There is something about Nepal, a sense of peace I haven’t felt in any other country I have travelled.
Nestled into the shadows of the great Himalayas, the country still feels primal and underdeveloped.
I have met countless kind souls as I have travelled the world but never have I felt more humbled and cared for than when I was in the company of the Nepalese. I hope your visit is as magical and life changing as mine.
TIME FRAME?
Most visitors to Nepal are seeking to experience mother nature’s sweeping landscapes and mountain peaks. This involves trekking up into the mountains and unless you are a well-trained and an experienced climber or hiker I would strongly suggest signing up with a reputable tour company.
This will dictate the amount of time you need to set aside to visit Nepal but I would say ten days to two weeks would be the minimum amount of time.
Unless you have months up your sleeve I would suggest choosing either the Everest Base Camp trek (EBC) and/or the surrounding Himalayan peaks or the Annapurna circuit.
The spring board for Annapurna activities are from Pokhora and EBC flights to Lukla depart from Kathmandu.
If you are wanting to explore the surrounding countries, India, Tibet, and Bhutan are just a flight away.
For those not wanting to trek, you can still spend several days in Kathmandu exploring the old town, taking a scenic flight over the Himalayas and soaking up the local bustle and fly over to Pokhara as well.
TRAVELLING NEPAL?
Nepal is still incredibly underdeveloped and with the horrific earthquake in 2015, the country will be delayed further from the modern upgrades.
Almost all international flights will land in Kathmandu and this bustling city will be most travellers starting and finishing point.
If you are trekking to EBC you will take a small manual plane from Kathmandu up to Lukla to begin your trek and this flight will usually be included by the company you are trekking with.
Pokhara is the jumping point for those exploring the Annapurna Mountain Range in the west of the country. There are domestic flights from Kathmandu to Pokhara which are the quickest and most convenient way to travel. The air ticket price is fixed and will cost roughly USD125 one way.
There are also buses between the cities – a special tourist bus and a local bus. I haven’t taken these buses myself but this website has a lot of vital information to check out. (link to website)
Cars, either a private hotel transfer or taxi, are the easiest way to get from the airport, if you are booked with a tour most will provide a pick up service otherwise there were many taxis outside the airport.
TRAVELLING NEPAL?
Nepal is still incredibly underdeveloped and with the horrific earthquake in 2015, the country will be delayed further from the modern upgrades.
Almost all international flights will land in Kathmandu and this bustling city will be most travellers starting and finishing point.
If you are trekking to EBC you will take a small manual plane from Kathmandu up to Lukla to begin your trek and this flight will usually be included by the company you are trekking with.
Pokhara is the jumping point for those exploring the Annapurna Mountain Range in the west of the country. There are domestic flights from Kathmandu to Pokhara which are the quickest and most convenient way to travel. The air ticket price is fixed and will cost roughly USD125 one way.
There are also buses between the cities – a special tourist bus and a local bus. I haven’t taken these buses myself but this website has a lot of vital information to check out. (link to website)
Cars, either a private hotel transfer or taxi, are the easiest way to get from the airport, if you are booked with a tour most will provide a pick up service otherwise there were many taxis outside the airport.
MY BEST ADVICE?
If I could impart just one piece of information it would be to book your international departure flight several days after your trek/tour is completed, at least three to five days especially if you are doing the EBC.
The small planes that fly between Kathmandu and Lukla are manually run without radars or proper technology. They are landing on the most dangerous runway in the world and are at the mercy of the ever-changing weather patterns of the Himalayas.
Flights are cancelled when patches of fog or cloud blow through town and you are put on a waiting list after the rest of the trekkers waiting for theirs that were supposed to depart before yours. If your allocated flight takes off the day you were booked, consider yourself lucky now you are on your way down for a hot shower and meal. Once the scheduled flights for each day have departed, the trekkers on the waiting list will be called up.
You will need some time up your sleeve in case you don’t get out of Lukla the day you had planned. Having said that, I was lucky enough to have my flight take off to elated applause, every one of us knew how lucky we were to have made it out.
However, we did have to dodge some thunderheads and fly to 5000ft and people were vomiting all through the plane from the rise in altitude! Needless to say, it was worth it to be heading for a shower!
When flying to Lukla be sure to sit on the LEFT side of the plane for magnificent views of the mountains peeking through the clouds.
WHERE SHOULD I GO?
NEED MORE ADVICE? KEEP READING…
So who am I…? Hi! My name is India.
I am a nomadic Australian who has wandered the world full time exploring over 60 countries and 5/7 continents.
After ten years on the road, I have launched my own website – Travelling Notebook – to share the knowledge I have gained on the road and the images I have collected over the years with fellow adventurers. Keep reading…
I am a freelance travel writer, photography and videographer, based in London. If you need specific travel advice or would like to collaborate please send an email my way!
Always say yes to adventure!
x India
