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bigyack-com · 5 years

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PATA Forecasts Over 971 Million Int. Visitor Arrivals into Asia Pacific by 2024

PATA has forecast that the region it classifies as Asia Pacific, which includes places like Turkey and the Americas, will welcome close to one billion international visitor arrivals over the next five years. That is one of the key predictions from the Executive Summary of the Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts 2020-2024, released on Monday by PATA. Covering the years 2019 to 2024 and 39 destinations, the Executive Summary of the Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts 2020-2024 shows that there could be over 971 million international visitor arrivals in the region by 2024. However, destinations that you may consider to be in Asia Pacific and those 39 destinations that PATA includes in the forecast, may be very different. Here are the 39 destinations included in the forecast: Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Chinese Taipei, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea (ROK), Lao PDR, Macau SAR, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Northern Marianas, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, USA, Vanuatu and Vietnam. From the West Asia region, the PATA report only includes data from Turkey as it says that there is a lack of sufficient data from the other destinations. West Asia, as defined by the UN, consists of Bahrain, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, UAE, and Yemen. Keeping all that in mind, the forecast increase in arrivals has been driven by the average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 5.3% between 2014 and 2019, and that momentum is expected to increase even further over the next five years, to average 6.3% per annum between 2019 and 2024.

This will result in an acceleration of more than 256 million additional arrivals into the region between 2019 and 2024, a significant increase over the additional volume of 162 million added between 2014 and 2019. The distribution of these arrivals in Asia Pacific is expected to change only marginally from 2019, with the Asia and Pacific regions expected to show some relative, as well as absolute increases in arrival numbers. Asia is forecast to remain the dominant destination region and is likely to improve its relative share to over 77% by 2024.The Americas will come in second, although its share is expected to reduce slightly over the period between 2019 and 2024. As a generator of arrivals into and across Asia Pacific however, Asia is predicted to continue growing in relative share, accounting for almost 68% of all arrivals into the region in 2024. This is likely to be at the expense of both the Americas and Europe, both of which are predicted to wane, at least in terms of their respective shares as source regions for Asia Pacific, between 2014 and 2024. Eleven Asia Pacific destinations are predicted to each receive more than 10 million additional arrivals between 2019 and 2024, with China leading the way, expecting to add around 38.2 million more arrivals to its inbound count and raising the aggregate volume to almost 208 million in 2024.

Japan is ranked next, followed by Macau, China and then Mexico, with all of these destinations expected to receive more than 20 million additional foreign arrivals each, over the forecast period to 2024. The top group of 11 destinations is likely to account for 77% of the arrivals volume into Asia Pacific in 2024 and more than three-quarters of the additional arrivals over that same period. In addition, it is predicted that nine out of ten destinations will have AAGRs between 2019 and 2024 in excess of 10%, ranging from 10.2% for Maldives to 21% for Cambodia. The volume bases for each of these destinations vary widely, however these very strong average rates of growth are certainly worth closely watching over the forecast period.

The top ten strongest source markets into Asia Pacific between 2019 and 2024 are forecast to include China, the Republic of Korea and Hong Kong SAR in the top three positions, generating a collective volume of more than 369 million IVAs over that period. These three source markets alone are also predicted to generate an additional volume of more than 106 million arrivals into Asia Pacific over the same period. Much of that volume is of course, generated by internal Greater China flows, especially from China into Macau, China and Hong Kong SAR and to a lesser degree vice-versa. PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy, said, “For many destinations, there is now an immediate and necessary shift from generating arrivals to properly managing those visitors. It is no longer enough to think and talk about this, the time to put into action such management practices that ensure that visitors into and across the Asia Pacific region receive a superlative and memorable experience is now. The tourism juggernaut is a reality, and this means that, as a socio-economic sector, travel and tourism needs to ensure that it has the necessary mindset and infrastructure – both hard and soft – to enable growth of this magnitude to be properly managed. It is incumbent upon us all to deliver both memorable experiences and positive outcomes for visitors, residents and the environment in equal measure.” All the visitor arrivals data within the report comes from each national tourism organization and/or national statistic agency and their official websites. The forecasts are produced in partnership with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. More on this, specifically which countries PATA includes within Asia Pacific and where countries in the Middle East are included, to come. See also: Did Strength of Thai Baht Affect Number of Visitor Arrivals from UK in 2019? FHD Video and Podcast Interview with Tourism Authority of Thailand. 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peregrinetreks · 5 years

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Annapurna Circuit Trek: 21 Essential things to know

Hiking Nepal's Annapurna Circuit is one of the most stunningly beautiful, life-changing experiences you can have on your travels, and we're pretty sure that, like us, you'll be absolutely captivated by the area from the very first day.

Winding through some of the world's tallest mountains and diverse climatic zones (from tropical to freezing alpine peaks), intensive days spent on your feet, and enjoying the beautiful hospitality of the Nepalese people and their quaint mountain villages: the 15 days you'll spend on the Annapurna Circuit trail are some of the most inspiring and challenging you'll ever encounter, and the arrival back to Pokhara will feel so rewarding.

But while it’s super tempting to just book a flight, lace up your hiking boots, and head off into the vast wild, take it from us, wanderers: this is not a simple walk in the park, pun intended! (If you’re looking for a shorter Nepal trek, why not try the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek!).

In fact, from preparing for altitude sickness to organising your permits and accommodation, there’s a huge amount of knowledge and planning you need to factor into your pre-trip preparation before you even take your first few steps. For a start, should you go solo or in a group? Will you be able to get snacks en route? and what time of year guarantees the best visibility?

From two people who trekked the Annapurna Circuit successfully (but wish they’d had a few more tips up their sleeve while doing so!), here’s the essential insider knowledge you need before tackling the long, epic, and beautiful Annapurna Circuit trek for yourself.

#1 - FAST FACT ABOUT THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT

Before we get into the nitty gritty of what you need to know about the Annapurna Circuit, here are a few quick facts about the trek for the stat-lovers amongst you!

