hikers in Annapurna Range of Nepal – photo by Stephan Geyer on Flickr CC

Traveling to Nepal – 5 Great Activities

Nepal is a spectacular country to be in. It is incredibly rich in its culture and natural beauty, and every day in the country promises excitement and adventure. It is home to some of the greatest Himalayan peaks, and is full of options that offer the best of adventure.

From incredible white-water rafting expeditions to treks deep into the Himalayas, these are the 5 great activities you cannot miss out on while in Nepal.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek:

• Duration: 9 – 12 days

• Difficulty: Medium

• Best Season: March-May, October-November

Few treks dare to combine the variety of landscapes and 7000 – 8000 meter peaks in a short period of time, but Annapurna manages to do it with relative ease. Considered to be the most popular trek in the Annapurna Range, this trail takes you to beautiful rice terraces, rhododendron forests, high altitude scenery.

It offers countless views of stunning peaks such as Annapurna South, Annapurna I and Machapuchhre and the atmosphere is simply spectacular. Like other developed treks in the region, the Annapurna Base Camp trek also lets you choose from several lodges and guest houses and extensive menus that range from traditional Nepali food to Chinese dishes and pizzas.

While visiting the Annapurna Base Camp, you can trek up the canyon of the Modi Khola, and through the picturesque village of Doban. En-route to Doban, you can encounter and revel in the Macchapuchhre, or fish tail, which is a breathtaking peak in and of itself.

Everest Base Camp

• Duration: 9-12 days (9 days if fly-out from EBC with helicopter).

• Difficulty: Medium

• Best Season: March-May, October-November

Trekking to Everest Base Camp is one of the most fascinating things to do in Nepal. After all, what could be better than enjoying the best possible views of this iconic mountain without actually having to go on an incredibly difficult mountain climbing expedition. Mt. Everest intrigued Tenzing Norgay, Edmund Hillary and George Mallory, and also inspired thousands of trekkers to hike up to Everest Base Camp.

Aside from exploring Everest Base Camp itself, the Everest Base Camp trek takes you to Kala Patthar, the best possible place to check out Mount Everest from. It also takes you past several monasteries, beautiful mountain towns and museums, and also lets you experience the rich Sherpa culture. The journey itself is beautiful and the scenery is nothing less but splendid. Picture-perfect scenery, unparalleled greenery, alpine beauty, majestic mountains and great views is what awaits you.

Chitwan NAtional Park – photo by Stefanos Nikologianis on Flickr CC

Chitwan National Park

• Duration: 3 days

• Best Season: Feb-May but available all year.

Famous as one of the premier attractions of Nepal, Chitwan National Park has always drawn in tourists and wildlife enthusiasts from time immemorial. This UNESCO World Heritage reserve is home to sizeable wildlife populations, with over 544 species of birds, leopards, elephants, and sloth bears. Chitwan National Park is also home to the Rhino, indigenous to parts of north-eastern India and Nepal. Make sure you’re reserving at least 2 days to explore the park. This lets you enjoy exciting sightings, and rewards you with incredible scenes, and if you’re lucky, the thrill of a chase.

Marshyangdi River Rafting

• Duration: 2 days

• Difficulty: High

• Best Season: January-May, September-December

Rafting in the Marshyangdi River is probably the best white-water rafting experience that Nepal has to offer. This majestic adventure presents some of the most demanding rapids and backs it up with mesmerizing mountain scenery, to make your adventure challenging, yet exciting. You encounter grade 4 and grade 5 rapids on day one itself and the entire ride promises to be thrilling, highly technical and steep. This rafting adventure is ideal for those wanting an intense white-water rafting experience, and is probably ideal for those with prior rafting experience.

Phewa Tal in morning fog

Biking Around Pokhara

• Duration: 1 – 2 days

• Difficulty: Easy

• Best Season:

Any journey to Nepal cannot be complete without exploring Pokhara on a bike. Those with a strong sense of adventure will find themselves naturally drawn to the bike trail. While there are many trails to choose from, the Phewa Tal is particularly exciting and interesting. It heads out along the north shore and returns via Dandakot and the World Peace Stupa, giving you an amicable view of the surrounding hillside. It doesn’t take too long and boasts of a short-ish length, making it ideal for those on a budget or those who find themselves short on time.

So what’s your go-to destination in Nepal? Do any of these exotic places tickle the traveler in you?

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