The Informed Adventurer

After reading Eat, Pray, Love and seeing the movie Lisa felt like she hadn't seen or read the same book/movie as everyone else! It all seemed like people were focusing on replication rather than adventure - she felt as though everyone was missing the point. More... (Posted on Monday, August 30, 2010; 1 comment)

In a world where we are all on a deadline, and under pressure and stressed, it gets very easy to focus only on the end result and forget that life isn't about the destination - but the journey. More... (Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2010; 1 comment)

The modern world comes to Nepal....well not exactly. More... (Posted on Tuesday, July 6, 2010; no comments yet)

Some of our alums share their stories, this one in particular really touched us. Jane spent a month traveling through Nepal and Bhutan earlier this year, this is the story of how and why she went - and what she brought home with her. More... (Posted on Wednesday, June 23, 2010; 1 comment)

With 30 years experience in the industry, Steve Conlon knows what makes for a good experience and what makes for a great one. According to him, and his long history of exploring the globe - the one most important factor that makes a good trip great - is who is there: your guide! More... (Posted on Monday, May 24, 2010; 1 comment)

Steve Conlon has been traveling through Europe for almost 40 years and yet he still manages to find unknown corners. This past April he traveled through the widely undiscovered southern toe of Italy and found himself in some wonderful new surroundings. From the languages to the food and landscape, he fell in love with Italy all over again! More... (Posted on Thursday, May 20, 2010; 1 comment)

Even the most well traveled of us run into problems while abroad. Even though Steve Conlon has spent years crisscrossing the globe and has been exposed to all different kinds of travel, he has experienced many a snafu! Here he shares one of his most embarrassing travel-gone-wrong stories and how just like life - often times with travel you just have to cross your fingers, hope for the best and believe in the kindness of strangers. More... (Posted on Monday, May 3, 2010; 1 comment)

When Richard & Dorothy's group departure was canceled they weren't sure if they would get a chance to visit India at all; however, they decided to go ahead and have Above the Clouds put together a private departure just for the two of them. They found themselves to be happily surprised with the adventure they had booked - a more personal journey than expected. More... (Posted on Wednesday, April 21, 2010; no comments yet)

Steve Conlon has been traveling to Nepal from almost 40 years, some of that has been his own exploration, some with groups and some with friends and family. This is the story of this first trip to Nepal and the beginning of the next 40 years of his life. More... (Posted on Friday, April 16, 2010; no comments yet)

Often times people travel with a very strong idea of the reasons they are going - and many times they return home with a very different perspective. Steve Conlon found that out first hand many years ago, this is his story. More... (Posted on Thursday, April 8, 2010; 1 comment)

There are certain travel experiences that change one's perspective on life, this is one of those events. More... (Posted on Wednesday, April 7, 2010; no comments yet)

A long time, well traveled and incredibly smart friend of ours took her first trek with us this summer. Her pithy wit and great attitude was both entertaining and enlightening throughout trek, so when we returned we asked her to share her thoughts on the trek through the Forbidden Kingdom of Mustang - they ended up being the hilarious confessions of a first time Above the Clouds trekker. More... (Posted on Tuesday, April 6, 2010; 1 comment)

Many claim that Nepal was the birthplace of adventure travel, and now - about 60 years later the country, industry and trekking itself has totally changed. Steve Conlon has been in trekking in Nepal for 40 years and has been apart of the evolution that has taken place throughout the country. More... (Posted on Monday, April 5, 2010; no comments yet)

Some trek itineraries are facilitated by mountains and views, while others are motivated by the idea of a new untouched trail; however, our East Nepal trek itinerary was precipitated much more by legend than anything else. This Nepali folk story is the tale of a young girl turned goddess, and the sacred hill that she still protectively graces with her presence: Patibhara. More... (Posted on Sunday, April 4, 2010; no comments yet)

In the modern world there are few things that exemplify the grace, agility and power of the tiger; however, even with all of these traits it seems that the tiger is having a more and more difficult time finding its place here in the modern world of poachers and sprawling development. More... (Posted on Thursday, April 1, 2010; no comments yet)