Category: Small Group Discoveries

Latin AmericaSmall Group Discoveries

Nicaragua Is Ready for Its Close-Up

on February 21, 2018

Nicaragua Is Ready for Its Close-Up

Time is a relative concept in Nicaragua. In a matter of a few hours, you can peer into the primeval mouth of an active volcano, still bubbling after its eruption thousands of years ago … witness the creation of pre-Columbian artisanal crafts at a bustling market that seems frozen in the past … stroll among centuries-old colonial architecture in one of the oldest cities in the New World … and bask in the smiles of a 21st-century nation that has put its turbulent past behind it to become one of the safest and most welcoming places in Central America.

Nicaragua—or “Nica,” as some locals call it—wears its history and culture on its sleeve, and it does so in the most authentic way. For several years, you’ve been hearing that it’s a must-see destination. So we are here to tell you: If you’ve been waiting for the right time to visit, it’s now.

Ancient Past and Colonization

Nicaragua’s original inhabitants roamed the land hunting and gathering as long as 14,000 years ago. Over millennia, people related to the Aztec, Mayan, and other civilizations from Mexico settled the fertile landscape of volcanic soils fed by mountain springs and lakes. Later, trade centers appeared on the shores of the Pacific, the Caribbean, and today’s Lake Nicaragua.

Christopher Columbus was the first European to reach this land. Spanish conquistadors followed, with their Christian zeal in tow. Some indigenous chieftains and their tribes embrace the religion the newcomers brought while others rejected it violently. It was 1524 when Spaniards permanently settled—in Granada on Lake Nicaragua and in León near Lake Managua. The latter was proclaimed the capital. About 100 years later, the eruption of Momotombo destroyed León, leaving its citizens to rebuild at an alternate location northwest. Today, the ruins of León Viejo (“Old León”) reveal the layout of the country’s original capital.

Post-Independence: From Civil Strife to Peace

Independence from Spain in 1821 did not lead to harmony as many native and mestizo Nicaraguans had desired. Liberals, based in León, and Conservatives, based in Granada were constantly at odds over the distribution of power. To ease the feud and stop an on-again off-again civil war, the capital was moved to Managua. The disorder and chaos culminated when Liberals invited American adventurer (and conniving opportunist) William Walker to join their cause. Walker exploited the power vacuum, held an election, and declared himself president in 1856, only to be driven out by the governments of neighboring countries.

Walker wasn’t the only mid-19th-century American connected to Nicaragua. The nation proved a convenient route for travelers from the Eastern United States who had their sights on the California Gold Rush. The fortune seekers arrived on Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast, navigated the San Juan River and Lake Nicaragua, then trekked overland to embark another ship that would take them north along the Pacific coast. Though circuitous, this route was far less treacherous than crossing the continent. Later, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt imagined a similar route for a manmade canal to connect the two seas: Nicaragua was his “Plan B,” should the geopolitical winds not go his way in Panama. The canal here, of course, never materialized. Still, as it turned out, this was the opening chapter of decades of U.S. involvement with the country’s tempestuous politics. Much of the 20th century remained turbulent as age-old tensions between Liberal and Conservative factions flared up, fueled by the corruptions of an oligarchic ruling family.

Today, under the presidency of Daniel Ortega of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (the party founded in 1961 and named for Augusto Sandino, rebel leader in the 1920s and 30s), Nicaragua has seen greater economic growth than many other Latin American countries.

A Rich and Celebratory Culture

Today, Nicaragua remains close to its roots as an agricultural country. Aromatic coffee, delicious cocoa, rum, and other products come from its highly arable land. Day to day living exudes a refreshing and distinct blend of Spanish and native traditions, finding expression in folklore, music, food, religion, and virtually every other strain of culture.

Colorful, flowing costumes bring vibrant life to El Güegüense, a UNESCO-recognized style of satirical drama heralded as Latin America’s most distinctive colonial-era traditions. Meanwhile, Nicaraguan music follows the beats of the percussive marimba and the strains of the fiddle and the guitarilla, a small guitar. International music such as merengue and salsa can also be heard spilling from cafes and bars from Managua to Granada.

