Eastern Himalaya: Trekking Routes Less Traveled: Jaljale, Mustang, Bhutan

Trekking activity in Nepal has increased dramatically in the past two decades. In 1972, 2,000 Nepali trekking permits were issued. In 1995, the figure was about 65,000. Now, in the peak season of October-November, the busiest trails in the Annapurna area resemble Yellowstone Park in summertime, with 40,000+ trekkers passing through annually. Some villages in the lower Annapurna region will see as many as 250 trekkers camped out each day [...]

Travel to Central Asia

Central Asia has emerged as a new travel destination after the collapse of the Soviet Union, with five newly independent Republics: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan.

Four countries belong to the Turkik culture and speak Turkik languages which relatively resemble the Turkish language. The fifth Republic, Tajikistan, speaks Tajik which is similar to Persian, and, is therefore, a bit different in its cultural appearance and tradition.[...]

How To Get And Extend A Visa To Kyrgyzstan

Known as the most visa-friendly country in Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan's visa was a piece of cake – no Letters of Invitation (LOIs), no questioning. Just fill out an application, pay the fee in the morning and return in the afternoon for the visa. We did this in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

If you are flying into Bishkek, don't bother to get your visa in advance. Visas on arrival are cheaper at the airport. If you wish to extend your stay in Kyrgyzstan, that's a different story. Open, friendly Kyrgyzstan can turn into a maddening Soviet cat's cradle of bureaucracy. [...]