DesignWith eight of the world’s ten tallest peaks – including Mt. Everest – Nepal is undoubtedly the most beautiful mountain destination. The Himalayas is one of the highlights of any trip to Nepal. It is only one of many unforgettable experiences for anyone travelling to Nepal. But at the same time, besides trekking, there are plenty of other activities to choose from. Animal safaris, white-water rafting, and cultural festivals are some of them. We’ve compiled a list of the most significant things to see and do in Nepal. We hope these tips will assist you while planning your trip to Nepal.

Mountaineering- Climb a mountain.

Everest (8,848m), Kanchenjunga (8,586m), Lhotse (8,516m), Makalu (8,485m), Cho Oyu (8,188m), Dhaulagiri I (8,167m), Manaslu (8,156m), and Annapurna I (8,156m) are among the world’s highest mountains. Several more mountains in the 6,000–7,000m range would be the highest peaks virtually anyplace else on the planet. We can say they’re outshone by their taller brothers and sisters in Nepal.

Many of these mountains are climbable, unlike Everest. The mountains which are above 6000 require a permit and below 6000m  do not require an excessive permit. Many travel agency in Nepal also has a mountain category known as “trekking peaks”. It combines the best of both worlds: trekking and climbing. Mountain climbing experience is required for summits like Island Peak (6,189m) and Mera Peak (6,461m), but you don’t have to be an expert to try them. Climbing one of these hiking peaks is a fantastic place to start if you’ve climbed lower peaks in other world regions and want to level up to a Himalayan mountain.

Trekking into the Himalayas

You can consider trekking if mountain climbing is not your thing, consider hiking. Trekking in Nepal is available in various lengths, difficulty, extremeness and luxury. If you’re short on time or you are not sure about a multi-week trek, try Dhulikhel to Panauti via Balthali. You can also trek within the Shivapuri National Park which is very close to Kathmandu. The Panchase walk, located near Pokhara also can be one of the best treks for you. It offers a scenic trek in the Pokhara valley and provides excellent hospitality.

You’ve come to the perfect place if you’re looking for a massive adventure deep in the mountains. The Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Sanctuary treks are well-known: the scenery is breathtaking, the infrastructure is excellent, and the cultures and traditional villages you’ll pass through add to the experience.

Magical mountain flight

The magical mountain flight to Mt. Everest is fantastic. The flight offers a scenic view of the Nepals well-settled ethnic villages,  terrace farming, lush jungles, blue rivers, small monuments at the top of the hill and many more. However, paying for a specialized scenic trip to feel the exciting thrill of flying in the mountains can be beneficial if you take a short trip to Nepal. The flights to the Himalayan range in the northern part of the country are always breathtaking.

A flight to Lukla has usually required a plan for trekking the Everest region unless you want to travel from Jiri. However, this tiny runway is built right into the mountainside and is known as “the world’s most dangerous airport. Most of the flights to and from Lukla are uneventful. It’s a thrilling flight over Nepal’s terraced fields and hill terrain, and you’ve already landed before you realize how little the runway is.

If you want to ignore the eight-hour bus ride between Kathmandu and Pokhara, then it’s better if you fly. You can sit on the plane’s right side for magical views of the Himalayas. At the same time, the flight from Pokhara to Jomsom is also one of the best mountain flights you can do in Nepal. It can be suitable for those who want to skip the arduous bus route from Pokhara. The 20-minute flight across the Kali Gandaki gorge is breathtaking, with the world’s tallest mountains rising on each side.

Festivals & Jatras

Nepal is primarily a Hindu country with a sizable Buddhist population. The celebrations in Nepal are diverse, colourful, and exciting. Dashain is one of the biggest festivals in Nepal. During Dashain, the entire government officials, schools, colleges, and financial insinuation get shut down. Meanwhile, Nepal has its way of celebrating festivals according to its people and ethnic group.

Another famous festival in Nepal is Shivaratri. Hindu god Lord Shiva is honoured and worshipped in the Shivaratri festival. On this day of the year, most people consume marijuana as a blessing of Shiva. The Pashupatinath temple gets very crowded on the day of Shivaratri. The Sadhus (Hindu holy men) from India and Nepal assemble at Kathmandu’s ancient Pashupatinath Temple for the Shivaratri celebrations.

