Spirit of Adventure

Lou Day, our resident trekking expert, shares one of her tales from the trail.

When reflecting on what has been my favourite trek to date I must admit I was torn as to what to choose. Having been lucky enough to work at Peregrine for over 10 years now, I have had the fortune to be able to pursue my passion for trekking in some of the most spectacular places across the globe.

My travels have taken me through the Annapurna’s and the high trails of the Everest region in Nepal, to the moonscapes of Ladakh, the trenches along the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea and recently to the top of Kilimanjaro! Not to mention the feeling of remoteness and untouched beauty I experienced when trekking through the Simien Mountains of Ethiopia. To experience the unique culture and learn more of the proud heritage of the Ethiopian people was a privilege.

However whilst it pains me to choose a ‘favourite’ I cannot go past Nepal, it is my favourite place in the world! I love everything about it - the nervous laughter that fills your small aircraft as you land on what I believe is the most dramatic airstrip in the world - Lukla , the gateway into the Everest Region. It is from where you commence trekking to Everest Base Camp, and if you have time branch off to visit the Goykyo and Khumbu Valleys. Our group was a mixture of Australian, British and Canadian travellers, all with that common goal of reaching Base Camp. Part of the appeal of the trek to Base Camp I believe is that you have a genuine feeling of being on an expedition and the camaraderie we felt, helping each other to achieve our own personal goals, was a special one. Our group still remains in touch some five years later as the experiences you share on the track are hard to replicate once you return home. Perhaps that’s why I get back to Nepal every year I can.

Kopra Ridge, Nepal, by Kerry Lorimer

Trip of the week: Annapurna Dhaulagiri
Do you like what you see? Then why not have a look at our Annapurna Dhaulagiri trip. Pioneered by Peregrine and arguably the best two-week trek in Nepal.

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Mount Everest, Nepal
Taken from the ridge trail between Gorak Shep and Everest Base Camp, with Mt Everest to the left of picture.

Trip of the week: Everest Base Camp & Kala Patar
Do you like what you see? Then why not have a look at our Everest Base Camp & Kala Patar trip. A classic trek in the heart of Sherpa country to Kala Patar and the base camp of Mount Everest.

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If you’ve ever dreamed of standing on top of a snow-covered mountain peak, ice axe in hand, surveying the mountains around you, then we might have just the trip for you. Heading into remote mountains in the Everest region of Nepal our Ramdung & Tesi Lapcha trek offers the opportunity to trek through rarely-visited areas and climb to the summit of Mt Ramdung amongst spectacular Himalayan scenery. It’s a challenging trip, and it won’t be for everyone – be prepared for steep ascents, some roped climbing with crampons and ice axes, and the effects of high altitude. But for those prepared to accept the challenge, it will be the trip of a lifetime.

After exploring Kathmandu, the early days of this trek wander through small villages, alongside rivers and past terraced fields. As the altitude increases the landscapes become less hospitable - we trek up through sparse rhododendron and juniper outcrops, until we are finally amongst the snow and ice, preparing for our ascent on Mt Ramdung. After some climbing instruction we tackle the peak itself, which for some will be the biggest physical challenge of their life. It’s a great climb, not very technical, and the views are simply mind-blowing.

After descending Mt Ramdung, we tackle the Tesi Lapcha high pass, a strenuous and difficult approach to the Everest region. Once we have made it across the pass, we trek along more popular trails to the Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar and back for our return flight to Kathmandu. This is a genuine mountaineering adventure!

Kerry Lorimer shares her moving story from a recent trek in the Annapurna region…

When Mick Chapman, Peregrine Himalayan Operations Manager, announced funding for two teachers’ salaries for the next five years, the crowd gathered at Swanta school went wild. We’d arrived in Swanta – a tiny, terraced village in the Annapurna region of Nepal, several days’ walk from the nearest road – on day seven of the Annapurna Dhaulagiri trek, and received a hero’s welcome. The entire village had turned out for the party: there had been dance performances and speeches, but the revelry stepped up a notch with Mick’s announcement. It meant that the villagers could now educate their kids from kindergarten to year 12 at the village school.

Swanta is the location for one of five new community lodges on the Annapurna Dhaulagiri trek route. They have been built by the local people, in association with Mick and our Himalayan operations team. Peregrine trekking groups will stay at the lodges, with proceeds going to village schools. The other lodges are at Baiyali, Chistibung, Kopra Ridge and Dandi Karka – and all will be open by this month.

Mick Chapman pioneered the Annapurna Dhaulagiri route 30 years ago, and it is still undoubtedly one of the most scenically-spectacular treks in the Himalaya. The route diverts from the main tourist trail and hence the villages we pass through haven’t really benefited from tourism revenue in the past. By staying in the lodges, we’re able to provide sustainable funding for the schools and other community projects. The gratitude shown to us by the villagers during this trek was simply overwhelming – with Mick’s announcement, there wasn’t a dry eye in Swanta!

For information on the Annapurna Dhaulagiri trek visit our website.

Nepal Explorer – 19 days

For an in-depth experience of Nepal and all that the Himalayan ranges has to offer, look no further than this comprehensive 19-day journey. On the new Nepal Explorer walking adventure you will discover the majestic Annapurna mountains and explore the jungles of Chitwan National Park, before heading over to the buzzing city of Kathmandu for your trek to Namche Bazaar where breathtaking panoramic views of Mount Everest await. This spectacular trip encompasses the best of Nepal and is a very achievable challenge for low-impact trekking enthusiasts wanting a complete first experience of this fascinating country.

Exploring Nepal promises to impress with its incredible natural wonders and the warm charm of its locals. You will leave this region wanting to come back time and time again and will always remember your amazing Nepal adventure.