Nicaraguan cuisine, too, takes its cues from the country’s mixed heritage. Local fruits and maize (corn) are staples. Mango, papaya, avocado, yuca, and bananas find their way to most any table. One of the most popular dishes, nacatamal, is cooked like a tamale, its fillings such as corn masa (a kind of dough), pork and vegetables wrapped and cooked in plantain leaves. Fried pork is a key ingredient in vigorón, also cooked in a banana leaf. The country’s national dish is gallo pinto, in which white rice and red beans are cooked separately, then fried together.

Nicaraguans are also celebrated for the care and skill they bring to colorful and distinct handicrafts. Often, artisans cluster together in cooperatives, giving their work greater exposure to more people. Many of the country’s districts are known for their sturdy and colorful handmade hammocks. Potters spin their clay to create ceramics that are at once decorative and functional. Leather, cloth, and even gold are also transformed into beautiful keepsakes by Nicaragua’s talented artists.

Learn about Nicaragua’s history and unique culture firsthand during Discovery Tours’ new Discover Nicaragua trip!

Small Group Discoveries

Here’s What’s Brewing in Nicaragua

on February 19, 2018

It’s no secret that coffee is one of Nicaragua’s largest exports. The rich volcanic soil is among the world’s most fertile and, kissed by a warm climate, nurtures vast expanses of plantations. The coffee beans are actually seeds of the berries that grow on the coffea plant. The seeds are extracted the berries, dried, and roasted before they are shipped to your friendly local barista.

Over the years, concern has grown over the practices used in cultivating coffee. In many areas, land is deforested and replaced with countless acres of coffee plants, stripping large tracts of land of its wildlife and biodiversity. Further, an abundance of water is used to grow the groves. That’s why many growers have partnered with the Rainforest Alliance, a network of farmers, foresters, communities, governments and others committed to, among other things, environmentally healthy ways of growing food that protect forests, wildlife, and climate while supporting communities and safeguarding human rights.

In Nicaragua, Discovery Tours gives you up-close access to a working coffee farm that embraces these fundamentals of compassionate farming. Certified by the Rainforest Alliance, Café Las Flores at La Hacienda El Progreso is one of the country’s most respected plantations, not least because it is set in one of the first areas in the country where coffee was planted and harvested. Draped upon the majestic slopes of Mombacho Volcano amid lush beauty, this fascinating little place accomplished big things. During your visit, you will witness the journey of the coffee bean from the moment it is picked and processed to the all-important roasting.

So important is the coffee farming tradition to Nicaraguan heritage and identity, many family farms have been preserved as landmarks. As for Café Las Flores, it has been owned and operated by the Palazio family for three generations. The Palazios migrated here during the 19th century from Italy, where coffee is a daily ritual, an essential ingredient of daily life. They brought their passion for the bean with them and their 21st-century descendants—Lucia, Alejandro, and Gian Marco—consider their hacienda not only a family legacy, but a special place where the history of Nicaraguan coffee has unfolded.

During our Discover Nicaragua small-group adventure, your small group will have the privilege of touring this very special coffee farm that holds a special place in the hearts of locals. We hope you join us for this unique trip … and, of course, for some of the world’s best coffee!

Latin AmericaSmall Group Discoveries

Ometepe Island: “Steeped in Slumber”

on February 16, 2018

“They look so isolated from the world and its turmoil—
so tranquil, so dreamy, so steeped in slumber and eternal repose.”
–Mark Twain,
on seeing the twin volcanoes of Concepción and Maderas on Ometepe Island

It’s easy to believe as you approach Ometepe Island by ferry—the conical slopes of its twin volcanoes looming over a lush landscape of forest and palm trees—that you are about to set foot on a primitive island. And the caretakers of this paradisiacal place (namely, the Nicaraguan government, which protects it as an official Biosphere Reserve) want to keep it that way.

