Partners and Links
Travel Shows
The Times Destinations Holiday and Travel Show
We support the Destinations Travel Show at Earls Court in London.
http://www.destinationsshow.com/
Travel Associations
Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO)
Mountain Kingdoms is a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators - AITO is the Association for independent and specialist holiday companies. Member companies, usually owner-managed, strive to create overseas holidays with high levels of professionalism and a shared concern for quality and personal service. The Association encourages the highest standards in all aspects of tour operating, please see AITO's Quality Charter for more details.
http://www.aito.co.uk/
ABTOT
ABTOT is a holiday bonding scheme offering financial protection for travellers. All Mountain Kingdoms Land Only holidays are protected by our bond secured through ABTOT.
https://www.abtot.com
Air Travel Organiser's Licencing (ATOL)
ATOL is a financial protection scheme for holidaymakers. If an ATOL tour operator fails, the ATOL scheme ensures customers contracted with the ATOL holder for an air package or a flight, do not lose the money paid over or are not stranded abroad. Mountain Kingdoms flight inclusive holidays are fully bonded with ATOL. Our land only holidays are covered by a bond secure with ABTOT
https://www.caa.co.uk/atol-protection/
Charities & Other Organisations
Kidasha - Children’s Charity
Kidasha is a UK-registered charity that supports severely disadvantaged children living in crisis and chronic poverty in Nepal. They focus on those children beyond the reach of existing services and support. Established in 1997, Kidasha empowers communities and implements projects on a local level.
https://www.kidasha.org/
The Ginette Harrison School
Ginette, a former trek leader for HK, was unquestionably the most accomplished woman mountaineer Great Britain has ever produced. Tragically she died in an avalanche while attempting Dhaulagiri in 1999. A school has been built near Kathmandu in her name and to keep it running we are looking for people who would like to adopt a child at the school.
The Gurkha Welfare Trust
The Gurkha Welfare Trust was established in England in 1969. Its remit is to provide financial, medical and community aid to alleviate hardship and distress among Gurkha ex-servcemen of the British Army and their dependants after they have returned to their homeland of Nepal.
http://www.gwt.org.uk/
The Bhutan Society
The Bhutan Society of the United Kingdom was founded on October 6th 1992 in response to the growing connections between the two countries. It aims to encourage and promote knowledge and understanding of the Kingdom of Bhutan, its history and its culture. To encourage cultural and educational links between the peoples of the Kingdom of Bhutan and the United Kingdom. To act as a link between all people, particularly those in the United Kingdom, who are interested in, or who have connections with, the Kingdom of Bhutan and to promote and foster good relations between the peoples of the Kingdom of Bhutan and the United Kingdom.
http://www.bhutansociety.org/
The Himalayan Club
The Himalayan Club works to encourage and assist Himalayan travel and exploration, and to extend knowledge of the Himalaya and adjoining mountain ranges through science, art, literature and sport. Our MD, Steve Berry, is a lifetime fellow of the Himalayan Club.
http://www.himalayanclub.org/
Nepali Children's Trust
The Nepali Children's Trust was set up by Mountain Kingdoms' client, Fran McGowan, in 2005 to support physically challenged children living at the Disabled Newlife Centre (DNC) in Kathmandu. They aim to provide long term, sustainable support and have made a commitment to provide the centre with a new purpose built residential home for the children.
http://www.nepalichildrenstrust.com/
Mountain Heritage Trust
The key role of the Mountain Heritage Trust (MHT) is to ensure that Britain's unique & fascinating heritage of the people connected with its mountainous areas are conserved, documented, made accessible and, most importantly, communicated to as wide an audience as possible.
http://www.mountain-heritage.org/
Weather
BBC Weather
World weather forecasts, plus sunshine, rainfall, temperature and other details for major cities across the globe.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/
The Met Office
Up to the minute global weather information including satellite imagery.