Location | Central Nepal

Trek length | generally 15-21 days

Distance | this varies depending on route and whether you take optional side treks, but generally between 170km - 230km

Height of Annapurna 1 Main (the highest mountain in the Annapurna Massif) | 8091m

Highest point of the trek | Thorong La Pass - 5416m (17,769ft)

#2 - KNOWS WHEN TO TREK THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT

Hiking in Nepal isn't a 'turn up whenever you like and off you go' kind of affair; seasonal changes (particularly around monsoon period) have a massive impact on where, how, and what you can hike here.

The periods for hiking the Annapurna Circuit are October - early December, and late Feb - April.

Go outside of these times and you risk the already tricky Thorong La Pass being totally snowed under (or worse, like what happened during the 2014 Nepal blizzard disaster) or heavy monsoonal summer rains causing slippery and dangerous conditions.

We did our hike at the end of Feb - March and found the weather conditions pretty much perfect; balmy and hot on the lower sections, and crisp with some light snow at the higher levels and the Pass.

RECOMMENDATION | Hike the Annapurna Circuit in September, when the skies are clear, the mountains green, and the paths less crowded.

#3 - THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT ITINERARY IS ANTI-CLOCKWISE

Since the trail opened in 1977, most trekkers have followed an Annapurna Circuit itinerary that begins in Besishahar and heads in an anti-clockwise direction over the Thorong-La Pass and down into the Jomsom Valley. The main reason for this is acclimatisation. When following the trail anti-clockwise, you have almost 2 whole weeks of acclimatisation (and leg-training!) before you begin the leg-and-lung-breaking final ascent up and over Thorong La (5416m).

Going the other way, you’d only have 2 days to acclimatise, as well as tackling some intense 1700m+ incline days along steep, rubbly paths straight up.

There’s also very limited access to teahouses in the later days, which means if you do succumb to altitude sickness due to the speed of your climb, you may struggle to find help.

Our Annapurna Circuit itinerary is like this:

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport

Day 02: Drive to Chamje

Day 03: Trek from Chamje to Dharapani

Day 04: Trek to Chame

Day 05: Trek to Pisang

Day 06: Trek to Mangng via Ghyaru

Day 07: Acclimatization day in Manang

Day 08: Trek to Yak Kharka

Day 09: Trek to Thorong Phedi (4650m) or High Camp (4800)

Day 10: High camp to Muktinath via Thorang pass (5416m)

Day 11: Jeep driving to Tatopani (1100 m)

Day 12: Trek all the way to Ghorepani (2800m)

Day 13: Early morning hike to Poon hill, descend to Tikhedhunga and drive to Pokhara

Day 14: Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu

Day 15: Departure

#4 - YOU CAN HIKE THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT WITH A GROUP OR TREK IT SOLO

One of the most debated topics when it comes to hiking in Nepal is this: do it with an organised group, or heave on a rucksack full of your stuff and go it alone?

Personally, we opted for a group hike on Peregrine Treks’ 15-day Annapurna Explorer trek, but we definitely encountered just as many keen hikers going it alone or with a friend. In short, both are absolutely viable options, and each comes with their own merits and disadvantages.

As two travellers used to independent/solo travel on our own terms, the thought of suddenly being bound by a group and its personalities, plus a set itinerary, and all that comes with these two things was a little daunting. But as it turns out, it absolutely needn't have been.

See, when you hike with a group, you’re hiking with a ready-made cheer squad, a team of local guides and porters who a) know the way b) know the signs of altitude sickness (more on that below) and c) can share tidbits of info you'd otherwise miss out on.

THE PROS

· Everything (including teahouse accommodation, permits, etc) is organised for you by the trekking company, you just need to bring snacks and money for meals / tips.

· Travelling with a reputable travel company also means that your local guides and porters are exceptionally well-versed in local knowledge, first aid, emergency response, etc.

· A local is always on-hand to share expert knowledge

· Your team of porters also carries your heavier luggage, so you just need to keep putting one step in front of the other with your daypack on your back.

· Other people to support and be supported by - which can go a long way when you're all exhausted and out of breath in the final days!

THE CONS

· Can be more expensive than going it alone - but we actually felt it was worth it in this instance!

· If you're used to independent travel, being bound to someone else's plan (and group personalities) might be a shock to begin with!

Hiking the Annapurna Circuit solo

It's definitely not rare to see people self-navigating the Annapurna Circuit by themselves, or hiking together in small groups. Given that the Annapurna trek is also one of Nepal's more popular routes, you'll also bump into a whole lot of other trekkers following a similar path, so you can either buddy up and walk together, or walk amongst the wild solo and regroup for a game of cards later that night.

THE PROS

· Having the freedom to go where you want, when you want, and without having to account for a group

· Often a lot cheaper than booking through a tour company

· You get the best of both worlds; solo trekking during the day and a group atmosphere at the teahouses at night

THE CONS

· You're responsible for carrying all your gear, finding accommodation, and organising all your permits, itinerary, etc. You'll need to work out when you'll arrive at a teahouse, and during busy periods, have a backup plan if it's already full.

· Not having a trained professional around to help you identify potentially dangerous areas, altitude sickness symptoms, or monitor the speed/distance of your hike (it's important to go slow to avoid altitude sickness!).

· Safety: there are risks in going it alone. While Nepal is a notoriously friendly and welcoming country, there have been instances of solo-hikers disappearing on solo treks. While these incidents are few and far between, it's worth bearing in mind.

· For female hikers, we'd also recommend travelling with a female guide and porter, to avoid any potential harassment incidents.

#5 - YOU NEED TO BE FIT (BUT NOT SUPER FIT) TO HIKE THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT

While you don’t need to be marathon fit to complete the Annapurna circuit, it’s definitely worth putting in some hard yards at the gym, in the mountains or around the block before you leave. For the most part the days are manageable; 5-6hrs and 10-15kms, with plenty of rest, long lunch breaks and a few rest days in between.

BUT,

Some days on your trek will involve 16 hours at high altitude starting at 4am. Other days can be over 20kms through the "Nepalese flats" (aka rolling hills) or in the snow. And then there’s the final day from Muktinath to Jomsom (you can discover all about that yourself!).

