Vacations are, by definition, opportunities to escape our daily lives—work, chores, responsibilities, and all the associated stresses—and instead immerse ourselves in new places, cultures, foods, and experiences. Ideally, international adventures allow us to recharge, reflect, and renew before we dive back into the day-to-day on our return home. These days, however, when wi-fi is nearly ubiquitous in even the most remote village and foreign SIM cards are cheaper than ever, it can be exceedingly difficult to escape from the tyranny of email even on journeys halfway around the globe—and don’t get me started on Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, WhatsApp. Even if you are among the valiant few who can resist the pull of social media while you’re traveling, it’s just as challenging not to pack every waking moment full of activities in an effort to get the most out of your time in another country, especially since you flew so far to get there.

I’d like to suggest an alternative form of international adventure travel: trekking trips, otherwise known as “slow travel.”

Certainly museums, restaurants, cultural heritage sites, theatrical performances, and the like are valuable experiences and enrich any trip to another country—rare is the trip that doesn’t see me eager to do these things. Yet some of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had in other cultures have come when I’ve incorporated into my vacation a trek through the countryside. I once hiked England coast-to-coast, and two weeks after I dipped my boots in the Irish Sea for good luck I crested a hill and saw the North Sea at last—a memory that still brings a lump to my throat. I recall the warm hospitality I received as the sole guest of a tiny pub in a remote Scottish Highland village, despite having come in out of the pouring rain and promptly flooded their foyer. The ready smiles and easy camaraderie shared by me, my guide, and our porters as we made our way in the Annapurna range of Nepal. Falling in with three Taiwanese ladies along Switzerland’s Haute Route, who cheerfully raised their umbrellas in the midst of a snowstorm and broke into songs from the Sound of Music every time they spotted an edelweiss blossom. The bliss of meandering through the Cambodian countryside with my students and being greeted by swarms of children shouting “Hello America!” as we passed by. The inability to do anything but laugh at the staggering beauty of Norway’s Jotunheimen National Park, and the unspoken understanding of something too magical for words shared by fellow trekkers in the lodge that night.

Experiencing a country and its people via your boots is uniquely rewarding—and a guaranteed way to unplug. It’s an axiom among trekkers that you never meet anyone unpleasant on the trail, whether fellow trekkers or locals. Simply moving at walking pace forces you to slow down mentally as well as physically and makes it possible just to be in the moment. When your only task is to get from point A to point B, and you have all day to do it, your perspective changes. You listen more attentively; you have the luxury of contemplating your surroundings at length; you’re more open to engaging with strangers; you find humility and calm in your own mind.

In a few weeks I will head to Bhutan for a trek through the Black Mountains, and this July I will attempt a trek up Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The latter will be especially tough, even with a guide and porters, but whether I summit or not is beside the point. I’m more interested in what happens along the trail itself than the official “goal.” And that’s really the heart of it: you don’t have to be a world-class mountaineer or hardened backpacker to reap the benefits of slow travel. There are trekking journeys available for every level of ability and comfort: from a few hours to a few weeks, from low elevation to high alpine routes, from single guides to full camp staff and porters, from camping to lodges and even hotels. It’s important to pick a trek that matches your abilities, but it’s also important to embrace the possibilities of challenge. Most importantly of all, be open to what happens along the way, in real time. In slow time.

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Thinking back over my many Journeys trips, often the most memorable have been treks. Leaving roads, vehicles and utilities behind, joining local people on their own pedestrian travel terms, and finding a physical rhythm of travel creates indelible and positive memories. These are five of my favorite treks.

Nepal

Everest Base Camp Trek

My first treks in Nepal more than 40 years ago are still vivid. Looking over pictures from the early trips is re-tasting the joy of great times. I have made the trek to Khumbu and Mt Everest seven times. Each time I promise myself that if I only do one more trek to Nepal it will be this one, where you are so close to such immense Himalayan peaks and where the Sherpa culture, omnipresent sounds and symbolism of Buddhism and resurgent wildlife populations fill the experience with an echoing wonder and promise.