The 19-day Nepal Explorer has departures throughout the year, to find out about other trips we have to this region click here.

Himalaya Unveiled – 20 days

If you’re looking to combine the three great Himalayan kingdoms of Nepal, India and Bhutan on one unforgettable journey then our new Himalaya Unveiled adventure offers you all the highlights of this incredibly beautiful region.

This 20-day journey will take you from the glorious Mughal Empire to the mountains of the mighty Himalaya and the treasures of the remote and enchanting mountain kingdom of Bhutan. An easy trek in the shadow of the Himalaya will show you the world’s greatest mountain range up close and exploring the busy markets of Jaipur, the ‘Pink City’, will introduce you to all the colours and flavours of India.

Unveiling the romance and mystery of Nepal, India and Bhutan’s mountains with your own local leader will introduce you to the wonderful world of the Himalayas and you are bound to leave completely in awe.

The 20-day Himalaya Unveiled trip has departures throughout the year, to find out about other tours to this region click here.

Join us as we explore some of the world’s most photogenic places – from Petra in Jordan to Angkor Wat in Cambodia, India’s Taj Mahal and the magnificent Himalaya. Each private group tour is escorted by a professional photographer, Nobel Peace Prize winner John Rodsted or World-renowned photographer Christian Pearson, who will teach you the best ways to capture your travels with your camera.

Our Nepal and Jordan trips are departing this year so be quick to book your place. In Nepal you can go rambling through the foothills of the Annapurnas, photograph exotic wildlife in Royal Chitwan National Park and also visit Sath Sath in Kathmandu - an organisation providing support to children on the streets and encouraging them to express themselves through photography. In Jordan, your photographic opportunities will include historical sights such as Petra and Shobak castle, and you’ll also get to capture some amazing desert vistas and street scenes.

Our photography adventures are in the following regions:
Nepal in Focus (departing Sept 08)
Jordan in Focus (departing Oct 08)
India in Focus (departing Mar 09)
Cambodia & Vietnam in Focus (departing Apr 09)

Finding adventures that get the whole family excited can be a challenge but our new Worldwide Family Adventures brochure promises just that with new trips for 2007-09 to Africa, the Middle East, South East Asia, Nepal and India.

By popular demand, we have introduced a 10-day Moroccan Magic Carpet trip that will tantalise children of all ages while highlighting the must-sees for parents – the ancient cities, medieval bazaars and high mountain villages that are the essence of Morocco.

Starting in Casablanca, the tour heads west to explore the imperial cities of Rabat, Meknes and Fes that caravan tradesmen helped to build centuries ago. Morocco is famous for its architecture and the itinerary includes mud brick and walled towns like Ait Benhaddou, the film set for Hollywood movies including Gladiator.

At the celebrated Todra Gorge hikers take in the 1000-foot sheer cliffs and there’s time to relax and sip the local, ubiquitous mint tea while taking in the buzz of cities such as Marrakech. And kids’ imaginations will run wild as they ride camels at sunset and spend a night at a desert camp in the Sahara.

Everest Unveiled is also new for 2007-09 and allows the entire family to experience what is arguably the most dramatic scenery in the world.

Starting and finishing in Kathmandu, the 13-day Everest Unveiled is a leisurely-paced trek that allows plenty of time to soak in the inspiring mountain vistas and get to know the sherpa hosts and their culture – invariably a highlight for parents as well as kids.

The trek passes through beautiful tracts of pine and rhododendron forests, rising to the village of Khumjung where the views of Everest, the Lhotse-Nuptse Wall, Ama Dablam and Kantega dominate the sky-line.

The new Families brochure is available now from all good travel agents or order your brochure online now.

Our team in Nepal is very excited to introduce a new accommodation highlight featured on two of our trekking trips. The Kopra Ridge Lodge is stunningly located – perched right on top of the Kopra Ridge, the lodge is set amongst the splendour of the towering Annapurna mountains. With 360-degree views of this dramatic wilderness region and the towering mountain peaks of the Annapurnas, Dhaulagiri and Manaslu, this is surely one of the most spectacular vantage points in the Himalaya. It truly is set amongst the clouds, on top of the world.

The adventurous trekker will discover this ridge-top haven on our new 23-day Annapurna High Passes trek. A demanding trek (including some basic mountaineering with ice axes and crampons), this journey will take us into areas that are rarely visited by other trekkers. The trek sets out from the lowlands around Pokhara and heads up through local villages and terraced hillsides, moving through rhododendron and oak forests, before emerging at Kopra Danda, amongst the towering snowy peaks. Here we enjoy the spectacular mountain vistas from our Kopra Ridge Lodge accommodation. Travelling on, we get to the heart of our trek – the rarely-visited wilderness around Annapurna South, where we explore hidden valleys, view hanging glaciers and cross remote high passes. It’s a trek for those looking for a real adventure.

We also stay at the Kopra Ridge Lodge on our 17-day Annapurna Dhaulagiri trek, a classic journey that Peregrine pioneered in the 1970s.

Peregrine’s commitment to travelling responsibly was recognised recently at the Responsible Tourism awards in London. We’re proud to announce that we took home a Highly Commended in the category of Best in a Mountain Environment. The awards, which were founded in 2004 by responsibletravel.com in partnership with The Times newspaper, World Travel Market and The Royal Geographical Society’s Geographical Magazine, recognise individuals, companies and organisations that are making a significant contribution to the culture and economies of communities around the world, and are providing a positive contribution to biodiversity conservation.

Our recognition at the awards is testimony to our commitment to the welfare of our porters, as well as our support of projects like the Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust, which works to protect the endangered snow leopards of the Himalaya.