The Republic of Nepal, a divine Himalayan fantasy-land, has some of the best trekking globally. There are numerous delightful treks in the vicinity of several of the world’s highest mountains, including the highest of all of them Everest. The main areas for these treks are Everest or Khumbu, Annapurna, and Langtang or Helambu.

Many tourists visit this mountain-clad country mainly to trek. Fortunately, the Nepalese tourism industry fully provides for a host of trekking destinations, plans, and styles. The avid trekker or the adventure-seeking tourist can choose between going on an expedition to lovely lofty spots in the wilderness and hiking along the gorgeous trail to the seen-to-be-believed EBC (Everest Base Camp).

The favorite style of trekking along the main trails is commonly called teahouse trekking. With reasonably decent lodges in nearly every habitation, comfortable trekking can be organized. This way of walking requires the minimum of preparation, equipment, food supplies, or support. Camping isn’t necessary while a limited number of western dishes can be had en route. No special permits, as such, are required. National park entry tickets are a must though.

Facilities available in remote or offbeat areas are rather limited as compared to those in these popular areas. Camping may be necessary.  Off the main trails, a Nepalese guide is needed for solitary tourists. The alternative is to trek in such places with organized groups logistically supported including a guide and porters. Mustang, Kanchenjunga, Manaslu, Dolpo, and Humla are some such places that require special permits.

Apart from trekking, the natural heritage of Nepal, indeed a treasure-trove, is another attraction. The Nepalese countryside is beautiful; its natural environment, its flora, avifauna, and fauna, is exhilarating. Many tourists love visiting the nation for its biodiversity, landforms, and geology!

Most fascinating is the almost unending mountain ranges of Nepal (and not just the Himalayas). Prominent amongst these other ranges are Ganesh Himal, Gurans Himal, Mahalangur Himal, Mansiri Himal, and Rolwaling Himal. Then there are some great glaciers here like Khumbu, Khumbu Icefall, Hunku, Imja, and Nguzumpa. The clear and clean lakes of this untouched land are worth visiting for true nature lovers. The best known include Phewa, Gokyo, Gosaikunda, Phoksundo, Rara, and Tilicho.

Such thrilling mountainscapes, riverscapes, and lake scape spur the bold and strong and healthy to take part in the very many adventure sports available in Nepal. So the adventure-minded tourist, for instance, can go in for survival experience in isolated forest or do some giddy rock-climbing or somewhat frightening canyoning Inside the value of Kathmandu, there are huge rock faces ranging from easy (Nagarjun or Shivapuri) to difficult (the big Hattiban stonewall). Outside the valley, Kodari and Siddha Lake provide challenging climbs. In fact, there are countless unexplored cliffs waiting to be embraced! Further, canyoning in this land of hills and mountains entails abseiling, climbing, jumping, or sliding down sheer walls or waterfalls into the dark, deep pools as powerful blasts of water buffet the sportsperson amidst massive twisted odd rock faces.

Yet another major attraction of Nepal is its cultural heritage inherited from generations and generations and still maintained in the present ostensibly to be handed over to future generations for their benefit. It’s not just the World Heritage Sites that invite a visit; Nepal has an unlimited assortment of cultural riches which are a matter of deep study!

NAT2 believes that your trip shall be not just a joy but also a memorable study tour!

So, welcome, one and all to our land!

Trekking in Nepal

Nepal is first and foremost a trekking paradise. It is one of the best places for pure Adventure travel in the world today. This is no boast!

From short eye-opening walks in and around your hotels, long bracing walks in the environs, leisurely rambles in the countryside, free hikes in the hills or mountains, planned day-treks near your residence, guided short two-or-three-day treks to scenic spots, week-long invigorating treks to tarns and glaciers or passes, and longer arduous treks up, up, and up in the silent grandeur of our enthralling mountains – each one larger or more fascinating or challenging than the neighboring one – where the sky becomes a polaroid blue the higher you climb and the night becomes a diamond-studded drama.

The list of just where you can go for walks, rambles, or treks is almost endless and the joys along each of these routes simple or exciting or different. You’ll experience things you’ve never experienced before or are likely to experience elsewhere. Whether it is the homely atmosphere of the land and its inhabitants or the dark mystery of its woods or the sheer unapproachability of its looming heights, you’ll go back to your land a changed person for travel is true education. And Nepal is a land of delight and discovery. Your ultimate tourist sojourn!

