As Nepal reopens most of the heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley to the public and following the Tourism Minister's recent declaration that the country is “safe for travel”, World Expeditions has announced that it will operate all of its scheduled treks in the Annapurna and Everest regions in the next season, after extensive reconnaissance of the trekking routes by its leaders. Although a further final review will be conducted after the monsoon, no changes to this position are foreseen at the moment.

The Annapurna region sustained very little damage from the earthquake, while in the Everest region two small landslips on the trails north of Lukla have already been repaired by government appointed workers. Popular trekking passes such as Cho La (linking the Everest and Gokyo Valley), Renjo La (connecting the Gokyo and Thame Valleys) and Kongma La (between the Chukung Valley and Lobuche) are unaffected, whereas the Everest Base Camp also remains intact (the landslide that occured post-earthquake was at the Base Camp used by climbing expeditions, several hours' hike above Gorak Shep, the highest village in which trekkers sleep). In addition, the trekking holiday specialist is confident that most other remoter regions are also going to be operational following the monsoon, when they are fully assessed.

Gordon Steer, UK Manager for World Expeditions, said:

“Nepal is a country very close to our heart and our aim at World Expeditions is to support its recovery by encouraging the return of tourism, having established operational safety in two of our main trekking regions”.

“Following the earthquake, our staff has been out in the field to review extensively the condition of the trails and the general state of community villages and we have also been keen to establish that the entry and departure points for our treks, being road access and air strips, are reliable”.

“Our private campsite infrastructure in the Everest and Annapurna regions is in good condition – minor repairs currently underway in two of our Everest camps will be completed well before the season recommences – the international airport is fully functional and the Radisson Hotel in Kathmandu has received an official 'green sticker' that confirms it as structurally sound”.

Since April's devastating earthquake World Expeditions has received hundreds of messages from past customers who have been touched by the generosity of spirit and warmth of the Nepali people and want to help in a real and meaningful way. In response to this overwhelming interest, World Expeditions will operate in total eight 'community project' trips in Nepal in November, December and January (details are currently being finalised), in order to provide opportunities to anyone who wishes to physically contribute to the rebuilding effort.

So far the World Expeditions Foundation's Nepal Earthquake Appeal has raised more than £110,000.

World Expeditions has been operating treks in Nepal for 40 years and, at the time of the earthquake, it had 15 groups travelling in the country and the surrounding regions, including Kathmandu, Everest, Annapurna and Tibet; all clients and staff were reported safe and were able to complete their trips.

• If you would like to be informed about the expanded range of service trips, please contact World Expeditions by visiting www.worldexpeditions.co.uk or call 0800 0744 135.

• The World Expeditions Foundation does not levy any administration fee. You can donate by visiting https://www.gofundraise.com.au/beneficiary/nepalearthquakeappeal.
 

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Notes for editors:
• One of the very first operators in what is now becoming a very popular area in travel, since its inception in 1975 World Expeditions has earned itself an outstanding reputation as a world leader in small group adventure holidays and cultural journeys.
• The two factors that distinguish World Expeditions from its competitors, the number of inclusions and the exceptional value of its trips, can be found today in more than 500 stand-alone itineraries, escorted by expert leaders and meticulously designed for those travellers who want to take the 'paths less travelled'.
• Always innovative, it was, among others, the first operator to offer cycling holidays in India (1977) and China (1978) and trekking trips in Mongolia (1980) and Tibet (1981). In 2013 it launched a dedicated 'World Cycle Journeys' programme, while as of 2011 it is the only company to offer the newly mapped Great Himalaya Trail.
• World Expeditions is independently owned and a truly global company, with nine offices around the world, including London, Sydney and Montreal.
    
For high-res images and PR/media enquiries:
World Expeditions | UTracks | Sherpa Expeditions
020 8875 5060
Tom Panagos pr@worldexpeditions.co.uk
Gordon Steer gordon@worldexpeditions.co.uk