Research and Create a Database-Trekking Agencies
Step:
2
A large part of our project will revolve around marketing all that the Sankhuwasabha district has to offer. For this task, we are looking for volunteers to help us research and develop a database of trekking agencies located in Kathmandu and also around the world.

I started a list last night of trekking agencies to get us started. I didn't get very far. This will probably work best if transferred into an Excel spreadsheet at some point. There are literally hundreds of these organizations out there, so maybe we need to target a specific number, or figure out a way to sort through them and target specific ones. Andrew, any thoughts on that?
When we planned our trek in the Bhutanese Himalayas we based our research on the old proven method-Lonely Planet recommendations. May be you can do the same- get the list of recommended trekking agency from the last Lonely Planet Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya and you will have a good place to start.Later you can trow in some of the agencies in Bhutan (I can help here) and India and voila- a comprehensive list in less than an hour.
--
-Tanja
Tanja-
I was just looking at it, will they just send you one, or do you have to pay for the guide? Maybe I wasn't looking in the right place, but what I saw on their website says it's around $20 for the guide-am I looking in the wrong place?
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer,
I have Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya 8th edition (it is a bit dated-from 2001),I checked online-the next release is scheduled for August 2009. Two options- I can put together the dated info and somebody can verify that the agencies still exist. Or you can double check with your local library if they have the regular, more recent Nepal guide 7th edition from Sept 2006 and look up the trekking agencies from the trekking section. My Bhutan travel guide book is the most recent edition.
-Tanja
lonely planet costs about $2o - there are many trekking agencies on the net - search for trekking nepal - they are mostly located in kathmandu
Alot of people use the lonely planet - but mostly single travellers or couples/small groups of 2-3 people. Larger trekking clubs will have their own specialist trekking agencies they work with in kathmandu.
Lonely planet is very popular - so is the rough guide to nepal, this needs to be approached from both sides - either through the agencies in nepal or overseas trekking groups. The agencies in nepal to be honest carry a higher risk as there are more cowboy agencies due to the fact it is a major employer.
You have to distinguish the good from the bad. There are good agencies in the developing world also.
The key question is define specifically how the agency and Tej's project can benefit from each other - because the trekking market is competitive there really needs to be a mutual benefit and a financial gain for the agency - in nepal there are many volunteers approaching many different organisations to raise funds - business partnerships - so people will be competing with you for the attention of the trekking agencies to a certain extent - i.e. what we are trying to do is not a new idea. Some trekking agencies allready promote this typ of activity.
If a list is compiled I can review the websites and try and make a judgement as best I can.
Any comments?
Andy
just saw list jen - i will take a quick look.
andrew
Dear Neighbours
Thanks for your posting.
Now I have been studying it.
Tejanath
Tej - jens list goes in the right direction - there is a mixture of Nepali and Overseas trekking agencies.
Andrew
Hi everybody,
I did find this website: http://www.nepal-guide.com/nepal_eco_tourism.htm, they have a lot of trekking oppurtunities and also visits to local communities.
Warm regards, Lotte
That's a good one Lotte, thank you!
Jennifer