National Geographic Announces Adventure Travel Initiative

National Geographic is jumping into the adventure travel arena in a big way and has announced 11 great itineraries for 2011. These new travel opportunities will fall under their National Geographic Expeditions umbrella, but will have their own Nat Geo Adventures brand.

Amongst the destinations for these inaugural trips are Nepal, Chile, Bhutan, Mongolia, and more. The trips are capped at just 16 travelers, which helps to keep it a more intimate affair, and accommodations will range from deluxe camping to cozy mountain inns and lodges depending on the location. The itineraries are also graded on their level of challenge, ranging from easy, moderate, and strenuous, all the way up to "Ultimate Challenge."

In putting these trips together, Nat Geo partnered with Mountain Travel Sobek, one of the top adventure travel companies in the world. Experts from both organizations worked diligently to craft a travel experience that is very different from what is offered elsewhere and that means good things for the adventurous traveler who is looking for something unique.

One of the more interesting options is a 14 day trip through Mongolia on horseback. Travelers will stay in traditional villages while exploring the countryside just like the nomadic Mongol tribes of the past. They'll also have the opportunity to spend some time with National Geographic hosts, anthropologist Carroll Dunham, and her husband, photographer Thomas Kelly, which is just a hint at how the Nat Geo Adventures will vary from other similar trips.

Personally, I think the move into adventure travel by National Geographic is long over due. These trips all look fantastic, and the Nat Geo trademark style is all over them.

For a full list of the tours, click here.

First Ascent Paddlers Hit The Water In Bhutan

Yesterday I posted an update on the First Ascent paddling crew, led by Gary Moffatt, who were hoping to kayak the biggest rivers in Bhutan. In that post I noted that monsoon rains were keeping the team off the water, but apparently that was a short lived problem, as they were finally able to get out on the river and run some canyons that had never been paddled before.

Moffatt posted an update to the Born Out There Blog with news on the teams progress and the things they saw while in Bhutan. Better yet, he shared a video, which you'll find below, that really shows off the great kayaking that they found there. With this descent, Moffatt becomes the first person to paddle all of the major rivers in the Himalayan kingdom. Impressive stuff.

Monsoon Rains Stall Bhutan Kayaking Expedition

A couple of weeks back I posted a story about a kayaking expedition to Bhutan during which explorer Gary Moffatt was hoping to complete a 14 year quest to paddle all of that country's major rivers. At the time, the team was gathering supplies and gear and were preparing to make the journey to the remote Phunakha Valley to begin the expedition, but according to their latest dispatch, heavy rains have prevented them from getting under way.

Moffatt and the team have posted a couple of updates to the Born Out There Blog, which is the official blog of First Ascent gear. In their latest video dispatch, which you can watch below, you'll see how beautiful and mysterious Bhutan is, but the clip ends on a bit of a cliff hanger, as Gary and the crew are unsure when they'll be able to get out on the water, as the river is currently swelled to capacity thanks to recent monsoon activity.

I've always been fascinated with Bhutan. It is one of the most remote countries on Earth and the landscapes are incredibly breathtaking. On top of that, its people are amongst the happiest on the planet, and Buddhist culture is evident in every aspect of the place. It is one of those places that I feel compelled to visit some day, and videos like this one just make that more evident. Hopefully the team will get to begin their paddle soon, and we'll get more updates on their progress.

Kayaker Gerry Moffatt To Paddle Last Of Bhutan's Big Rivers

Kayker Gerry Moffatt is closing in on the completion of a project he started more than 14 years ago when he set out to conquer all of the major rivers in Bhutan. Moffattt, along with a several other paddlers, are currently in that country, and will soon take on the last of those rivers. The team is currently en route to the capital city of Thimphu, where they'll stock up on supplies before heading out to the eastern regions of the country and begin the paddle.