As Mark Twain would attest, this is a truly remarkable place, and it feels like a privilege to visit. Concepción and Maderas volcanoes are linked by a low, narrow isthmus, giving the island an hourglass shape. The summits seem to stare each other down from across the natural causeway. And if height and power determined the winner of this staring contest, Concepción would win: Unlike Maderas, it remains active and soars to 5,282 feet, making Ometepe the world’s highest island in a lake.

In the surrounding rainforest, capuchin, howler, and spider monkeys jump and forage in the canopy and amidst unique island flora. But of all Ometepe’s inhabitants, the most intriguing may well be those that lived here long ago. Pre-Columbian tribal societies lived off this fertile land for centuries and anthropologists are just beginning to understand them, thanks in part to ancient petroglyphs and artifacts discovered on the slopes of Maderas in the 1990s. About 1,700 panels have been uncovered on 1,400 boulders, each depicting spirals, round “faces” on human-like figures, fish, and more. In our small group, you will have time to ponder the stone etchings for yourself and gain insight from guide.

It’s enough to make you wonder if the ancestors of those monkeys were loitering around overhead as the ancients chipped away at their stones. They may well have been. And you can learn more about them at the 50-acre Charco Verde Nature Reserve and Butterfly Garden, where you will see some of the island’s unique creatures, including armadillos, anteaters, and thousands of butterflies.

A pair of primitive volcanoes, a pristine wilderness teeming with wildlife, fascinating traces of ancient people, and a glowing review from Mark Twain. Lake Nicaragua’s Ometepe Island is a place unlike any other. Experience it for yourself during our Discover Nicaragua small-group adventure.

Latin AmericaSmall Group Discoveries

7 Reasons Granada Should Be on Your Travel List

on February 12, 2018

Sometimes called “La Gran Sultana,” or The Grand Sultan, for its Moorish-Andalusian aura, Granada is one of Central America’s best-preserved cities. Its setting on Lake Nicaragua is stunning, and its colonial-era buildings do, in fact, make you feel as if you have stepped into Southern Spain. During our Discover Nicaragua small-group adventure, we call this historic gem home for three nights, giving you a chance to explore after getting oriented with our included horse-drawn carriage tour. Here’s how to make the most of your time:

Stroll the Promenade on Lake Nicaragua. Lined with palm trees and overlooking the largest lake in the country, the relaxed promenade offers a pleasant way to while away an hour or so. As you do, ponder the water’s fame as one of the only freshwater homes to sharks; the bull shark swims upstream in the San Juan River from the Caribbean Sea, jumping through the river’s rapids like salmon.

Admire Pretty Pastel Houses. Granada seems made for strolling, if only because its narrow, cobbled streets were designed for people and horses, not for cars. The result is a cozy- and intimate-feeling city, with many of its lanes lined with vibrantly painted houses. The cheery facades illustrate the pride that home owners take in their homes and, by extension, in their families.

Browse the Bustling Parque Central. Granada’s colonial grandeur is on full display in the city’s main square. The centerpiece is the impossible-to-miss, yellow cathedral (see below). This is also an ideal spot to mingle with the vendors selling local items such as straw hats and mangoes. The square has long been a commercial heart of the city. In the 1950s, the proximity of your house to Parque Central defined your social status; the closer you lived to it, the higher your place.

Sample the Culinary Scene along La Calzada. Granada is fast becoming a food destination, and sampling the dishes along La Calzada explains why. Along this pedestrian boulevard, relaxed cafes and high-end eateries serve up the fresh bounty of Nicaragua’s fertile farms. The street, with its colorful colonial buildings and stately mansions, is also the perfect place for an after-dinner stroll.

Indulge Your Sweet Tooth at the ChocoMuseo. Chocolate is one of Nicaragua’s major exports, so we’re sure to take you to the city’s chocolate museum, located in the seductively named Mansión de Chocolate. Here, you can learn about the local history of the cacao bean, then enjoy a hands-on demonstration of roasting and grinding, followed by the chance to mold your own delectable chocolate bar.

Marvel at the Granada Cathedral. So bright is this breathtaking, butter-hued masterpiece of neoclassicism, you would never know that it has been destroyed and rebuilt several times since its initial construction in 1525. Its most recent completion was in 1972 and features four chapels and twelve beautiful stained-glass windows set into the soaring dome.

