GLOBAL DIRECTORY: NEPAL

Stupa, namche Bazaar, Nepal | Photo by Sebastian Pena Lambarri on Unsplash

No country in the world can offer more impressive mountain scenery than the tiny Asian nation of Nepal. Stuffed discreetly between its two gigantic neighbours, India and China, friendly, unassuming Nepal manages to outdo both in extraordinary peaks and incredible trekking. Unbelievably, Nepal boasts 8 of the 10 tallest mountains in the world. Avid hikers could spend months exploring the Annapurna, Everest, Langtang and Mustang regions and still only just scratch the surface. Nepal is also famous for its “teahouse treks”, which let you hike from village to village, enjoying local hospitality and culture while eliminating the need to camp or carry your own food.

Of course, Nepal isn’t just about hiking. There is, of course, the chaos of Kathmandu’s legendary backpacker district, Thamel, and many people are shocked to learn that Royal Chitwan National Park is a lowland jungle paradise where you can see tigers in the wild or bathe with elephants, if that’s your kind of thing. Plus, all the rivers rushing down out of the massive mountain ranges provide opportunities for some of the best white-water rafting anywhere in the world. Finally, if all that sounds just a bit exhausting, you can finish off your trip wandering the fascinating narrow streets and markets of old villages such as Bhaktapur and Bandipur.

Excerpt by Routinely Nomadic