As a pioneer of Fashion Tourism in the new Republic of Nepal, our trek agency headquartered in Kathmandu offers excellent treks and tours services with first-rate travel and comfortable accommodation in hotels, wildlife lodges, or camps throughout this diverse country. We also strongly recommend a trip to Pokhara, Nepal’s second tourism destination, which offers unparalleled panoramic views and a matchless elegance of a modern city embedded in pristine nature. Take one step beyond with us, exclusively your trekking, and mountaineering, a company in this country of countries which boasts of eight of the world’s tallest and most formidable mountains, some of the most luxuriant jungles or forests or woods, exquisitely charming people, and inevitably rich culture and proud heritage. Do take that one step – forever memorable — with us!

Heritages of Nepal

It is a wonder indeed for a tiny landlocked mountainous country – only 147,181 sq kms of the earth’s land surface – the 93rd nation in terms of landmass and a population of around 30 million – so isolated in every way, so underdeveloped in the modern sense, so little known historically, to be a land of so many heritage sites which tell the world of its once great inter-relatedness, sophistication, and culture.

Perhaps, Nepal was both an ancient and a medieval land of wondrous achievement – a land which is still living deep in its beautiful past. One of the most beautiful countries on earth; one of the most extraordinary. A past kept intact for the modern traveler to see, to experience, to assess, to enjoy.

Rightfully, to date UNESCO has identified 4 heritage sites — 2 are natural sites while the other 2 are cultural ones. (There are no mixed sites in UNESCO’s World List as far as Nepal goes.)

The sites are:

• Kathmandu Valley; including the Durbar Squares of Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur, Buddhist Stupas of Swayambhunath and Boudhanath, and Hindu Temples of Pashupatinath and Changu Narayan (1979)
• Sagarmatha National Park (1979)
• Royal Chitwan National Park (1984)
• Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha (1997)

Are there more such sites to discover?

Who knows if you, as a NAT2 visitor, chance upon unnoticed marvels in this old land of human excellence?

Entertainment & Recreation

Nightlife is somewhat limited in Nepalese cities as compared to western ones. So the tourist cannot be too choosy!

Kathmandu, happily, has a quite a few casinos, technically open 24 hours. Casino Nepal, the Soaltee Hotel, is the oldest. Casino Anna at the Annapurna Hotel, along with Casino Everest, the Everest Hotel, is fairly popular. Others include Casino Royale (Hotel Yak & Yeti), Casino Rad (Radisson Hotel), Casino Tara (Hyatt Regency), and Casino Shangri-la (Shangri-la Hotel). Pokhara too operates a casino at Hotel Fulbari Resort & Spa.

Bingo, blackjack, baccarat, craps, flush, kitty, poker, pontoon, and wheel of fortune are played. There are roulette and slot machines. A few casinos also have keno. Apart from such common games, these casinos also provide live entertainment like Nepalese, Indian, and Russian dances.

Leisure can be spent on entertainment or on sports and games.  Swimming, golf, horse-riding, bowling, pool, tennis, table tennis, cycling, or chess are available for enterprising tourists. Music is a Nepalese passion. Tourists can hear much modern music or even try their musical talent in local bands.

FAQ

What’s the best time of the year to visit Nepal?

Barring the monsoons (June to September), Nepal can be visited at any time. However, during the monsoons, all its urbanscapes like Kathmandu or Pokhara or Biratnagar are just about okay to visit while its Trans-Himalayan regions like Mustang are excellent places to visit or to trek. Extreme winter (December to March) is not suitable for high-altitude trekking or visiting the Himalayan regions.

What clothing or equipment should you bring?

A range of clothing to match a range of climates and for outdoor activity plus cameras/binoculars.

Is Nepal a costly place?

No, not necessarily so. But the recession has made its inroads here too making things costlier than some time ago.

Is it safe to trek in Nepal with all the political upheaval it’s going through?

Absolutely safe! Don’t believe in alarmist media coverage as to such.

How many days are needed for a trip to Nepal?

One day to a month (usually a week to ten days would do) unless you wish to stay on and on which quite a few tourists love doing! The charms of our Himalayan heaven are inescapable.