Ascend the Bell Tower of La Merced Church. Originally built just ten years after the Granada Cathedral, La Merced Church is praised for its deep character and authenticity. This historic treasure certainly shows its age—how could it not, after having been razed by pirates in 1655 and damaged by revolutionary forces in 1854—but it is beloved as a religious stalwart by the city. You can climb its soaring tower for a small fee, worth the climb for the sweeping city views you’ll enjoy.

Explore the wonders of Granada during Discovery Tours’ new Discover Nicaragua trip!

EuropeMediterraneanSmall Group Discoveries

Food & Wine of Greece

on January 29, 2018

Greece is no stranger to cuisine. In fact, it was a Greek, Archestratos, who wrote the first cookbook in history, in 320 B.C. Today, the Mediterranean diet consistently wins praise for its proven health benefits. Local dishes exude the steadfast character of their origins – fava in Santorini, masticha in Chios, amygdalota in Mykonos, cheese pie with honey in Crete. But no matter where you visit, you’ll encounter the pleasures of freshly baked breads and a bounty of vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and zucchinis. To Greeks, food is a celebration best served as saganaki, grilled lamb, moussaka, fried octopus – all enhanced with that crisp Greek olive oil.

The diverse terroir of Greece has been producing wines longer than most any other place in the world, for close to 6,500 years. The flavors and notes of Greek wines is so unique that 72% of its vintages entered into the Decanter World Wine Awards once received a prize, 3 of them gold and 50 of them silver.

Here’s what you can expect to find on the Greek table:

Food of Greece:

Mezes. Like Spanish tapas, mezes is a small-plate approach to Greek dining. Items can vary from piquant olives to a pita bread with dips to more complicated dishes such as cold eggplant salad. Mezes should not be confused with the orektika that you might see on a menu, which is the formal name for appetizers that are intended to precede larger meals.

Olive oil. Like in many Mediterranean restaurants, olive oil is a central ingredient in Greek cooking, pressed from the olive trees that have graced the country’s landscape for centuries.

Cheese. With a climate and landscape conducive to goats and sheep, a wide array of cheeses are common in the Greek diet, from feta to kasseri.

Filo. Whether in large sheets or bite-sized triangles, various fillings might be wrapped in filo dough, from chicken to spinach and cheese to minced meat. One version of this, spanakopita, might be served with cubes of feta.

Tiganita. These deep-fried vegetables might be served as a side dish.

Dolmadakia. Cousins of the Turkish dolma, these grape leaves are often stuffed with rice, vegetables, or meat.

Fava. This puree of yellow split peas or beans might be flavored with olive oil, garlic or parsley and served as part of mezes with pita bread.

Greek salad. This simple salad is made with tomato salad, cucumber, red onion, feta cheese and kalamata olives.

Tzatziki: Served with warm pita bread, this is a yogurt with cucumber and garlic puree.

Fasolada: Often called the national food of Greece, this white bean soup is made with tomatoes, carrot and celery.

Fakes: This lentil soup is typically accompanied by vinegar and olive oil.

Moussaka: Eaten warm or cold, this casserole is usually made with ground meat and either eggplant or potatoes.

Wines of Greece:

Agiorghitiko (red). Also known as St. George’s grape, this wine is mostly produced in the Peloponnese region. The soft, fruity red expresses itself in many styles with qualities that are similar to Beaujolais.

Xinomavro (red). This “sour black” grape ages well and has flavor notes that actually bring tomatoes and olives.

Assyrtiko (white). This grape is mostly grown on the island of Santorini, whose old vines were resistant to the phylloxera virus that wiped out other European vineyards. It has characteristics similar to Riesling.

Savatiano (white). Known as the “Saturday” grape, this is the major white grape of Attica. It has a distinct floral, fruity aroma and if fermented without cooling, its wine matches well with Mediterranean dishes.

Roditis (rose). Very popular in the Peloponnese, this elegant and light wine has lovely citrus flavors.

