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Holiday News and Offers
Here's where you'll find the most up-to-date information about what's happening at Mountain Kingdoms. Check below for details of any upcoming events we are holding, any special offers we are running, any news we've got to share and any holidays that have spaces and are due to run in the next few weeks. You can also sign up to receive our monthly e-newsletter.
IT Schools Africa - recycling our old monitors
We've recently updated our office equipment and are pleased to have donated our old computer monitors to a charity - IT Schools Africa.
Read more2014 Wanderlust Guide of the Year Awards
We were delighted to hear that Efrain Valles has made the shortlist for the 2014 Wanderlust Guide of the Year Awards. Efrain works for our partners in Peru - and so if you have travelled with us in Peru, then you may have met him. If you had Efrain as your leader then Wanderlust would like to hear from you! Send your lovely comments to topguide@wanderlust.co.uk. The deadline is the 23rd May.
Read moreNepali Children’s Trust Update
The Nepali Children's Trust was set up by Mountain Kingdoms' client, Fran McGowan, in 2005 to support physically challenged children living at the Disabled Newlife Centre (DNC) in Kathmandu. Their mission is to enable children and young people with a disability in Nepal to be independent, to overcome discrimination and have value within their families and communities.
Fran McGowan, the chairperson at the Nepali Children’s Trust has just reported to us from Kathmandu. She says that “the building is working very well and the children there are thriving”.
Niki's sponsored litter-pick raising funds for Nepal
A huge well done to Niki for her sponsored litter-picking last week. Not only did she spend the morning picking up litter in Wotton-under-Edge, where the Mountain Kingdoms office is based, she also spent the afternoon picking up litter in her home town of Chepstow.
Niki's story was featured in the Chepstow Beacon, you can read the article online. Niki is raising money for SHIVA charity, with donations going to the Ginette Harisson School near Kathmandu in Nepal.
Support4Sherpas after the Everest avalanche
Mountain Kingdoms is deeply saddened by the deaths of 16 Sherpa Guides in an avalanche on Mount Everest's Khumbu icefall on April 18th. Although our clients do not travel higher than Everest Base Camp, the Sherpa community is at the heart of our Himalayan business and friends and colleagues in Nepal have lost loved ones. We offer them our condolences and wish to pay tribute to the professionalism and commitment of all the Sherpa guides and porters we work with in Nepal.
Read moreTravel talk 'Georgia to Afghanistan' at our local Arts Festival
The forty forth Wotton Arts Festival will be held from 25th April to 4th May and there will be three musical concerts, an art exhibition, a celebration of St George, talks, and an evening to mark the centenary of the start of WW1.
On Thursday May 1st John Pilkington will tell the tale of his journey - “Georgia to Afghanistan”.
Competition winners announced
During January and February we ran two competitions, each with a prize of a £100 Cotswold Outdoor voucher. Congratulations to the two winners!
Read moreBack to Tibet - two spectacular new holidays
After a period of visa uncertainties the Chinese authorities have simplified access to this ancient centre of Buddhism, allowing Mountain Kingdoms to offer more holidays in Tibet.
Read moreMike's Zanskar Dream Trek
Last summer trek leader Mike Ford led our Zanskar Dream Trek(renamed in 2018 to Wild Zanskar Trek) in Ladakh, India. He described it as an "absolutely amazing high-altitude trekking experience".
Read moreHugh Thompson treks the mighty Dolomites
Author and adventurer Hugh Thompson recently strode out on our circuit trek in Italy’s Dolomite Mountains. He was blown away by the dramatic scenery, delicious food and warm welcome waiting for him in the South Tyrol. This mountainous area in northern Italy retains its own unique traditions, history and language. Hugh also discovered the role these soaring mountains played in the First World War.
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