As both India and Nepal have entered a bilateral travel bubble arrangement, Indian travellers are now permitted to visit Nepal with eased restrictions for travel. RARE India, which is a collection of some of the finest conscious luxury boutique hotels, palace stays, wildlife lodges, homestays and retreats in the Indian subcontinent, has used the situation to its advantage in order to promote responsible tourism by updating its Nepal portfolio.
Explaining the partnership, Shoba Mohan, the Founder of RARE India said, “Nepal was our first destination outside India and with Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge we set the pace for promoting very conscious and sustainable options. Over the pandemic, we added more small lodges and homestays in the Annapurna region through the Gurung villages and the Everest Region.”
One of RARE India’s most valuable properties in the forefront of the Responsible Tourism and Regenerative Travel movement across the Indian subcontinent is Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge. This property has been with RARE for over a decade now and is ideal for guests pre- and post-trek, or for those who desire to take day walks exploring local communities, community forests, bird-watching or just to relax in a typical Nepalese rural setting with stunning views of Pokhara’s iconic FishTail peak. Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge is a composite stay with culture, cuisine and nature explorations as a strong focus. Though the town of Pokhara is a short drive away, the advantage of Tiger Mountain is its pristine rural setting (far away from other lodges) and the depth of personal experience.
Marcus Cotton, Director of Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge, a passionate advocate of Regenerative and Responsible Travel, is keen to promote Nepal and Tiger Mountain to travellers from India. He said, “The convenience of Nepal for travel from India, coupled with deep cultural ties makes it a natural destination for short breaks and holiday escapes. The exquisite beauty of the Himalayan foothills, the rich wildlife of the Nepal Terai is second to none. Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge loves RARE’s conscious luxury travel Touchstones that are the essence of Regenerative Tourism.”
Yeti Mountain Homes and Ker and Downey Lodges joined RARE last year and form the basis of three popular walking programmes: two with Ker and Downey Lodges and one with Yeti Mountain Homes. The Ker and Downey Lodges offer unique journeys allowing visitors to experience beautiful walking trails through the Annapurna Himalaya in style and comfort while staying in comfortable accommodation with en suite facilities, while Yeti Mountain Homes are a group of comfortable lodges located in the Khumbu/Everest region. These offer magnificent views of some of the highest mountains in the world. Yeti Group also includes Gokarna Forest Lodge in Kathmandu, Kasara Jungle Resort in Chitwan which re-opened early this year. With this collaboration, RARE has partnered with some of the leading responsible tourism organisations in Nepal as well as reinforcing its ethos of sustainability and community benefit which is so essential in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Daman Pradhan, CEO of the Yeti added by saying, “Whether it be the Annapurna lowlands or your home above the clouds we offer you unique experiences with our style of unmatched traditional comfort. Let us show you the Nepal we love, in the way you’ll love.”
As the ethos of RARE and the Nepal hotels align, the collaboration will focus greatly on benefiting the community, preservation of local culture and conservation through responsible tourism. Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge and the series of lodges and camps under the Yeti Group are a great showcase of Nepal’s beautiful landscape and it’s still pristine rural areas. From photographic opportunities to cultural immersions each of these properties has a range of authentic and transformative experiences for their guests.
All the lodges have implemented and enhanced their safety and health measures to combat the challenges brought by the Covid-19 pandemic. The measures are in line with the guidelines of WHO and government authorities. These measures include focusing on an enhanced cleaning practice, social interactions and safety of employees and adjacent communities while maintaining respect for Planet Earth and ensuring the traditional warmth of welcome found in Nepal.
