Nepal trekking holiday

Hi All,

I am looking to go trekking in Nepal and dont know where to start looking. I have convinced the other half we should go for our honeymoon.

I have had a look at a few tours and they seem to be good, does anyone know of any that are highly thought after?

I am looking to go for up to 3 weeks, and the iternary should include walking, with atleast an option to do a smallish peak. It can include other adventure activities too. It also should not be too extreme as I am taking the other half.

Has anyone ever organised something like this themselves, I am busy at the moment (wedding and work) but if people think it would be much better to organise it myself, I would put the time into it. Any tips if I go down this line.

Cheers,

Oli

Nepal trekking holiday

Three weeks in total, including flights, time in Kathmandu, trek, other activity ? I suggest that doesn%26#39;t leave much time for a smallish peak.

Can I suggest

Day 1/2 flying to Kathmandu

Day 3 In Kathmandu

Day 4 early flight to Pokhara, then trek to Annapurna Sanctuary. About 10 days trekking - not too strenuous, but magical scenery.

After the trek return to Pohara, then perhaps a 2 day rafting trip. The Trisuli river is enjoyable, rapids up to grade 3. Normally it%26#39;s done as a 2 day trip, day 1 morning drive from Pohara to the river. Late morning get rafting til mid afternoon. Camp on rier bank. Day 2 morning rafting, finish about lunch time.

Then either return to Kathmandu, or if you can find the time a couple of days in the Terai - CHitwan National Park, for a bit of relative luxury, elephant riding, searching for tigers (with not a lot of likelihood of meeting one)

If there%26#39;s still time I recommend a night in Bhaktapur at the end - it%26#39;s a very different experience form Kathmandu, much more Nepalese (and very little traffic either !)

You don%26#39;t really need to spend much time organising the trip yourself. Most Kathmandu-based agencies can do the job for you. I%26#39;ve used a firm called %26#39;Spirit of the Himalayas%26#39; several times - check their site (search via Google as I haven%26#39;t got the address handy). They are very good, and relatively inexpensive, being Nepali-owned, and therefore not top-slicing to pay western office expenses, salaries, etc. They will offer suggestions, and then organise the whole package from Kathmandu airport on arrival to a car to take you back to the airport for your homeward flight, including hotels as necessary, internal flights and road transfers, nepali trekking and rafting staff, etc.

Enjoy !

Nepal to Singapore?

Hello,

I will be traveling to Kathmandu and leaving for Singapore on the 12th of October and am wondering if it%26#39;s possible to get a return flight for less than 1000 USD?? OR perhaps if there%26#39;s a cheaper way to get there? I will also be leaving Singapore for Borneo after a week so maybe it%26#39;s better to just skip Singapore altogether and fly through Thailand?

Nepal to Singapore?

Hi. I am a regular to Kathmandu. You can fly directly to Singapore on Silkair which is part owned by Singapore Airlines. There are 3 direct flights weekly and you could get connecting flight to Borneo from Singapore. Check out http://www.silkair.com/mbe/en_UK/.

The other way is to fly via Bangkok on Thai Airways with daily flights www.thaiair.com. Not sure there is a connection to Borneo (you did not say where). All the best.

makeup

myspace pictures

Hidden Paradise Guest House

is a great place but can anyone tell me where it is, I would love to stay there 2 months, they say is very nice place: John

Hidden Paradise Guest House

yes, it is a GREAT place, wonderful people running it, and i stayed there for more than a month (a couple of years ago). but you do have to walk up a hill a bit to get there. The way up is close to the way up to Sarangkot. best is to phone the owner, Laxman - and his number is on the HP website they%26#39;ve just set up, at http://hiddenparadis.googlepages.com/

enjoy!

chris

Parahawking?

Has anyone done this? It seems like the only place to parahawk is Pokhara, and then perhaps only through one company. Thanks.

Parahawking?

I%26#39;m answering my own question--

This is oe of the most unusual things that we%26#39;ve ever done! The paragliding itself would have been amazing, but to have Kevin and Brad respond on command to a whistle, and have them feed off our hands in mid-flight, was really indescribable! We feel like we%26#39;ve experience the beginning of something really great for Scott and his team--I can only hope that he achieves the success that he deserves! We checked in with Scott%26#39;s company on the main street in Lakeside, Pokhara, getting a quick chance to meet the birds. We then traveled by car to the take-off point up in the mountains (Sarangkot, I think). Each passenger was attached to the front of a pilot, who worked the equipment. After a quick briefing, we took the plunge, and were soon soaring through the sky. Each time the pilot blows his whistle, one of the birds comes to feed from your hand; Kevin rests there for what seems like minutes while he eats, but Brad swoops in, plucks his treat, and is off before you know it. I even have a photo of Kevin resting on my hand in mid-air. Amazing!! The cost is currently 85 Euros for about a 30-minute flight, which is well worth the price for such a unique activity. You land in Maya Devi, which is where Scott lives and cares for the birds (several others are viewable in the aviary). We traveled to Pokhara exclusively for this activity, and we were completely satisfied! My only comment is that I would probably take two flights next time: one without the birds, then one with the birds.

Parahawking?

I wish I%26#39;d seen your post in Dec and could%26#39;ve reassured you that you%26#39;d have a great time with Scott Mason and his Parahawking team (www.parahawking.com) in Pokhara. Sounds like you weren%26#39;t disappointed.

I went to Pokhara last October purely to learn falconry from Scott and his team (even though I knew nothing about birds and had never done anything like it before). What an amazing experience. The birds (an Egyptian vulture, Kevin, and a black kite, Brad), and the process of training them up to fly with paragliders (which has to be repeated every year after the monsoon season ends), are truly astonishing. Scott also has other rescued birds that are flown and cared for at Maya Devi, the parahawking base - he also runs a Himalayan Raptor Rescue project and is actively campaigning to save birds in this region of the world.

I left before the parahawking season got into full swing but I%26#39;ll definitely go back to see Brad and Kevin in action - their performances when I was there were just breath-taking. If you%26#39;re into paragliding, birds, or just unique experiences in beautiful locations, parahawking in Pokhara is a must!!!

this sounds cool we are going back to nepal in feb

can a 14 yr old and a 12 yr old do it ?

hey i may have a go to and i am 39

Hi there,

Scott here, I run the Parahawking project in Pokhara.

Yes, you%26#39;re right, we are the only company doing this, not just in Pokhara but in the world.

To book locally you will have to come to the Frontiers Paragliding office in Lakeside, Pokhara. NOT Sunrise Paragliding as the Lonely Planet states, as they will tell you that their birds are in training and try to sell you a normal paragliding flight when in actual fact, they don%26#39;t do Parahawking at all. This was a bit of a problem last season.

We can certainly take your 12 year old and your 14 year old, with families and friends we try to be in the air at the same time so you can share the experience together. We have some of the best Paragliding pilots in the world working on the project so you are always in safe hands.

As Parahawking is becoming more and more popular, it is advisable to book in advance as the places are very limited. You can do this by visiting the Parahawking website and contact me via that. You will also see some videos and lots of amazing pictures so you can get a feel of what it%26#39;s all about.

Please feel free to ask me any questions, I%26#39;m happy to help with your trip to Nepal in any way i can.

Cheers

Scott

great we will be in touch -

infact i have already been in touch and our kids r excited - just need to

sort out a plan of action and get the thinking heads

( and i mean HEADS !!) together -

if we can just spare a min or two away from our work - Cheers

watch yr email box

-

from the WARBURTON Possee

Sorry i should have given the address of the website:

www.parahawking.com

cheers

Scott

flights from Delhi to Kathmandu

I%26#39;m trying to book a flight from Delhi to Kathmandu, but am coming up with very few options, except Indian Air. I would think there would be more choices than that.

Has anyone done this flight recently? Details (what airline, fare, how did you book) would be really appreciated!!

Thanks!

-Holly

flights from Delhi to Kathmandu

The least expensive option I found was with Jet Lite. I am traveling in May 2009 from DEL to KTM. For whatever reason, I could not book on line, so I called a US travel agent in New York City. The travel agent purchased the tickets at a rate of $224 + tax = $310. The travel agent then mailed the paper ticket to me.

flights from Delhi to Kathmandu

Hi there,

I booked my tickets just last week, through travelocity.co.in. I paid a bit over 22000 indian rupees (with credit card of course) which came down to 336 euros (including everything) for two people (return ticket). I think it was quite a bargain...

What you could also do is type in ';flight delhi kathmandu'; in google.com and see what comes up. Many websites compare prices.

I don%26#39;t know how far ahead you%26#39;re planning? My tickets are for march 09.

Good luck! hope to hear from you!

-Marlies

Thanks everyone for your suggestion. Marlies, I wound up doing exactly what you did and paying the same price (which is indeed a bargain). Many thanks for the tip!

Holly

Hi Holly,

I also bought flights over the internet. it is a company based in India, I paid 20,000 indian rupees for two tickets for end of november.

the only problem is that they can only deliver it to India, in case that you are interested let me know.

Cheers

Juan

Great to hear that, Holly! When are you going? Hope you have a great time! If you have any tips, let me know :)

Enjoy!

-Marlies

Hi all,

I%26#39;m looking for a travel agency in Delhi to buy the JetLite flight tickets from Delhi-Kathmandu. In which agency did you buy the tickets and how can I contact them? Are they delivering the tickets to your country by mail?

Thanks!