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/
Medical
Fit for Travel
Fitfortravel is a free, interactive, public access website providing up to date health information for the UK public on avoiding illness and staying healthy when travelling abroad. Country specific information on health risks, vaccine requirements and malaria risk are listed.
https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home
British Mountaineering Council
Detailed advice from the UIAA Mountain Medicine Centre for climbers and mountain travellers can be found on this site. Go to the site guide, then go to information and finally go to altitude advice service.
http://www.thebmc.co.uk/
High Altitude Travel Advice
Download a free booklet from Medex, giving advice on altitude illness, how to acclimatise and what to do if you become ill. Medex is a research charity dedicated to investigating the mechanisms of altitude related illness.
http://www.medex.org.uk/
Books and Maps
Stanfords
Stanfords are known and respected for being a leading Map & Travel bookshop, with an enormous range of specialist maps, books, globes and travel accessories.
http://www.stanfords.co.uk/
Cordee
For over 25 years Europes largest specialist distributor and publisher of outdoor recreation and sports travel guides, maps, videos and multimedia, collected from the worlds specialist publishers and available from one single source of supply.
http://www.cordee.co.uk/
Maps Worldwide
One of the UKs leading Internet map shops, selling worldwide maps and travel guides on a secure ordering line.
http://www.mapsworldwide.co.uk/
Clothing and Equipment Suppliers
Cotswold Outdoor
Multi-award winning outdoor clothing and equipment retailer, with numerous stores located nationwide and a highly successful online order service. Mountain Kingdoms' clients receive 15% discount off clothing and equipment.
https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/
Ellis Brigham
Established in 1933 and still family owned today, Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports are the UK's leading independent outdoor & mountain sports retailer.
Mountain Kingdoms' clients receive 15% discount off clothing and equipment.
https://www.ellis-brigham.com/
Snow+Rock
Snow+Rock is one of the country's leading Outdoor Retailers with shops nationwide, a home shopping service and a web shop. They offer a huge range of products and strive to offer the lowest prices anywhere.
https://www.snowandrock.com/
Nomad Travel & Outdoor
Nomad has been kitting out travellers since 1990. Their ethos is the same today as it was then - to ensure every traveller leaves with the correct clothing, equipment and medical supplies for their trip. Nomad also offer travel vaccination clinics at some of their stores.
https://www.nomadtravel.co.uk/
Hireacamera.com
Hire a camera or camcorder for your trek or tour. Hireacamera.com will deliver to your door by next day courier.
https://www.hireacamera.com/
General
Wilderness Lectures
These are the best adventure travel lectures in the South-west - a series of fascinating audio-visual presentations, given by widely-travelled explorers, mountaineers and well-known sportspeople.
http://www.wildernesslectures.com/
MD Steve Berry's book 'Straight Up'
Himalayan tales of encounters with bears, escapes from avalanches, summit successes and failures, love stories, mystical connections, Himalayan storms, and grapples with bureaucracy in Steve's book 'Straight Up'.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Straight-Up-Himalayan-Tales-Unexpected/dp/1906148473
International School of Mountaineering
The world's foremost provider of Alpine mountaineering courses, ski-tours, and Haute Routes across the Alps. Founded 1965, staffed wholly by IFMGA - qualified Guides.
http://www.alpin-ism.com/
Travel Aware
Travel Aware is a FCCO campaign that aims to help travellers have a safe and enjoyable holiday by encouraging them to be better prepared before going.
https://travelaware.campaign.gov.uk
Big Wide World Photography blog
Holly Barber of Big Wide World Photography writes a blog about her travels around the world, illustrated with her fantastic photos. Over the past few years, many of her photos have been used in our brochure.
http://www.bigwideworldphotography.com/
Planetstillalive Photography
Marie France Grenouillet has been travelling the world - and taking beautiful photos wherever she goes. Her specialty is wildlife photography, so take a look at her website to see some of the animals and birds you may encounter on our holidays to Bhutan, India, Antarctica and Tanzania.
http://www.planetstillalive.com/asia/bhutan/