Ladakh

Ladakh Trek

The Western Himalayas of extreme northern India meet the Tibetan Plateau in the isolated Buddhist valleys of Ladakh. My first and most memorable Ladakh trek traversed the high meadows of Nymaling and wound through the deep canyons past isolated monasteries of the Markha Valley. Mules carry your gear over 14,000’ passes. The warmth of Buddhist hospitality and the inspiration to snowy peaks poking through puffy clouds across the distant Tibetan Plateau provide soul filling inspiration.

Bhutan

Black Mountain Trek

You don’t have to deal with high altitude and austere conditions to have a great Himalayan trekking experience. My favorite hike in Bhutan is our Black Mountain Trek. The beginning and end of the trip are briefly steep, but relatively gentle ups and down through the rest of the trip traverse exceptionally scenic landscapes. You will meet Bhutanese in isolated villages, including the friends and family of your guide. Hike through wildlife-rich virgin forests and feel very much like you are walking back in time. This a trip you can make in late fall and winter, when the trails through higher mountain are closed by snow. Some of my favorite Bhutan pictures were from the Black Mountain trek.

Peru

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

The most famous trek in the Andes is harder than many imagine. The highest, steepest, most oxygen-depleted part of the trip comes at the beginning. As you come closer to the sacred sanctuary of Machu Picchu, the air thickens and the environment grows greener. If you shorten the trek by a day or two, the reward you have inevitably seen a hundred times in travel publications still arouses profound wonder and appreciation. This trek is a world classic for good reasons.

Tanzania

Kilimanjaro Climb

Volcanoes can seem visually and geologically simple, but the non-technical trekking climb of Kilimanjaro is physically challenging and complex. You have lots of route choices. I have climbed the peak twice covering four different routes and they are all significantly different. The Marangu Route is the easiest and most popular. I suggest considering the Shira Plateau or Rongai Routes for better scenery and fewer other trekkers. This is the most difficult trek of the five mentioned here. Everyone feels short of breath and possibly chilled during the final pre-dawn climb to the summit. But experienced guides, good equipment, and your own good conditioning before you arrive greatly increase the likelihood of summiting success and lifelong positive memories

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For over twenty years I have wanted to see Everest in person, to personally experience an area I’d immersed myself in through books, documentaries and films. Twice before I had signed up with other trekking companies, only to bail for one reason or another. When I first saw JOURNEYS 35th Everest Anniversary trek I thought, “This is it…This is your big chance to realize your dream before time runs out.”

November arrived. On the 5th I found myself in Kathmandu. I couldn’t believe it! I saw sites I had only seen in travel logs. “Pinch me, is this real?” It was sensational seeing the Himalayas awaiting our arrival as we made the flight to Lukla, our trailhead.

A few hours into the trek I realized that I should have grabbed my poles from my duffel as we began the ups and downs which became the norm. In Nepal, in order to gain altitude, one frequently must descend, then ascend to a higher point. The second day’s trek made it abundantly clear just how rocky and steep the trekking route was. Although a bit demoralized by the strenuous nature of the trails, and being separated from the group due to being slower, my wonderful guide Nima kept surprising me with breath-taking views of of various mega peaks, and then the big moment… Everest. I referred to these viewings as “recharging my batteries”…and did I ever need those moments!

Other “recharging” elements were the lodging accommodations (far better than what I had anticipated), the food (excellent…and I never became ill), and more than anything, the Sherpa guides and inhabitants of the Khumbu region. I’ve never come across such warmth and caring. I was a stranger to the area but never felt unwelcome.

Long before I left for the trek I felt that the town of Tengboche would probably be my turnaround point simply because I didn’t feel I had trained adequately. By day 4 of the trek, my knees began to holler, so my decision stuck. Additionally, winter was arriving early, the temperatures dipped easily into the teens or lower at night. I was told that the trail continuing ultimately to Everest Base Camp was two to three times as difficult and the temperatures would plummet. I deeply appreciated the honesty of the Sherpa guides. Whereas I might have made it at least to Lobuche (the camp after Tengboche), odds are I would have had to be carried out… and to me, that defeated the entire point of the trip.