Pokhara to Jomsom flight

Hi,

We plan to do the Jomsom trek in October. I would like to know which airlines are flying from Pokhara to Jomsom and which one is recommended. Also updated pricing would be welcome. When do I need to make reservations if we are a group of 6 people?

Indra Jatra - when?

Hei!

I have received many unmatching dates while searching the web - could someone with better sources help with when will the celebrations be held this fall?

Thank you!

Indra Jatra - when?

The Indra Jatra festival is held on September 14.

If you would like to know more about the festivals and events happening in Nepal, you might find www.exoticbuddha.com/english/calendar helpful.

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Visiting for the first time...

When visiting Nepal for the first time, is it viable to base yourself in Kathmandu and then use the services of the various companies that provide trekking tours round the country? Or do you have to plan everything in great detail first? The reason I ask is because I know so little about the country, it makes it hard to plan - far easier to just put yourself in the hands of the experts! I have been looking at the websites of some reputable local companies, some of whose representatives I think sometimes post here.

Visiting for the first time...

I recently traveled to Nepal to trek and tour Kathmandu. I made absolutely NO plans beforehand except which Kathmandu hotel to stay at before I trekked. (I usually plan things to the last detail, so this was the exception for me!) The hotel manager at The International Guest House wonderfully found me a sherpa/guide to trek with me for two weeks and arranged all air and hotel costs. It cost one third of the price of the internet companies and felt more private and personal. There are MANY companies in Kathmandu to choose from. If you are staying at a hotel, start with the hotel manager. He/She can be a great resource. Ganesh was the best at Intl Guest House and i recommend him highly!!

Visiting for the first time...

Thank you so much for your post, it really rings a bell with me. I also usually try to meticulously plan everything, but I think this is less important in the east than in the west. I will definitely follow your line of thought - I am glad it worked so well for you.

No problem! I wish you the best on your trip. You will love it, I promise. Try not to worry in advance too much. The trekking industry is huge there and th people are so accomodating. Let me know if you have any other questions!

I am in Pokrha right now, having just finished the Poon Hill Trek with my 5 kids. We had an amazing time. Along the way we ran into several groups of European and Japanese tourists who had hooked up with guides in Kathmandu, who obviously did NOT know what they were doing, or where they were going. In fact, some of their guides didn%26#39;t even get them to Poon HIll. They were really upset. They had gotten the ';best price,';but they didn%26#39;t get a good trip. You have to really be careful about who your guide is. My guide was amazing. A lot of the trekkers were asking MY where they were, and what was the best route while we were trekking. All I%26#39;m saying is, you get what you pay for, and you gotta be careful.

HI

I would recommend turning up in KTM and planning from there. However, I would ONLY EVER book with a company for whom I have received a good recommendation.

I have used both of these well established an reliable companies. Their staff are treated well and their equipment is excellent and they are both very flexible.

Highland Excursions Nepal Pvt Ltd

PO Box 12733 Baluwater

Kathmandu

Tel 4-413850/4-414783

and

Himalaya Expeditions Inc

PO Box 105

Kathmandu

Tel 4 22 66 22/4 257 257

email: info@himexnepal.com

www.himexnepal.com

Contact: Bhanu Sing Thakuri

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Kathmandu to Mumbai

Have you any expierenc how to get from Kathmandu to Mumbai? What is the best way to by airplane tickets - before visit or during the stay in Nepal?

Kathmandu to Mumbai

Hi,

The only the way to go from Kathmandu to Mumbai is via Delhi. I don%26#39;t think so that there is any direct flight.

Best wishes.

Raju India.

Olympics - Not strictly a travel question

Hi

Although not a travel questions, can anyone tell me what events Nepal has competitors in Beijing please?

Thanks

Olympics - Not strictly a travel question

Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC) announced a 30-member Nepali group for the August 8-24 Beijing Olympic Games here on Saturday.Having said which, the majority of them are Officials, coaches, with only about 8 being active participants !

Among the players are taekwondo ace Deepak Bista, athletes Arjun Kumar Basnet and Chandrakala Thapa, swimmers Karishma Karki and Prasiddha Jung Shah, shooter Fulmaya Kyapchhaki, judo player Debu Thapa and weighlifter Kamal Bahadur Adhikari. Bista is the only player to qualify for the Games, while others received wild cards.

Vice-president of the NOC and National Sports Council Sitaram Maskey will be Nepal’s Chief-de-mission.

Olympics - Not strictly a travel question

Thanks. Nepal are my second team!!

Appropriate remittence for a guide in Kathmandu

I will be in Kathmandu for 2 days, but the guide I contacted would not quote a price. The culture norm seems to be '; I will accept whatever you think is appropriate '; Does anyone have experience with the cost of guides? One day in Kathmandu and one dayin Nagakot. Thank You

Appropriate remittence for a guide in Kathmandu

Thank you so much for your help.

Appropriate remittence for a guide in Kathmandu

There is also the option of coordinating with a tour company. This is what I did. The company made all the arrangements, made valuable additional suggestions, and then paid my travel guide for me from the funds I paid to the travel company.

I invite you to Private Message me if you%26#39;d like info on the travel company.

Just got back from KTM and Pokhara and trekking with my 5 kids. Yeah, tips are a big thing there, and you%26#39;re right - they%26#39;re all ';whatever you want to give,'; but even the beggars seem disappointed if you don%26#39;t give enough!!! Our guide was awesome, and took care of everything for us for 16 days. However, I think about 1000 to 1200 rupees a day would be fine. That%26#39;s like $20 to 25 a day I think.

Things you wish you had known!

Has anyone got any advise, things you wish you had known, things to see, things to take....

Also has anyone any experience of Manakamana Treks %26amp; Expedition?

Hoping to book the base camp trek in July and would welcome posts from anyone who has had any expereince.

Many thanks!

Things you wish you had known!

Wish on my first visit I%26#39;d known just how great a culture shock it was going to be - my first taste of the Third World, hectic, noisy, smelly, chaotic.

Once you get used to it - hectic, exciting, exotic, absurd.

Things you wish you had known!

MY husband %26amp; I spent a week in Nepal last month. We flew there after a week in India much to our releaf, if that tells you anything. Yes there is a culture shock but we found the Nepalese people much friendlier and quieter!!! Kathmandu is congested so when people told us to get out of town after a day or so I can now understand that. We were exhausted so the 3 days of relaxing and touring were what we needed. Thamel area is full of shops, tourists and restaurants. We flew then to Chitwan National Park for 3 more days. I would say next time we will go the Pokara/Anapura way as many people we talked to did that and found it wonderful.

Every trip can be different depending on where you are at in the holiday.

I did not expect the power outages in Kathmandu nor the traffic jams everywhere as I had pictures of this old world kind of city, it%26#39;s huge.

I went to Nepal in Feb with my husband and 2 children and we had an absolutely fantastic time.

We went to Chitwan which was very relaxing and we went treking with Himalayan Encounters who also go to the Base Camp and they were brilliant. Very professional, well trained, kind and caring. Always one step ahead of their clients.

We took lots of mediine but all we used was Diarolyte for one stomach upset.

You really need to get out of Katmandu and see the Valley and Pokhara was great too. Like I say we loved it and hope to go back

Hi

we went last year to nepal %26amp; chitwan with 2 kids -

its still the same world so dont worry

we had a great time it really opens your eyes and is really worth it we are so loking forward to going back next year

No experience with the base camp but general info for Nepal. Have an amazing time...

Things to know:

- Don%26#39;t give money/ buy things for beggars. It seems heartbreaking but it%26#39;s often just a business for them. Find a reputable organisation to support such as Volunteer Service of Nepal (VSN) Think about the long term affects rather than making youself feel better. This includes children as they often spend the money on drugs and other harmful things

- There will be power shortages everyday. I think at about 6pm for about 2 hours

- Don%26#39;t eat raw food including salad. You are best to stick to Nepalese diet which is vegetarian. It is also delicious!

- Learn to eat with your hand- right hand only

- You will never be clean so stop trying

- You will always be cleaner than a typical Nepalese person as they often only shower weekly

Things to see:

- The countryside

- How beautiful the country is if you look beyond what the typical western society thinks beautiful is

- Festivals- find out if there are any on when you will be there and go. Dress in Nepalese costume and you will enjoy it the most

Things to take:

- Hand sanitiser by the bucket load to help reduce the chance of getting sick

- Medicines in case you get sick

- lots of photos to capture all the amazing things you will see

- a rain jacket

- toilet paper if you will be leaving the city

- a smile!

Just got back yesterday from KTM/Pokhara/Gorepani Poon Hill trek with my 5 kids. Okay, things I wished I%26#39;d done: the guest houses on the trek have bed bugs, etc. I WISH I%26#39;d brought a double bed top sheet sewn up as a sleeping bag thing. It wasn%26#39;t that cold, it was just that they only provide a flat sheet on the bed, and nohting on top. We asked for blankets a couple times, and they looked gross. I bought a yak wool blanket for 8 bucks along the way, and just used that, but wished I%26#39;d had a sewn up sheet too. Glad I brought my baby wipes! Glad I brought my Cliff bars and Lara Bars!! Didn%26#39;t realize the bottled water would go up in price from 20 rupees in town to 70 rupees at the top!!!

ittwit

help with itinerary 8 days

Hi all the helpful people.

We are struggling to put together a 9 day itinerary for Nepal and I am sure you have good ideas how to make the best out of this short stay.

