure-pleasure visitors with new casinos already in
place in Kathmandu. Newer activities, such as those in ballooning,
mountain biking and gliding, are also entering the market. A current hot
favorite is golfing. Opening of several golf courses in Kathmandu, Dharan
and Pokhara has made it possible for a very pleasant activity off the office
grinds. All in all, Nepal has probably the best of all-round leisure activities
that a small and landlocked country can offer.

Bhutan has never been colonized and, although recorded history mentions the
country in the 7th century, its independence was recognized even before that. In
the 8th century, the great Tantric mystic Guru Padmasambhava (more popularly
known as Guru Rimpoche in Bhutan) came to Bhutan from Swat, in present-day
Pakistan, and spread the Buddhist faith through the land, planting the seeds of the
culture that flourishes today. Temples and monasteries dating from the 8th
century still stand as hallowed places in contemporary Bhutan. The next defining
event in Bhutan's history was the arrival of Ngawang Namgyel, the "Shabdrung"
(literally, "at whose feet one submits") in 1616. The Shabdrung was the father and
unifier of medieval Bhutan.

Bhutan is a landlocked mountain kingdom roughly the size of Switzerland, in the
eastern Himalayas. The modern name for the country is derived from the Sanskrit
word 'Bhu-Uttan' ('High Land'). The Bhutanese, however, have always known it as
"Druk Yul". The indigenous people are "Drukpas" and the school of Buddhism
they adhere to is the "Drukpa Kagyud". Bhutan is the last unspoilt Himalayan
kingdom and the only nation in the world to profess Tantric Buddhism as its state
religion.

After repelling numerous Tibetan invasions, the Shabdrung subdued the many warring feudal overlords and brought all of Bhutan
under the influence of the Drukpa Kagyud School. His 35 year reign also saw the establishment of a nation-wide administration,
aspects of which still endure, and the building of dzongs as easily defensible fortresses and seats of local government. In fact,
many of the dzongs you see today were built during the Shabdrung's reign.

The most recent watershed in Bhutan's history was the coming to power of Ugyen Wangchuk, first hereditary monarch of Bhutan.
Like the great Shabdrung, Ugyen Wangchuk pacified the feuding Regional Governors who had plunged Bhutan into a state of
almost perpetual civil war. Having consolidated his authority across the entire country by 1885, he played the key mediator role
between the British and the Chinese. Finally, on December 17 (Bhutan's National Day) 1907, Ugyen Wangchuk was unanimously
elected by all Regional Governors and the Central Monastic Body, at the Punakha Dzong and crowned "Druk Gyalpo" ("Precious
Ruler of the Dragon People).
The present king, fourth hereditary monarch, is Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuk, upon whose coronation in 1974 Bhutan
opened its doors to tourists. While tourism in Bhutan has come a long way since then, it has always been guided by the desire to
preserve Bhutan's unique heritage and spectacular natural beauty. Visitors can thus still encounter a vibrant culture in an
unspoilt environment.

Tibet is a most unusual and beautiful place. The majority of it’s land
rests above 4000 meters (13,000 feet) and is surrounded by mountain
ranges on three sides. The awe-inspiring Himalayas are the highest in
the world, as is the never ending Tibetan plateau.
It is a place for the rugged adventurer as well as the
spiritualwanderer.

Tibet is a land held back in time, housing many secrets. Nomads
remain much the same as they did one hundred years ago. Roaming
the plateau from winter and summer camps the nomads still mainly
subsist from their yak herds. Then, there are the monasteries which
are striving to find a place in a country that's suddenly facing the 21st
century.

Sikkim, the tiny mountain state of India, insinuates itself into the
Eastern Himalayas between Nepal in the West, Tibet (People’s
Republic of China) in the North and East, Bhutan in the South-East
and West Bengal in the South.

Although only 112 km length from north to south and 64 km width from
east to west, the elevation ranges from 244 meters to over 8540
meters above sea level. Sikkim has an area of 70962km. On the world
map it is just a speck with approximate latitude of 27 North and
longitude of 88 East.

Sikkim encompasses the upper valley of the Teesta river, a tributary of
the Brahmaputra. The watershed forms the border with Tibet and
Nepal.