EuropeMediterraneanSmall Group Discoveries

Corfu: Fit for a Queen

on January 26, 2018

Ancient poet Homer praised the Greek island of Corfu as “rich and beautiful.” About 2,500 years later, the Ionian Sea gem still boasts plenty to rhapsodize about. Inland, the rolling countryside is home to quaint small towns and verdant olive groves, while elegant modern resorts compete for attention along the sandy coast. Playground of early Venetians and a long-time respite from court life for European royalty, Corfu’s natural beauty and rustic charm lured some of its earliest visitors to live here, including one eccentric empress.

An Empress Goes Big

An hour’s drive south, the village of Gastouri became a leisure destination in the 19th century. The lush hillside town was so well known for its coastal views, pure springs, and temperate climate, that Europe’s doctors began recommending it for rest and relaxation. But for one visitor, even the best local accommodations were not quite good enough.

Austrian Empress Elisabeth, known as Sisi, first visited Corfu in 1863, staying at its grandest house. Mon Repos Palace had been built by the British High Commissioner for his wife, a native of the island, in 1831. Ever after, it was the lodging of choice for local and visiting royalty alike, including British and Italian Governors, and later the Greek royal family. It was during her stay at Mon Repos that Sisi fell in love with the island.

When her son died young in 1889, she turned her eyes to Corfu for recovery. But Mon Repos was a bit modest for her taste, and she ordered construction of Achilleion Palace, named after the Greek hero. With three stories, original frescoes and statuary, Pompeiian pillars, and a triumphal staircase, it took two years to build. When it opened in 1891, there was nothing like it on Corfu.

And there was no one quite like its owner. Obsessed with appearance, Sisi spent two hours a day grooming her waist-length hair. For sleeping, she wore leather eye masks with alternating poultices of berries and raw meat said to benefit her complexion. She learned fencing and went hiking, while fasting regularly, all to help keep her weight at no more than 110 pounds (on a 5’8” frame). She was determined to stay beautiful—and she did, until she was assassinated by an anarchist at age 60.

Legacies Remain

What remains is Sisi’s fascination with Greek mythology, as you will see at Achilleion Palace today. From the neo-classical architecture to the gods and goddesses featured in countless frescoes and paintings, the palace is a shrine to a Greek culture she idealized nearly as much as her own beauty.

Our Greece, The Birthplace of Civilization small group tour spends 2 glorious nights on Corfu.

EuropeMediterraneanSmall Group Discoveries

The Spirit Soars to New Heights at Meteora

on January 19, 2018

On the Plain of Thessaly, a series of sandstone pillars soar into the air more than a thousand feet above the rest of the landscape. For a band of hermitic monks in the 9th century, these massive towers proved a perfect hideaway: the caves at the base of the cliffs provided places to live and worship. But over the following centuries, as the number of monks grew, so did threats from the outside world, reaching crisis proportions during the 14th century, when Turkish raiders occupied parts of the region. Where were the monks to go?

Up. Way up.

Rising to New Heights

Leaving their easily accessible caves behind, the monks began building monasteries on the tops of these stone pillars. Over time, they built a total of 20, one of them perched a whopping 1,200 feet off the ground. Pulling off such a task was, obviously, no small feat, considering that materials and builders alike had to scale the staggering cliffs.

The solution was a progressively more complex system of joined ladders, netting, and rope pulleys for raising and lowering both goods and people. Even once the monasteries were completed, this remained true: monks and pilgrims alike had no choice but to risk the heart-stopping basket ride upward to a height equivalent to that of our Empire State Building.

It didn’t help that, according to legend, the ropes were replaced only “when the Lord let them break,” so that each trip forced the passengers to recognize the fragility of life. This remained true until the 20th century, when steps were cut into the rocks and a bridge allowed access to some of the monasteries from the nearest outcropping.