If I were planning to trek in Nepal again, knowing what I know today, I would:

1. Do a considerable amount of stair work (with a pack) and cycle at least 4 months in advance.
2. Try to hike anywhere above sea level, just to get more accustomed to thinner air.
3. Learn about altitude sickness: do’s, don’ts, preventives.
4. Invest in quality layered clothing and gear designed for bitterly cold temperatures.
5. Don’t overpack! My duffel was appallingly large and a bit too heavy. The guilt I felt for the porter was considerable, and anyway, lodging in Namche offers laundry service if you stay multiple nights.
6. Drink plenty of water, and be prepared to pay the equivalent of USD $4.00 if you want bottled water as you get higher.

All logistics aside, the Nepal I encountered was a place of extremes: extraordinary beauty and environment. Intense warmth of the people countered by intense cold weather at night. As you ascend higher it becomes evident that however alluring, this region is challenging in its steepness, rockiness, altitude and weather. The best planning is to prepare for all possibilities you can think of, train thoroughly and consistently, and know your limits.

What I gained from this trek is indescribable. It wasn’t just one epiphany but several. The fact that the goal of the trek became far different than trying to make it to Kalapathar changed my life. I experienced a totally different Nepal than I had read about. Trekking up the Thame Valley, visiting monasteries, meeting monks, farmers, artists, lodge-keepers, aunts, grandmothers, and kids playing cricket are among some of the highlights that will stick with me forever. This trip touched me on a profoundly deep level.

Will I return? I may. I am considering Gokyo, west of Everest, but I need my knees to heal first!

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Three weeks in Nepal, and here’s what I realized you need to consider before you sign on for this trip:

1. Get excited about really small airplane rides. The airplane ride from Kathmandu to Lukla is definitely one of the highlights of this trip, affording you indescribable views of the Himalayan mountain range. Unfortunately, for some it can be a scary experience – likened to flying around in a tin can. I admit I was a little nervous at first but once I caught my first glimpse of the sun hitting the mountains I forgot to be freaked out.

2. Develop an affinity for the Stairmaster prior to departure. Not joking about this one. There is a lot of stair climbing on this trek. You don’t have to have legs of steel or anything, but I highly recommend some aerobic preparation so you’re not taken by surprise. I’m twenty-five years old, reasonably healthy, and there were times that I wanted to curl up in the fetal position along the trail. So, be sure to pack some extra endurance in your suitcase.

3. Understand and embrace the concept of mega layering. This trip is all about layering! The mornings and evenings are significantly cooler than the daytime, and depending on the season, they might even be freezing at night (your water bottles might literally freeze like mine did). On the other hand, you’ll be working up a sweat during the daytime while traversing the makeshift, yak-trodden trails, so that base layer tank top or t-shirt might save your life. Basically, you may be dressed like everything from an Eskimo to a yoga instructor on this trip. Cold is an understatement.

4. Plan on sleeping when you get home. One of the not-so-wonderful things about sleeping at a higher altitude is that sometimes you don’t sleep at all. Not to say this will be your experience, but our entire group suffered from sleeplessness at some point. My own “sleep schedule” went something like this: Face plant at the dinner table or drag myself to bed at 8:30pm. Roll around and stare at the ceiling until I couldn’t stand it anymore. Wake up feeling strangely rested (adrenaline?). Repeat.

5. Prepare for the unexpected, unusual, and sometimes unpleasant. You are in a different country, so things operate differently, right? Also, things that might not be acceptable or seem sane in our country are perfectly normal in another. For instance, it might seem weird to share a hiking path with a pack of yaks or donkeys (Note: you need to accept that you will step in dung at some point on this trip). But I think the biggest wake up call for me wasn’t cultural – it was seeing people get sick either from the altitude or simply from catching a bad cold. Your body is under stress from the foreign conditions, as well as from trekking 3, 4, or sometimes 10 hours a day. When our group was trekking in November, an early winter had fallen upon the region. So, it was considerably colder than it normally is at that time, and as a result, people were getting some pretty nasty coughs and all the other fun symptoms that come with it.

