Everest Base Camp treks, inspiring Annapurna Sanctuary hikes, extraordinary Chitwan National Park elephant safaris, amazing cultural tours and visits to beautiful medieval towns along the sweeping valley… this is how holidays in Nepal look like at a glance. The watershed of Asia, sandwiched between the mighty Himalayas and the northern Indian plains, this fascinating and diverse Himalayan kingdom is where you are sure to have unforgettable holidays with innumerable adventures and experiences.
Nepal’s cultural landscape is as diverse as its physical one. Its inhabitants (Nepal has a population of more than 18 million people) belong to a host of distinctive ethnic groups, and speak a host of languages. They live in different settlements and practice different religions. At the same time they blend all their traditions, making Nepal a truly interesting place to have a vacation. The Nepalese are incredibly friendly and sociable. And what you should do is to just fun-learn a bit of Nepali and they will love you for it and share their customs and traditions with you!
Nepal’s intoxicating capital, Kathmandu is the place to base your holidays. Conveniently lying at the foot of the magnificent Himalayas, it’s a vibrant and chaotic city that appeals visitors with its medieval warren of alleys, numerous beautiful Hindu temples, and Buddhist stupas; and its uniquely relaxed nightlife, so much that the whole of the Kathmandu Valley has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Among Kathmandu attractions there are some which are well-worth a visit no matter how ‘templed-out’ you are. They include the UNESCO-listed Hanuman Dhoka, aka Durbar Square, where you can sit on steps and admire numerous pigeons, people and sadhus wandering; Boudhnath – perhaps the largest Stupa in the world with activities that will keep you busy all day long; and the Swayambhunath, aka Monkey Temple, filled with literally hundreds of monkeys, not to mention the tons of statues to the various gods, including monkey god Hanuman. Kathmandu is also a great spot for shopaholics, with many colorful markets, boutiques and trendy malls, waiting to be explored.
Adventure-seeking travelers will find Nepal simply blessed with activities, from hikes and treks, to bikes and wildlife watching. One of the most popular experiences is to reach the top of the world – the picture-perfect Mount Everest. For many ‘the steps to haven,’ the route to Everest, featuring beautiful forests, Sherpa villages, and glacial moraines is a spot to be trekked to be believed. The Panoramic views here are simply unrivaled. Meeting locals during teahouse stays also adds to the adventure.
An alternative base for planning your trek, Nepal’s second city – Pokhara is where visitors will find hundreds of trekking routes, some great day-treks and overnight hikes.
But do not think that your Nepal holidays are limited by hikes and treks. No. Nepal is also a great place for rafting and kayaking with many rivers of different shapes and sizes. Jungle safaris are also popular with holidaymakers, giving travelers the chance to admire spectacular nature (certain areas of the southern flatlands have been declared as National Parks and wildlife reserves) and come face-to-face with unique wildlife.
When to Visit
Spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit this magical country, as this is the time when the monsoon rains occur no longer and the skies are clear for great views of the Himalayas. And although summer is considered to be a rainy season, Nepal still sees a good amount of visitor traffic from tourists on vacation, mostly from nearby India.
Nepal is truly a mecca for outdoorsy type travelers, because it’s here that you can experience some of the best trekking opportunities in Asia; the country is safe; and food served here is very diverse and simply mouth-watering!
