Nepal

Chasing angels or fleeing demons, go to the mountains.

Nepal was a destination I put off for the wrong reasons. I associated it with baby backpackers, barefoot travelers, and peak-baggers. I knew I wanted to visit one day, the high spires of the Himalayas, diverse indigenous cultures, and unique wildlife like the rare one-horned Asian rhino appealed to me. But after visiting nearly 40 countries in Asia, I still hadn’t booked that trip. When that finally changed and I landed in Nepal, it immediately felt comfortable. Thirty days flew by, and much like travelers before me have professed, the trekking and the hospitality were beyond impressive. I’ll be back to Nepal. It’s one of the few countries where I was planning my return before my exit.

Kathmandu is a necessary evil, in my opinion. The further-flung the destination, the better. The capital city is crowded and ranks among the most polluted cities in the world. While most people who visit Nepal are drawn by Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, Lang Tang Valley, or Manaslu (this was me), the true beauty of Nepal lies in its MUCH lesser-known treks. There are literally hundreds of circuits. And yet, for the most part, we choose to only do five. Look into my most recommended relatively untraversed circuits before you go!

Nepal Travel Guide

Recommended Destinations: Chitwan National Park, Kathmandu, and Trekking.

Minimum Recommended Trip Length: 30 days if you’re planning on doing any mountain hikes.

One Bucketlist Item You Cannot Miss: Staying at Sapana Village Lodge near Chitwan National Park because they are a Nepali-owned ethical elephant sanctuary as well as an excellent home base for your safari adventures.

Things to Consider Before You Go: Trekking in Nepal requires a lot of good gear and some time flexibility. The Himalayas are no joke. Fortunately, there are many shops where you can get gear for a good price if you’ve forgotten anything. Travel Insurance that covers a Heli-flight is an absolute necessity due to weather changes or injury on the trail. Trust me.

New rules and regulations in Nepal require that you hire a guide for treks in the mountains.

Visa Requirements

Nepal requires most travelers to purchase a visa on arrival. You can choose between a 15-day, 30-day, or 90-day visa. You will need to pay in cash (but don’t worry there is an ATM), and keep in mind USD gets the best deal. The visa in Nepal is fairly simple to extend.

Estimated Backpacker Budget

On a Shoestring: $20/day

Flashpacker: $65/day

Backpacker Luxury: $100/day

Keep in mind these are backpacker budgets. On a shoestring expect to be eating local meals, staying in dorms, & skipping the more expensive tourist attractions (like long treks). Backpacker Luxury opts for the nicest hotel rooms and splurges on activities. Flashpackers are the middle ground & often do a mixture of both. Flashpackers, in this case ,can be travelers who plan to go on a long trek (guided) and stick to a budget otherwise.