5 Reasons Why You Will Love Nepal
See some of the best views in the World.
I’m not even exaggerating! The Himalayan Mountains are in a league of its own in terms of views. You will be blown away by the views regardless of the region that you are trekking in. I have been trekking in the Everest and the Annapurna region and I can say that they are equally beautiful. Being able to escape the city and explore the mountainside is such an amazing feeling especially when you are on a lesser known trail like Mardi Himal Base Camp where you will rarely see any other tourist along the way so you are truly along with nature.
A day of trekking can be long and tiring but the best advice I can give is to wake up before sunrise and try to stay up as late as possible if you want to see some breathtaking views. Waking up to watch the sun slowly rise over the horizon and seeing the majestic mountains take on a golden glow is absolutely mesmerising (a coffee in hand makes it more enjoyable). Then after a full day of trekking you might think that the gorgeous views end at sunset, but if you wait until it is really dark you will get to see the mountains become illuminated by the stars. I don’t think I’ve even seen so many stars in my life!
Whether you’re in the city or out in a mountain village, the Nepalese are probably the friendliest people you will ever meet. They are so helpful and welcoming, I remember when I was on a camping trek we stumbled upon a village near the area we were going to camp at and after hanging out with them they offered for us to stay with them in a spare room! Then came the ludicrous amount of dal bhat and fresh tea that frequent travellers will know all about. But being able to relax with the locals and learn about their way of living is the best part about a trek in my opinion.
Meet the friendliest people.
While you’re in the city you should still be street smart but it is very rare to feel unsafe when exploring. There are definitely quite a few street sellers but unlike other parts of the world they are far less pressing to sell their wares. The people there are very willing to lend a helping hand to tourists and even provide some awesome tips! When I was in Kathmandu just before we left to Everest Base Camp I was in a small shop buying some gifts. The man was explaining everything about the iconic mountains there and he said when you get on the plane to Lukla, sit on the left side and when you are flying back sit on the right side so you will get to see scenic views of the Himalayan mountains along the way.
Learn about unique cultures.
When you think of Nepal you probably might think that it’s mainly Buddhist, but actually the majority of people there are Hindu (roughly 80%) and Buddhism is only around 10%. But those numbers don’t matter because you will get to explore some of the most important religious temples like the Boudha Stupa (the World’s second largest Buddhist stupa) and Pashupatinath (an important Hindu pilgrimage sight). I highly recommend getting a tour guide as they can explain about the history behind the temples and what they believe in.
The temples can also be seen when you are out on a trek but they will vary depending on what region you are in. For example the Annapurna Region is primarily Hindu whereas the Everest Region is mainly Buddhist. So not only are you seeing different views, but you are also experiencing different cultures within the regions of Nepal!
Discover new tastes.
Momos… my god they are glorious. Also, if you love curry then Nepal will be like Heaven to you. Trying out the local food is a must as it is so delicious and filling. The all time favourite food in Nepal is Dal Bhat, which will quickly become your friend when you’re on the trail since it is nicknamed the “twenty-four hour power”.
When you’re in the city there are loads of options to choose from. You can literally find any cuisine like Italian Pizza, German Bakeries and American Steakhouses. The food in the city is safe and clean but you should still be a bit wary. The main thing is to be careful with the water. Make sure you only drink bottled water so you don’t get sick. I have been to Nepal five tmes and I have never been sick from the food or water.
The food options will get a bit more limited along the trail to meals like mixed rice, noodles, fried potatoes, oatmeal, apple pie etc but I can say that you probably haven’t had food this unbelievable fresh before! It also depends on the region and where you are staying since some places have less access than others. i remember when we were staying at Dingboche (roughly half way on the Everest Base Camp trek) we got to relax at a really nice cafe that had some awesome coffee cake!
Experience the ultimate adventure.
If you think that Nepal only has trekking to offer then think again! There are loads of other activities to do and you can even add them on to your trek to really make it a trip to remember. For instance when you’re trekking in the Annapurna Region you need to take a pretty long bus ride to reach the start point in another city called Pokhara. But why endure the long bus ride when you can go white water rafting down pristine rivers for most of the journey? Rafting down the rapids is an incredibly fun way to start a trip!
Also the trip isn’t over when you finish the trek. You can relax on a chilled out boat ride in the beautiful Lake Phewa, go paragliding over the Himalayan foothills, do some canyoning down huge waterfalls, get an adrenaline rush by bungy jumping or canyon swinging off a bridge just to name a few! Nepal is a small country but it has so much to offer and that is why so many travellers keep going back since every adventure is a new experience.