Inspiration Made Accessible

These steps and bridges allow you to see the remaining six monasteries today. The largest is Great Meteoron, which sprawls across 50 acres. You need no rope and pulley to get there, but you’ll need good lung power for the steep steps leading up to the church. It’s worth the effort: the interiors are truly memorable, with the skulls of past residents lining one chapel and intact 15th-century frescoes in another. It even boasts a library with works by Homer, Sophocles, Demosthenes, and Aristotle.

The 15th-century St. Varlaam’s monastery still holds a massive oak water barrel, a key component of the community’s survival in those early years. At St. Stephen’s monastery, more recent history is on display as the ornately decorated interior is studded with bullet holes from the successive battles of World War II and the Greek Civil War.

Two of the monasteries, Roussanou and Saint Nicholas of Anapafsas, appear to merge seamlessly into the cliffs. But it’s Agria Triada that perhaps offers you the clearest insight into the bravery of the early monks. The hardest of the churches to reach, this “Holy Trinity” monastery perches on a cliff that itself seems to be leaning—as if the height alone wasn’t dizzying enough.

When you visit Meteora, soaking up views of the plains and beyond to the River Pinios and the Pindos Mountains, it’s clear why UNESCO declared the complex a World Heritage Site: the upward bound monks created a world that sends the human spirit soaring even now.

Gaze upon the Monasteries of Meteora during our Greece, The Birthplace of Civilization small group tour.

Asia & PacificSmall Group Discoveries

Legacies of the Himalaya

on December 27, 2017

As tourism goes, Nepal is quite young. The famously secretive Himalayan nation only opened its doors to foreigners in 1951. When it did, masses of counter-culture flower children and troops of mountaineers poured in, the former to seek nirvana and follow in the ways of Lord Krishna amidst wafts of incense and the latter to conquer the Annapurna Range and the imposing peak of Mt. Everest. As more travelers visited, word got around that this was a place not to be missed. No matter your religious persuasion or trekking abilities, peak experiences were waiting to be had here. And nowhere was there a greater concentration of Nepal’s rich and exotic culture than in Kathmandu.

Kathmandu Treasures Frozen in Time

Just 45 years ago, Kathmandu and the surrounding valley were home to as many temples and shrines as houses. Development has changed all that, of course. But the city remains Nepal’s major trade, religious, and cultural center, largely because the valley in which it rests is one of the few habitable places in this famously mountainous region. It is no surprise, then, that the concentration of historic monuments, palaces, and temples is intense and unique, earning the city’s Durbar Square (durbar means “palace” in the local language) UNESCO World Heritage Site status, which it shares with other historic places throughout the Kathmandu Valley.

More than 50 temples, shrines, and palaces are in and near the bustling square. Exploring here, it’s easy to believe you have transcended the real world for another, the 21st century for the 16th. Triple-roofed houses keep watch over a scene of merchants selling tiger balm to weary hikers, bicycle rickshaws delivering passengers, stone carvings of Hindu and Buddhist gods, prayer flags draped from windows, cinnamon-colored anointments on foreheads, marigold wreaths draped over motorcycle handlebars, prayer beads wrapped around wrists, and colorful paintings of Shiva on vehicles.

Indeed, a rich blend of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Tantrism is alive and well here. Its buildings represent four kingdoms – Kantipur, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, and Kirtipur – and have been watched over by Malla and Shah kings. Among the most fascinating is the Hanuman Dhoka Palace of the Malla Kings, a five-acre complex that was once home to the royal family. For a bit of intrigue, find the curious 17th-century inscription in the wall of the palace. It is written in 15 languages, and local legend says that if anyone deciphers it word for word, milk will spill from an adjacent spout.

Speaking of mysteries, the three-story palace residence of Kumari Ghar in the square is home to Kathmandu’s very own kumari. In Nepalese tradition, kumaris are living embodiments of the divine female energy – the goddess Taleju – that protects Nepal from evil. Even the president shows them deference. Each of the valley’s three royal cities—Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Patan—worships one in the form of a pre-adolescent girl. She lives a reclusive life, appearing to her devout followers once each day through her residence window. She does, however, receive visitors who seek her blessings. It is best to catch a glimpse of her before 10 am, which is when her schooling begins.