6. Can you handle the epic awesomeness? I’ll admit, I thought I could handle how amazing Nepal is, but… I was pretty speechless. This blog could never convey to you how unreal the surroundings, the views, and the people are. You won’t even get a decent glimpse from watching a documentary and seeing actual footage of the area. Part of what makes it so amazing, of course, is how small you feel against the towering mountains. I wish I could have bottled up that feeling and taken it home with me. It’s truly the most sobering slap of reality that everyone should experience once in their lifetime.

7) The biggest thing you’ll take home with you. It’s funny… Tens of thousands of people come to Nepal each year for one thing: Everest. When I first knew I was joining this trip, my initial thought was, “I’m going to see Everest! Woohoo!” Now, post-trip, I’ll tell you that was not the highlight for me, and after talking with various people along the trail, many would agree. Yes, Everest is amazing. Yes, I am so happy I can say I saw it with my own eyes. But the biggest thing I took away from Nepal was my warm and wonderful experience with the people. For me, their generous, helpful, gentle, and honest spirits will always trump the tallest mountain on earth – and for them, I would return.

The post Things You Should Know Before Trekking in the Everest Region appeared first on Journeys International.

Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary first climbed to the summit of Mt. Everest 60 years ago today. The date is fresh in our minds because this also marked the 35th anniversary of our first Journeys trip – a trek to the base of Mt Everest a quarter century after that 1953 successful climb. Everest today is almost as famous for melting glaciers and contentious climbing crowds, as for that first climb of the world’s highest peak. At Journeys we don’t climb mountains, we revere them. Contemplation is preferable to conquest. The villages, wildlife, and natural history of the high Himalayas can be even more compelling than standing in frozen, lifeless, oxygen-deprived terrain.

One of the common misconceptions of the Nepal Himalayas is that you must be super fit and trained in mountaineering to venture among the peaks. This is not true. Anyone who exercises regularly and can hike over hilly trails can trek in Nepal. If you don’t like hiking and camping, you can still enjoy the Himalayas with no loss of creature comfort and very modest physical effort.

The current issue of National Geographic features an article titled “Maxed Out on Everest: How to Fix the Mess at the Top of the World”. We are also seeing similar stores on CNN and other media outlets on this anniversary. If you are a mountain climber, you are in a different world – well described in these articles. But if you are a trekker, or a traveler who appreciates friendly cultures, beautiful environments and exotic wildlife, none of the issues facing climbers on Everest applies to you. You can still find peace and solitude in the Everest area. You can admire inspiring views of the world’s highest peaks without fear of avalanches, ice falls or disgruntled and disoriented hypoxic (oxygen deprived) mountaineers.

In some ways the area within Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park is more attractive than when Tenzing and Hillary first climbed Everest and when JOURNEYS made its first trek there in 1978. That was before the National Park brought reforestation efforts, managed overgrazing and protected wildlife in the area. Now there is less firewood being burned, better sanitation and much improved agricultural practices.

Still unsure about visiting the Everest area? Call me and I’ll personally speak with you about the spectacular environment and cultural experiences of one of my favorite places on earth.

The post Everest Awaits Non-Climbers appeared first on Journeys International.

In April 2008, Journeys Client Services Director Florine Herendeen traveled to Nepal with her then-14-year-old daughter, Kellyn, and 3 other Journeys travelers. Florine wrote this post about her visit to Everest Namche Lodge Base. Visiting Everest Namche Lodge Base is one way that Journeys recommends to experience Mt. Everest while avoiding the risks associated with a technical, mountaineering ascent. 

