How to Plan a Nepal Tour

With a culture almost as ancient as the Himalayas on which it stands, Nepal is a land of snow-covered mountains full of yaks and yetis, monasteries and mantras, and the amazing hardy people of the Sherpa tribes. The country is a haven for mountain climbers, with its back set against the mighty Himalayas, and eight of the ten highest mountains in the world inside its borders. From Everest to the Annapurnas and beyond, the area is also popular with hikers who are looking to get lost in the mountains and valleys of the Himalayas. It is a place where you can trek for days through amazing mountain scenery, secure in the knowledge that a hot meal and comfortable bed awaits at the end of the day. Many of the trails have lodges along the route, designed specifically to cater for the millions of trekkers and hikers who come to the mountainous country every year.

Below the mountains lie the jungle-covered national parks that are the home to numerous indigenous species of wildlife, and full of trails for the adventurous trekker. Hundreds of exotic birds fill the treetops, while down below rhinos, tigers, and other animals prowl the jungles. Whether traveling by foot, bike, boat, or tourist bus, there are a massive array of landscapes and attractions that Nepal has to offer. The country is filled with ancient medieval cities and sacred sites, where you can see the history and culture of Nepal at a more refined pace, and admire the peaks from a Himalayas viewpoint, or stroll through the medieval city squares in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Patan. Buddhist pilgrims journey for miles to the ancient monasteries and stupas that dot the countryside, and you will often see them walking a kora around some of the centuries-old sacred sites. Kathmandu Valley holds a wealth of world-class palaces, small backstreet shops, and hidden shrines with stunning temple art.

There are very few countries in the world that are set up to cater for independent travel as well as Nepal. The city streets of Thamel and Pokhara are filled with trekking stores, bakeries, and pizzerias, and for many it is like the Disneyland of backpacking. The countryside around the cities gives a different view of Nepal, where the traditional life of the mountain people carries on at a more sedate pace. Millions of potential adventures lie on the snowy, mountain horizons. Thousands of people have spent their lives revisiting the mountains and jungles of Nepal, and exploring the temple towns in the Middle Hills. One problem is faced by almost every visitor to the country: how are you going to fit everything in on one trip?

Nepalese History

Nepal has been recorded in history as a national territory since the Neolithic period. The name dates back to before the founding of Hinduism, in the Vedic Age. Southern Nepal was also the birthplace of the founder of Buddhism, Gautama Buddha, during the first millennium BCE. Archaeologists believe that the Nepalese people have been living in the region for over 11,000 years, and the oldest known population layer is that of the Kusunda people. The country also features in several Vedic texts as “Nepal Mahatmya”, and the Hindu texts of the Naryana Puja.

From over 2,500 years ago, Tibeto-Burman people crossed into Nepal, settling in the Middle Hills region, while Indo-Aryans took lands in the lower regions of the country. Small kingdoms and clans arose in the 5th century BCE, from which arose a prince who would later renounce his royal status and become known as the Gautama Buddha. The country later came under the influence of the Maurya Empire of Northern India, and then the Gupta Empire, resting finally under the ownership of the Licchavi Kingdom in around 300 BCE. Their rule lasted until the eighth century, and is thought to have ended due to the Tibetan Empire’s expansion under the reign of King Trisong Detsen.

In the 12th century, rulers arose in the far west of Nepal, who consolidated their power and ruled for over 200 years. After splintering, the country was once again reunited in the late 14th century, and was divided into three distinct kingdoms: Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur. From the late 18th century, a Gorkha king put together the kingdom that is now present-day Nepal, and several wars developed over the years over the territories of the Tingri Valleys in Tibet and the Indian states bordering Nepal. The Anglo-Nepali War started the reputation of the world-famous Gurkha tribe, whose regiment is still a part of the British Military to this day, with soldiers chosen from the fiercest of the tribesmen.

Today, Nepal is a democratic country, after King Gyanendra agreed to relinquish his power to the people, and the House of Representatives was reinstated as part of the government in 2006. This ended the country’s time-honored status as a Hindu kingdom, and Nepal attained a full democracy in 2008.

Planning the Trip to Nepal

Planning any trip to Nepal depends on the things you want to see when you go there, and there is a lot to see and do. Nepal is one of the trekkers’ paradises of the world, and caters for everything from first-time treks to experienced hiking trails. Everest Base Camp remains one of the most popular treks in the region, and the legendary Annapurna Circuit is one of the most exciting trekking trails in the world. Trekking tours can cover anything from 1-day trips to view Everest, to several weeks on the trail.

Majority of Nepal’s cultural heritage can be found in the Kathmandu Valley, and are easily accessible for tourists, with easy heritage walks as well as half-day and full-day trips. Kathmandu is full of sights such as Durbar Square and Swayambhunath, and a short ride away are cities and historic sites like Patan, Kirtipur, Thimi, Boudhanath, Bhaktapur, Pashupatinath, and Panauti. With wild Bengal tigers, Indian elephants, and one-horned rhinos, jungle safaris are a great way to discover Nepal’s incredible jungles. The sights, sounds, and smells of the jungle get more intense the further in you go, and it is possible to get within a few feet of the monstrous rhinos. From the easy trails of Chitwan, to the out-of-the-way sites like Bardia, there is nothing like trekking through the dense jungles in search of the elusive Bengal tigers.