Perched on a hill overlooking the valley is one of Nepal’s most recognizable sites: the 1st-century Buddhist stupas of Swayambhunath. In the indigenous Newar dialect, this remarkable stupa complex is named for a Buddhist notion, Swayambhu, meaning “that which is created by its own accord.” Neighboring Tibetans translate it as “sublime trees.” The spirit of both these translations rings true for any visitor, whether viewing the oldest stupa in the valley here or any of the other revered, richly decorated structures. Each is adorned with two eyes, one for wisdom and one for compassion. The third eye, so say the devout, emanates cosmic rays to heavenly beings when the Buddha preaches, signaling them to come down to earth to listen.

Sacred Splendors Beyond Kathmandu

Other cities in the Kathmandu Valley boast their own richly historic Durbar Squares and deeply spiritual temples, each a time capsule of centuries-old architecture, art, and culture.

In the Durbar Square of Patan, an incredible cultural heritage is on display. Called the “city of festival and feast,” many celebrations of its arts and crafts tradition unfold in its Durbar Square. Ancient Newa architecture is everywhere here, including the ancient Royal Palace where the Malla kings resided for six centuries. With 55 Hindu and Buddhist temples in and around the square, it stands as a prime example of the harmonious fusion of religions in Nepalese history. Perhaps best of all, the square prohibits car traffic, making exploring a delight.

The “City of Devotees,” as Bhaktapur is known, is admired for its tidy streets, rich culture, and artwork made of wood, metal, and stone. The city’s Durbar Square – which by some counts consists of four squares in total – is one of Nepal’s most charming places for its colorful and evocative displays of the country’s ancient arts. Its Lion Gate is guarded by two huge stone lions; the intricate Golden Gate (Lu Dhowka) has been called the most beautiful example of its kind in the world; the Palace of 55 Windows is a wonder of woodcarving. This is just a small sample of its marvels.

Non-Hindu visitors may view this pagoda-style complex of temples and ashrams of Pashupatinath from across the Bagmati River. But only the devout are permitted inside. Though it is the oldest and most sacred Hindu temple in Nepal (with its core originally built in the 5th century), Mughal invaders ruined much of it in the 14th century. Much of what we see today of this hallowed Hindu creation site dates to the 19th century. Residing priests have long been Brahmins from South India, originally sent here in the 8th century to encourage cultural exchange. The temple is renowned for its breathtaking architecture and the cremation platforms along the river.

Experience Nepal’s historic and sacred treasures in the intimacy of a small group with Gate 1 Travel!

Asia & PacificSmall Group Discoveries

Witness Chitwan’s Beauty Up Close

on December 22, 2017

When most people think of Nepal, they are dreamily transported to a rugged land of jaw-dropping alpine splendor, gargantuan peaks that seem to poke holes in the firmament, and age-old Himalayan cultures draped in prayer flags and bathed in the sweet aroma of incense. But there’s another side of Nepal that might surprise you.

South of the Annapurnas, the stunningly beautiful terrain drops to the Inner Terai Lowlands and Plains. These are among Nepal’s lowest valleys—some of them at just 330 feet in elevation. Unlike the more temperate mountain climate of higher valleys, this region has a subtropical feel. And its centerpiece is Chitwan National Park, a vast jungle teeming with dense forest and a rich array of wildlife. The park was established in 1973 as a last-ditch attempt to save the wild rhino, whose numbers had dwindled to only 95. Since then, the park’s focus has broadened to embrace and protect all wildlife, including more than 500 bird species and 67 varieties of butterflies. In 1984, the park earned its place as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, it is home to 43 species of mammals.

Its undisputed star is also its most elusive creature: the Bengal tiger. On safari with Discovery Tours, you’ll set out in search of this big cat, but admittedly we’re more likely to see the one-horned rhinoceros, the deer-like chital, the massive gaur cattle, and the black antelope – all of them equally enchanting. Our mode of transportation is as thrilling as the game we seek: we’ll climb aboard the park’s elephants and be led by its skilled trainers. High atop your lumbering elephant’s back, you will witness the dense grassland from a unique perspective, keeping watch with your guides for movement in the bush. It is a thrilling experience unlike any other.