Our advice is to build your general cardio (the fun stuff!) for at least a month prior to leaving as well as a few consecutive days of long distance walking. Get your feet used to being in boots day after day. If you want to, try altitude training before you leave. We didn't do this, but we've heard good reports. You’ll be grateful you made the effort when the time comes to lace up those boots up again for the 6th day in a row.

#6 - YOU NEED A TREKKING PERMIT FOR THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT

No matter when or how you're hiking the Annapurna Circuit, you'll need to organise both a Trekking Information Management System (TIMS) permit, and an Annapurna National Park Permit (sometimes also known as the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit).

As of 2019, the permits should set you back about USD $50 total: the APC Permit is USD $30 / NPR 3,000 per person, while the TIMS Permit is USD $20 / NPR 2,000 per person.

These will need to be checked at various checkpoints along the trek.

If you're hiking with an organised tour group, your guides will likely manage these for you.

If you're hiking by yourself, you'll need to organise these at either the Nepal Tourism office based in Kathmandu, or the Pokhara tourist office before you begin the trek.

Make sure you bring a minimum of 4 passport photos for the trekking permit too!

#7 - IT’S LONG, HARD, AND TOUGH

"It’s always further than it looks. It’s always taller than it looks. And it’s always harder than it looks."

That’s a quote about the ‘three rules of mountaineering’. We’re not really sure who came up with it, but they’re pretty spot on except for one detail: It’s also always completely worth it.

We’re going to get all tough love on you here: the Annapurna trek is long, tiring and physically and mentally tough. Depending on which route you take, you’re going to be hiking for 13+ days - probably longer than your first high school romance.

Some days will be really physically tough.

You’ll be living out of a backpack with a very limited supply of clothing, sleeping on some rock hard beds, eating only carbs (we didn’t say it was all bad!), drinking chlorinated or steri-pen filtered water, all while having no internet access to check your Facebook (again, not all bad).

Sound daunting?

Well yeah, maybe it is. But trust us, when you’re standing in awe of the peaks around you, bonding with your group over a cup of hot chocolate, or celebrating crossing the Thorong La Pass these challenges become so insignificant you’ll wonder why they got you down in the first place.

#8 - THE SCENERY ON THE ANNAPURNA TREK IS INCREDIBLE

You know that feeling you get when you spot a hottie across the dancefloor for the first time?

The hairs stand up on the back of your neck, your heart pounds like a kick drum, and you have this existential crisis about being so freaking small in this universe and how could all this amazingness actually even exist.

Well, this happens every single day in the Annapurna region.

With every step the scenery in front of you changes and the mountains reveal something new; rolling clouds, the breathtaking terrain, the towering mountains or the smiling locals.

Need convincing? Here are 30 photos that will inspire you to visit Nepal!

It’s literally the definition of awe-inspiring. Them feels are good for the soul and you’ll leave feeling all giddy about the world.

#9 - ALTITUDE SICKNESS IS REAL

Run the London Marathon? Completed the Hawaiian Ironman? Smash out spin classes four times a week? We commend you for being so awesome in your active wear, but it won’t help you with altitude sickness.

Altitude sickness can affect anyone, including the fittest athletes alive (and Sir Edmund Hillary - the first summiteer of Everest!) so make sure you take all the necessary precautions after 3000m.

That includes taking Diamox (if you wish, but consult with your doctor), staying hydrated, fuelling up and getting adequate rest. If you feel symptoms, let your guide know and take action.

This is serious shit; Miranda developed HAPE, high altitude pulmonary oedema (basically, your blood vessels constrict and leak blood into your lungs, and left untreated, you can drown.. gross, right?) while hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in Africa, and it was a horrific, long term recovery.

#10 - THE ACCOMMODATION IS MORE THAN DECENT

If you're expecting to stay at the Shangri-La, you'll be disappointed. If you apply a little common sense and realise the Annapurna circuit is pretty remote, you'll be satisfied with the basic accommodation options available.

Guesthouses and teahouses are dotted along the whole trek, starting from Besisahar all the way to Jomsom. They're pretty little things made from rock and wood and provide a welcome relief at the end of a long days trekking.

Rooms at each teahouse are generally twin share, with enough space to spread out.

As the altitude increases the accommodation becomes more basic, however, the higher you go the happier you'll be with any form of bedding! Each teahouse has a common area which is usually stoked with a fire in the evening. This is where you'll spend most of your time, eating dinner and meeting fellow travellers.

Most teahouses make their money from food, so expect to pay slightly more than you would in Kathmandu. We do recommend buying food and drinks at teahouses.

Firstly, it will lighten your load, and secondly it provides much-needed income to what are sometimes fairly poor communities.

We have also heard of people bargaining for free accommodation in exchange for paying for food and drink. However, we'd encourage anyone travelling to these areas to be fair, pay for both your accommodation (not more than a few USD) and your food, and help to support communities that desperately rely on tourist dollars for their survival.

Most teahouses will have basic amenities, such as showers and toilets.

Up until Manang, you'll be able to have hot, solar-powered showers, although be prepared to fight for first position, as they do run out quickly! You do have to pay for warm showers, but it's definitely worth it.

You are also able to charge your electronic devices, although this comes at a small cost. Alternatively, we always travel with our trusty solar charger to keep our devices charged throughout the day (trust us, the sun is out in full force, even when it's cold here!).

#11 - TAKES ONLY WHAT YOU NEED

There are legends in Nepal; super strong guys who glide up and down mountains carrying all your stuff on their shoulders and neck. They’re called Porters, and they do this so you can concentrate on accomplishing your goal without extra baggage. While their feats are super-human, they are in-fact quite human, with really human muscles and backs that are equally prone to injury. Help them out here by bringing only what you really need (10kgs or so), so ditch the hair straightener, the three pairs of jeans and the full make up bag as you won’t need it.

We've written a thoroughly in-depth Annapurna Circuit packing list to help you best prepare for this trek.

