SINGAPORE – Agoda.com, Asia’s leading
hotel booking site and part of Nasdaq-listed Priceline Group (Nasdaq:PCLN), is
offering amazing deals on hotels for hikers, trekkers and adventure seekers in Nepal,
one of the most rugged, remote and beautiful countries in the world. The
September-November trekking season is a perfect time to go, with cool weather,
and generally clear skies.
Trekking in Nepal has become a major part of the
country’s economy and its largest source of revenue, so it’s surprising to
learn that only a few decades ago it wasn’t even something that existed as an
organized activity. In 1965 Jimmy Roberts, a British Colonel and member of the
famed and feared Gurkha military unit figured that people might enjoy breathing
the crisp, cool air as they trekked across pristine mountain passes in the
shadow of some of Earth’s tallest mountains. He devised a system wherein
visitors would walk, assisted by Sherpas and support animals that would carry
supplies. His idea immediately gained popularity, and visitor numbers have
continued to climb ever since – Nepal had almost 600,000 tourist arrivals in
2012.
When it began, trekking in such remote locations
at such high altitude was an extreme and exotic undertaking for anyone who did
not live in the area, but has since evolved into a vibrant and popular sport
with a well-developed support infrastructure.
Generally speaking there are two types of
trekking styles. In tea house trekking,
one hikes along well-defined trails during the day, staying at a lodge or small
house for the evening. These range from clean and comfortable to extremely
rustic, so be prepared for all eventualities. Organized trekking offers a bit more freedom in terms of where one
may go, and involves a team of porters carrying tents, food, fuel and other
supplies while trekkers need only carry a small day pack. Each style has its pros
and cons, so read up on which one is most appealing and see what each one
offers.
Most who come to Nepal fly into Tribhuvan
International Airport in Kathmandu, where trekkers sort out the final details
of their plan and buy last-minute supplies. After this, many take a bus or
airplane to Pokhara to start the actual trek, but there are dozens of different
routes, and many leave from different spots for a variety of locations, so each
trekker must be familiar with what is expected of them.
In terms of being prepared, there are several
important things that cannot be overlooked. Most importantly, trekkers need to
take several days before they begin to acclimatize
to the altitude – longer for treks that take a lengthy or higher trail. Permits and visas must also be acquired – types, prices and availability depend
on the type of trek that will be undertaken and what area it’s in. There is no
such thing as too much research when it comes to preparing for a trip to Nepal,
so spend time online going through every detail.
To celebrate the upcoming trekking season,
Agoda.com has selected the following hotels, all great spots for trekkers to spend
their first few days acclimatizing to the altitude, meeting fellow travelers,
and getting to know the rich and vibrant culture of this ancient country.
Early
bird special – book a standard single/double room 60 days in advance and enjoy
20% off. Expires 31 August, 2014.
Book
a deluxe single/double room and enjoy 10% off. Expires 31 December, 2014.
Early
bird special – book a budget single/double room 14 days in advance and enjoy
15% off. Expires 31 December, 2013.
Early
bird special – book an economy single/double room 14 days in advance and enjoy 14%
off. Expires 31 December, 2013.
Early
bird special – book a superior single/double room 14 days in advance and enjoy
10% off. Expires 31 December, 2013.
Early
bird special – book a deluxe single/double room 14 days in advance and enjoy
20% off. Expires 30 December, 2014.
Stay
for a minimum of 2 nights in an economy single/double room and save 12%.
Expires 31 December, 2014.
Book
a deluxe single/double room and enjoy 5% off. Expires 31, December, 2013.
To
connect with Agoda.com for special deals on hotels worldwide, please visit www.agoda.com. Like
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