We will are at th emoment considering:

day 1 arrival,overnight Kathmandu

day 2 Kathmandu overnight in Kathmandu or Nagargot?

day 3 if overnight in Nagargot trek down towards Kathmandu to Bhaktapur or towards nala and Banepa? Is it possible? Is it a good idea? Overnight in Kathmandu

But we would also like to go to Bouthanath nad Kopan monastery. Will we have time in these days?

day 4 fligh or drive to Pokhara for the Gorepani-PoonHill trek

(Or rather fly to Lukla or Jomsom or Manang? (To get some mountain air as someone suggested). We have not been in higher mountains and find it very tempting - what would you suggest?)

Then days/nights 5-7 we would be somewhere trekking

but we have to back in Kathmandu on day 8 not to mis sthe flight in the morning of day 9.

So - we are looking for suggestions. Any advice highly welcomed.

help with itinerary 8 days

Thank you for the answer!

Some more questions :)

How long it would take to trek to Poonhill from Pokhara?

Why would you suggest Pokhara over Jomsom? (Concerning nature and mountains )

Of the Kathmandu hotels, would you suggest Courtyard, Shanker or some other for the first time visitors?

What is the best way to get to Nagarkot? Taxi?

Is our itinerary what you would suggest or should we adjust it more and spend more time in Kathmandu before departure?

is it nessesary to book in advance hotel in Nagarkot in the end of September?

Thank you in advance!

help with itinerary 8 days

We are planning to stay in Nepal in the end of September. Is there any festivals in that period that we should not miss?

Hi there,

Namaste(A local form of greetings)from Nepal..

It%26#39;s nice to know that you are heading to nepal on winter and of course the time you have been choosed is absolutely wonderful and best.

In fact, I would be very appreciate to reply you properly as your questions and hope your kind understanding.Thanking you.

You Wrote:

How long it would take to trek to Poon hill from Pokhara?

I Write:

Generally,trekking up to Poon Hill will take 2 or 3 days and it is depend on your walking ability because on the first day of your walk would be maximum 4 to 5 hours and will be stop at Tikhedhunga(1600m)and rest at the lodges. Similarly, second day is little bit hard walk compare the day first.

So, yeah you will be able to be at the Poon Hill on the third day morning and should be at the top(3,210m,Poon Hill)little early(5.30am)

You Wrote:

Of the Kathmandu hotels, would you suggest Courtyard, Shanker or some other for the first time visitors?

I Write:

Here are many hotels and among them courtyard hotel is still nice and wood carving windows,looks traditional and typical Nepalese style but administration management is little bit non professional but more or less nice.And while you arrive here in Kathmandu you may have more chances to see other hotels as well.

You wrote:

What is the best way to get to Nagarkot? Taxi?

I Write:

The best way to get to Nagarkot by car.

You Wrote:

Is our itinerary what you would suggest or should we adjust it more and spend more time in Kathmandu before departure?

I Write:

Well, spending time in Kathmandu is still good decision but as you know the city is really dust,pollutions that%26#39;s why split your holiday out of Kathmandu but I think still you are staying in Kathmandu for a day or two to departure your next destination right? So, it will be enough.

You Wrote:

is it nessesary to book in advance hotel in Nagarkot in the end of September?

I Write:

Well, it depends up on the quality of hotel because if you are looking for nice and comfortable hotel in Nagarkot like Kathmandu, you should arrange a head because there won%26#39;t be enough space or room available at that time but please don%26#39;t be disappointed that if you book the room early cost will be high, it%26#39;s not true. or if you like to stay normal hotel you may get room and can reserve after you arrive here.

So, finally I think I have written those informations which will meet with your needs and please write here for further assist or send pm.thanks

N.D

Hi there again,

Yeah you will be in festival time if you are heading to nepal end of sept. and it is call ';Vijaya Dashain'; and most of the people go to village to get the bless from their elders and parents.And another beautiful festival right after 15 days later which is call ';Deewali'; and you may enjoy with lots of light around Kathmandu and all over nepal as well as India too.

cheers

N.D

Thank you for all the very informative answers! Your help is highly appreciated!

Dashain, the major Nepalese festival starts in September 30. It is a ten day long festival with major days starting from the seventh day. So, the festival starts in earnest from October 6.

If you want to know in detail about the festival, please check on http://www.exoticbuddha.com/english/calendar and look for the events in October.

Hope you will find this helpful.

Given your limited time I%26#39;d suggest that if going to Pokhara it%26#39;s much better to fly there from Kathmandu (25 minute flight, with superb views, particularly if you sit on the right on the ktm - Pokhara flight: the alternative is around 6 hours by bus, an experience, but one that is probably worth avoiding !)

I%26#39;ve also found that a night spent in Bhaktapur is a great experience - compared to the noise and pollution of Kathmandu the centre of Bhaktapur is delightful, and a much more Nepalese experience than Thamel. The central squares of Bhaktapur are spectacular, with wonderfully restored buildings, and are virtually traffic-free, and once dusk settles over the square, and the butter lamps are lit in front of the many temples,the atmosphere is magical. I can recommend the Bhadgaon Guest House, comfortable, friendly, inexpensive, and right in the middle of things.

I%26#39;ve visited Nagarkot a couple of times:I%26#39;m not certain that I%26#39;d see it as an essential part of an eight-day trip.The views are pretty good, but you%26#39;ll get better ones from the plane ! A three-day trek is more problematical - it%26#39;s not easy to get into the mountains and back in a short time. Poon Hill from Pokhara involves quite a bit of ascent, ok if you are fit, and the views from Ghorepani are spectacular.

Money

Should I take U.S. dollars with me to pay for hotels or do they all accept credit cards? Can I get dollars from ATMs or only rupees?

Money

Although my hotel did not charge me a fee for credit card use, some other establishments in Kat assessed a 4% credit card fee.

Money

hi there , you can take us dollars and othe r currency also , the hotel will accept the credit card ,i have also hotel ,we also accept credit card and you get only nepali ruppe from ATM if you need help help in nepal contact me

mr.puskar

trekking/tour guide and team leader

Dragon outdoor Club

travel society nepal

online service :jeanpul_123puskar@hotmail.com

Hi,

Excuse my lack of knowledge but what is ATM??

Best wishes

ATM: Atuomated Teller Machine:

鈥ikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_teller_machine

We just got back, my family, from Kathmandu yesterday. We stayed at a place called Samsara Resort. It was definitely NOT a resort, but it was great. I think they took credit cards, but yes, there is a fee. Also, there are places that will say they take credit cards, and then their machine will be ';broken.'; So ask beforehand, if you need to eat dinner and only have a credit card!!! ATMs only give out rupees.

We just got back, my family, from Kathmandu yesterday. We stayed at a place called Samsara Resort. It was definitely NOT a resort, but it was great. I think they took credit cards, but yes, there is a fee. Also, there are places that will say they take credit cards, and then their machine will be ';broken.'; So ask beforehand, if you need to eat dinner and only have a credit card!!! ATMs only give out rupees.

makeup

Short Trek Options From Pokhara

My pretty athletic 13 and 15 year old sons and I am heading to Nepal in early July.

DON%26#39;T WORRY, I won%26#39;t ask what the weather is!!!!!!!!!!! ;)

We have been offered different options for a short trek from Pokhara:

Option #1

1 day/1 night Bandipur

2 night/3 day Chepang Hills (Hudgi-Hattibang-Upardaghai-Sakhitkor)

Option #2

2 night/3 day Ghandruk circuit

1 day/1 night Bandipur

Option #3

3 night/4 day Ghandruk circuit

Option #4

2 night/3 day Ghorepani circuit

1 day/1 night Bandipur

Option #5

3 night/4 day Ghorepani circuit

I am trying to understand 3 issues:

* Which option is the best balance between a healthy challenge but not turning out to be miserable burn out! Most of the websites show 3 day/4 night itins for Ghorepani and Ghandruk, so we are not sure how to evaluate the 2 night/3 day options offered to us- will it be too rushed or exhausting? Or just an addbreviated routing?

* which option will provide us the most varied glimpse of rural village life and contact with locals

* at the conclusion of each of the options, we will need to drive to Sauhara.

So, will any or all of these options finish in time to arrive in Sauhara by sunset (don%26#39;t want to drive at night).

Very grateful for any feedback.

Short Trek Options From Pokhara

Guess you%26#39;re probably done with your trek by now, but my 5 kids and I just got back yesterday, and we had a great time doing the Gorepani Poon Hill Trek. My kids are aged 10 to 19. The only one who struggled was my 10 year old, and he only struggled with the cardio up to Gorepani. My teen boys raced up and raced down. . . .

Traveling to Nepal

I am a graduating college student looking to take a trekking trip with a reputable tour company to Everest Base Camp. I am concerned about the level of safety in Nepal because I read a May 7th warning on www.state.gov. Is anyone there presently or can anyone give me any advice. I really want to make the trip.

Thanks

Traveling to Nepal

I think it takes some time for the bureaucrats of the state department to update the advisory. That is it. They are thinking of removing the negative travel advisory.

nepalnews.com/archive/…news03.php

At present, the security situation in Nepal is good. You need not worry about it at present. A couple of days ago, I met with an Austrian woman who trekked for a month in the Everest region alone and she said that she did not feel threatened at any point of time throughout her stay there.