Nepal is also a heaven for the adrenaline junkies of the world, from paragliding over the Himalayas to white-water rafting down some of the spectacular rivers. And while there are many outdoor adventures to be had, there are also indoor ones. Wall climbing centers, archery ranges, and bungee-jumping sites are available all over the Kathmandu Valley. As the home of the Gautama Buddha, the founder of the Buddhist religion, Nepal is a tantric mix of Buddhists, Hindus, Newari, and many other religions. Lumbini is the site of the Maya Devi temple, where Buddha was born, and is surrounded by the famed sacred gardens. Kathmandu Valley has hundreds of temples, with statues of Hindu gods and Buddhist stupas. You can explore the area and discover how these unique faiths are intermixed, find the living goddess, or simply learn meditation at one of the many Buddhist and Hindu meditation centers.

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Top Sights to See in Nepal

Everest Base Camp

One of the most thrilling and exciting treks in Nepal is the one to Everest Base Camp, the place where explorer and mountaineer, Edmund Hillary, and his Sherpa guide, Lobsang Tensing, left for their famous ascent of the mountain. The trail leads past some of the best views on the planet, such as Kala Patthar, before climaxing with the stunning view of Mt. Everest from the base camp.

Lumbini

The famous Lord Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, was born in the now-famous gardens of Lumbini in 623BC, and the place has become one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the world for Buddhists. Indian Emperor, Ashoka, is numbered among the pilgrims to have visited the site, and it is now dedicated as a Buddhist pilgrimage center, and is an amazing place to visit.

Annapurna Base Camp

One of the most legendary treks of Nepal, this route gives you the chance to see and explore typical Nepalese villages and their traditional way of life. The route passes through tranquil landscapes, Gurung and Magar villages, lush rhododendron, alpine, and bamboo forests, before reaching the final destination of the base camp.

Rara Taal

Rara Lake is the biggest of all Nepal’s lakes, and sits at an elevation of 2,990 meters, with an area of almost 11 square kilometers. Surrounded on all sides by the Rara National Park, which preserves the natural beauty of the area and its unique flora and fauna, the lake is home to several rare and vulnerable species of plants and animals.

Chitwan National Park

The very first National Park established in Nepal in 1973, it is now a World Heritage Site, and is a rich natural area in the Terai, the subtropical part of southern Nepal. The park contains 68 species of mammals, 544 species of birds, 126 species of fish, and 56 species of herpetofauna. The park is world-renowned for its protection of the Gharial Crocodile, the Royal Bengal Tiger, and the extremely rare One-Horned Rhinoceros.

Gosainkunda Lake

Gosainkunda Lake is located at an altitude of 4,360 meters above sea level, and is one of Nepal’s most visited pilgrimage sites. Surrounded on all sides by lofty mountains, it is just one of ten lakes in the area. Every year during the Janai Purnima in August, thousands of Hindu pilgrims make the journey to bathe in the lake’s waters. At the center of the lake is a large rock that is believed to be the remnants of a Shiva shrine, which is the center of the Hindu pilgrimage.

Janakpur Dham

Janakpur is another of the most visited Hindu pilgrimage sites, and is located in the southern terai, just 22km from the Indian border. The temple in the town is the popular pilgrim center, and the town is set in the very heart of the ancient Maithili culture, which had its own unique language and script.

Ghore Pani to Poon Hill Trek

Poon Hill is one of the most famous viewpoints in the world, and the trekking there is only limited by your own imagination. Lodges can be found at regular intervals along the route, and the trek is even suitable for children. Sitting in the foothills of the Annapurna range, it is below the snowline all year round, and is a wonderful place to walk up and watch the sunrise. The walk from Ghore Pani to the summit of Poon Hill is short, although the northern approach is the steepest of all the 1,500 meter ascents.

Panch Pokhara

This 9th highest altitude wetland is set in the Sindhupalchowk District of Nepal, and consists of five Hindu holy lakes. Surrounded by unsurpassed natural beauty, the lakes are a popular Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage destination, and many thousands make the trek during the Janai Purnima, or Sacred Thread Festival, one of the most important Hindu festivals of the year.

How to Get There

Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) in Kathmandu receives flights from countries all around the world, and is just a few miles east of the city. While there are a few long-distance flights into KTM, most international flights from Europe, the Americas, and Australasia will normally involve a stop in the Middle East or other Asian countries. A new international airport is currently under construction at Pokhara, but it is not expected to be finished within the next few years as construction is slow.

After landing at Tribhuvan, you can get a taxi or a shuttle bus into Kathmandu City, and from there it is easy to catch buses around the region. If you are going to certain parts of Nepal, there are local flights to small airports at places like Pokhara, Lukla, Jomsom, Nepalgunj, and Juphal. For many other places in Nepal, driving is required, and it can take an entire day to get to some of the more famous sites for trekking.

During the trekking season in Autumn, flights into the country can often be booked solid, so it is a good idea to book well in advance if you are going there for the prime trekking season. If you do not have an outbound flight it is best to book it on arrival, as there can also be heavy bookings going out of the country. It should also be noted that you might have to have a visa for India if you are flying through Delhi on a connecting flight. Some airlines will not allow you to board for the connection if you are not in possession of a valid Indian visa.

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Best Time to Go

Many parts of Nepal are open to visit all year round, as the entire country is not up in the high Himalayas. The optimal time to visit is from October to December, as the skies are generally clear and you are afforded the best views. The weather normally remains dry until around late April, when the rainy season sets in, and January and February can get a little cold, especially at night in the areas of the Middle Hills and the Himalayan range.

Late spring is the best time to visit for blooming flowers, as the rhododendrons burst with color at this time. The weather in the southern lowland areas heats up from May, until the arrival of the monsoons in June, when the heavy rains pour down and the low clouds obscure the magnificent mountain peaks. Nepal has festivals all year round, so there is normally always something to see and experience in the way of festivals and pilgrimages. Dates can change from year to year, so if there is one particular event you are looking forward to, it is best to check the latest dates before booking.