We arrived at Lukla airstrip at an elevation of 9,000’ in the region called Khumbu. Our guides and porters gathered our gear, including our personal packs, the kitchen equipment and tents. It was going to be a day and a half trek to Namche, and once we arrived there, we were going to base ourselves in a lodge, but we had chosen to include some camping as well and our first night was to be in tents. We carried only our day packs and the porters carried the loads on their backs with a support strap over the top of their heads. I felt guilty bringing more stuff than I would likely need, but the porters did not mind.

Sherpa porters make a living transporting goods along the trail. The trekking guides were referred to as “sherpas” as their job description, and most of them were also of the Sherpa ethnic group, with families who are from this high part of Nepal. Sherpas are Tibetan Buddhists. At the entrance to every small Sherpa village we found walls of large “mani” stones, carved with Tibetanprayers. We learned to keep them on our right as we passed so we could touch with our right hands. As the left hand is considered unclean. These were a continual reminder that we had entered a different world.

We trekked about five hours and arrived at our campsite in the late afternoon. The cook used the kitchen of the nearby lodge to prepare the first of the many wonderful meals we’d be enjoying on this trip. I have to admit, even though we were camping, we dined on better food than I will ever cook at home. We had the best porridge for breakfast every morning and we also had eggs, coffee, hot chocolate and toast. Lunch was typically a packed lunch consisting of a sandwich, hard- boiled egg, fruit and cheese. Dinners ranged from familiar spaghetti to local noodle soups to chicken with rice and tasty vegetables and dal (lentils.) One night dessert was homemade apple pie still warm from the oven (or whatever it was they cooked it in!). Along the way, there were snacks to be found for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up — tea, cookies and yogurt, or Snickers bars and Coca Cola, or beer and Pringles, for a range of preferences.

The second day was our toughest hiking day of the entire trip. We trekked to an altitude of about 11300 feet and arrived at our base in Namche. It was pretty much an up-hill climb with none of the occasional downhill relief of the previous day. We took it slowly, but steadily, aware of the altitude. Kellyn often got ahead of the pack but one of the guides stayed right with her. At the time it seemed to be a really tough day but, in hindsight, I realize we could have relaxed. There was plenty of time and we could go as slowly as we wanted. Also, locals or visitors who have difficulty with the hiking can ride horses.

I enjoyed the people-watching along the trail, including trekkers that visit here from all over the globe, and local children going to and from school. We observed a group of teen girls huddling together in a group as they walked and talked and giggled. Kellyn said they could have been her friends.

We were tired as we covered the final stretch to Namche but as we rounded the corner and saw the stunning village we felt it was all worth it. It appeared almost with no warning, and it was storybook perfect, a collection of white houses with colorful trim, built into the side of the mountain, backed by higher snow-capped peaks. We were overwhelmed by the beauty and by the awareness of the legendary history of the place as the staging ground for so many famous expeditions to Mount Everest.

Namche is a busy little town full of Sherpa life. There are homes, fields, a school, a small monastery and also plenty of shops and restaurants. Here you can rent the best possible equipment one might need for trekking or camping. Cell phone service and internet are available. The headquarters for Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) National Park is on the outskirts of town. Electricity came to Namche only recently but great care was taken to try and put many of the wires underground. There’s a kerosene depot so that locals do not rely on wood for cooking (and visitors do not rely on wood for their hot showers!).

View from the lodge in Namche.

Our guesthouse – Moonlight Lodge – sat above the town center, almost at the top of the ridge. The advantage is the magnificent view, but it does take just a bit more trekking to get there. The lodge was an addition to the home of Natang Sherpa and his wife Pemba, brother-in-law and sister-in-law of Journeys co-founder Pemba Tsering Sherpa. Natang spent many years working for climbing expeditions and then as a senior guide for our trekking groups and he welcomes all Journeys trekkers as old friends.

Moonlight Lodge is simple, welcoming, clean and comfortable. As in all Sherpa homes and lodges, there is a large common room warmed by a central stove and rimmed with carpet-covered seating. And, as in the home of any Sherpa family that can afford it, the most special room is the prayer room, painted in colorful and intricate detail with Tibetan Buddhist imagery, with an altar along one wall that holds butter lamps, statues and holy books. Some of the guest rooms have their own bathrooms, and others share. Meals were prepared by the cooking staff who fed us so well on our trek up from Lukla.