The most dominant feature of Sikkim is Mount Khangchendzonga – the Guardian deity of Sikkim – being the third highest
mountain in the world, soaring to the height of 28,168 feet. Khangchendzonga means the ‘Five Treasures of the Great Snows’.
According to Sikkimese belief it is the repository of minerals, grain, salt, weapons and Holy Scriptures. Khangchendzonga is
considered to be the protective deity- the Mother Goddess. It’s blasphemous for climbers even to set foot on the summit. Some
of the other important and venerable peaks are Tendong (8675 ft) Siniolchu, Mainam (10637 ft), Simvo, Goechala (16500 ft),
Narsing, Donkiari (20250 ft), Kabru, Pandim (22020 ft), Pyramid Peak and Nepal Peak. Most of the peaks of Sikkim have
remained unexplored as the Sikkimese consider them sacred and feel that they will lose their sanctity if climbed. Besides these
peaks, there are various passes namely, Bhutanla (13000 ft), Jelepla (14390 ft) and Nathula (14400 ft) in the east,
Chiwabhangjyang (10300 ft) and Kangla in the West, Kongrala in the north and Donkiala (18100 ft)

Prayer flags fly at lakes, springs, glaciers and waterfalls. They are deemed to be sacred. Notable lakes are Tsomgo,
Khechopalri, Menmecho, Samiti, Lampokhari and green lake. Sikkim has many hot springs known for their medicinal value –
important ones are located at Reshi, Ralang and Yumthang. Some glaciers in Sikkim are Zemu, Rathong and Lonak.

The theocratic view of the Sikkimese universe revolves around the landscape.

Sikkimese terrain range from tropical rain forest to alpine tundra. Along the high altitude routes, temperatures can dip below
freezing at night – even during summer – while daytime can bring prolonged showers. Sikkim is basically divided into three
zones, namely-Tropical (5000 ft above sea level), temperate (5000 to 1300 ft) and alpine, the perpetual snowline at 16000 ft.
Flat land is a rarity.

Sikkim is one of the wettest regions of the Himalayas. It has the same seasonal rainfall pattern, dominated by the monsoon, as
the rest of the Eastern Himalayas. Total rainfall is more than 3000 mm. Avoid monsoon season, late June through early August.
Travellers will enjoy better weather and more consistent views in the fall

Most of Sikkim does not experience high intensity winds. However, at many hilltops and passes, winds having high speeds blow
and sometimes during winters, they blow up ice particles causing blizzards.

Altitudes have influenced vegetations; aspect and rainfall have influenced vegetation. In the lowest parts there is Wet sal
(Shorea Robusta) forest with 660 species of orchids, and the well know ones are Cymbidium Vanda, Hookeriana, Cattaleya,
Nobile, Farmeri and Dendrobium Amoenum. The Nobile is prized all over the world. Bamboos of 20 species are also found here.
This gives way to tropical evergreen mountain and rain forests where 240 species of ferns . 35 species of Rhododendrons (the
most popular ones are Rhododendron Grande, 40 feet tall, and Rhododendron Nivale, few inches above the ground), gladioli,
epiphytes, bamboo, cherry, oak, alurel, birch, maple, beech, walnut, chestnut, giant magnolia, conifers and pines up to the tree
line at 3600 – 4200 m are found. The alpine forests, 3900-5000 m are characterized by such beautiful flowering plants as
primulas, gentians, blue poppies and wild strawberry, raspberry and rhubarb. Sikkim has a very dense forest with 4000 species
of plants, being a botanist’s delight and a naturalist’s paradise.

The animal and bird life is correspondingly rich with 81 species of mammals, 6000 species of birds and 631 species of butterflies.
Sikkim has a vast range of fauna, the important ones being Snow leopards, wild asses and Yaks in the North, Himalayan Black
bears, Blue sheep, Red pandas, Silver foxes, Mongoose, Leopards, Musk, Barking deer, common langur, Flying squirrel, Civet
and marbled cats in the tropical forests. A rare animal, the ‘Shapi’ inhabits the alpine region. The bird life is also rich with
Pheasants, Teals, Partridges, Cuckoos, babblers, bearded vulture, Olive ground Wabler, emerald dove, fairly blue bird,
Kingfisher, ashy wood pecker, Sultan tit, and thrushes among many others. The rivers have salmon, trout, carp and many others
45 varieties of fishes. There are 40 species of reptiles in Sikkim, which include various types of lizard and snakes like the grass
snake, the krait and the cobra

Amidst the grandeur of the mountain peaks, lush valleys, fast – flowing rivers, terraced hills, Sikkim offers her visitors a rare and
singular experience.

Sikkimese are fond of their ‘Chhang’ – a preparation from fermented millet. The drink is served in bamboo container with a hollow
bamboo pipe. It is the unofficial national drink

Sikkim – the last Shangri-La – and the land of endless passion are wrapped in mists and clouds. Within a matter of hours one
can move from the sub-tropical heat of the lower valley to the cold of the rugged mountain slopes that reach up to the areas of
perpetual snow.

After centuries of virtual isolation Tibet is cautiously opening up to the western world. Officially, China has only opened the doors
for travelers these past few years. A visit to Tibet is an incredible experience, although it is not for the faint-hearted. The traveling
is difficult and unpredictable. The infrastructure is poor to non-existent, therefore turning a regular tour into a complete
adventure. Traveling in Tibet is not your average trip but an experience of a lifetime, which we invite you to take with us.