Tsang is Tibet’s most well-travelled region. Traditionally known as Ü-Tsang, this southwestern part of Tibet juts up against the highest Himalayan peaks and Nepal. The road from Lhasa to Everest, the Friendship Highway (the G318), passes straight through Tsang, zipping up over soaring mountain passes and by pristine lakes on

Trekkers in Nepal who don’t have the luxury of time—or the luxury of a budget that allows them to charter a helicopter deep into the mountains—have many options for shorter Himalayan treks that get right into the mountains and off the beaten path. However, finding information on these can be

The Gurez Valley, tucked between the belligerent sides of Nanga Parbat, is a tiny part of a region known as Dardistan. The ancient land of the Dardic Aryan tribe stretches across both Pakistan and India, and its capital, the village of Dawar, is situated in the Gurez Valley. In the

The bus ran along the route between Kathmandu and Syabru Besi, the starting point for several treks in the Langtang region. I could see bottomless ravines that opened deep down the valley, while the rudimentary coach we were traveling in slowly braved the tight bends of the road. At one

The crystal clear still water of Gosaikunda Lake in Langtang National Park is a well known destination in Rasuwa District for trekkers and pilgrims alike. Gosaikunda, “Holy Lake of the Lord of Senses.” A ‘kunda’ is not any kind of lake, but actually refers to the holy dipping tank at

The monks’ faces show traces of exhaustion. They have spent days preparing for Losar, sitting for hours molding torma, intricate statues made of butter and wax. I stare at the large figure of Mahakala, one of the Buddhist deities sculpted out of the same waxy clay and painted black. At

I couldn’t sleep at all. It often happened before a big ascent. I was too excited. Only about a year earlier I was summiting my first 4000 metre peak, and learned that the only limits are the ones we set for ourselves. I decided to push them further every time.

The Annapurna Circuit is one of the most popular trekking routes in the world. In 2017, a total of 158,000 international tourists visited the Annapurna Conservation Area, including a record 27,000 foreign trekkers. However, semi-arid Lubra village (also called Ludak), nestled deep in the Panda Khola gorge of Lower Mustang

I felt encouraged by my conversation with naturalists at Chitwan National Park. I was briefed on the great conservation work being done not only in the park but on a national level in Nepal. Nepal celebrated four zero rhino poaching years: 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015. A zero poaching year is when there

An acclimatization day on the Everest Base Camp Trek, as on any trek at high altitude, is essential for a successful trip. Even physically fit people must ascend slowly, so as not to risk getting altitude sickness. On the Everest Base Camp trek, two to three acclimatization days are factored

Although most visitors to Bhutan must travel with a guide, that doesn’t mean you can’t find some time to do a bit of exploring by yourself, or encourage your guide to take you to certain places. There’s a lot to see and do in Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, despite

Have you ever wanted to spend time with local people to get to know a place better? Have you ever dreamed of having friends when you arrive at a new place for the first time? Friends to show you around, to host you, to help you have a memorable experience.

A little bit up. A little bit down. A little bit over past that town. This is, in its simplest form, an explanation of what it is like to trek in Nepal. Not only are you walking a little bit up and a little bit down, but your emotions will

Not everyone is lucky enough to see the Valley of Flowers in full bloom. First of all, as a high-altitude inner Himalayan valley, it remains inaccessible and under snow for most of the year. Second, it is not an easy trek—not just because of its altitude (around 3,500 metres above

While travelling through Nepal I experienced a kaleidoscope of cultural beliefs, and one of the most important places to me was Lumbini, the birthplace of the founder of Buddhism, Gautama Siddhartha Buddha. For anyone on a Buddhist pilgrimage, where’s a better place than the birthplace of Lord Buddha himself? Lumbini is a

The traffic moves at festival speed, like honey through an hourglass. The taxi rattles and hums with the smell of exhaust fumes. But the time passes easily with my companion for the day, Junu Shrestha, a tour guide from the medieval city of Bhaktapur. “In this celebration people are more

In the foothills of the Nepal Himalaya lives a brave tribe of Gurung people who risk their lives climbing up cliffs to harvest honey from one of the biggest and most dangerous honey bees in the world. This tradition dates back hundreds of years, and holds great religious and cultural

“Alright, 50 more steps and then you can rest. 1, 2, 3…” For the past 4 hours, my thoughts have been dominated by counting my steps and controlling my breathing. Every time my legs get too tired to go further, I pause, look around, and enjoy the view. The sun