While my daughter and I have done many hikes throughout Nepal in the last few years, we had never considered doing the Annapurna Base Camp Trek. The words ‘base camp’ sounded so exposed and rough that I didn’t want to add this to my to-do list while my daughter was

Our group piled into two Jeeps. Five hours, I was told. Though I had walked to Sikles from Tangting before, this was my first time riding in a vehicle along the bumpy road leading from Pokhara. The sun shone perfectly through the trees, but I was grateful when our caravan

While the Annapurna Circuit remains ever-popular despite the jeep track that’s been built alongside some of the trail, there are still some unspoiled areas in the higher parts of it. These are perfect destinations for an adventurous mountaineer. Between Jomsom and Manang lies the beautiful Lake Tilicho, at 4900 metres.

Lo Manthang is a village in the restricted territory of Upper Mustang that used to be the capital of the Kingdom of Lo. Nepali law requires foreign visitors to purchase a permit (US$500 for 10 days) to enter Upper Mustang, to help preserve the local culture and development in the

I first came to Nepal for Everest Base Camp. I wanted to visit a place I had heard about as a child and knew from books. I didn’t know much else about Nepal and signed up for a volunteer assignment after the trek ended. I was placed in a home

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