September 10, 2015 The prestigious accolade was awarded on Tuesday night (8th September) for our emergency relief efforts following the tragic earthquake in Nepal earlier this year. Our appeal has been hugely successful, raising over £260,000 (incl. GiftAid) to date. We can't take all the credit though, or even most of it. That honour goes to you. Without the ongoing support and more than generous donations from our valued customers, none of what we have achieved for Nepal would've been possible. So we'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated to our appeal, posted kind messages of concern and support, and to all of you who have ever travelled with us to Nepal! Exodus Marketing Director Jae said: "We set up the appeal and immediately put £15,000 in the pot hoping to double it with client donations. I couldn't believe it when we exceeded that target within hours of it going live. We're all incredibly humbled by the generosity and concern of our customers. Like us, they really care and we're so touched that they trust in us to distribute their money in the most effective way." Nepal is a country very close to the hearts of everyone at Exodus, especially Managing Director Pete Burrell who travelled there soon after the quake had struck. He said: "I couldn't just sit back and watch the horrors unfold on a TV screen. I had to get out there and do something useful." Read the full interview with Pete as he shares his hopes for Nepal's future and discusses the role Exodus will play in rebuilding the country. You can also keep up to date with our progress in Nepal with our Nepal Earthquake News page. "On April 25, an earthquake hit Nepal…. As the news departments covered the tragedy and we on the Travel section reported on the implications for tourism, I remember being struck by how well many travel companies responded. "But I only have one award to give, and it goes to Exodus: to its management, staff and clients. Its Nepal earthquake fund has raised £225,000 from customers and the wider public; and just as importantly, they’ve followed through by deploying their leaders and guides to help deliver the aid on the ground. "Responsible tourism” is a phrase that has fallen out of fashion. Rightly, I think: there’s a worthy, killjoy ring to it that goes against the reason most of us travel in the first place. All it ever really meant was doing the decent thing. Exodus has done the decent thing - and then some. It deserves recognition." ~ Stephen Bleach, The Sunday Times Travel Editor Thanks again everyone - this award is really for you and the people of Nepal! Our Nepal Earthquake Appeal is still open should you wish to make a donation. Future Travel to Nepal Trekker enjoying breathtaking views of Everest The FCO advice states over half of Nepal is entirely safe to travel to and we are hopeful that the FCO travel restrictions on the mountain regions will soon be lifted. Our local staff out in Nepal have checked our routes and confirmed they are safe, so we are taking bookings as normal for our trekking trips. Should the advice not change prior to your departure, we will of course offer a full refund or rebook you onto a later departure or a different trip of your choice. If the people of Nepal are to get back on their feet following the earthquake, it is crucial to get tourist income flowing through their economy once more. The routes are clear, the guides are ready, and the Sherpas are good to go... It’s time to go back to Nepal! If you're yearning to trek amidst the sky-scraping peaks of the Himalaya, view all of our holidays to Nepal here.