Nepal — Namaste! Nepal is the epitome of "Adventure Travel." The combination of majestic Himalayan peaks, friendly people, & terraced green valleys makes Nepal one of the richest adventure travel experiences on the planet. Pete first visited Nepal in 1989 on a trekking, mountain climbing and kayaking trip. He fell in love with the beautiful mountains and friendly spirit of the people and soon found his way back guiding whitewater rafting with Equator Expeditions and exploring the trails and peaks in his spare time. Kim has been traveling to Nepal since the early 90's and together they have made upwards of 25 trips guiding and exploring this amazing country. In 1996, on a ski expedition sponsored by The North Face, they met Ang Dawa Sherpa who continues to be their lead man while in Nepal. Shortly after, Dawa hired Sony Sherpa as head chef, and Sony can be found on every trip cooking up delicious, nutritious meals and blushing with the smallest amount of praise! Our lead trekking guide, Tek Bahadur Magar, is amazing beyond words. He does it all, keeps track of us on the trail, teaches us Nepal trekking songs, picks the absolute best places to camp, and is the first man to any summit and the first man to help out when needed. Other staff that you will meet in Nepal include the ever smiling Dendi Sherpa, the tiny but powerful Janga Prasad Rai, and our favorite Sherpani, Dawa's wife, Ang Dorma Sherpa. Don't miss the chance to experience magical Nepal with Mountain Spirits and our extended family! Namaste!
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Bhutan — The “Land of the Thunder Dragon,” Bhutan is pure and simple magic! This Himalayan gem of a country is located on the eastern end of the Himalaya, just a short flight east of Nepal. Bhutan is a virtually untouched world, where spirituality is the way of life, culture is preserved and environmental protection a top priority. Bhutan regulates the number of tourists visiting and as a result, the fortunate visitor will find an unhurried pace and a peaceful rhythm in this mountainous country. Bhutan's mountains and rivers offer great hiking and rafting and the amazing "dzongs" (fortress like citadels) that dominate each valley add to the cultural intrigue of the country. Going to Bhutan with Mountain Spirits guarantees that you will not be stuck on a "cookie cutter" trip with extended time sitting on a bus between monastery visits. We have found the perfect combination of adventure and culture here. Any type of trekking can be done, from lower altitude ridge hikes, to long, high altitude Himalayan journeys. Rafting is a great way to see village life and the amazing birds that inhabit Bhutan. And for the adventurous, mountain biking is a great way to travel through the many different valleys of Bhutan. All of our trips offer unforgettable insight into this mystical Himalayan country.
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Ladakh — Although part of India, Ladakh is often called "Little Tibet,” as it is historically and culturally part of Tibet. It is said that “Ladakh is a more precise representation of Tibet before the Chinese invasion than Tibet itself.” Sandwiched between the vast ranges of the Karakoram and the Himalaya, Ladakh is a high altitude desert plateau dotted with oasis villages, remote Buddhist monasteries and snow drenched peaks. Ladakh literally means '”The Land of High Passes.” In order to survive in this land of climactic extremes and little rainfall, the people of Ladakh channel glacial melt water from mountain miles away to irrigate their oasis barley fields and willow groves.
Until recently, visitors to Ladakh were rare. Much of the region is only accessible on foot or river, which make trekking and rafting the best way to explore this remote land. Unlike trekking in Nepal, where there are villages and teahouses, in Ladakh you must be completely self sufficient. Villages can be several days apart and subsistence farming does not allow for extra food to be sold. Rafting the Zanskar River is another way to see the stunning landscape of Ladakh. The Zanskar River is also known as the "Grand Canyon of Asia" and is a remote river canyon winding through wilderness, far away from roads and even trails. During the summer months it is possible to raft and kayak this beautiful stretch of river. From the river it is possible to explore trails wandering up to mountainside monasteries and remote, rarely visited villages. When frozen in the winter, the Zanskar River becomes virtual highway, bustling with traders and pilgrims walking the ice from village to village. Choosing to visit Ladakh is choosing one of the great Himalayan adventures!
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