Traveling to Nepal

I just spent three weeks trekking in Nepal and was not troubled at any point on my trip, and I was a single woman traveling with only my guide. I walked the streets of Kathmandu without being hassled and the people in the mountains could not have been friendlier. I travel alot and considered it lif-changing. Go- you will not regret it.

you lucky thing

we did nepal last yr with 2 kids and fell in love with the place we are going back next year

have a look at our photos on our forum to see we had a great time

the people are great - didnt do EBC seemed abit hard work for us - we like oxygen

Have fun

I just got back from a trip to Nepal yesterday. Took my 5 kids and we went trekking to Gorepani and Poon Hill. We had a wonderful time in kathmandu, Pokhara and doing the trek!!! I too saw the state department%26#39;s warning and was a little concerned, but I have to tell you, at no point did I feel worried or unsafe. If you have any questions about my trip, etc, I%26#39;d be happy to tell you. I%26#39;d say go for it though! You%26#39;ll have a great time. Are you a guy or a girl? And are you going alone or with a friend?

What activities to do in Nepal

Hello All

Anyone have any suggestions on what activities people do with their kids in Nepal? Park? Amusement parks?

What activities to do in Nepal

There are lots of things to do in Nepal but not adventure parks!

There is treking in the Annapurna range, white water rafting, elephant safaris in Chitwan national park etc and of of course sight seeing.

What activities to do in Nepal

one thing that comes to my mind is visiting the zoo in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur. Another would be to take them swimming in hotels or public pools.

Others would be to take them to some activities that adults do but only the easy ones. If your children are not big quite small, then you might have to look for baby sitters.

You don%26#39;t say how old your kids are, but I just got back yesterday from Nepal, and took all 5 of my kids, aged 10 to 19. We have taken our kids to lots of countries, and have NEVER gotten babysitters for them. We just pack them along with us. If you%26#39;re gonna be in our family, you gotta love to travel right from the start! There was tons to do with the kids, let me tell you. We had a wonderful trek up to Gorepani and Poon Hill, and there is the monkey temple in Kathmandu, and the Hindu temple where they do the cremations and float the ashes down the river, etc. The Boudhantha Temple is way cool too. One recommendation is to stay at a place that has AC in Kathmandu, and even a TV. The kids like a little Sponge Bob break every now and then, and it was hot in KTM, and was nice to come back to a room with AC (less whining!). Any other questions about kids? I can tell you a couple other suggestions about what we were glad we brought, etc.

I want to make a quilt

jewelry

I am interested to have a piece of jewelry made, and some items set in silver. I%26#39;ve heard there are shops in Kathmandu that can do this but am not aware of any. Can anyone please direct me? Thank you. I am leaving this sunday, in 5 days. . . .

jewelry

Okay, i am back now and will reply to my own message! hahaha. If anyone wants to know! There were a couple shops that I found right in Thamel, a couple shops apart from each other. Everyone there says they have ';factories'; that can make stuff, but there were two that actually had men making the jewelry in the shop. I took several pieces of sea glass and shells that I wanted set in silver, and also pictures of silver jewelry that I wanted made. I was amazed at how cheap it was, and what good quality I got. Very happy. I made a bracelet there for US$35, which I saw in the US for $400. It is beautiful. Anyway, the shop name i used was called Vishnu %26amp; Sons, on Thahity street in Kathmandu, and the other shop was called Sun and Moon jewelery, or Moon and Stars Jewelry (something like that), and was just a few shops away from Vishnu.

jewelry

Thank you for this, Mom-of-five!

what the situation like in Nepal

been keeping up to date with the news and there seems to be a possible settlement - election this week

- any body got any news from Nepal ?????

what the situation like in Nepal

Just got back from a 16 day trip there. Took my 5 kids and husband and we went to Kathmandu and did the Goreponi Poon Hill circuit. As for politics, etc, it was no big deal at all. I was concerned because of my kids and all, (aged 10-19), but at no time did we feel threatened or unsafe. Just watch out for leeches on the trek - haha. Anyway, We had a good guide. He was local, and I found out about him through another Trip Advisor person from Washington, and so we skipped a US company, (who usually farm out the work to Nepali companies, who sometimes just get guys off the street to be guides). There were several ';lost'; groups on the trek with guides who had never even been in the area. They were asking my guide all kinds of questions. Anyway, if you have any questions, let me know, re: what to bring, things that worked for us, things that didn%26#39;t, etc. Are you planning a trek?

what the situation like in Nepal

hi

thanks for that - we love nepal and going back next feb for a whole month yippiee - not doing a trek but want to go parahawking in Pokara and rafting to chitwan -the kids love the jungle and want to join in the colour full festivites in the HOLI festival - where did you stay in Pokhara??

Oh, I loved where we stayed in Pokhara mainly because of the two little girls that live there!! Susmilla, 7, and Sanjairah, 4. Their father was killed by Maoists a couple years back, and so the owner of the guest house (New Elite%26#39;s Guest house) is taking care of them and putting them through school. Their mother is also taking care of two young boys. Anyway, it was comfortable, and had a nice fan, clean bathroom, and clean sheets and towels. The address is Lakeside, Baldam-6. Phone is 061 462807. email is purna22807@yahoo.com

July/August trek

We have heard conflicting views whether a trek is possible to Base camp during this time. There is an agent taking bookings but other sites say tracks are impossible due to the monsoons.

Have you any thoughts or experience of doing a trek at this time?

Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

July/August trek

Hello

I would not recommend a trek during the monsoon time. Firstly it will be very wet and secondly your visibilty will be seriously hampered. The mist makes visibilty very poor and will slightly ruin you trip. HAve you thought about going to Ladakh in Northern India?? I spend a summer there a few years ago and teh treking is amazing. Plus it is high enough to be out of the monsoon route and the scenery is spectacular. Hope this help.

July/August trek

Hello Jenkins,

Greetings from Nepal

As we are from Nepal,we absolutely don%26#39;t feel nice to avoid your travel interest at our small and Himalayan kingdom but as you should know that July/August is monsoon season in Nepal and for sure you will have rain along the way of trek but still people feel nice to walk on the green hills and mountain.

Similarly, yeah agent takes your booking but they should inform you in advance that you should encounter with rain most of the time and when you head up to 2000m,there can be possible to get snow little instead of rain.

So, more or less we can say you can do trek at this time no problem.

And as an agent please ask here for any further assistance thank you

nakulnpatgmaildotcom

Don%26#39;t know if you scrapped your trek or not, but we just got back from there yesterday, my family of 7, and we did the Poon Hill trek.. Yes, it rained off an on while we were there, but so what!!! No, we did not see the mountains all the time, but we DID see them and got photos. For us, the trade off was that there were virtually NO tourists on the trail. Our guide told us that during season, the trails are crammed with trekkers like donkeys on a trail (and yes, there were donkey trains on the trail). He said that sometimes you will have to stand aside for 20 minutes to let everyone go by. No thanks. I%26#39;d take the rain over the trekkers any day!!! My 5 kids felt the same. Make sure you get goretex waterproof shoes though, and good socks. We didn%26#39;t even use our raincoats; just umbrellas believe it or not.

makeup

Nepalese & Tibetan beads

Hi:

I am considering Nepal as a source to buy beads but do not know where to start yet. I will like a direct seller (manufacturer, artisan). Any ideas, pleeeease?

Weather in August

Hi,

I%26#39;m wanting to go to Nepal from the end of July to mid/late August.

How much does the monsoon limit things? Is there are that is less affected by the monsoons? I%26#39;ll be working in a hospital for 2-3 weeks, but I would like to do some trekking/sightseeing too, we also have afternoons off. Will it still be worth going or am I just going to end up inside all the time, and miss out on the mountains?

Cheers,

Corrie

Weather in August

Monsoon start from the month of july to the first week of september. you choose the busy season of raining. although your sightseeing around the valley is possible but trekking is impossible, some times continue raining for 5, 6 days or some time may not be. Trekking in long distance for more days is impossible.

cheers

andrewhaul

Weather in August

Monsoon start from the month of july to the first week of september. you choose the busy season of raining. although your sightseeing around the valley is possible but trekking is impossible, some times continue raining for 5, 6 days or some time may not be. Trekking in long distance for more days is impossible.

cheers

andrewhaul

CoireLil

it is good to be in rainy season as surrounding green kathmandu is wonderful in the season. short treks in Banepa / Nagarakot / Fulchoki can be done very nicely even in rainy. your afternoon off can be utilised in nearby siteseeings.

How about weather in September for trekking in the Khumbu region?

I spent 6 months in Nepal some time ago, and the cloud didn%26#39;t clear off the mountains until mid-September - and even then we didn%26#39;t get decent views until the end of September. You%26#39;d run a fairly high chance of not seeing the himalayas if you went in August, so I personally would avoid that time if that%26#39;s what you want to do.

