Trekking and Adventure Travel News from One World Trekking

News and Trip Updates from One World Trekking
More stories, news, adventures and photographs on the One World Trekking Blog

July 2010: **New Trekking Route to open in Eastern Bhutan** May 8 to May 18, 2011
MERAK AND SAKTENG TREK OF EASTERN BHUTAN
An outstanding journey into the recently opened Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary

June 2010: The Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal
Mr. Scott MacLennan, founder and Executive Director of The Mountain Fund (www.mountainfund.org), has been selected to receive the 2010 Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal.

JUST ADDED DATES FOR 2011...
Humla - The Hidden Himalaya: May 8 to May 26, 2011
Dolpo Snow Leopard Trek: September 1 to September 29, 2011
Bhutan - The Snowman Trek: October 1 to October 25, 2011

NEW: **Trekking Across Nepal: A Himalayan Pilgrimage With One World Trekking**
It has been said that at least once in a lifetime everyone should experience Nepal on foot and we at One World Trekking Adventure Travel agree! Starting in Fall 2010, we're offering a series of treks that not only allow travelers to experience Nepal on foot, but to actually walk across Nepal on foot! read more...

May 2010: NEWS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN EXPLORERS CONNECTION
Click here for the latest updates and news from the IMEC!

One World Trekking - Adventure Travel News
Nepal Travel: One World Trekking Unveils New Short Trek in the Land of Everest
Khumbu Explorer Takes Nepal Trekkers on the Unbeaten Path of Mount Everest
Aspen, CO ( PRWEB ) February 26, 2010 -- The Mount Everest region of Nepal is undeniably the most the popular and well-trodden trekking destination in the Himalaya and with good reason, who wouldn't want to see the world's tallest mountain? read more...

Bhutan's Snowman Trek -- The Ultimate Himalayan Mountain Journey
Bhutan is said to be the last Shangri-La. The Snowman trek takes us across the high passes and remote valleys of the 'Land of the Peaceful Dragon.' Aspen, Colorado ( PRWEB ) January 14, 2010 -- One World Trekking, the adventure travel company with over 20 years experience trekking through the Himalaya, is pleased to announce for Fall 2010, the latest addition to our Epic Himalayan Journey Series. read more...

The Snow Leopard Trek - An Epic Trekking Journey into Nepal's Remote Buddhist Region of Upper Dolpo
Join One World Trekking on an epic journey into the remote Upper Dolpo region of Nepal. Our journey will attempt to retrace the route taken by Peter Matthiessen as written in his best-selling book 'The Snow Leopard'. read more...

March 9, 2010: PATAGONIA & THE TORRES DEL PAINE CIRCUIT TREK.
NEW TRIP: On December 27, 2010 join One World Trekking guide and avid photographer Charles Engelbert on a hike around the famed Torres del Paine National Park. Throughout the trip, Charles will be available to give photographic advice.

March 2010: PRICES REDUCED ON ALL NEPAL TREKS.
Happy New Years! As our way to help you make it more affordable to take that 2010 trekking vacation in Nepal, we have just recently reduced the prices on all of our trekking trips in Nepal!! Price reductions range from $200.00 to $800.00 per person depending on the trip you select and the size of your group. The largest discounts apply to solo travelers. We are still able to arrange all of our Himalayan Classic Treks on custom dates for groups of 1 or 2 to 12 people. Please visit the individual trip webpages to view the new 2010 prices and please feel free to contact us with any questions or to receive a detailed trip itinerary. HAPPY ADVENTURES IN 2010!

Survey Reveals Traveler Motivations for ‘Once in a Lifetime Trips'…and more

January 25, 2010
The Trip of a Lifetime Travel Report 2010, a travel study about the motivations and preferences behind vacations that are considered “A Trip of a Lifetime.” This report was conducted by GeckoGo and iExplore in conjunction with Lasso Communications. Given the rise of experiential travel, the goal of this survey (conducted between December 2009 and January 2010 with 2,311 respondents) was to obtain a snapshot of consumer attitudes globally towards taking “lifetime” trips, what destinations are considered, the importance of travel companions, the price and duration. The survey looks at the difference between expectations for what a trip of a lifetime means, compared against those who have already gone.

