‘The Challengers: Game of Himalayas’ premiered in Nepal

The World Vlog Challenge premiered ‘The Challengers: Game of Himalayas’, one of the first global reality shows directed and produced by Nepali filmmakers, on Saturday in Kathmandu. The show features 11 vloggers from six countries aged 19 to 30 and their adventurous journey and activities during their 12-day trek from Lukla to Sagarmatha Base Camp.

The premiere was attended by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, his spouse Radhika Shakya, Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey, officials from the US Embassy in Nepal, as well as renowned artists and other prominent figures.

Speaking in the premiere, Prime Minister Oli invited tourists worldwide to visit Nepal to witness its breathtaking natural beauty. He expressed confidence that once people visit Nepal, they will be compelled to return. Oli highlighted that the show will help the world better understand the Himalayas and Nepal’s natural beauty. 

Addressing concerns raised by the show about Lukla Airport’s safety, he reassured that while the airport is located in a challenging terrain, it is managed by highly skilled and experienced aviation professionals. “I have flown to Lukla many times. Despite its narrow landscape and short runway, there are 85 flights daily without any accidents due to the expertise of the pilots,” he said, adding that the airport is safe.

Oli also noted that, in addition to Sagarmatha, Nepal has many other mountains like Kanchanjunga, Makalu, Choyu, Manaslu, Annapurna, and Dhaulagiri which are worth discussing across the globe.

Similarly, Minister Pandey said, “The government will support projects that promote Nepal globally. Collaboration between the government and project stakeholders will be crucial in creating such initiatives.”

The show was completed in 1.5 years with an investment of $1m. Director/producer Shree Gurung shared, “This show features 11 prominent vloggers with a combined international following of approximately 40m. The show showcases the reality of surviving in harsh conditions.”

The show is now set for global release and has already been available on Amazon Prime Video in the United States. It consists of eight episodes depicting the vloggers’ journeys through the Himalayas in challenging conditions.

Gurung reflected on the production process, stating, “While the show is thrilling, the filming was expensive, difficult, and rushed. There were times when I felt like giving up. Initially, no one was willing to invest or believe in the project. However, I pushed through with my team and supporters, and I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished.”

The primary goal of including vloggers in the show is to promote Sagarmatha and global tourism through social media platforms, with a focus on raising awareness about climate change in the Himalayas. Gurung concluded, “This is just the beginning. We plan to undertake more projects to showcase different regions of Nepal and their unique realities.”