The Annapurna Circuit bare essentials

· A pair of good quality waterproof hiking boots

· spare pair of inside shoes

· 6 pairs of underwear and four pairs of socks (you can wash them as you go!).

· Two pairs of hiking pants (womens prAna pants here)

· One pair of shorts

· Two jumpers (fleece or woollen)

· Two thermal tops (mens here, womens here) and bottoms

· One goose-down jacket (Mens North Face here, womens North Face here) - you really need this!

· One Gore Tex jacket

· One pair of waterproof pants (mens version here, womens version here)

· 1 beanie and 1 buff

· 1 pair of thick gloves

· Personal hygiene essentials

· Medical essentials (like this first aid kit)

· Reusable water canteen (this Water-To-Go bottle comes with its own purifier!)

· Your porters (and their spines) will thank you later.

#12 - HAVE A WELL-STOCKED MEDICAL KIT FOR THOSE UNEXPECTED MOMENTS

Picture this: you're enjoying a tasty dinner in a cute little teahouse with your group after a long day's trekking. The mood is jovial as you wolf down your plate of Dal Baht, and once you're done you play a few rounds of cards before retiring to your cosy room for the evening.

Then, at 2am, disaster - in the form of an urgent toilet trip - strikes. Ten minutes later, it strikes again. And again, and again, and again.. Until 7am rolls around and it's almost time to start hiking again, but you basically haven't moved from the toilet floor all night.

That's pretty much exactly what happened to Mim in the early days of our Annapurna trek - though we honestly can't work out how on earth she became so ill considering all but one other person escaped without illness, and many people ate Dal Baht that night too!

Had it not been for our trusty medical kit full of goodies (aka immodium, rehydration salts, and water purification tablets to treat water for said rehydration drinks), the chances of her actually being able to leave her bed, let alone walk, would have been pretty slim.

Be prepare with a well-stocked medical kit for the unexpected moments, little emergencies, or bloody great big blisters, and you'll never miss a step!

Band-aids / blister plasters (bad blisters will literally do as much damage to your trek as AMS, so be sure to have plenty of these on hand!)

· Water purification tablets

· Immodium

· Antibacterial cream for scratches or cuts

· Anti-histamine tablets - because the last thing you want is an allergic reaction or severe hayfever on the trail!

· Motion sickness / anti-nausea tablets

· Paracetamol or Ibuprofen for pain relief

· Anti-inflammatory gel - if you're like Mark and have a super bad back or other injury, pack some decent anti-inflammatory cream to combat any potential flare ups

· A spare roll of loo paper - toilet paper can sometimes be a mythical unicorn on the Annapurna circuit, so you'll be grateful you packed this!

· pack for the planet: our eco-friendly packing guide

#13 - PREPARE FOR 4 SEASONS IN ONE TREK

Trekking through the balmy temperatures in those early first days you’ll probably be asking yourself what the heck you brought all these warm clothes for. You’ll realise why when you get to 3,000m.

The Annapurna trek covers everything from tropical to alpine climatic zones. Some days you’ll be hiking in shorts and t-shirt consuming your fourth litre of water on yet another water break.

Other days you’ll be wearing all of your clothes as the brutally cold -15c wind freezes your water solid in its flask.

The range of climatic zones you pass through is awesome, and sure makes for some epic views. Just be prepared everyday and ask your guide what temperatures to expect and which essentials to throw in your daypack and you’ll be ready to face it all.

#14 - THE FOOD IS VERY GOOD

As your mind wanders while trudging through the snow on your way to Thorong La pass, you’ll probably be dreaming of your favourite meal; a chicken parma, killer veggie curry, or Fro-Yo with all the toppings you like.

You don’t need to fear for your taste buds; the food in the Annapurna region is really freaking good, and pretty varied.

Expect a lot of carbs - our group was even treated to a Yak Burger over 3,000m altitude in Manang! - and seasonal veggies, soups, momos and the most famous mountain meal of all, Dal Bhat.

Dal Bhat is a traditional Nepalese meal consisting of rice, a lentil-based soup and other condiments, and it’s generally all you can eat so you’ll never go hungry. As they say on the mountain: ‘Dal Bhat Power!’

You'll be surprised by the amount of bakeries, stocking everything from strudel to doughnuts. We recommend stopping at each of these as they're amazing!

#15 - ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT COST: IT’S PRETTY AFFORDABLE, BUT BE PREPARED

While the hike may break your leg muscles, it certainly shouldn't break your bank balance. As we've mentioned, we hiked the Annapurna Circuit on a group tour, which meant that everything except our daily meals and tipping was covered in the overall fee and had been paid before we arrived.

If you're hiking the circuit solo, expect to pay anywhere between USD $700-1000, which will cover your lodgings, food, and permits.

On the topic of food, budget for about $20 USD per person a day and you’ll be able to grab all the goodies including your meals, drinks and some snacks.

We'd also recommend stocking up on a heap of hiking snacks (trail mix, chocolate bars, granola bars, etc) to keep in your daypack for long walking days.

Plus we can assure you of one thing: there is nothing quite like a celebratory mars bar at the summit of your hike!

One thing you do need to note is that you won't encounter an ATM until you finish in Jomsom. So stock up on Nepalese Rupees before you start the hike. To keep that amount of money safe, stash it in your daypack, and always keep it on you.

#16 - TIPPING IS NOT COMPULSORY (BUT KIND OF EXPECTED)

Throughout Nepal generally, tipping isn't compulsory (particularly when it comes to restaurants and drivers), but it is kind of expected when it comes to guides and porters.

Many of the locals involved in the hiking industry here actually rely upon the tips they receive from leading groups, or carrying your gear.

As a guide, for your leader you should normally set aside USD$3-4 per person, per day.

For your porters, a recommended amount would be USD$4 per traveller per day, which is split amongst all the porters on your trek.

Basically, factor in about USD$150 in cash to your budgeting, and make sure you have it separate to the rest of your cash (in case you forget and use it on all the noms!).

