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Dasho Benji Dorji and the Bhutan Society
One of Bhutan’s leading environmentalists, Dasho Benji Dorji, has recorded a fascinating talk for the Bhutan Society of the UK. He established Bhutan’s Royal Society for the Protection of Nature in 1987 and has been a passionate advocate for the preservation of the endangered Black-necked cranes.
He was responsible for protecting the winter feeding grounds of the cranes in the Bumthang Valley and establishing the adjacent Visitor Information Centre and the colourful Black-necked Crane Festival which is held annually at Gangtey Gompa.
Watch Dasho Benji Dorji's talk here to discover more about the cranes and his passion for protecting Bhutan’s beautiful natural environment.
Mountain Kingdoms have been members of the Bhutan Society since its inaugaration, helping to raise funds for the Society’s charitable Trust Fund. These funds are used in Bhutan to support disadvantaged adults and children, community initiatives and cultural projects. We will continue to raise money and support the society in this important work.
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Farewell to Wilderness Lectures
One summer’s day in 1987 Steve Berry (our MD) and fellow adventurer, Steve Marriott, were standing at the foot of the cliffs in Avon gorge. Having agreed that it was too hot to climb, they had been killing time in a ‘Wouldn’t it be great if…’ competition. This was when the fantasy of listening to the epic stories of their favourite heroes became a solid plan…
Since then, the two Steves and their caving friend Dick Willis, have organised more than 400 lectures whose general theme has been ‘Worldwide Adventure’. These epic stories have taken the audiences from the deepest point of the deepest ocean to the summit of Mount Everest, and from darkest, dankest inner spaces of our planet to even darker journeys in Outer Space. There have been mountaineers, sailors, cyclists, divers, balloonists, and even a man who cycled around the world on a penny farthing, and another who flew his car from Europe over the Straights of Gibraltar to Africa. There have been world famous explorers, record breakers, and people who have headed out into the remote unknown just for the hell of it.
Having run Wilderness for 36 years the three friends have decided to step back and retire so there will be no series this winter. However, they would be really happy if a younger individual, or a group of friends, would step forward to take over Wilderness and pick up where they are leaving off. If anyone is interested contact Wilderness Lectures here.
NEW Naar Phu Circuit Trek
We've just launched new tea house trek in the heart of the Annapurna Mountains in Nepal. An exhilarating, 18-day trekking trip, the Naar Phu Circuit takes you away from the popular trails of the Annapurnas, into a genuinely remote and truly spectacular region where access remains restricted.
Take a look at the full trip details here or speak to Harry in the Mountain Kingdoms office who completed the Naar Phu Circuit Trek earlier this year and rates it as the best he's ever done.
Holidays with Festivals
If you love a festival, but hate muddy fields, tent villages and rubbish food then it may be time to look beyond Glastonbury and Reading. In our latest enews we reveal alternative festivals in the Himalaya and Mongolia that offer amazing music, unusual sports and unique cultural experiences.
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