Hong Kong chef Richard Ekkebus on mountain climbing to keep his weight down

Hong Kong chef Richard Ekkebus on mountain climbing to keep his weight down

When we speak in June, Ekkebus has just returned from a mountaineering expedition – a three-week trip in Ecuador to climb Chimborazo and Cotopaxi, the latter an active stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains, whose summits are 6,263 metres (20,547ft) and 5,897 metres above sea level respectively. Chef Richard Ekkebus on Cotopaxi, Ecuador, during a recent … Read more

How overcrowding on peaks like Everest and Himalayan trails leads to danger and a rise in trash despite Nepal’s rules

How overcrowding on peaks like Everest and Himalayan trails leads to danger and a rise in trash despite Nepal’s rules

Like Porci No, trekkers from all over the world head to the Himalayas for the experience of a lifetime. They trek around the lower reaches of the Everest, Annapurna and Kanchenjunga mountains, often at altitudes of more than 5,000 metres (16,400 feet) above sea level. Italian trekker Federico Porci No with a Nepali woman during … Read more

Bhutan’s Royal Highland Festival is a mix of music, dance and sport – but it’s the altitude that takes your breath away

Bhutan’s Royal Highland Festival is a mix of music, dance and sport – but it’s the altitude that takes your breath away

Just 10km (6.2 miles) from the Chinese border, in the most northerly reaches of Gasa district, Laya is accessible only on foot or by helicopter. When setting out, reassured by the guide that the hike would be a mere 12km, the helicopter option seemed like a ridiculous idea. After completing about a third of the … Read more