Kellyn played ball games and Nintendo with local kids. Our guides and cooking staff joined us for picnics and started spontaneous drumming and dancing parties. We were offered blessings by Buddhist monks.

On our first morning in Namche, we climbed over the ridge above Moonlight Lodge and then made our way up to the famous Everest View Hotel where we relaxed and sipped hot lemon drinks on the terrace cradled by the very high peaks around us. The next day we made our way to the Sherpa villages of Khunde and Khumjung- larger, quieter, and more traditional than Namche. We visited the famous school and hospital, both established by The Himalayan Trust, a foundation created by New Zealand climber Edmund Hillary. We camped overnight on the property of a Sherpa family in Khum- jung, right by their fields of potatoes, then returned to the now familiar village of Namche.

On the third day we hiked to Thame, a smaller and less wealthy village, a few easy hours away. We walked through forests of exquisite blooming rhododendron, and the large red and pink flowers seemed almost unreal against the mountain backdrop. JOURNEYS Nepal founder, Pemba Tsering Sherpa, was born in Thame. There are people there who were very proud of Pemba, but their most famous hometown heroes are Appa Sherpa, who holds the world record for summitting Everest 17 times, and Tenzing Norgay, who along with Edmund Hillary completed the first successful ascent of Mount Everest in 1953.

The monasteries in Thame and Tengboche are the most important to Sherpa Buddhists. Monasteries are the center of spiritual life in Khumbu and many families still send at least one son to study with the lamas in hopes he will become a monk. The most famous and picturesque monastery in Khumbu, Tengboche, is one day’s walk from Namche on the path to Mt Everest. Visitors are usually welcome to enter Khumbu monasteries, except during special ceremonies. With our guide acting as an interpreter we were able to converse with the monks about their lives and the services they perform for their communities.

We returned to Lukla on the same route that brought us to Namche. Surprise, surprise — getting down was quick and easy! We spent the night in Lukla at a nice guesthouse with a great shower before the following
morning’s flight back to Kathmandu Airport.

It is hard for me to identify one favorite part of this trip. I’ve had many wonderful trips with Journeys over the years but there was something unique and extra special for me about this one. I absolutely loved it. I enjoyed the beauty of Nepal. I found the Himalayas to be awesome. I was touched by the kindness and friendliness of the people. I think what meant the most to me was the remoteness and the difference from my home and my everyday routine. I loved sharing this with appreciative clients, with the Journeys Nepal staff, and most preciously, with my daughter. We were both sad to leave and we promised to return one day.

Journeys International offers group and custom trekking in Nepal. Florine says that it feels like only yesterday that she and Kellyn had such a great mother-daughter trekking experience.

The post Namche: Gateway to Everest appeared first on Journeys International.

Journeys International has a long history of advising travelers in the Everest region, beginning in the early 1970s when Journeys founder, Dr. Will Weber, worked as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nepal. Will first worked as a high school science teacher in a Sherpa village just east of Everest. Later, Will worked in the Nepal National Parks office where he was involved in the planning and creation of Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park. After his Peace Corps term, Will returned to the United States to complete his education and founded JOURNEYS to share the world’s natural beauty with adventurous travelers. In May 1978, Will made a return trip to the Himalayas escorting the company’s inaugural trek to the base of Everest in Nepal.

Here are Journeys International founder Dr. Will Weber’s 6 strategies for a personal Everest encounter:

1. Trek to the Everest base camp in Nepal. You will require a minimum of 8 days of hiking to get a solid glimpse, and 15 days to reach the pinnacle viewpoint of the peak from an 18,200′ non-climbing vantage point. You should have a knowledgeable guide, a high level of personal fitness and good hiking and camping gear for this route. Trekkers will come to understand that Everest is not only a peak but also a culture, a unique natural environment and one of hundreds of gigantic, soaring Himalayan peaks.

