Himalayas (Nepal)

The Himalayas seen from the International Space Station

The Himalayas is the northernmost region of Nepal. It includes eight of the world's ten highest peaks, including the world's tallest - Mount Everest.

Regions

• Annapurna - some of the most popular trekking possibilities of the country
• Khumbu - the area around Mount Everest and Namche Bazaar

Cities

• Jiri - the nearest roadhead for trekkers heading to Everest Base Camp
• Jomsom - airstrip in the upper Kaligandaki valley. Most basic services can be found here; end (or start) of the Jomsom Trek. Ghasa to Jomsom Bus travel is also available (NRs 300 for Nepali and NRs 600 for foreigners), but you will have a heaven images in trekking
• Junbesi - a pictureque village
• Lukla - home to the Khumbu's airport
• Namche Bazaar - at the foot of the Mount Everest
• Salleri - the district headquarters of Solu Khumbu district
• Tengboche - a large monastery and the surrounding settlement in Khumbu
• Tukuche - center of Thakkali culture, important trading village, hotels and restaurants

Other destinations

• Cho La
• Kodari
• Langtang National Park
• Mount Everest - the tallest peak of the world
• Rara National Park - including Rara Tal, a large, deep sub-alpine lake at the foot of Kanjiroba Himalaya. Another gateway to trans-himalayan Humla and Dolpa regions
• Sagarmatha National Park - protected area around Everest
• Shey-Phoksundo National Park - in the Dolpa district

See

Most sights relate to the mountains themselves, and to religious structures, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist. Many of the most popular destinations are sights in themselves.

Itineraries

• Annapurna Circuit
• Cho La
• Everest Base Camp Trek
• Himalayas
• Island Peak Trek

Do

Trekking is the most popular activity, with a wide selection of possibilities, from deserts to jungles. It's also popular to study Yoga or Meditation. White-water rafting is popular in many places.

Nepal is an exciting country for the adventure lover. It is after all home to some of the tallest mountains in the world. However, tall mountains are not the only thing that Nepal offers to visitors and tourists. Visitors can indulge in a variety of activities in Nepal.

Climbing

The Himalayas pass through the country for an 800 kilometer stretch. It is also indescribably beautiful. Mountain climbing is one of the main reasons why people visit this country. Each year, thousands of climbers visit Nepal to challenge some of its peaks including the legendary Mt. Everest.

Trekking

For those who love mountains but do not like climbing them, trekking provides a solution. Nepal is a great place to indulge in trekking not only because of the mountains that dot this country but also because of the incredible beauty the scenes offer. Moreover, Nepal is a country rich with culture which makes trekking all the more attractive.

Birdwatching

Nepal is filled with riches not only for the adventure seeker but for the nature lover as well. There are more than 646 bird species in Nepal. Out of the 646 species, 500 can be found in the area of Kathmandu Valley alone. There are quite a few spots in Kathmandu valley to watch birds such as Phulchoki, Taudaha and Nagarjun amongst others.

Flying

If you wish to experience the majestic beauty of the Himalayas in all their glory, then you can take a flight over them. You can get a panoramic and close view of some of the greatest mountains in the world including Mt. Everest and Kanchenjunga as well as the Tibetan Plateau.

Rafting

If you want some real adrenaline rush, you can always try out rafting or kayaking in Nepal. Nepal does have some pretty nice rivers which are perfect for this kind of activity. Some of these rapids are actually quite challenging even for experienced thrill seekers.

Safari

Nepal has 10 national parks dedicated to preserving the flora and fauna of the region. You can find national parks in the Terai region which are visited by people from all over the world. You can take a safari on foot or by means of a jeep or a dugout canoe. Elephant rides are also available for safari. You can easily spot some remarkable species of animals during a safari such as wild boars, samburs, sloths and spotted deer amongst others. However, the major attraction is undoubtedly the one-horned rhinoceros. They are not too shy however, and it is easy to see at least one during the safari.

Sightseeing

Instead of partaking in activates you can simply go sightseeing in different places to get a feel of Nepal. Some popular places you can check out in and near Kathmandu City are the Pashupatinath temple and the Boudanath stupa. You should also visit Pokhara valley to visit the birthplace of Lord Buddha, Lumbini.

Eat

The one dish you will find in most parts of Nepal is Dal Bhaat, lentil broth with rice and varying vegetable curries, pickles or meat.

Stay safe

• Altitude sickness is a worry, with many of the passes in the Himalaya being over 5000m. Increase your elevation as slowly as possible, avoid flying from a low elevation to a high one, and physical activity; and drink lots of liquids after gaining altitude. Altitude sickness is unpredictable, and may strike people who haven't had problems before. Give yourself lots of flexibility in your plans, to avoid pushing yourself higher when you need to rest.

• Stay up to date with the news, and be willing to change your plans, when going to places such as Kashmir or Nepal, that are facing armed uprisings.

• Traffic on the narrow roads is often frightening, but due to the slow speeds is unlikely to result in fatalities.

Get out

Flights out of the Himalayas are often cancelled due to bad weather, be sure to give yourself at least a few days before needing to catch a connecting flight.

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