Well I hope you went on your trek!!! We just got back from doing the Gorepani/Poon Hill trek (all my 5 kids went too), and had an amazing time!!! Here%26#39;s what we missed: didn%26#39;t see the mountains every day, but we did see them, and got pictures too. Here%26#39;s what we gained: Hardly no other trekkers were on the trail, and we had everything to ourselves. It was great. We all agreed that going at monsoon time was worth it, in order to not have to share the trail with a bunch of people. our guide said that during ';season,'; you might have to stand aside for 20 minutes while donkey trains carrying supplies to the tea houses, and tourist groups all walked by. It rained off and on - and wasn%26#39;t constant. Mostly rained late afternoon or during the night. I say go! Just bring waterproof goretex shoes and a clean pair of socks for every day (and we didn%26#39;t even use our rain jackets - just an umbrella on the trail!)

sanskrit name

trekking attire for women

I will be trekking in the Annapurna foothills in October. Do women really need to wear skirts while trekking as I have heard? I am much more comfortable (and covered) wearing pants. What do women wear in the dining rooms of teahouses whilst trekking? What to wear for casual dining in Kathmandu?

trekking attire for women

Don%26#39;t know much about trekking in Nepal but if that is the case I%26#39;d wear a light skirt over a pair of pants/leggings. I%26#39;ll ask my Nepali friends though and post tomorrow.

trekking attire for women

Website info:

www.nikkistravel.com/nepal/faq-nepal.html

Namaste! From Kathmandu/Nepal.

You can wear full/half pants while trekking in Annapurna foothill. If you need lists of trekking equipment, please send me a private message. I can supply more information about trekking in Nepal soon.

I just trekked in the Everest region for two weeks in zip-off trekking pants. You do not need to wear a skirt, as I saw dozens of other women in same gear as I wore.

you can choose the attire in which you are comfortable, i think pair of jeans or cargo will do don%26#39;t do for skits any thing which is open.

More over you can ask your agent/tour operator or check some websites.

TRavelguruz

http://alanheib.travelencia.com

Okay, I just got back yesterday from doing the Poon Hill trek in the annapurna foothills. It was amazing!!!! I was concerned about wearing a skirt too; some people said it would be good for bathroom breaks out in the open, etc. Well, I did NOT bring one, and I have to tell you, I can%26#39;t imagine hiking in one now!!! I wore shorts to my knee, or just below (pedal pushers??) and it was perfect. One thing that I didn%26#39;t realize on this trek is that the uphill is largely stairs!!!! It%26#39;s like a 500 year old staircase or something, but the steps are anyway from 5 inches to 15 inches high. That was the tough part - forget working on your cardio - start doing squats and walking lunges, I%26#39;m not kidding!!!! There are tea houses all along the way, so you can use their squat boxes to go to the bathroom. A skirt would%26#39;ve gotten my feet all tangled up while walking the steps. Bring a packet of baby wipes too. . . . If you have any other questions, I%26#39;d be happy to answer. . .

how to see Nepal

We are thinking of a trip to Nepal for about 2 weeks in April.But we are not so young and my husband is not very fit.Can we do some kind of ';soft trek'; or tour and still see some lovely scenery? any itinerary suggestions appreciated but not organized trips thank you!

how to see Nepal

My family of 7 just got back from Nepal yesterday. I have 5 kids aged 10 to 19. My husband and I are 45 and 47. We did the Gorepani Poon Hill trek. It was amazing!!! The cardio part was not such a killer, so much as the steps! So start doing walking lunges and squats now! it%26#39;s a 5-day trek and we took a rest day up at the top at Gorepani, so 6 days total. It was really really cool and wonderful, and the scenery was amazing. My youngest, the 10 year old, is a little chubby, and our Guide put a Porter on him to help him, and that made all the difference. We had an amazing Guide with us, if you%26#39;re interested.

how to see Nepal

Yes thanks I would be happy to have details of that trek.thanks

pokhara village stay

Is it possible to hire a guide to take you to a village to stay for 2-3nights in a village house to interact and learn about life in Nepal?

pokhara village stay

Do you mean a village outside of Pokhara? Or are you talking about Pokhara?? We just got back yesterday, and had a great time. Pokhara is not as small as you might think - not a ';village.'; We stayed at the New Elite%26#39;s Guest house and enjoyed that. The lady who runs it is taking care of a couple of little girls (so darling!!!) whose father was killed by Maoists a few years back. Also, when you go trekking, you will be staying in villages. Really, they are just small tiny villages. You can stay a few days longer there if you want. We stayed a couple days in Gorepani, and Gandruk was really a cool village; I think it was my favorite. While there we talked with school kids practicing English on us, helped villagers when the roof of one of their houses collapsed (no one was inside luckily), and ate roasted corn with Runda, a lady we met out in her field.

pokhara village stay

Hi Ponky, you mean that you want to stay with a local family and experience the nepali hospitality ?

My good friend Raj organizes so called '; home stay treks '; You stay in a small village and are a part of the family.

He runs the hotel '; Fire on the Mountain '; in Pokhara and for more information you can contact him here: hotelfireonthe_mountain@yahoo.com or call (00997)-061-531461.

I.m learning about the Annapurna Circuit

OK, so I am learning Nepal run companies are cheaper and probably just as good. It appears they all stop at different tea house stops along the trek. How to know the best places to stop? The prettiest? The coolest culture? The best food? Etc. ? They all pretty much start in Besi Sahar and end in or near Pokahara. How do you know what is the best place to stay? Can anyone help?

Thanks fellow Trippers

Susie

I.m learning about the Annapurna Circuit

The short answer is that you don%26#39;t know ! Your Nepali staff (assuming that you%26#39;ve hired a guide and a porter) will have their particular favourites, but to a great extent it%26#39;s a matter of luck. On a well-trekked route such as the Circuit there are numerous good lodges (particularly on the way back down the Kali Gandaki valley). Menus (and prices) appear to be fixed at the same levels across large areas (apart perhaps from the few %26#39;up-market lodges catering to the tourist rather than the trekker, and you%26#39;ll be mercifully out of range of those very quickly).

In most lodges you%26#39;ll get a small double room (worth taking your own sleeping bag), adequate food - though probably not a great range of choice, and a warm welcome. Take it as it comes, staying aware that you are in Nepal, not the West, and enjoy it for what it is.

In terms of landscape and culture it%26#39;s a very varied trek: the highlights will depend on what you are looking for. Ours included

enjoying the dense woodlands of the first few days, with flocks of parakeets flitting through the trees,

the views of the Annapurna range as you turn west towards Pisang,

the curious village of Bragga,

the almost Medieval feel of buddhist Manang, (ignoring the %26#39;Manag Video Centre !)

the delight of reaching the summit of the Thorung La after a long plod

the total tranformation of the landscape as you cross the pass and look over the aridity of the kali Gandaki

Muktinath temple

The towns and villages of the kali Gandaki, with superb views of Dhaulagiri

etc

It%26#39;s not an over-hard trek, though it has a problem with acclimatisation as you are only a 3000 metres at manage, and then in a couple of days are faced with the ascent of the Thorung La up to 5400 metres (assuming that you are doing an anti-clockwise circuit, which is preferable as otherwise the ascent to the pass is longer and harder)

If you are feeling fit it%26#39;s worth climbing up from Tatopani to Ghorepani, then descending via Ullieri and Birethanti to reach the road at Nyapul. The views from Ghorepani are magical.

Enjoy !

I.m learning about the Annapurna Circuit

ditto previous post. The key is your guide and relationship with that person. I have only done the western 1/2 of the circuit but my guide exceeded all my expectations in service. Great tea houses and food, some surprise stays, great interactions with the local cultures.

Stops are best based on your ability and desire to travel on any given day as most villages run but an hour apart for the next, though you plan on 4-7 hours a day trekking.

makeup

advice from scratch

Hi,

I booked a flight to Kathmandu (got miles to spend) for mid December this year. I%26#39;ll stay from 14 to 20.

I%26#39;d like to stay in a quiet, comfortable and picturesque hotel or guesthouse, not necessarily in Kathmandu (the more I read, the less I think it should be in Kathmandu).

I%26#39;d like to try some very easy treks (or rather walks) that do not require much logistics and that I can do alone.

I am looking forward to your suggestions.

Steph

advice from scratch

Don%26#39;t know if you%26#39;ve got your trip all planned out yet, but we just got back (my family of 7) yesterday from Kathmandu and doing the Poon Hill trek. It was amazing. I think you would be disappointed to NOT stay in Kathmandu at least for a night or two. It is a major sensory explosion there!!! In a wonderful way!!! We stayed at the Samsara Resort (I can give you info if you want to send me a message). It was right in Thamel, off a quiet alley. Yet, when we wanted to go out, it was right there in the middle of everything. If you stay on the outskirts, you%26#39;re gonna run into the problem of having to do taxis, etc. Kind of a hassle. We did a 5-day trek up to Poon Hill. That was a lot of fun. It wasn%26#39;t too hard cardiovascularly, but a lot of uphill and then downhill (good thigh work out). Good luck!!

advice from scratch

If you want to stay in quiet and picturesque places, then Nagarkot or Dhulikhel might be a good idea. They are one hour drive away from Kathmandu. And you could do small hikes around those areas.

You might also want to do some sightseeing around Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan (kathmandu valley).

Given your short visit Poon Hill is a non-starter ! Nagarkot is well worth it for the views, and a night or two in Bhaktapur might suit you: it%26#39;s vibrant, culturally rich, and the central areas almost traffic-free. I stayed there last year in the Bhadgaon Guest House, rooms small, welcome very big, restaurant very good, and location very central.

