Nepal
Nepal, in a few days
From the temples of Kathmandu to the Annapurna peaks, by way of Pokhara and the jungle of Chitwan, day by day: the map, what is worth booking, everything that costs nothing, and where to sleep at three budgets.
- Day by day
- 1 Kathmandu Days 1-2
- 2 Pokhara Days 3-4
- 3 Annapurna trek (Poon Hill) Days 5-7
- Worth sorting before you go
- Words that help
- The practical page
- Packing checklist
Day by day
Kathmandu
A sacred valley packed with temples and stupas, from the great white dome of Boudhanath to Swayambhunath on its hill. Seven of its monument zones are UNESCO-listed together, and every trek to the Himalaya starts here.
- Durbar Square and Swayambhunath, guidedHalf day · from €20The old royal square and its pagoda temples, then the hilltop stupa that everyone calls the Monkey Temple.
- Boudhanath and PashupatinathHalf day · from €15One of the largest stupas in the world, then the Hindu temple complex on the Bagmati river, where cremations take place on the open ghats.
- Thamel
- The Monkey Temple (Swayambhunath)
- Patan Durbar Square
- Craft shops
Pokhara
A lakeside town at the foot of the Annapurnas, the base for treks into the range and for paragliding over the water.
- Sunrise at SarangkotMorning · from €15An early drive up the ridge above Pokhara to watch the first light reach the Annapurna range.
- Paragliding over Phewa Lake30 min · from €80A tandem flight from Sarangkot, circling down over the lake with snow peaks on the horizon.
- Phewa Lake by rowing boat
- The World Peace Pagoda
- Gupteshwor Cave
- The view of the Annapurnas
Annapurna trek (Poon Hill)
The classic short trek up to Poon Hill, at 3,210 metres: Gurung villages, rhododendron forest and sunrise over Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas, both above 8,000 metres.
- Guided trek: Ghorepani to Poon Hill3 days · from €180A few days on stone steps and forest trails to Ghorepani, then the dawn climb to Poon Hill and its wide view of the high Himalaya.
- TIMS card and ACAP permitPermit · from €35The two permits required to trek in the Annapurna Conservation Area, checked at posts along the trail.
- Sunrise over Dhaulagiri
- Gurung villages
- Rhododendron forests
- Paths through the terraced fields
Worth sorting before you go
Car, plane and on foot · Mountain roads are slow and winding, so a car with a driver is the usual choice. Short domestic flights save a day, and the treks are done on foot.
Online the moment you land, no roaming bill.
Get one · Holafly
Health, luggage, cancellation.
Cover it · Ekta
Compare the agencies before you land.
Compare · Booking
Pay at the real rate, with no exchange markup.
Open one · Revolut
A private car at a fixed price from the moment you land.
Book it · GetTransfer
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Flavours & local habits
🍽️ Worth tasting
- Dal bhat: rice, lentil soup and vegetable curry, eaten twice a day and refilled until you say stop.
- Momos: steamed or fried dumplings, the snack of the whole country.
- Newari and Thakali sets: regional platters of many small dishes, from the Kathmandu valley and the Kali Gandaki.
- Sel roti: a ring of sweet rice-flour dough, fried and eaten at festivals.
- Chiya: milky tea boiled with sugar and spices, served everywhere in small glasses.
⚠️ Best avoided
- Climb slowly: altitude sickness can become serious above 2,500 metres.
- Take a guide or porter, and travel insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
- Drink filtered or bottled water, and eat food that has been cooked hot.
- Walk clockwise around stupas and prayer wheels, keeping them on your right.
Words that help
English ↔ Nepali
| English | Nepali |
|---|---|
| Hello | नमस्ते (namaste) |
| Thank you | धन्यवाद (dhanyabad) |
| Please | कृपया (kripaya) |
| Yes | हो (ho) |
| No | होइन (hoina) |
| Excuse me | माफ गर्नुहोस् (maaf garnuhos) |
| Goodbye | बिदा (bida) |
| Do you speak English? | अङ्ग्रेजी बोल्नुहुन्छ? (angreji bolnuhunchha?) |
| I don't understand | मैले बुझिनँ (maile bujhina) |
| How much is it? | यो कति पर्छ? (yo kati parchha?) |
| Where are the toilets? | शौचालय कहाँ छ? (shauchalaya kahan chha?) |
| The bill, please | बिल दिनुहोस् (bill dinuhos) |
| Help! | बचाउनुहोस्! (bachaunuhos!) |
| Cheers! | चियर्स! (cheers!) |
The practical page
Scan to open this guide online, always up to date.
https://offwegooo.com/en/guides/nepal
Packing checklist
Have a good trip.
Guide made on offwegooo.com · Photos via Pexels · Details are indicative, check before you leave.