#17 - YOU ABSOLUTELY, UNEQUIVOCALLY 100% NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you'll already know that we never, ever, leave for our travels without travel insurance (here's why!) - especially when undertaking a hike at altitude like the Annapurna Circuit.

Whether it's a sprained ankle, severe altitude sickness, or a natural disaster (let's not forget the 2015 Nepal earthquake), the unexpected can, and does, happen and it's always better to be prepared.

#18 - RESPECT THE LOCAL CULTURE

For many people, long treks are all about mountains and self-accomplishment, and that's totally ok.

But the Annapurna Circuit is upheld as a significant cultural and sacred trail by the Nepalese, so it's important that you as a visitor also a) behave accordingly, b) show respect for various sites along the way (dressing appropriately, not littering, etc), and c) take the time to chat with the locals and trying to understanding their way of life and beliefs up here.

After all, one of the best parts of travel is the total immersion in another culture, right?

#19 - TAKE YOUR RUBBISH OUT WITH YOU

Due to their altitude and remoteness, many of the villages on the trail don't have adequate waste disposal methods. Instead, they either have to burn the rubbish off (not ideal), or carry it off the mountain themselves (also not ideal).

In peak season, thousands of hikers traverse the paths of the Annapurna Circuit.

When you stop to think about the impact that many people are likely to have on the surrounding environment and the disposable products (in the form of plastic bottles, food wrappers, sunscreen bottles, etc) that they're undoubtedly bringing with them, you quickly realise that a lot of waste is either being burnt, or left, behind on the mountains.

Be a responsible traveller on the Annapurna Circuit: only use a reusable water bottle, pack a tote bag or two and carry all your trash out of the national park with you.

BUY | This Reusable water bottle is seriously the best investment we’ve ever made on our travels.

We use the Grayl water purification bottles, which allows us to fill up from any water source, anywhere in the world, meaning we’ve not bought a plastic bottle in 18 months.

#20 - YOU'LL HAVE A DECENT AMOUNT OF DOWNTIME IN THE EVENINGS

Once you've reached your teahouse for the evening and got settled in, you'll find yourself with plenty of time to chill out, socialise, eat (Mim's fave!), and get yourself prepared for the next day.

Evenings were some of our favourite times on the trek, as without all our devices and a wifi connection at hand, we had plenty of time to play cards (hint: always travel with a pack of playing cards!) with our group, or lose ourselves in a good book.

Speaking of books, we're also huge fans of reading books based in/around the places we're currently travelling through, as it really brings the landscapes around us to life. Here are some of our all-time faves:

#21 - YOU ALWAYS NEED A CELEBRATORY SUMMIT CHOCOLATE

Every day, our group dedicated at least 5-10 minutes each day to pondering how good the summit chocolate would be at the top.

Not sure what this mysterious, albeit delicious-sounding, treat could be?!

This is the ultimate celebration at the highest peak of your trail (in this case, Thorong La Pass); your favourite chocolate bar, carefully stashed in your bag for the whole trip, and gloriously savoured at the summit.

It may seem like a small thing, but we kid you not: when mixed with the sheer elation and satisfaction of having completed the hardest part of your trek, that chocolate will taste like sheer heaven.

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alpineramble · 6 years

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Everest base camp trek — Essential thing you need to know for the trek

Get ready for a trek to the foot of world’s highest peak, we are here for you for the best, we sure this trip would be a trip of a lifetime.

Personal Travel Insurance

We highly recommended a compressive travel insurance package to all our clients, the insurance must cover helicopter rescue and evacuation expense at Height altitude for the trekkers to Everest base camp, it will be assisted inadequate protection tour to cover personal injury, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, and any kind of illness will be covered. Alpine Ramble Treks kindly ask for any of our travelers to send the reliable travel insurance copy through the email once you book the trip with us.

Health and Fitness requirements

Everest Base Camp Trek is an exciting and spectacular moderate trekking destination in the world. It’s an exceptional trekking route for travelers who wish to enjoy and explore the Himalayas and beautiful landscape on this planet. This trek basically starts from low land to high land as you are hiking in these areas than you have to be fit both of physically and mentality by yourself. Every day trek prefers about 4/5 hours approx. As you hiking up to the high altitude than you have to prepare by physically and mentality to succeed the trip, our provision is making your trip reliable and remarkable without any problems in every step to step with your wealth health. Our first priority is your safety and security entire the trip. you Should convenience yourself to take some pre-training course of the trek that would be easy, considering some physical exercise like jogging, running, climb stair-case, cycling, swimming and hitting gym etc.

Accommodation during the Trek

Accommodation in Kathmandu, you would be staying at the best hotel basically 3–4 stars, on the twin-sharing basis. But Accommodations in trekking is very basic where you will get the room with pillows, warm and nice blanket, attach bathroom if it’s available with comfortable beds during the 12 days Everest base camp trek, if you are single you get single bedroom as well with hygienic food, The Menu for food and accommodation have fixed by local management community.

Passport and Visa

All clients must have a valid passport with at least 6 months prior validity from return date Nepalese visas can be obtained from the immigration office or Consulate in your country or arrival in Kathmandu Airport.

Last minute booking

Concerning your desirable interested for any trip with us we even accept the last minute booking. You can book a trip directly by calling or sending a message anytime. But eventually, Last minute booking may not acceptable for Bhutan and Tibet trip.

Meals and Drinking Water

The Everest base camp trek route has numerous tea houses along the way and every single tea houses has the menu system with different ethnic cuisines foods as well as western meals on the Menu; you could pick up any kinds of a meal as you like to have during the trek, we would highly recommend the vegetable items instead of Meat because meat in the mountain can be effected some time because it may not be used to it for the new travelers in this region. But some places provide you with typical Nepali meals which are different types of international meals. These are prepared by the local supplement. Every tourist Lodge has well-trained cook basically attention for clean, hygienic, fresh and nice testy foods. The variety of drinks and every lodge have safe drinking water or minerals bottles of water you could buy. If you buy a water purification tablet from Kathmandu you can take water from the tap and purify yourself this will be cheaper and help to control the plastic pollution as well. The water you could buy everywhere in the Everest region at a reasonable price but the price would go high when you go to high altitude areas. We also recommend you to buy boiled water instead of cold which keeps your body warm.

