New Asia Offerings from Myths & Mountains Offer Festivals and Insights

(EMAILWIRE.COM, February 24, 2009 ) INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev.Â—Myths and Mountains, just named one of the top ten Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth, is offering two unique sojourns this spring tied into its involvement with READ Global. READ was started by the owner of the operator to build libraries in rural communities, in tandem with local for-profit business ventures that sustain them. To date, 45 libraries have been built in Nepal and one in India, with four more underway.
Lo Manthang at Festival Time offers the chance to enjoy the incredible Teeji Festival as guests of the King of Mustang. The trip will be led by Myths and MountainsÂ’ founder Dr. Antonia Neubauer, who will be joined by many local Nepalis and resource people. After flying north to Jomson with special permits, the group will literally trek across the Himalayas onto the Tibetan Plateau, following the Kali Gandhaki River to the Tibet border. The spring brings villagers planting their fields, blooming cherry, apricot and apple trees and yaks birthing. Guests can ride Tibetan ponies or hike up the ravines and along the flat plateaus, visiting medieval fortress village before arriving at the remote town of Lo Manthang for the festival. Long closed to foreigners and once used as a training camp for Khampa soldiers, Mustang is one of the least visited parts of Nepal. This trip combines the dedication of READÂ’s first library in Nepal with adventure, culture and religion to achieve a great balance. This journey operates May 12-30 from $3595 per person, double plus a donation to READ.
Myths and Mountains has been traveling to Bhutan since it opened to tourism and now is opening a new READ office there. Its Sacred Chomolhari Trek on Apr. 6-17 showcases how the operator combines colorful festivals with touring. Upon arrival in Paro, the arrival and departure city, guests are met with the horns, dancing, costumes and religious zeal that comprise one of the largest Tsechu festivals in Bhutan. They then leave the celebration behind to climb to the base of sacred Mt. Chomolhari, the Â“heavenly deity of animals.Â” Along the way, the hikes pass through forests of rhododendrons, magnolias and azaleas to visit with nomads and search for blue sheep and the elusive snow leopard before finishing in the hustle and bustle of the capital city of Thimphu.
Photos available.

Myths and Mountains
John Kloster
941-764-7975
john@atmstravelnews.com