Country Holidays: From student holidays in Nepal to exotic luxury breaks

It might be surprising to read that the foundations of a luxury travel company was based in Nepal. However that is exactly the case for Country Holidays, Singapore based luxury travel company, according to straitstimes.com.

When Mr Chang Theng Hwee, the founder of Country Holidays, was a 23 year old university student, he and a group of friends decided to spend a month long holiday trekking in the Himalayas. A five-week long holiday was booked for Nepal and Northern India, with a budget of $2000 each. Hwee became a treasurer of sorts for the group, counting every precious penny, making sure that not a dollar was spent out of line.

“We ate potatoes and more potatoes, eggs and more eggs.” – Chang Hwee

The holiday in the mountains proved formative, and after graduating college and working to save some money, Mr Hwee and his wife, Ms Tan Siew Yim, opened Country Holidays in 1994, specializing in student holidays to Nepal.

That was then. 22 years later, Country Holidays has evolved into a luxury travel company that specializes in tailor made breaks to some of the most exotic locations on earth from Antarctica to Madagascar, South America to South Africa, Norway to Tanzania et al.

With Nepal though, he has a special connection. Only last year, he returned to trek to Everest Base Camp with his son.

“Nepal has a precious position in my heart.” – Chang Hwee

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