The verdant rolling hills, cows grazing in the valleys and the plate overflowing with Emmental cheese at your homestay would lead you to believe you’re vacationing somewhere in the Swiss Alps. But this is a common scene here in Bumthang, Bhutan. It is the perfect place for farming, and the

For travellers looking for an alternative to the tourist highway of Ghandruk to Ghorepani, take the less well-trodden path up to Isahru and Dobato to reach Muldai Viewpoint. My friends and I headed up on the first day of the season, and while we were prepared for some snow, a

I have a tendency to make travel plans on my own, not because I don’t want the company of others—I do! But in my experience, it’s difficult to find friends who can take time off work, who have similar traveling styles and budgets, and who won’t drive me insane (and

“Should we go back?” I asked myself, as the pelting rain and thunderous rivers created an unrelenting cacophony in my mind. I stopped to flick two thumb-sized leeches off the rubber grips of my trekking poles in an attempt to avoid another feeding frenzy—a horrific sight I hadn’t gotten over since

Nepal is, of course, famously known for trekking, mountaineering, and the world’s highest peaks. But there’s so much more to the country. On a recent one-week tour of Nepal, I got to know the country just a little bit better by visiting homestays, villages, nature reserves, and national parks. Starting in

When most people think of hiking in Nepal, they tend to think of the high mountains and trails surrounded by snowcapped peaks. But there are many options around Kathmandu as well, which do not require a 10-hour bus ride or a flight to the trailhead. These trips are perfect for travelers short on

Most travellers to Nepal visit several of the country’s well-known UNESCO-listed World Heritage Sites. These are must-visit attractions that shouldn’t be missed, but they’re not the only worthwhile heritage sites in the country. There are currently 15 sites in Nepal that are on UNESCO’s tentative list. This means that although

A sudden crack comes from the direction of the mountain. Dust is rising from behind a rocky crag. Then I see it, gathering speed, ploughing over the scree down the mountainside, a trail of debris behind. I watch as the huge boulder continues unforgivingly, crossing my walking path and slapping

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