Gerry is the recipient of a First Ascent Be First sponsorship, and as such, he'll be posting updates from the Himalayan kingdom on the First Ascent Blog, with the first video dispatch arriving today. Check it out below, as it gives a bit more insight on the expedition, and the country of Bhutan itself, a place I would love to visit some day.

Nepal Names Sean Burch A Good Will Ambassador

Yesterday I posted a story the pondered the future of the Great Himalayan Trail, which is scheduled to open next year and will stretch more than 4500km (2800 miles) across Pakistan, India, Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan. Today, we get word courtesy of ExWeb, that the Nepali Tourism Board has named Sean Burch a Good Will Ambassador following his recent run across the length of the country following the GHT.

Both the NTB and Burch have also announced that they will be working together to promote the Trail and encourage economic development in the villages that exist along the trail. As I noted in my story yesterday, unlike some of other trekking routes in the region, the GHT doesn't have a network of teahouses and restaurants just yet, although those are sure to crop up as the trail gains more attention and lures adventure travelers to the route.

Burch talked with ExWeb about his experiences running the trail. He estimates that he took 2.6 million steps along the way and faced more than 500,000 feet of elevation change as well. He also had to deal with leeches, monsoon rains, landslides, the rigors of high altitude, hypothermia and the daily grind of the trail that is both physically and mentally taxing. When he was done however, he ran 2000km (1200 miles), crossing Nepal in just over 49 days. Pretty impressive feat considering the conditions he was running in.

On a different note, the post yesterday on the challenges to the future of the GHT spurred some interesting discussion, and while there have been some who have questioned whether or not the trail would be a success without government funding, it has been pointed out that the trail pretty much already exists, and that the main thing that is in threat without an influx of cash is the launch party, which is scheduled to be a part of Nepal's Tourism Year 2011. The Great Himalaya Trail will officially open next year, and long distance hikers will have another great challenge to add to their list.

Is The Great Himalaya Trail In Danger?

Way back in February of this year I wrote a piece about the Great Himalayan Trail, a new epic hike that is set to open next year. The trail will wind it's way through the mountainous regions of Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, India, and Pakistan, covering more than 4500km (2800 miles) in the process. When it was announced, the new trail immediately went on the radar of long distance hikers who were intrigued with the new option that would take approximately 150 days to complete.

Now, it seems the trail is in danger even before it officially opens. According to this story from the Himalayan Times, the plan was to invite mountaineers, trekking experts, and journalists to the official opening of the trail in order to kick it off in grand style. But now, because of a lack of budget, those plans are in jeopardy, as the required money just isn't available in the public sector alone to properly complete the trail and promote it abroad.

The trail is expected to officially open in January or February of next year, helping to kick off Nepal's Tourism Year 2011, and will consist of two different routes, the Higher Great Himalayan Trail and Mid Hill Great Himalayan Trail. The former will link 21 distinct trails together, and will be above 5000 meters (16,404 ft), while the latter will be far less strenuous and appeal to a more open crowd.

Ang Tshering Sherpa, the former president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, is calling on the government there to help pick up the tab. He believes that the increased tourism will help the country as a whole and that Nepali officials should embrace the economic possibilities of the trail. At this time there are few teahouses or any other form of lodging available, something this is likely to change in the months ahead.

Personally, I was excited about this trail when I first wrote about it, and I hope it has a chance to become a real draw for adventure travelers to a country that is already synonymous with adventure. 

Top Five Himalaya Treks

International trekking guide Andy Crisconi has put together his selection of the top five treks through the Himalaya and shared them with us over at Ekoventure.com. As an adventure travel specialist, Andy has been organizing amazing treks all over the planet for more than 20 years, giving him a unique ability to critique all the best hikes. As you can imagine, his recommendations are all outstanding.

Andy's selections for his top trekking adventures include: 1. The Snowman Trek in Bhutan, 2. K2 Base Camp Trek in Pakistan, 3. Upper Dolpo & the Snow Leopard Trek in Nepal, 4. The NarPhu Valleys and Annapurna Circuit, also in Nepal, and 5. The Zanskar Traverse in India.