Another famous festival in Nepal is Holi. Nepali people celebrate Holi in the spring season. It is the festival of colour where friends and family gather in one place and fight with coloured powder and water. So it is better you leave your valuables at home and prepare to be coloured in the alleys of  Kathmandu.

Meanwhile, Patan’s ethnic Newari community celebrates the Rato Machindranath Festival. In April/May, Rato Machindranath festival is celebrated. It is less popular among travellers and backpackers. The tall Rato Machhindranath chariot is built on the side of Pulchowk road before the few weeks of this festival. The thousand of resided witness this gigantic chariot. The chariot is pulled through the streets and dragged to every street of Patan. The festival contributes to many traffic jams and power outages around Patan).

Spot rhinos at Chitwan National Park

The Chitwan National Park in Nepal’s southern lowlands, bordering India, has a highly effective one-horned rhinoceros breeding program, with a population of about 600 today. You have a decent probability of seeing at least one rhino if you go on a safari here. In the national park and the buffer zone surrounding it, lodges in Sauraha and Bachauli can offer safaris by jeep, foot, or bullock cart. Elephants, deer, crocodiles, a plethora of birdlife, and occasionally Bengal tigers or Indian leopards hide in the vast grass and the enormous rhino.

White-water rafting

Nepal is one of the best places to enjoy white-water rafting and mountain trekking. Many lengthy rivers run through beautiful hill and mountain scenery, with plenty of rapids of various intensity and white sand beaches to camp on – all for a moderate price.

Try a single-day excursion from Kathmandu (the Bhote Kosi or Trisuli Rivers) or Pokhara (the Upper Seti) if you’re looking for a quick thrill. The Rafting organization in cities will organize transportation for you to put on the spot. Thus, after completing your rafting adventure you can have your food.

Join a multi-day tour for a more extreme journey, where you’ll sleep on beaches, eat three meals a day prepared by your guides, and bob, splash, and sprint down rivers all day. The Sun Kosi River (eight days) runs through eastern Nepal, the Tamur (12 days) includes trekking and rafting, and the Karnali (10 days) runs across far-western Nepal and terminates at Bardia National Park.

Yoga or meditation retreat

Do you want to go slower and more spiritually? Join a yoga or meditation retreat instead. In Kathmandu, the Kopan Monastery offers popular meditation and Buddhist retreats. Pranamaya, a well-known yoga school, hosts frequent yoga retreats in beautiful locales around Kathmandu, including Hattiban and Pharping. In Lumbini, Buddha’s birthplace, there are other areas where you can retreat from the world and further your spiritual education. You can check out some of our yoga treks.

Birthplace of the Buddha

Designated as one of the heritage sites, Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, is home to more than just meditation. Lumbini is a beautiful hamlet on the Terai, near the Indian border, whether you’re spiritual or not. Prince Siddartha Gautam was born in Lumbini in 623 Bc. The archaeological department discovered this place after centuries.  You can tour monasteries built by Buddhist organizations and governments worldwide in the Peace Park. Each monastery has there own architectural style in its respective country.

Kathmandu’s World Heritage Sites

Nepal isn’t all about extreme activities and adrenaline rushes; there are plenty of cultural and historical sights to see at a more leisurely pace. The Kathmandu Valley is home to seven Unesco-listed World Heritage Sites, making it a mandatory stop for most travellers. The Kathmandu Durbar Squares, Patan and Bhaktapur, the Buddhist stupas of Swayambhunath and Boudhanath, and the Pashupatinath and Changu Narayan old Hindu temples are among them.

Paragliding in Pokhara

While it may not seem like a good idea to run down the edge of a mountain with nothing but a piece of fabric to keep you alive, it is worth trying in Pokhara. One of the best sites to experience paragliding in Pokhara, Nepal’s second-largest city. Due to the relatively continuous thermals, which allow for extended flights. The views of Phewa Lake and the Annapurna mountains on one side and the villages and farms below are breathtaking. Numerous operators offer trips that pick you up along the lakefront and transfer you to the Sarangkot take-off site.