Thamel, the chief tourist area of Kathmandu, offers all sorts of diversions and distractions, but hardly fits in with your wish for quiet - it may be worth a night or two (not least because Dhurbar SquareKTM, Swyambunath temple, Bhodanath, etc. are all fascinating) but I suspect that given your travels in south east Asia you already have some handle on Buddhist culture, and suggest that Exoticbuddha%26#39;s suggestions are mearer to what you want

there is a lovely hideaway just north of Kathmandu, close to the Shivapuri National Park called the Shivapuri Hieghts Cottage. If you are looking for a place to get you away from the crowds and pollution of Kathmandu then this is the place for you. However, you might find it a little too quiet if you are on your own although the staff are very freindly. You can do some great little walks from the Cottage.. up to the top of Shivapuri and to nearby monasteries, the staff will guide you and even prepare a packed lunch. Happy travelling !

hi steph dec is best time to travel in nepal , here have so many kind of hotel , budget , middle class and expensive hotel, if you want to do easy and alone trek then poonhill treks will be better for you

puskar

client side script

Quickest & Cheapest Way to See Mountain - Cross Post

Please help simple question . .

We just want to see the mountain - That%26#39;s It!

Where should we fly into and what town/city should we stay in?

We only have 2 days and 1 night.

Please Help!!

Quickest %26amp; Cheapest Way to See Mountain - Cross Post

First of all, fly to Kathmandu, Nepal. Stay in Kathmandu itself as the mountain flights take off from the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Book the ticket with one of the domestic airlines doing the mountain flight- Buddha Air (buddhaair.com/mountainflights.php鈥?/a>), Yeti Airlines (http://yetiairlines.com/everest_express.php) or Gorkha Air (gorkhaairlines.com/html/destinations.html). The flight will take one hour- going to see the mountain and coming back. That%26#39;s it. If the bookings and the weather permits, you can fly the next day you arrive. The flights are in the morning. You might want to pre book the flight as you do not want to take any chances.

When you are here, if you want to know the weather forecasts of Kathmandu and other cities, then http://www.exoticbuddha.com/english/weather will be useful to you. It has the weather forecasts of the everest region including the nearest airport to the everest, Lukla.

cheap flights to Kathmandu

Would like feedback on best/cheapest flight connections from SoCal to Kathmandu. Would also like recommendation of an experienced agent I can actually speak with re various options such as Open Jaws, stopover possibilities etcetera. Thankyou for sharing your experience and suggestions.

cheap flights to Kathmandu

Hi,

I think United is more better.

Sophy

Simple Question / Want to see Mountain - Cross Post

Please help simple question . .

We just want to see the mountain - That%26#39;s It!

Where should we fly into and what town/city should we stay in?

We only have 2 days and 1 night.

Please Help!!

Simple Question / Want to see Mountain - Cross Post

So is Nagarkot the closest city/town to Mt. Everest? I%26#39;m just trying to figure out what Nagarkot is about.

Simple Question / Want to see Mountain - Cross Post

No. Nagarkot is about an hour by car from Kathmandu, and is thus the closest to the city that will give a reasonable view of the mountains. In two days it%26#39;s either that or, as suggested in earlier post, the morning Mountain Flight from Ktm airport - the only way that you%26#39;ll get close to mountains within your very limited time

Thank you - I will start looking into this now!

nepal waether

What is the weather in nepal in Janurary? Has anyone been there during Janurary?

Don

nepal waether

Hello Don,

Generally, weather in nepal in January get cold in the morning and evening but afternoon you get really warm and you will enjoy nepal with nice and clear sky and Himalayan views.

So, you may travel nepal in January without any hesitation..cheers

N.D

feedbck plzzzzz

i need suggestion and any info about what to do around Kathmandu Pokhara area. also what to avoid/visit ; i was dreaming to my travel to Nepal and now i have the chance . i%26#39;ll be there for 5 days also i would like to hear any recommendation of hotels or houses to rent .

Thanks!!

Celina

feedbck plzzzzz

First, are you trekking??? It doesn%26#39;t sound like it if you only have 5 days. Well, my family just got back yesterday from Pokhara and KTM, and trekking Gorepani/Poon Hill, and we had a fantastic time. You didn%26#39;t say anything about your budget - but it is really cheap there. We stayed in Kathmandu with my 5 kids at a place called Samara Resort, if you want the info, I can give it to you. It was air conditioned, came with breakfast and had TVs. Really nice for the kids. It was right in Thamel and a perfect location for us. It was a non smoking hotel, which we really liked, and down an alley that was quiet. It is NOT quiet in KTM, so bring earplugs if you stay in a guest house. As for Pokhara, there are mostly guest houses. The one we stayed at New Elites Guest House was really good, and there is a sweet lady there who runs it, and is taking care of the CUTEST CUTEST little girls whose father was killed by Maoists some years ago. My kids fell in love with these little girls! Anyway, it was a fun place. As for stuff to do - Thamel is full of stuff to do: we were in sensory overload the minute we stepped out onto the main alley there. Tons of shops, Durbar Square, etc. You%26#39;ll spend a couple days just wandering around there. The Bhoudanath Stupa, that HUGE Buddha eye building is way cool - right in the middle of a Tibetan village in Thamel. That was cool. And you HAVE to go to the Hindu temple there, the one by the airport where they have all the cremations going on. That was really really interesting to hang out at. We witnessed several ';funerals.'; They have little Tibetan handicraft villages, but I would not recommend them. It seemed like a front for their sales%26#39; of rugs, etc, and was more expensive. We found a great Indian restaurant there, called Saweeda, and it was awesome. My kids requested it 3 days in a row. As for Pokhara, not much to do except wander through the town, rent boats and go out on Phewa Lake, etc. There is a museum, but my kids skipped that, and there are little side trips to bat caves, some falls, but after trekking we were done with sight-seeing.

feedbck plzzzzz

thanks a lotttttttt i really apreciate taking time to writ all that .

yes i%26#39;ll do some trekking even am old hehehe i stil want to travel around....

i%26#39;ll check out all places you mentioned ...

thanks again

C.C

I think you%26#39;ll have a great time - no matter your age. The trekking to Gorepani and poon Hill wasn%26#39;t a killer cardiovascularly, but let me tell you, my thighs got a major work out. Start doing lunges and squats now!!!! As for things to bring: make sure you bring a small packet of baby wipes for the toilets/squat boxes. Also, some energy bars for the trek; the food is okay, but not a huge selection, and you%26#39;ll need snacks along the way. One thing I wished I took on the trek (we stayed at Tea Houses/guest houses) was a bed sheet sewn up on two sides into a ';sleeping bag'; type thing. It wasn%26#39;t cold enough to need a sleeping bag, but they don%26#39;t have blankets or top sheets on the beds, and there are definitely bed bugs. I also would bring a small towel. Not a terry cloth towel, which will take forever to dry, but go to an automotive store, and get a car chamois. A microfiber one. In fact, instead of bringing one larger towel, bring two smaller ones, and ditch one half way through your trek (they get smelly, believe me!). I was also glad I brought something to do (a little bit of knitting, and a book) because it was nice to relax at night at the Tea Houses after the trek.

Hi

Thanks i have an other question!

could plz dail all the places and what should i visit first ? i am just confused about it and don%26#39;t know what to do first . i cheked out all the places and names and done some searsh but stil can%26#39;t figur our how the itinarary should be ...

thank you for yourhelp

Celina.

Celina - I sent you a private message with some more details. . . .

thanks a lot ::i%26#39;ll print your email and follow all the steps you gave me.

i thank you a lot .

for sure i%26#39;ll let a report whene i come back...

celina

There%26#39;s lots to do there - just pick what works for you and have a GREAT adventure!!!

Sarangkot, near Pokhara for sunrise and

Paragliding:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gnx18-dGIs

(1min 27sec video/slideshow w/ audio)

hi celina

im from nepal , nepal is best place travel and get relax,if u want to stay just 5 days then better to stay at hotel , here ,pokhara is very nice place, if you want to know more information about it feel free to ask me

email:travelinnepal@gmail.com

Hi

anybody stayed at Dwarika%26#39;s Hotels i read few reviews but really can%26#39;t risk .also anyone have thier fon number i was calling a number but no response.

any suggestion are welcome.

Thanks

makeup

how to dealwithabreakup

Dwarika any comments!!

Hi

anybody stayed at Dwarika%26#39;s Hotels i read few reviews but really can%26#39;t risk .also anyone have thier fon number i was calling a number but no response.

any suggestion are welcome.

Thanks

Dwarika any comments!!

Hi petter thanks

i%26#39;ll try to call the numbers you gave me;

thanks

Celina

suggestions for my trip,things to do (hot air balloon,helic)

hi

i am wondering could i do a hot air balloon or helicopter trip in kathmandu, are they expensive,and where do i find them??

i am travelling in early oct 08!!

also any other sugestions for my trip would be fantastic, im staying in thamel for 2 nights and then in the valley for a week.

thanks

louise

suggestions for my trip,things to do (hot air balloon,helic)

Hello Louise,

Unfortunately, nowadays you won%26#39;t be able to do any hot air balloon trip in kathmandu but still you may do trip with helicopter if you can offer the cost because normally cost for heli sightseeing around kathmandu valley for an hour cost you more or less 500US$ but still you have another options of doing the trip near Himalaya by the small aircraft of 16 seater capacity with other people.

Similarly, weather in October will also be nice and clear sky.

Please send your pm for further assist...

N.D

suggestions for my trip,things to do (hot air balloon,helic)

too bad i am looking forward to do hot air balloon too.

the other option (helic) seems expensive for a such -trip for one 1h-

Hello there,

Yeah heli sightseeing is expensive but you may enjoy with other airlines which is US$166 for an hour and it goes near Mt.everest and soroundings and definitely you will have such a nice view of himalaya..

N.D

Unknown Bite

Hi. I was wondering if I could get any info regarding what was potentially an insect bite I got while I was in Nepal. I was on my way from Nagarkot to Bhaktapur. We stopped on the way to eat at a place beside the jungle, with no running water. I felt something trickling on my leg, and looked down to see my jeans soaked in blood on one leg. I rolled up my jeans and saw a steady stream of blood pouring out of my shin.

The wound was maybe 2mm in diameter, but wouldn%26#39;t stop bleeding for twelve hours straight. The blood wouldn%26#39;t coagulate. I%26#39;m not talking about a little bead of blood. It was flowing. Band-aids were pointless because they got soaked within a minute. I taped folded tissue to my leg. That too was getting soaked withing fifteen minutes.

Was I bitten by a leech%26gt; I felt no pain at all. No itching. Nothing.

Unknown Bite

you were bitten by a leach ! Often these bites can start itching a few days later and sometimes the itch can lastt for several weeks. Also they can sometimes become infected so its best to put some antiseptic cream on the bite.

Unknown Bite

Thanks! My bite indeed started itching a week or so after the fact, and is still itchy, two weeks later!

how do u stop leaches biting u - we are hoping to go rafting - chitwan next fed and do not wanna find a leech if poss ( but sounds like we may) saying that we went smimming in the ( croc river !!!!!) in Chitwan last time and didnt get any leech friends - thanks god!!!!!!- any leech advice would be greatfulll

Oh yeah. . . the leeches. hahaha. We just got back from a Nepal trek 2 weeks ago and had fun with the leeches. They are little guys, so no worry. My kids were concerned with leeches before we went, but after actually dealing with them, they weren%26#39;t that big of a deal. I got 9 leech bites in 5 days. They leave little marks, and drop off when they%26#39;re ';full.'; There is a bottle of stuff that our guide gave us that helped a lot. It%26#39;s called Sparsh. It%26#39;s a liquid and when you put it on the leech, it falls off. You can put it around your shoes, or socks, or whatever, and they seem to be deterred by that. Also he gave my kids little cloth bags of salt, and they would rub the leech with the bag and it would fall off. I didn%26#39;t notice them bite while I was walking - only when I sat still. It wasn%26#39;t even as bad as a mosquito bite though. Now the bed bugs - that%26#39;s another story, hehehe

traveler's checks

Are traveler%26#39;s checks advisable in Kathmandu? I read one place that it was a good idea. Anyone have thoughts? Is it easy to get them exchanged?

Thanks for your help!

traveler's checks

nah, we just got back from Kathmandu two weeks ago and we didn%26#39;t take any traveler%26#39;s checks, only cash. When you do exchange for rupees, make sure you get smaller bills than 1000%26#39;s. Also, bring your ATM card, because there are ATM cards everywhere. . .

traveler's checks

Oops. . . I meant there are ATM machines everywhere. . . but you probably figured that.

Everest Base Camp or Annapurna Trek?

Hello, my wife and I are planning on a trip in November to Nepal. We plan on doing about 2 weeks of trekking and are wondering which people prefer: EBC or Annapurna.

We%26#39;re interested in the scenery, as well as visiting villages. The main attraction to EBC is that we can say we touched Everest, but I%26#39;ve heard the trek isn%26#39;t too great compared with Annapurna. On the other hand, my understanding is we wouldn%26#39;t be able to do the entire Annapurna circuit, so I didn%26#39;t know if that affected things greatly.

Any insight would be much appreciated!

Everest Base Camp or Annapurna Trek?

Having done all three can I offer the following:

Annapurna Sanctuary trek (about 12 days) will offer great scenery - particularly in the Sanctuary itself around Annapiurna Base Camp, interesting villages, and will get you to only (!) 4500 metres, so fewer altitude problems.

Consider:

Day 1 a.m. Fly to Pokhara: p.m. If a Lodge trek then drive to Phedi and trek to Dhampus, if camping then drive a little further and trek to %26#39;Australian Camp%26#39;

Day 2: To Landrung

Day 3: To Chommrong

Day 4: To Bamboo Lodge

Day 5: To Deorali

Day 6: To Macchepuchare Base Camp

Day 7: Walk to Annapurna Base Camp, then down to Himalaya Lodge

Day 8: To Chomrong

Day 9: To Tadopani (for great views back into the Annapurnas)

Day 10: TO Ghorepani (for great views of Dhaulagiri and the kali Gandaki valley)

Day 11: To Tirkedhunga

Day 12: To Nyapul. Drive back to Pokhara

Obviously Everest is a big draw, but nb to EBC would probably take a couple of days more, mainly because of greater altitude. Again the scenery is superb.

The Annapurna Circuit is not really possible with any degree of comfort in 12 days, and though the scenery is very varied you don%26#39;t get the same feel of %26#39;rubbing your nose against the mountains%26#39; that you would get from the Sanctuary

I%26#39;d be happy to answer any further questions

Everest Base Camp or Annapurna Trek?

I agree with Londoner post. I have done base camp and the western 1/2 of the Annapurna and MBC. Much prefer Annapurna for the cultures and varried scenery. Everything from jungle like setting with lamurs (huge monkeys) to the MBC with stunning snow and peaks surrounding you.

Everest is special, but do not have the variety.

I have trekked EBC three times and Annapurna circuit 5 times. As inexperienced trekkers, there is only one answer - Annapurna. With only 2 weeks, you will have to fly to Lukla en route to EBC. This is already high up and you will not acklimatise properly and will have a 1 in 3 chance of AMS.

Annapurna starts low and keeps climbing to Thorung La. This side is very quiet and is the nearest you will get to true Nepal. In addition if there are any problems, there a 2 mountain airstrips, Hundi %26amp; Jomsom for a safe exit. There is also a quick exit from Tatepani if time is short via Beni.

Enjoy Nepal

Thanks everyone for the input; both on this forum and others I%26#39;ve used, consensus is split b/n EBC and ABC. We haven%26#39;t decided if we%26#39;re going to spend a couple extra days to do EBC flying in and out of Lukla or stick with Annapurna Sanctuary, but this is very useful information.

Btw, to AHooker, I don%26#39;t consider us inexperienced hikers (although unforuntately not nearly as experienced as you!). We%26#39;ve hiked as high as 4300 meters in the Andes without problems.

uk hosting

Booking Hiking Trips in Kathmandu

Hi all,

I%26#39;m planning on visiting Kathmandu, but I don%26#39;t have any trips for hiking or sightseeing booked. How easy is it to book trips once you get there, or does everything have to be booked in advance with a tour company? I plan to fly next week....

Booking Hiking Trips in Kathmandu

there are some great hikes available in and around the Kathmandu area. One of my favourite areas is the Shivapuri National Park that has some good trails through beautiful forest. There are also some very special Bhuddist monasteries in and near to the park. Best to go with a guide that knows the area and this can be booked in advance or after you are in Kathmandu. A good place to stay is the Shivapuri Heights Cottage and then go with one of their guides.

Happy travelling !

Booking Hiking Trips in Kathmandu

I only had about a week in Nepal, so I planned ahead and was communicating with a reliable tour company well in advance. This helped me fine-tune my itinerary, and make the best use of my time visiting the fantastic country.

If you are interested in the contact information of the tour company I used, you may certainly send me a Private Message.

makeup

bed bugs???

just got back from EBC and due to some of the nasty places you end up sleeping i must have picked up some bed bugs in my kit bag. When i got home i emptied my bag sorted it out for washing and storing and went about getting on with normal life. 2 weeks later i am getting bitten whilst sleeping. I called in a pest control company and they identified it coming from asia in my luggage. Its something that i did not think about and just want people to be aware. The advise i would give would be to leave any gear that you done need there and if bringing gear home bag it in polythene in kathmandu and when returning home take it straight to the laundrette for cleaning dont bring it to your home. Even bringing just 1 or 2 bugs home can soon infest. As if the trek was not mentally hard enough with trouble sleeping, headaches, cold, sickness or just fatigue the last thing you want when returning home is having bugs infest your usually lovely house. If anyone else has had this problem it would be good to hear. Have a great trip but be aware when returning.

bed bugs???

chill out

ife can be too short to let some little bugs get to you

chill out and stop worrying people - people have been travelling 4 yrs without so much washing etc

bed bugs???

i am very chilled thanks, but thank you for your constructive reply it was well worth the effort!i have been living the last 16 years all around asia but never had this problem. I was hoping for a more constructive comment to actually advise me on future preventitive measures and what other people done , not some hippy telling me to chill because of other problems in the world with clearly too much time on there hands that they actually click on the message to critique its contents knowingly. i am more than aware that my life is good thank you. i simply wanted to tell people so they would not have the same issues. lets hope it does not happen to you.

Sorry

i miss read yr post wrong ( due to a glass of wine)

i thought you had the itch - ie scabies ( which is common from Asia and horrid)

I must have been horrible 4 you to have brought back some horrid Bugs -

Did you Enjoy Nepal we are going back next year

Good luck to the Maoists we say -

hi, no worries about the post. i loved nepal, the people are great. To be honest kathmandu was a bit busy for me especially after the trek.We were also caught up in marches and demos about the maoist plight and the chinese banning expeditions this year. The trek itself was great, fantastic guides and the scenery was awesome. I found it quite hard mentally as i got insomnia high up due to altitude but the scenery made it worthwhile. However, when you finish the trek after 3 weeks of basic living , being cold and constant headaches etc it was nice to be home to my wife and child. Bringing the bugs home was not expected and the following disruptions of spraying the house, moving out due to the bug bomb and then cleaning absolutely everything in the house which has taken 5 days total was , well lets say A pain in the A and turned out to be quite expensive.