2. Drive to the north slope of Everest in Tibet. This is a side trip from the overland route between Lhasa, Tibet, and Kathmandu, Nepal. Spend a night at the Rongbuk Monastery at the base of what is known locally as Chomolungmo, “Mother Goddess of the World.” The drive from Lhasa to Kathmandu normally takes 3 days and the Everest diversion adds 2 additional days for a total of 5 days. This route requires less physical exertion than trekking, but be aware that traveling in Tibet requires a special permit.

3. Trek to the Arun Valley of East Nepal. From a high ridge between Everest and Kangchenjunga you will have breathtaking views of four of the five highest mountains in the world, including especially impressive views of 28,169′ Kangchenjunga and 27,838′ Makalu. The best viewing seasons are October-November and March-April. Plan for at least 12 days. You will see the fewest other tourists and experience the greatest natural and cultural diversity on this route.

4. Fly the Everest Flightseeing trip from Kathmandu. The encounter is brief but undemanding, as you are in a comfortable pressurized aircraft and you are virtually guaranteed a peak-level view of Everest and many other high Himalayan peaks on the Nepal-Tibet border. Anyone who makes it to Kathmandu can add this experience as a comfortable round-trip morning experience on a clear day.
5. Fly on commercial, scheduled jet aircraft service between Kathmandu and Paro, Bhutan; Lhasa, Tibet; or Bangkok, Thailand. Your pilot may or may not point out Everest so you should bring a peak profile image to identify the mountain for yourself and your seatmates. Views are brief and usually only available on one side of the plane. Try to get the right-side window seat from Bhutan or Bangkok to Kathmandu and from Kathmandu to Lhasa. Choose the left window in the opposite directions. Some times the Lhasa to Kathmandu flights fly almost directly over the peak of Everest. A view of Everest is not assured, but if you catch a glimpse from a large jet, you will be inspired to want to see Everest much closer.

6. Hire a helicopter from Kathmandu, fly to the Khumbu area of Nepal, and have tea on the veranda of the Everest View Hotel, which offers a superb view of Everest. Return an hour later. By several measures the experience will be astounding, but it is one of the more costly options.

If you have the time and ability, hiking-in gives the best experience of Sherpa culture, wildlife, active glaciers, waterfalls and a taste of the mountaineering perspective, but with much less of the risk associated with a technical mountaineering summit attempt. Whatever your choice, any approach to Mt. Everest will be mesmerizing. Call the JOURNEYS International worldwide headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan, for personalized suggestions for group or private Everest exploration tailored to your dreams and preferences.

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Age and fitness are not absolute limitations on travel, but sometimes the destination of fantasy changes before you can get there. Tibet is not the same place it was 20 or 30 years ago. The Kathmandu I encountered first as a Peace Corps Volunteer in 1970 bears no resemblance to the city of today. The Amazon rain forest has shrunk. You will see other tourists on your safari in any country of East Africa or your cruise to the Galapagos. All of these destinations are still worth the trip even if you “should have seen them 30 years ago.” Some are better. There are probably more animals in the Serengeti ecosystem now that at anytime in the recent past, even if there are more people observing them.

The worst excuse I hear from would-be travelers is a paraphrase of the Yogi Berra- attributed homily: “that restaurant has become so popular no one goes there anymore.” Destinations in this supposed “too popular” category include Costa Rica, Bali, Tanzania, Australia, Thailand, Galapagos and Egypt. Yes, there will be other tourists from all over the world coming and going from the same busy airport you will use. But, no, they will not spoil your experience, ruin your pictures or prevent you from having a very personal and high quality experience of the destination. Your breathtaking memories and pictures of Machu Picchu are the historical record of the “should have been there 25 years ago” tales you will tell you grandchildren.

In fact most travel destinations were great, if different, before we were born and will remain so long after we are gone. The quality of our own experience is a function of our attitude, optimism and determination to make the most of our encounter. Start checking off those places on your fantasy “must see” list before you run out of time, youth, health or opportunity. You have already run out of excuses.

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