Discovery Tours travelers also have the chance to explore the wilderness at ground level. During a relaxing safari along the Narayani River – by boat or canoe, your choice – aquatic birds watch us drift with the current. We often see mugger crocodiles and gharials, an endangered croc species with an extremely thin snout, basking on the river’s shores. We’ll also have the rare opportunity to explore by foot with a trained, eagle-eyed guide. Treading with such a light footprint brings the glorious details of Chitwan into focus, from its tiny white-throated kingfisher to its mighty fish eagle to its towering broadleaf Sal, the trees favored by the Hindu god Vishnu.

Explore the other side of Nepal with Gate 1 Travel today!

Asia & PacificSmall Group Discoveries

Everest: Discovery and Conquest

on December 19, 2017

Despite all the cultural riches, sacred temples, and magnificent beauty of Nepal, the country is best known as the home of the highest peak on the planet, Mt. Everest—or, as the locals know it, Sagarmatha, Goddess of the Sky.

Discovery

It’s hard to believe that such a behemoth was officially discovered by Western eyes by accident. Back in the 1800s, British mapmakers undertook the Great Trigonometric Survey of India. By the time they reached the Himalayan foothills, they were denied entry into Nepal because of political suspicion. Alas, the cartographers would have to set up their instruments as far as 150 miles away from the peaks they wished to measure.

From their perspective, they had a clear view of the peak known as Kangchenjunga, then believed to be the highest in the world. But as the cartographer peered more closely into the lens of his giant theodolite – his trusty 1,000-pound surveying instrument – he thought he saw another peak behind it. That was 1847. Over the next several years, the team tackled the problem from other angles, moving farther east along the Nepalese border to capture a total of 30 measurements. Over many seasons, data and numbers were analyzed and calculated. Factors such as light refraction and barometric pressure were accounted for. Nine years later, in 1856, the still-cautious British Surveyor General of India Andrew Waugh proclaimed the 29,029-foot Everest (then simply known as “Peak XV”) “most probably the highest in the world.” He named it for his predecessor, former Surveyor General George Everest.

Conquest

Just as the British discovered it for the Western world, so the British would climb it. So went the thinking in 1920s Britain. However, as Nepal was still guarding its borders, expeditions had to ascend the north face from Tibet. A 1922 trek marked the first time a human had exceeded 8,000 meters in altitude (26,247 feet). But that climb ended tragically when seven porters got swept away in an avalanche. Just two years later, George Mallory and Andrew Irvine set off to the summit but never returned. To this day no one knows whether they reached the top, though Mallory’s body was found in 1999 about 2,075 feet short of it.

Undeterred by repeated failed attempts, British millionairess and socialite Lady Lucy Houston funded a flyover of the summit in 1933, led by the Lord Clydesdale (soon to be the 14th Duke of Hamilton). Her rather misguided intention was for him to plant the British Union Flag at the peak. Exactly how to deploy the flag from the poor duke’s aircraft was never thoroughly planned. Lord Clydesdale knew better and was satisfied enough to pilot the first flight over Everest and the highest flight ever attempted. In addition, with such harsh altitude conditions, his experience illustrated the urgency to develop pressurized cabins in aircrafts. He returned home a hero.

It wasn’t for another 20 years that Edmund Hilary and Nepali Sherpa Tenzing Norgay successfully reached the summit. Nepal had opened its borders only a year earlier. Swiss and British teams were the first to climb the southern face and their literal trail-blazing and route-finding guided the pair. News of their successful ascent arrived in London on the morning of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, June 2, 1953. One of her first orders of business as queen was to knight Sir Edmund and proclaim him a founding member of the Order of New Zealand. Forty-three years later in 1996, Jon Krakauer put the mountain back in the world spotlight with his bestselling account of his ascent, Into Thin Air.

During our Himalayan Kingdoms: Nepal & Bhutan program, you’ll meet an Everest climber who has followed in the steps of Sir Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay … all the way to the mountain’s summit. Click here to learn more!

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