Key findings of this report

Seeing the World Wonders, safaris and rain forest expeditions are the top experiences travelers are most interested in for a once-in-a-lifetime trip. 70% of respondents said they are most interested in visiting natural and man-made wonders on a once-in-a-lifetime trip such as Machu Picchu, the Pyramids or Victoria Falls. Beyond that, 53% said they were very interested in going on safari and 42% were very interested in a rainforest expedition. Extreme sports – like sky diving – proved less popular with only 16% saying that they were very interested.
Picking the right travel companion is THE most important consideration when planning a once in a lifetime trip. 50% of respondents felt “who I travel with” is a very important consideration, followed closely by “being able to fulfill a personal goal”, which was selected as very important by 45% of respondents. The preferred travel companion(s) are typically a partner/spouse (59% of respondents) or friends (24%), although 5% of married respondents would prefer to go on their trip by themselves.
Travel media plays an important role in decision making –70% of travelers said that inspiration for a trip typically came from books or magazines versus 40% who were inspired from hearing stories from other people or 27% who gained inspiration from TV.
The majority of travelers are independent, yet travel agents and tour groups play an important planning role. While 52% of respondents organized their lifetime trip independently, 18% join a tour group, and 16% use a travel agent to organize their trip. The remainder either used a combination of options or let their travelling partner handle the arrangements.
A Once-in-lifetime trip does not have to break the bank. 28% of respondents who are planning a once- in-a- lifetime trip reported that they are willing to spend between $2,000-$3,999 (excluding airfare) and another 26% are willing to spend $4,000-$5,999.

December 28, 2009: HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!
We have recently returned from two incredible months in Nepal and are very excited for 2010. From our observations over the past weeks, there can no longer be any doubt that Nepal is back as the world's most popular trekking destination! In October 2009, Nepal open its doors and welcomed more visitors than any other month ever in its history. 2011 is currently being promoted as VISIT NEPAL YEAR and the government is ramping up for this year-long celebration by allowing more airlines and more flights to land in the capital of Kathmandu. This should be good news, as ticket prices from the US and Canada to Nepal are expected to drop in 2010.

We are extremely happy to welcome professional journalist and fellow adventurer Manasseh Franklin as the newest member of the One World Trekking staff. Manasseh will be heading up our marketing department and, as she is just back from guiding the Annapurna Circuit and Everest Base Camp treks, is able to offer advice and provide a keen woman's perspective on trekking in Nepal. Please feel free to contact Manasseh directly with any questions.

ONE WORLD TREKKING'S HIMALAYAN CLASSIC TREKS
In response to a large request by you for trips with low minimum required group sizes and flexible departure dates, we will now guarantee to run almost all of our trips with a minimum of 1 or 2 people and will arrange your trip to begin on any day of the week. For further details, please see the individual trip page on this website and feel free to contact us for a detailed trip itinerary or to ask any questions. We are striving to make it easier and more convenient for you to take that adventure of a lifetime.

SHORT FILM: THE PORTERS OF KILIMANJARO
Jessica Reynolds and Ryan Miller are independent filmmakers living in New York. In preparation for climbing Kilimanjaro they started to do some research. “We were astonished to find that of the hundreds of tour operators listed in the guidebooks and websites, only a handful were partners with the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project and followed proper porter practice. Even more surprising was how little information was readily available about the porters themselves and the conditions they were made to work under. We feel that we could help raise awareness of the situation by producing a short film about the porters of Kilimanjaro and the suggested treatment of them outlined by the Kilimanjaro National Parks and the KPAP. We hope that this piece will bring awareness to prospective climbers, so they can make responsible decisions in choosing a tour operator and in turn ensure that they aren't a part of this exploitation.”

International Mountain Explorer's Connection: UCA PROFESSOR DISCOVERS ANCIENT ROCK PAINTING
Dr. Reinaldo (Dito) Morales Jr., assistant professor of art history at UCA, has confirmed a major discovery in the world of rock art: an ancient rock painting at a burial site from the Inca site of Machu Picchu in Peru. Morales discovered the painting in 2000 while on a three-day graduate school research trip. Although the painting is in an Inca environment, Morales said he does not believe his discovered painting to be from that culture because Incan art is typically dominated by rectilinear geometric patterns, whereas this painting is primarily curvilinear. "This painting doesn't look like the painting style we typically see on Killke pottery, which immediately preceded the 15th-century Inka in this region, but my research on this style is still ongoing," Morales said. "In my proposal, I've said it looks like the Recuay, [a Peruvian culture] who are much, much earlier than the Inca - 1,000 or 1,500 years earlier than the Inca, and from a completely different part of Peru.

THE INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN EXPLORER'S CONNECTION: PORTER ASSISTANCE PROJECT
The IMEC continues to need your financial backing to support IMEC's programs in Tanzania and Nepal. A small donation can go a long way: