Nepal
Located between India and China, the kingdom of Nepal is a country of great contrasts, as seen in its Himalayan peaks that include such legends as Everest and Annapurna, in its capital of Kathmandu with its colorful bazaars and hundreds of temples, and in its friendly and hospitable inhabitants. The kingdom of Nepal covers an area slightly smaller than that of the state of Michigan, and, surprisingly enough, its latitude is the same as that of Florida. Elevations in Nepal vary tremendously from about 600 feet in the tropical Terai region to 29,028 feet at the summit of Mount Everest.Nepal continues to be the most popular Himalayan trekking destination. There is a reason for this. The south faces of many of the world's highest peaks not only form Nepal's northern border with Tibet, but they are easily accessed as well. The treks we have designed in Nepal are crafted to give mountain lovers what we are sure will be the finest trekking experience of their lives. Peaks accessed on this trip include Cho Oyo, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu and, of course, Mount Everest. Ease of access to these peaks allows us to accommodate those with time constraints who nonetheless wish to maximize their exposure to this grandest of mountain ranges.
Trekking in Nepal is one of the most delightful adventures the world has to offer. A happy coincidence of circumstances combines to make this so. The country itself, of course, is breathtakingly dramatic, ranging from incredibly lush and deep river valleys to the rock and ice giants of the Himalayas. The intermingling of Hindu and Buddhist traditions throughout the country enables one to constantly experience the spontaneity of religion free of pretense.
Kathmandu - The capital of Nepal
Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, is a melting pot of Hindu and Buddhist cultures and a treasure house of temples, shrines and medieval pagodas. While in Kathmandu, we will stay at the Hotel Manaslu. Most of the hotel staff is Tibetan, and many speak excellent English. Furthermore, all rooms have private baths with hot showers.Kathmandu possesses some very special qualities. Walking the streets in the early morning, you will see the city at worship, hundreds of people from all classes paying public homage to their chosen deity. Hindus make offerings of fruit, rice, flowers, and coins at shrines, and Buddhists prostrate themselves again and again in front of temples. None of this is for the benefit of tourists or kept artificially alive by some heritage society. It is part of the powerful throb that makes Kathmandu the city that it is.
You will have time to explore Kathmandu after your arrival and just before your departure. Your time in Kathmandu will most likely be spent sightseeing and shopping. To visit all of the famous shrines and temples would be a major undertaking (there are more of them per square mile than anywhere else in the world), but you will have a wonderful opportunity to visit some of the highlights: Durbar Square and the Temple of the Living Goddess; Swayambhunath (the Monkey Temple); Bodhanath (one of the largest stupas/chortens in the world); Pashupatinath Temple on the holy Bagmati River (with burning ghats for Hindu cremations); the five-storied Nyatapola Temple; the medieval Bhaktapur with its exquisite wood carvings, including the Peacock window; and the remarkable temples of Patan. You may also choose to visit a Tibetan refugee camp with its rug factory or visit the Sleeping Vishnu at Budhanilkantha.
Travel Tips
Nepal is not like home. It is exotic and wonderful, but it is different from home. Great elevation changes, differences in customs and language, menu variations, camp limitations, and the many other mysteries and wonders of travel in an exotic land are all conditions for which you must be physically and mentally prepared before your visit.Trekking expeditions are not tours where everything can be planned in advance. We cannot assure that everything will run like clockwork. Accordingly, our daily trip itinerary may be subject to change based on weather conditions and opportunities (or difficulties) that unexpectedly arise. Adjustments often are made in the field.
We want you to participate in the trip with the clear understanding that our day-to-day situation may be fluid, and that things can, in fact, occasionally go wrong. Adventure travel requires a willingness to accept certain risks, both emotionally and physically. The ability to be flexible and the ability to maintain a cheerful attitude are two of the most important things that you can pack in your bags for your trip to Nepal.