
How to Spend 24 Hours in Kathmandu
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

Gosainkunda, the Sacred Lake District of Nepal
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

Attempting Yala Trekking Peak
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,

Combining the Gosainkunda and Helambu Treks
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

Trekking the Solukhumbu Cultural Trail
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

An 8-Step Guide to Staying in a Homestay in Nepal
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

What it’s Like to Do the Annapurna Base Camp Trek in 6 Days
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

The Makalu Basecamp Trek
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

Cooking Up a Storm at the Patan Community Homestay
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

The Beauty of Muktinath, One of Nepal’s Holiest Temples
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)