Last October, with five cousins, I completed the Annapurna Circuit plus Tilicho Lake trek. We had two weeks for the whole return trip from Kathmandu, and were able to finish in less time than anticipated. For travelers with limited time in Nepal, my itinerary is a good one to follow.

Pikey Peak used to be a popular trek, but since the Tenzing Hillary Airport at Lukla was opened in 1964, the upper Khumbu region has become more accessible. Many trekkers now prefer to get their views of Everest from the overcrowded Kala Patthar and Everest Base Camp. The trekkers who

Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) is very popular among travellers in Nepal. The ABC trek takes travellers inside the conservation area known as the Annapurna Sanctuary. While base camp is the spot from which climbers attempt their summit bids of Annapurna, the Sanctuary is the conservation and spiritually important area surrounding

Most travelers choose to trek to Everest Base Camp between September and November, when there are clear skies and great Himalayan views. After November is considered the off-season as temperatures get cold and there are high chances of snow. However, if you want to avoid the crowds of peak season

Many travellers in Nepal have not heard of Damodar Kunda. There are a couple of reasons for this. The kundas (ponds) are located in the restricted Upper Mustang region, in the midst of a rugged landscape. To get there one must cross two passes over 5000 metres, making it quite

Bhutan is a fascinatingly preserved frontier of culture. Restricted and protected, it offers a superbly enlightening experience even for travelers with much experience in the Himalaya. Although it’s a notoriously expensive place to visit because you must book an approved tour, you do not need to spend much time (and

The Langtang Trek is one of the most famous treks in Nepal. Many people budget 8 to 9 days and combine it with the Gosaikunda Trek. While this means you get to experience both iconic trails within a limited amount of time, we decided to take a different approach. Instead

Most travelers to Nepal choose to visit the country for the culture and some of the world’s best outdoor experiences. And, while Kathmandu is worth a visit in itself, many visitors simply spend a night or two here before taking off to other areas of Nepal. At least, this is

Through the large bay windows ahead of me, I see emerald peaks peer over a blanket of fog. It’s almost 9 AM in this town and the only noise I can hear is the static-y hum of the radio playing inside my room. The peaks are an extension of the

When I first heard of Gosainkunda I thought it was just a high altitude lake surrounded by mountains. While this lake is the most well-known, in reality there are over 100 lakes of different shapes and sizes in the area. Most of them don’t even have a name, and some

For mountaineers, being in Nepal feels like being a kid in a candy shop. The only problem is that climbing mountains in Nepal is expensive. The Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) classifies peaks into “trekking peaks” and “expedition peaks”. For both categories there is a lot of paperwork to be completed,

A beautiful thing about the Himalaya in Nepal is that you can walk anywhere. There are villages scattered all over the mountains and people just walk from one place to another. Therefore, while there are a few well-established hiking routes that are starting to be saturated with tourists, there are

The area below Lukla and Namche Bazar is fascinating, beautiful, and somewhat neglected. Lukla Airport was built in 1964, offering many travellers the option to catapult themselves directly into the main action, and allowing many hikers the opportunity to tick off the region’s most famous highlights in just a few

If you’re planning on doing the Community Homestay experience while you’re in Nepal, you have a lot to look forward to. But, part of this opportunity to stay with local families means you’re going to get acquainted with how Nepali people live, which may be quite different from what you’re

My muscles were burning, my bag twice as heavy as it should have been, my energy so low I could barely take another step. But I was happy. In my first week in Nepal, I did the Annapurna Base Camp trek (ABC) in six days. This is very challenging. Walking

I have done a fair amount of trekking in Nepal, from the blue waters of Lake Rara to the beauty of the Annapurnas and the heights of the Kumbu region. Once I had been to the obligatory “tourist areas”, I was searching for more remote places. In my research I

When we arrived at our homestay in Patan, our host-mom greeted us with a smile and a gentle handshake as we said “Namaste.” We protested against her helping us with our bags, but she just smiled and said, “Nepali women are strong!” I laughed as she led us through her

Though I have visited Muktinath twice–once crossing from the Thorong La and another walking from Beni–I did not fully grasp the significance of this place until a friend proudly posted photos of himself there: “A life dream,” he had written. I knew I needed to learn more. Muktinath (3,710 meters)