Extra personal expenses on trekking

During the trek, all the food are included (Lunch, Breakfast, and Dinner with hot drinks) which will be provided by the company, behind the schedule of our package the meals and accommodations in Kathmandu will have to be arranged by yourself.

Possible Flight Delay in Kathmandu and Lukla:

Sometime, the flights (To Kathmandu from Lukla) may be canceled due to the changing in unpredictable weather conditions around in the mountains. In such conditions, we Alpine Ramble Treks kindly request all the travelers to make a plan while putting at least 2/3 possibility spree days for the Everest Base Camp trek. In such a case, we will charter a Helicopter to secure you are on schedule for your international flight. The helicopter can easily fly up to 1500m visibility. You will be given cancellation of domestic flights and a receipt upon payment of Helicopter so that you may claim the amount from your travel insurance (Travel insurance is mandatory before joining Everest Base Camp Trek)

Equipment lists for Short Everest Base Camp TrekHead

Sun hat

Warm hat and scarf

Headlight

Face

Sunscreen +40

Sunglass

Face wipes and towels

List for Hands

Lightweight gloves

And warm Globes

Body clothing

Down or fiber-filled jacket (the company will be provided in rent)

2 pairs of hiking t-shirts, preferably quick drying, possibly thermal tops for the treks

Fleece jacket and sweaters

Poncho and rain jacket

Socks, preferably cotton –mix

Lightweight cotton trekking pants with folding option

Lists of Footwear

The proper Trekking Boots

socks preferably cotton sports socks but take some extra pairs

crampon (optional)

Essential gear

Day Backpack above the 30 L

Pack covers and Thermal bottle

Water peals

Umbrella

Walking pole if you need it

Thick Sleeping bag

Deodorant

Laundry soap

Antibacterial Gel

Toiletries

toothbrush

Shampoo

Personal accessories

Camera

Cell Phone

Money wallet with Money

Padlocks

Plastic bag

Watch

Sewing kit

Extra p photos and passport photocopies

First aid Kit

Diamox (acetazolamide)

Lozenges

Elastic bandages

Moleskin

Cotton bandages and band-aids

Lancing needle

Antibiotic eye-drops

Thermometer

Sling

Paracetamol

Antiseptic antibacterial cream or solution

Painkillers

Anti-emetic for nausea (not at high altitude)

Loperamide to control diarrhea

Norfloxacin or Cipro to cure diarrhea, other infections

Oral rehydration salts

Best Season

Best season for Everest Base Camp Trek is spring (Marc to May) and autumn (September to November) these months are the best months for the Everest base camp trek. The temperature is moderate in these seasons and we guarantee an amazing view and breathtaking scenery throughout the trek. If you wish to avoid crowds this trip during in winter (Dec., Jan. and Feb.) could also be the best options.

Booking and payment process

Alpine Ramble Treks (P) Ltd. is a government authorized and registered trekking and adventure operator based in Nepal. The company registered number is 178805/074/075 we are also associated with various local tourism sectors in order to process the trip booking with Alpine Ramble the percent of full trip payments can be made with required documents such as passport, travel insurance copies and flight details to Nepal with a two weeks period from the booking date.

Our respected traveler can be made the Payment through the Online directly from our website, bank transfer, western union or any other remittances, the remaining can be paid on your upon arrival in Kathmandu Hotel or office.

Your safety is of paramount concern whilst traveling with Alpine Ramble Treks, come and enjoy the trip, for booking through the Online Click here “BOOK YOUR TRIP”

#Travel #Trekking #everest base camp trek #Hiking in Nepal #trekking in Nepal Himalayas

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jzxjustin4584-blog · 7 years

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Know Interesting Tips About Mountain Geology That Caused Them To Kind.

From the initial moment the environment-friendly potion touched his lips, Chris Whitley understood he was actually addicteded to Hill Condensation. After breakfast along with picnic lunch Early morning game drive, at that point leave Serengeti for Ngorongoro along with an optional leading at Olduvai Chasm, or even walkon hill rainforest with Ranger( to pay for straight), a waterway gulch cut an ONE HUNDRED metres deep by means of the excitable soil of the Serengeti levels. Neighbored in legend for centuries, Bugarach has actually come to be a prime focus for a lot of Apocalypse enthusiasts as rumours have distributed that its mountain range consists of doors into other worlds, or even that space beings will definitely return listed here on Judgement day to take retreat at their bottom. The extra delay time will definitely be actually nominal-- that is actually often around 45 few seconds-- however is absolutely worth performing a minimum of once, simply to get an unobstructed scenery from the characters, design and falls on each destination. Whether your group is the succeeding one (prizes are going to feature winter months ski assist passes, a The big apple Impressive Race of your choice, and also naturally all-important gold awards!), you will have the capacity to unwind afterwards in the indoor/outdoor hot pool, bath, sauna, jacuzzis, or if you are actually up for however more adventure, have a go at the zipline, golf or even soar fishing. With a credibility and reputation being one from the absolute most attractive spots worldwide, there are actually great deals of opportunities to see some outstanding views in Nepal This webpage will definitely reveal you the spectacular sights Nepal gives - coming from the roof covering from the planet to the inmost lowlands, coming from the highest possible ponds to inmost canyons. Strolling right into a retail store and paying attention to the purchases person's sound on the mountain buggy metropolitan double baby stroller will probably produce you want to acquire that right away; nevertheless, this is only considering that they have a tendency to emphasize the pros and also skim over the drawbacks from the product. The roll at the 5 time limit participates in an important is actually that this shield the more costly stand alone hill passes, they're especially strenght-gym-fit.info in each skiers, our experts sell bunch of exchange second property owner for a $1000 or even there about ton of days. They would additionally take care of discovering customers to rent your preserve house to, but be forewarned, given that mountain range building management services will certainly call for as long as 30% from the income you produce on your Utah mountain range residential property. It goes without saying, not simply does Brookfield Commercial infrastructure, thanks to its relationship along with BAM possess accessibility to over $3 billion in assets (as well as developing progressively), however its premium-priced systems allow this to rear inexpensive equity development resources also, in case that mountain range of acquiring energy isn't really adequate to capitalize on all the opportunities the optimal control group locates. The very first mtb performed certainly not possess clipless pedals, which made this very challenging in order to get their shoes out of the toe-clips if they must. This created that very dangerous, since the motorcyclist was actually at times compelled to go down along with his mountain bike when this damaged.

