KATHMANDU, Oct 25: Popular travel guidebook Lonely Planet has included Nepal in its 'Best to Travel in 2017' list.
Nepal has been placed in the fifth position in the list of top ten countries to travel in 2017.
“Even natural disasters can't keep Nepal down for long. The 2015 earthquakes caused devastation, but what is most striking from a traveler's perspective is not how much was lost but how much remains. Landmark temples crumbled, but others came through with just the odd tile out of place, and whole swathes of the country escaped serious damage, including most of the popular trekking trails,” said Lonely Planet.
“Nepal has all the skills required to repair monuments and infrastructure, but what it does need is income. By visiting Nepal now and supporting local culture and people, you could help a nation rebuild and bounce back even stronger,” it added.
Canada, Colombia, Finland and Dominica are ahead of Nepal in the list. Similarly, Bermuda, Mongolia, Oman, Myanmar and Ethiopia trail Nepal in the annual list.
Similarly, Nepal has also topped the list of 'Best Value Destinations'. According to the list, Nepal is at the top of the list of 10 places which the travel guidebook says offer best value for the 'travel bargains for the budget-conscious'.
Noting that Nepal is bouncing back from earthquakes and fuel strike that made getting round the country tough, Lonely Planet writes 'Nepal remains a fabulous choice for budget-conscious travelers, who can access the best of its world-famous trekking routes and underrated wildlife for well south of US$ 50 a day '.
"Visitor numbers are slowly recovering and the time is ripe to get back to Nepal's mighty mountains; wherever you go, you'll receive a warm welcome, as your visit brings much-needed income to communities getting back on their feet,” added the publication.
According to Lonely Planet, its staffers come up with hundreds of places that are 'buzzing right now, offer new things for travelers to see or do, or are criminally overlooked and underrated.' "Amid fierce debate, the list is whittled down by our panel of travel experts to just 10 countries, 10 regions and 10 cities that travelers must visit in the year ahead," said the Lonely Planet about the process of picking up recommendations. "Each destination is chosen for its topicality, unique experiences and 'wow' factor. We don't just report on the trends, we set them - helping you get there before the crowds do," it added.
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