Each of these treks offers stunning mountain views, snow capped summits, and plenty of remote spaces. But as Andy himself says, these treks are not about the scenery in the lands that you are hiking through, but the amazing people that live there too. The mountain cultures in each of these countries are unique, friendly, and fascinating, with a spiritual side that gives them a connection to the Himalaya that is unlike anything else in the world. In short, you'll go for the mountains, but the people will have the biggest impact on your journey.

Thanks to Rick over at the Best Hike Blog for sharing this link. I'm with you Rick! I want to make that K2 trek after I'm done with Everest. :)

The Great Himalaya Trail Set To Open Next Year!

The Great Himalaya Trail is the subject of my post over at travel blog Gadling.com this morning as well, but wanted to share the details here too. The GHT is a new long distance trekking route that will officially open next February, and will run the entire length of the Himalaya mountain range, connecting up a number of smaller individual trails, to form one giant epic adventure that will challenge even the most experienced trekkers.

All told, the Great Himalaya Trail will run roughly 2800 miles in length, crossing through five countries in the process. Thru-hikers can expect the entire route to require approximately 150 days to complete, as they march through Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, India, and Pakistan. And if you don't have 5 months to dedicate to walking the longest high altitude trail in the world, fear not. The GHT will be broken down into seven smaller segments, each taking between 18-35 day to finish, allowing travelers on a time constraint to still have a chance to experience its wonders.

The inaugural trek of the GHT is set to get underway on Feb. 15th, 2011. Adventure travel company World Expeditions is organizing the trip, and you can book the entire 150-day journey, or any one of the seven smaller routes with them now. Due to the logistics of the trail, the permits required, and the visas necessary to hike it, it is not recommended for independent trekkers at this time.

As of this writing, the Nepali section of the GHT is the only one that is complete, but the other countries are all scrambling to finish up their routes as well. When it is finished, the route will extend from Namche Barwa in Tibet all the way to Nanga Parbat in Pakistan, crossing through some of the most remote and beautiful places on the planet along the way.

Seems like adventure travelers and backpackers just gained another addition to their "Bucket Lists".

Kayaking Through Bhutan, Part 3

Part three of the Enter Tawang Chu kayaking videos continues the journey along the Tawang Chu River, as paddlers Ben Stookesberry and Chris Korbulic continue their journey towards the border between India and Bhutan. As in the previous two vidoes, found here and here, the water is wild and rough, with Class V+ rapids to test their skills. A very cool kayaking adventure, making the first descent of an amazing river.

Enter Tawang Chu Part 3: The Heart of Tawang Chu from Ben Stookesberry on Vimeo.

Kayaking Through Bhutan, Part 2

Last week I posted Part 1 of a video series that followed kayakers Ben Stookesberry and Chris Korbulic. The second part of the video is posted below, and it continues the amazing journey on Day 3 of the expedition, with more beautiful shots of the river and the rocky gorges that it runs through.

When I wrote about this last week, I mentioned that the team was making a first descent through a river in Bhutan, but in both videos, they have yet to actually reach that country, which is their ultimate goal. Instead, they've been running the Twang Chu River through the Arunachal Pradesh, a very remote section of India. Looks like quite the amazing expedition, and first descents of this kind always fascinate me. Enjoy this video too!

Enter Tawang Chu Part 2: Day3 from Ben Stookesberry on Vimeo.

Kayaking Through Bhutan

I came across this video on Canoe & Kayak Magazine's website earlier, and had to share. It's part one of a new series that will follow kayaker Ben Stookesberry as he paddles his way through the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. As you would expect, the scenery is amazing, the mountains spectacular, and the white water is rough and challenging. Some of these locations have probably never been paddled before, and the remote Himalayan setting really adds to the sense of adventure.

Enter Tawang Chu Part: 1 from Ben Stookesberry on Vimeo.