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mondorock · 8 years

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The first time I met Leonie Lockwood was when she taught a Yin Yoga class at my local studio. Later that year, she kindly helped me with a blog post about beginner’s styles of yoga by explaining what Yin was, more in-depth.

Leonie has a long-standing passion for Yoga which came from her early years spent doing asana with her mother from age 8. She began her on again, off again love affair with the mat throughout her 20’3 and 30’3 . From there, she developed a 12 year career in remedial massage learning anatomy in-depth, and understanding how the body moves. Her shift to yoga, came gradually after working in another industry that left her anxious, withdrawn and chronically depressed.

By the time she was 38, Leonie realised her current office job wasn’t for her, and she ventured off solo to India and Nepal where she made the decision to return to study remedial massage upon arriving back to Melbourne. India called her back for another 6 week adventure, and she made a promise to herself to return for a whole YEAR to deepen her understanding of yoga and meditation, learning from some of the worlds best along her path.

After completing her initial yoga teacher training during that year in Asia; she went on to complete a 150 hour mentorship program with Ambika Chadwick of The Yoga Social and another 350 hours of study in the USA with Yin expert’s Paul and Suzee Grilley. From there, she developed her meditation methods with Sarah Powers and is currently completing studies into clinical Pilates through breath education. Like any passionate entrepreneur, her learning is never complete and she is always looking for opportunities to grow, and new approaches to bring all of her accumulated knowledge to the mat.

In THIS interview, Leonie agreed to lay her life bare allowing me to open up areas where she has seen struggle; and found strength. Where she has been at her lowest; and used yoga to shift above and beyond to her highest. She is strong, she is brave and she is FULL of loving courage that she fondly shares with her inspiring yoga students on a daily basis.

M.E. “From experience, most great yoga teachers start their journey from a place of pain, looking for a way to escape the demons and devastation of their past, would you say this is true for you?”

L.L “Can I not answer that question? Let’s start with something easier. We’ll come back to that…”

M.E. “O.k., let start with the easier ones. When you were younger, what did you MOST want to be when you grew up?”

L.L “I wanted to be a ballet dancer, or a dancer of some sort. Or an actress. I just liked dancing, and acting, and singing.”

M.E. “At what age did you feel like you were on a different path to your peers – as far as your spirituality goes?”

L.L “I think there were little glimmers through my teen years, and then it dampened down again. I got interested in Buddhism around 19 or 20, and had been interested in yoga, because my Mum was into that. So I had been interested in that as a kid too.” Pauses for a moment, to contemplate “More so as I hit my mid thirties I thought there’s NO WAY this environment is for me. My role and the office work I had just seemed hard to do. And kept getting harder and harder and harder.”

“Eventually I decided that work was getting in the way of yoga“

M.E. “On your website, you said you’ve been dabbling in yoga for over 25 years, what made you turn from having it as a passion, to having it as a full-time career?”

L.L. “It’s probably even more than 25 years to be honest, that was just when I started going to classes. I started with Mum though when I was seven or eight and practicing with her in front of the television to Swami Sarasvati, whom I believe is still alive.”

By the time Leonie was in her mid thirties, she had been working for over a decade in not for profit organisations supporting those experiencing homelessness. She helped at the crisis intervention point and some days she would receive threats, or feel hopeless for not being able to provide shelter for the people who came to her. Working at the front line of crisis meant she often dealt with people experiencing mental health issues and/or drug and alcohol misuse in addition to lack of housing. Some were just exiting prison, and some had managed to escape the clutches of family violence. Being a caring person, she could not help but be affected by the raft of problems presenting. Most were grateful for assistance, others violent towards themselves, staff or their families; pushing her moral and ethical boundaries.

“When people are homeless, whether you agree with what they’ve done or not [in the content of criminal behavior]; these people all deserve a roof over their heads. It’s stressful. There’s just not enough affordable housing available for people”

“I started going to yoga on the way home from work, just once a week. Then started going a bit more, and a bit more. I had practiced before as I mentioned, I had dropped in and out of classes, but I got to a point where I just started practicing more and more and I realised how much better that was for me, than heading to the pub after work with the rest of the work team and getting drunk as a way of coping with the stress. When I was 38, I desperately needed some time out, and headed to India and Nepal to find some peace.”

M.E. “You’ve obviously been through a lot in your life, but you still manage to have this fierce sense of confidence and enjoy taking risks to keep creating breakthroughs; what fuels this?”

Leonie mentioned that while her career was in turmoil, her mother was slowly dying from Motor Neurone Disease – to which there is no cure. The year her mother died, she accepted a voluntary redundancy from work and invested herself fully between teaching yoga and massage.

L.L “If I think about my ‘place of pain; I used to drink a lot of alcohol. I did that from my teens until well into my early thirties. Especially while working with those experiencing homelessness. I often used to self-medicate with alcohol because of what I dealt with on an everyday basis. My adrenaline levels were very high, and I was very stressed out by the things I saw and the people I dealt with, like the threats that were made to me as a person when I was ultimately just trying to help others. People were just angry, and very upset. They were frustrated about being shifted around the system and hearing the words ‘no’ more often than not. Back then, my method of coping with stress was to drink, like many others around me. I was chronically depressed and had been for a number of years, and had also been going to therapy to help deal. All of this decreased, the more I immersed myself in yoga. I started finding inner peace. I felt clearer in my head, clearer in my body and just happier overall. It was so much better than using those other things as a crutch.”