However, if this post stops people making the same mistake i did then great. I love travelling and will carry on doing so, i will make sure i dont bring these little buggers home again. Regards and have a great trip next year

Bucks,

I am curious..where did you stay in Nepal? Hotels? I am worrying about it now because my mom and I are going next April.

tnsauerkraut.........

There are some fab places to stay in Nepal.... When I was in Kathmandu I stayed at the Hotel Manasalu. It was very nice( no bed bugs LOL). In fact when I stayed there with my ex hubby and a friend in March 05 we were the only people there for the first half of our trip! It%26#39;s in a very good place to be able to mooch around the city.

I have a lovely Nepalese friend who has just set up his own travel agency (he accompanied us on our trip, is hugely knowledgeable) and he found us some lovely hotels. I will definitely go back again. If you get a chance to go to Pohkra then take a microlite flight... its brill.

I sprayed the beds with anti bug stuff ... not sure if it worked or not but the plcebo effect was good enough for me!

i stayed at the tibet hotel. Dont get me wrong the hotel was good. Really not sure where we picked them up from but more than likely in Kathmandu rather than at altitude. It could happen anywhere, the more people i have told the more stories i have heard of the same experience, even in 5 star hotels etc. Dont be paranoid, just make sure when you return you dont dump your travel bag on your bed to empty it like some idiots......... Me!

I will keep on travelling but will now take more care when returning to my home.

Hi BucksBrrr

Sorry to hear about the bugs. Sounds a nightmare. Don%26#39;t know if I have just been extremely lucky but have not experienced this. One thing I always do is take all my gear to a laundry in KTM (usually a man in a phone booth in Lazimpat) and get everything cleaned overnight there, then wash it again when I get home. Not sure if this helps, but it is cheap, quick and uses a local service.

Sorry you got insomnia at altitude too. That must make it extra tough. Altitude has the opposite effect on me as I sleep the best in Nepal. Usually 10-12 hours a night with really whacky dreams! Altitude really does effect people in different ways.

How were the boots?

Hello Dukla, long time since we spoke. The boots were excellent, infact all the gear was great. I cant think of anything bad to say about the trip itself, adventure company was brilliant, very professional. The only problem i had was mentally really. Insomnia was a nightmare and i needed sleeping pills from namche up, when we came down i was fine. Only 5 of us from 16 made it to kala patar and 12 to EBC. Two got helicoptered off and a couple found the last day too hard. Other than that and the bugs i loved it. It was physically straight forward but mentally quite taxing. Minus 10 near the top and the tea house basic toilets were like an ice rink after 3 pm? sure you know all this though. Good idea about the laundry, i have certainly learnt my lesson. I lived in asia for 14 years and never had them, come home to uk and bingo? whats that all about?

Take care

Hi Bucks - what tour company did you do your trek with??

Nepal adventure holiday with children

We are family of four (2 children aged 14 and 11) and we are considering an adventure holiday to Nepal at Easter 2009.We would particularly like to see the Himalayas and visit Chitwan.

We have would prefer to go with a travel company as we have never been to this region before. We have brochures for Exodus, Families Worldwide and The Adventure Company.

We would love to hear experiences from any families who have done this before-what would yo recommend we did/not did. How safe is the region with children?

Any advice would be helpful.

Nepal adventure holiday with children

hi we are going back to nepal next feb for a month ( as we loved it last Year 2 weeks was not long enough ) we did chitwan n kathmandu and found it so safe and lovely people - if u wanna ask us any thing go for it!

we took an 12 n 10 yr old who loved it

- we didnt book a guide cos every body there can be your guide ( if u know what i mean ) but while in Chitwan ( we got the bus which was a great experiance ) we met a bloke called Naren who we exchanged phone numbers and when we got back to Kathmdu he took us to various places for 1 day only and have kept emailing him for the last year

we wanted to visit we also saw the Kumarai( the young girl godess in Durbha square) who many think it totally unfare ( do a google search on her its interesting ) and give you an insite in to the nepalese way of life your kids will love their time in Nepal but when they are older will thank you both for having the time , money and energy for taking them to Nepal any time you wanna ask us about the place feel free ) cant wait to go back next year have a look at our photos on our profile

Nepal adventure holiday with children

I agree with the previous contributor about using the local companies for travel. Even if you use the companies in your home countries, they will, most probably, sub contract the local companies for the trip.

Hi! We made something like that this Spring

(me, my wife and a daughter): Poon hill trek ,Chitwan

and a few days in and around Kathmandu. Totally amazing - and not hard to organize. Just to stress what already had been said: take a LOCAL company!

First of all, money goes to people who needs and earns it. And they usually do a very good job: friendly, competent, efficient, with good English -

and much less expensive. We made our trip with Puru (Nepalguidetrek) and can happpily recommend him: at info@nealguidetrek.com .

And Nepal is (at least, now) a safe country: just not to get lost in Kathmandu and take sanitary precautions (mineral water, local simple food, wash hands etc.).

Have a nice trip.

yes we are soo looking forward to returning and seeing Nepal again

did you do any Rafting ??????

Thanks to everyone for your advice, it is much appreciated. Looking forward to our trip!

My family of 7 (5 kids aged 10 to 19) are leaving this sunday for a trip to KTM and also a trek in the Annapurnas (Poon Hill, Gorepani, etc). We are looking forward to it! I am a little concerned about the political unrest right now, since they just had their elections. We have hooked up with a highly recommended guide who is local (heard about him from friends who%26#39;ve used him), so I think we%26#39;ve got everything planned out. He seems quite concerned about our safety, so I think we%26#39;ll be okay. My kids are troopers, but if you are interested, I can let you know how things go, and any special circumstances I%26#39;d recommend for kids, when we get back. We are back mid-August.

Great stuff

i know what u mean about safety please tell us all on your return

we have been watching the nepalese news papers

and still no settlement -

how long are u there for ??

Upper Mustang Trek

Hi,

Since the permit for the Mustang Trek has been reduced to $500.00 for 10 day, is it still a requirement to have a liaison officer with you?

Thanks

Deb

just back from nepal

i did 4 nights in kathmandu and then a 14 day trek to everest base camp, happy to answer any questions

just back from nepal

Hi, my friend and I are doing the same trek end of September, getting very excited.

Thanks for your offer to answer questions, I have lots!

How much money did you bring with you to purchase food along the way? What did you eat, not eat? Did you bring any food with you?

How were the accomodations?

Was there any item that you wish you had brought, or brought more of? Did you bring anything that you did not use?

How much training did you do to prepare?

Did you need any medication?

Thanks a lot for sharing your experience!

just back from nepal

What was the average cost per day in the EBC?

I am leaving with my family (including 5 kids aged 10 to 19) for KTM on sunday. We will stay there a couple days, then do the Poon Hill Gorepani Circuit, about 6 days worth. I know it%26#39;s during the monsoon, but it%26#39;s the only time we can go with school. I am wondering about the political unrest. I notice that Nepal is back on the travel advisory list of places to beware of. We have a good guide and everything all lined up; did you run in to any problems?? Thanks

I am leaving with my family (including 5 kids aged 10 to 19) for KTM on sunday. We will stay there a couple days, then do the Poon Hill Gorepani Circuit, about 6 days worth. I know it%26#39;s during the monsoon, but it%26#39;s the only time we can go with school. I am wondering about the political unrest. I notice that Nepal is back on the travel advisory list of places to beware of. We have a good guide and everything all lined up; did you run in to any problems?? Thanks

my food was included in my trip, but the prices were quite low along the way

i brought cliff bars as hiking snacks, you should bring something bc all you will find there is candy bars and pringles!

i ate everything except yak bc one of the lodge employees said most foreigners get sick, but i did have the yak cheese which was fantastic!

the food along the way is dhal bhat, sandwiches,fries, eggs, soup, ect

lodges are very basic, no heat, outdoor pit toilets, very basic, but usually clean and nice owners

i booked my trip last minute so i didnt train, as long as your are not overweight and can walk you will make it, its not exactly easy, but its doable

bring baby wipes! i laughed at the idea but i was SO happy to have them ; )

i chose not to take meds, but i did need diamox when i woke up in gorek shep, only took it for 2 days, so if you are going solo, you might want to bring it just in case, you will not find it there and you wouldnt want to ruin your trip, this advice is coming from someone who is very anti prescription drug by the way

nepal is a very safe country, nothing to worry about

feel free to ask more questions, i am more than happy to help

Thanks for the response, very helpful! I have already stocked up on baby wipes!

Last question is about money, how much did you bring, did you bring rupees and in what denominations?

my lodges and food were already paid for, i think i brought $300, i spent all of it, 2 massages in namche, tips, a couple cokes and a few beers, most of it went to tips

i think you can get by on less than $10 a day, but you should confirm with someone else

after namche you will need rupees, not dollars

Hi, thanks for offering.

What about clothing and weather/rain? How were the views (clear or obstructed)?

I am leaving in 2 weeks to KTM so just need to sort out the details.

Thanks again. Daniel.

clear views

never rained

snowed twice, but at night

bacteria grows