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Nepal launches Great Himalayan Trail: An arduous trek stretching 1,700 kilometres (1,050-miles)

07.10.2011

Nepal has officially opened its section of the Great Himalaya Trail, one of the longest and highest walking trails in the world. The Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) spans the entire length of the country - from Kanchenjunga in the East to Humla in the West - and will provide a significant boost to the tourism industry and its associated support sectors by channeling tourists and investment into under-developed regions. "This is a completely new product and we hope that it will help boost the tourism industry," said Sharad Pradhan, a spokesman for the Nepal Tourism Board. Winding beneath the world’s highest peaks and visiting some of the most remote communities on earth, it passes through lush green valleys, arid high plateaus and incredible landscapes. Nepal’s GHT has 10 sections comprising a network of upper and lower routes, each offering you something different, be it adventure and exploration, authentic cultural experiences, or simply spectacular Himalayan nature. Requiring relatively low levels of capital investment, tourism can yield high levels of employment and income for the poor, particularly in rural areas where biodiversity and indigenous cultures have not yet been significantly eroded. The living standards of these communities can be enhanced by infra-structure development, social mobilization, institutional development, education, skills training and support for entrepreneurs. Adventurers who complete the 1,700-kilometre (1,050-mile) trek will encounter a huge variety of cultures from the mainly Buddhist Tamang people of the central Langtang region to the ancient animist practices that mix with Hinduism in the far west. It will take experienced trekkers around five months to complete, although it can also be broken down into smaller sections. Find out how the trail will bring economic opportunities to poor and marginalized communities across Nepal's scenic mountain districts by taking a virtual tour of the trail at the official GHT website.