M.E. “You teach at a few studios across Melbourne, and teach workshops too; how do you think you BEST connect to your students?”

L.L. “Mmmmm. Good question! I often think the best way to connect with students can sometimes be when they come through the front door and you check them in. You can chat to them, find out if they have injuries or illness, and find out more about them and personalize the experience

The retreats and workshops I host, also give me a chance to connect on a deeper level as we spend more time off the mat together. It forms a bond, and people often open up.”

M.E. “How do you feel about yoga being depicted by overtly flexible, slim yogini’s getting into impossible-asana?”

“It’s not necessarily about getting into perfect alignment in a posture, but allowing yourself to sit into a posture that suits you best”

“I love to encourage people to be themselves. Yoga isn’t about handstands, or scorpion pose, it’s about being you and listening to your body”

Leonie believes that if you can sit and breathe, (in whatever form that might take), you’re forming a deeper connection within yourself and learning how to relieve stress. To self soothe in a HEALTHY way. That connection is what we need to strengthen so we can rely on the foundations of the practice when we need it most. Once you’ve learned that, you can always go back to that place, it will always be open to you.

M.E. “What is your niche in teaching?”

L.L. “Yin yoga and meditation. I teach mainly mindfulness techniques in this space at the moment, and am also very much practicing what I preach. I’m also working more on Chakra meditation techniques create a deeper, single pointed awareness, taking you deeper into your innermost reaches of your body and mind”

M.E. “Do you prefer teaching students that are new to yoga or more experienced?”

L.L “I think I have more to offer beginner and intermediate students. I don’t really teach advanced Astana’s, my body doesn’t really go into those shapes {laughs}. If I’m teaching beginners I try to remember what it was like for me; like learning what the meaning of ‘Om’ was, or what a mantra was… I try and answer questions before I get asked them.”

M.E. “A few of my Personal Training clients are interested in learning yoga, but find the thought of going to a class intimidating. What is the best piece of advice you could offer to get them started?”

L.L “If they are fearful of the class environment, they could do a private one-on-one session, or even get a group of friends together and do their own small group class. This way they can learn the lingo, and feel comfortable with the way their body moves.”

“These days the way social media is dictating yoga is that if you’re not a skinny white chick with your hair up in a bun, clutching a green smoothie, you could feel really intimidated by setting foot in that yoga studio environment”

We both giggle at her last comment, remembering those awkward times where you want to start, and are just SO afraid of fitting in, standing out or doing something wrong. She continues:

“Another option is to try a gym based yoga class if they’re already training at there, which can often be less intimidating. Often there are yoga sessions at local community halls that suit people who might want a more casual environment. The key I guess, is to build slowly over time and listen to your body, noting how it moves and how you feel before and after”

M.E. “In your most recent blog, you said that 2016 was one of your ROUGHEST years with a lot of “first world problems” arising and turning you into an anxious ball of insomnia, how did yoga help you through this?”

L.L “Well I don’t know if it did as much as I would have liked! In the end, I AM a human being and like most, I’m not able to maintain that ‘zen’ all the time. I haven’t quite reached that stage… In 2015 I started to turn away from earning money from yoga, as it started turning into another ‘job’ instead of my passion. I found I had to get back into yoga for myself, and developed a stronger meditation practice. More often than not, I found the physical asana too challenging, and it was my meditation practice that really helped me through the rough times. I hate to think what that year would have been like without it. In hindsight, I’ve probably still got a long way to go in terms of not letting things get to me.

Also during that time, I used to journal after meditation and asana practice and started to recognise my patterns. It gives you insight on how you can change, what you can do differently, and then you just find opportunity to implement things. You can do things differently moving forward and just make that choice to start changing for the better”

M.E. “Being such a soulful person, how do you find living in a city that is so full of pressure to fit into that white-collared work ethic, and be so beautifully – You?”

L.L. “It is a bit tough. {laughs} I used to spend a lot of time in the country and didn’t really feel that pressure. In the past year though, it hasn’t been the case as much, so this year I really want to get back to the country more often. This year I’m running a retreat in June out in the country, and ultimately, I would love to own my own retreat venue in the country.”

M.E. “Leading on from there, what IS the next chapter in your book of life?”

L.L. “I’m focusing my attention on collaborations this year, and really trying to develop more opportunity to work with people who haven’t thought of yoga as an answer. I’m also running some more Yin Yoga Teacher Training [starting this weekend!], and building on the ultimate goal to shift my working life out to the country where both myself, and clients can feel more connected.”

M.E. “Lastly, if you had any advice for a new business owner or venturing into a new direction, what would it be?”

L.L. “Join a business network so you don’t feel so isolated, so you don’t feel like you’re doing the journey alone.”

“I just knew I didn’t want to die without trying”

“If it’s yoga, then remember always to keep practicing yourself, find a mentor and try not to lose your passion for the industry that you’ve come to love so much” – Leonie Lockwood

As a final note on the interview, I just wanted to thank Leonie again for really opening up old wounds and allowing me to understand how the path of passion isn’t necessarily always easy; but it’s always worth it. I want to thank her for her courage, bravery and honesty in all areas – even answering the questions that I wasn’t sure she would! It takes a lot of guts to become who you really are, and it’s people like Leonie that truly inspire me to be that version of my self.

Lastly, if you’re based in Melbourne and interested to know more about Yin Yoga, and want a chance to practice with the woman herself, check out Leonie’s Facebook Page or her website Flowing Life. She will also be commencing a 50 hours Yin Yoga Teacher Training from this weekend in St Kilda, hosting everal mini retreats through-out the year, has a weekend retreat in regional Victoria in June and will be leading other workshops through-out the year.

Love & light,

Monique Elouise xx

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: YIN YOGA The first time I met Leonie Lockwood was when she taught a Yin Yoga class at my local studio.

#becoming #blog #Interview #leonielockwood #love #melbourne #melbournelovesyoga #melbourneyoga #personal #personalgrowth #raw #rawandreal #selflove #yin #yoga #yogateacher

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