Nepal, known as the roof of the world, is the highest country on earth. It blends culinary delights with action-packed adventure and some of the friendliest locals you will ever have the pleasure of meeting. You can be boiling in the sun one minute, and sheltering from snowfall the next. It’s also got a deeply cultural side, with monasteries, temples and cultural buildings in abundance.
If you’re after a five star luxury holiday with all the trimmings, then here’s a heads up, Nepal may not be for you. But, on the other hand, if you’re a backpacker with a thirst for adventure or an adrenaline junkie with a burning desire to tackle mountain peaks, look no further.
Head into the unknown and come face to face with Rhinos in the jungle, go white-water rafting down heart stopping rapids and drink Gurkha beer with the locals. Wondering what to do in Nepal? If you need some inspo for your active itinerary, don’t worry, we’ve picked five of the best Nepal destinations to uncover on your trip. Here are some core Nepal points of interest every true adventurer should visit.
Top things to do in Nepal
1. See the temples in Kathmandu
The first place we’d recommend on our Nepal travel guide is the capital. Here’s what to do in Kathmandu:
Kathmandu is a city that will assault your senses, humble you and leave you in awe of its hidden temples. It may be a bit of a shock to the system at first but fascination will soon kick in, and there are plenty of things to do in Kathmandu. The city is surrounded by epic mountain ranges. It’s best to spend a few days here at the beginning or end of your trip, as Kathmandu is a good base for venturing into the jungles of Chitwan National Park. Most tourists end up staying in the Thamel area.
Some of the main things to do in Kathmandu include visit the Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath Stupa, Bhaktapur and Durbar Square. Don’t miss the bustling evening markets where you can buy all sorts of unique souvenirs.
Kathmandu was one of the most affected areas following the devastating earthquake in 2015. Sadly many of the temples crumbled and the city suffered hugely. During your trip, why not help support the local community by volunteering on projects where you assist with renovation and construction projects?
2. Visit Nagarkot, a village in the clouds
It’s worth tackling the drive to Nagarkot for the jaw dropping views of the Himalayas. This is by far one of the best places to visit in Nepal. On a clear day you can see Everest and the incredible sunrises are definitely worth dragging yourself out of bed for. People travel from all around the world travel to catch a glimpse of these sunrises high in the mountains with fluffy white clouds forming a blanket across the horizon.
In fact, some of the local villagers have houses perched above the clouds. If you like the sound of dense green valleys, charming villages, hiking in the mountains and views of the Himalayas then this place needs to be on your bucket list.
3. Go white-water rafting in Trishuli
If walking in the mountains isn’t adrenaline fuelled enough for you, then fear not, you can experience the fear factor in Trishuli. Go white-water rafting down the Trishuli river and take on the mighty rapids. After you’ve made it to the bottom, camp overnight on the riverbed surrounded by spectacular scenery. Most people spend between one to three days here before moving on.
4. Come face to face with nature in Chitwan national park
In Chitwan National Park you can combine culture with exciting wildlife encounters. Go on an evening village walk to see how the locals live and watch a traditional cultural village dance show. Then, the next morning, head out on a safari day. You will do part of the trip on foot where you will experience a ‘jungle walk’.
This experience isn’t for the faint hearted. You’ll be canoeing down crocodile infested waters in a hollowed out tree trunk, and you just might catch a glimpse of buffalo, tigers, monkeys, deer and a diverse collection of pretty birds. Watch out for the Rhinos though, you don’t want to get too close!
5. Go on the ABC trek at Pokhara
One of the best things to do in Nepal is to go trekking, thanks to the endless selection of beautiful walking routes and treks. Embark on one of the best treks in Nepal and go on the ABC (Annapurna base camp) route. Go Nepal backpacking and stay in ‘tea houses’ along the way and hire a local guide to take you. The accommodation is very basic but you’ll be so enamoured by the scenery it won’t phase you.
The full trek takes about 11 days to complete, but you can opt to do smaller sections of the walk if you haven’t got that much time. It’s not the most difficult of treks despite being long. If you’re up for the biggest challenge of them all you could of course hike to Everest base camp or go Everest trekking instead!
Pokhara is home to some of the highest peaks in the world, and it boasts awe-inspiring views of majestic mountains. And don’t forget to check out charming Pokhara town where you can row across Lake Fewa. It’s definitely worth climbing up to one of the viewpoints nearby for wonderful views over the lake.
What to pack
As well as knowing what to do in Nepal, you’ll need to know what to throw in your backpack. If you visit Nepal, the terrain, weather and temperature may vary greatly depending on which corner of Nepal you find yourself in, and what time of year you go. So if you want to go on the above trip, you’re going to need to pack accordingly. Here are some of the core items of clothing you’ll need for an epic Nepal trip.
• Waterproof jacket
• Walking trousers
• Fleece
• Tops that cover shoulders/something to cover shoulders in temples
• Trekking shoes
• Shorts for warmer weather
• Warm clothing for night time and trekking colder areas
Now you’re armed with the essentials and have your entire trip planned out, you’re ready to experience the magic of Nepal for yourself. Don’t forget to use the #mycraghoppers hashtag on Twitter or Instagram in your Nepal travel pics.