Best of Nepal List

Posted by Andy on Sunday, May 25, 2014

iTrekNepal’s annual Best of Nepal list

Namaste Saveena ,
This is our annual list of some of the best things to do and see before, during or after a trek in Nepal. If you’ve already been to Nepal please feel free to send us your favorites, and all comments/questions are welcome.
Hope to see you soon!

About
Staff & Guides
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Treks
Everest Base Camp
B est of Nepal
A nnapurna Sanctuary
All Treks…

Other Activities

Jungle Safari
River rafting

Jungle safari

Biking Tours

Cultural tours
Homestay

Contact
iTrek Pvt. Ltd. (Nepal)
Gapali 14, Barahi
Bhaktapur, Nepal
Phone: +977-1-6-610670
Mobile: +977-9841334375
Skype: itreknepal
Email:
andrew@itreknepal.com
shree@itreknepal.com

iTrek LLC (Int’l)
P.O. Box 2363
Lake Oswego, OR 97035 USA
Skype: andrew-itreknepal
Email: info@itreknepal.com

2014 Trek Schedule

Groups limited to 8 participants

Everest Treks

20 April

5 May
20 May
20 Sept
5 Oct
20 Oct
5 Nov

Annapurna Treks

18 April

20 Sept

5 Oct
20 Oct
31 Oct
5 Nov
20 Nov

For more information about specific treks

visit our website

2014 Festivals

Buddha Jayanti
14 May

Gai Jatra
11 August

Teej
28 August

Indra Jatra
6 – 12 September

Dashain
1 – 4 October

Tihar
23 – 25 October

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Ten of the best books ever written about Nepal

Everest: The Challenge by Sir Francis Younghusband
Annapurna by Maurice Herzog
The Snow Leopard by Peter Mathiessen
Upside Downside: An Account of an Early Trekking Adventure in the Kingdom of Nepal by Winona G. Campbell
Forget Kathmandu by Manjushree Thapa
Touching My Fathers Soul: A Sherpas Journey to the Top of Everest by Jamling Tenzing Norgay with Broughton Coburn
Culture Shock! Nepal by Jon Burbank
Into Thin Air by John Krakauer
Little Princes: One Man’s Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Grennan
Everest: The First Ascent by Harriet Tuckey

Some recommendations courtesy of Pilgrim’s Books in Thamel, Kathmandu (recommended by ITrekNepal guests as the best bookstore in Nepal)

Nine things do before or after your trek

River rafting – An amazing variety of rivers, from the gentle Trisuli to the rugged rapids of the Bhote Kosi.
Paragliding – All you have to do is be willing to jump, then relax and soar silently over the Himalayas with the hawks.

Massage – Your muscles will tell you this is what you need to do before you get back on the plane, whether in Pokhara or Kathmandu.
Canyoning – Like zip lining except in a downpour.
Volunteering – Teaching at a village school
Jungle Safari – Chitwan for comfort and rhinos, Bardia for the real jungle and Bengal tigers
Celebrating in Thamel – There’s Rum Doodle, Kilroy’s, Sam’s Bar or wherever and with whomever you might bump into.
Yoga and meditation – Two week retreat at Kopan monastery or day classes in Pokhara.
Contribute – to the education fund for the children of iTrekNepal porters.

Four great treks you may never have heard of

Tsum Valley – Opened to trekkers in 2008, its name means “vivid”
Tamang Heritage – On its own or as an extension of the Langtang Valley trek
Rara Lake – Hard to get to and hard to forget
Balthali Village – “One of the five best low altitude treks in the world” – Lonely Planet

Nine unique restaurants in Kathmandu and Pokhara

Krishnarpan – Traditional Newari cuisine authentically and graciously presented, inside the World Heritage Dwarika’s Hotel.

Kaiser Cafe (Garden of Dreams) – An oasis in a classical European garden setting; best for lunch and a stroll around the gardens.
Rum Doodle – The place to go to share trek memories and let loose on your last night in Nepal; it’s all about the ambiance and trekking lore.
OR2K – The most creative, best-tasting vegetarian dishes with a Mediterranean flair and backpacker ambiance.
Chez Caroline – In Babar Mahal Revisited, a renovated Rana palace where you can also window-shop, or explore the eclectic assortment of restaurants and bars scattered throughout the complex.
Moondance – The place to go at lakeside in Pokhara after your trek. Wonderful ambiance, great food and warm-hearted Nepali hospitality.
Mike’s Breakfast – For breakfast, lunch or dinner, but especially for breakfast right by the lake in Pokhara.
Fire and Ice – On the outskirts of Thamel this is where you’ll find the best pizza in Kathmandu.

Top 5 treks in Nepal for:

Summer trekking – Upper Mustang
Short trek – Kathmandu Valley or Annapurna Villages
Physical challenge – Everest Three Passes
Off the beaten path – Mardi Himal
Far off the beaten path – Rara Lake

Seven great exercises to prepare for a trek

Leg presses and squats– to build your quads for long descents, and “low profile” toilets at the teahouses
Elliptical trainer or Stairmaster – at maximum ramp and resistance
Climbing stairs – ascending as quickly as possible and descending as slowly as possible
Hiking – anywhere on steep trails with up to 10 kg (22 lb) pack
Deep breathing – practice until it becomes a habit
Yoga – one hour of sweat-inducing hatha practice daily with good breathing technique
Tai Chi – for combining leg strength, balance, and slow motion

The most popular (and exciting) festivals in Nepal

Shivaratri – late February/early March – millions of Hindus throng Pashupatinath to worship Shiva with the help of local weed

Holi (March) – at the full moon in March, colors and water everywhere to celebrate the arrival of spring and triumph of good over evil.

Bisket Jatra (April) – Bhaktapur’s great festival where the great chariots are pulled through town and young men climb teetering poles to snatch a prize flower. Phallic symbolism and raucous behavior.

Dashain (October) – Celebrated in Bhaktapur like no where else – animal sacrifices, Newari feasts, and worshipping everything that moves.

Tihar (late Oct/early Nov) – the festival of lights, a Nepali Christmas

The top 10 movies about the Himalayas

Everest by Mac Gillivray Freeman
Seven Years in Tibet by Jean Jacques
Into Thin Air by Robert Markewilz
Himalaya (Caravan) by Eric Valli
Honey Hunters of Nepal by Eric Valli
Shambala by Fidel Devkota
Samsara by Pan Nalin
Kundun by Martin Scorcese
The True Heroes of Mt Everest by Senn, Thapa and Honegger
Little Buddha by Bernardo Bertolucci

Recommendations courtesy of Music ‘n Video Expression in Thamel, Kathmandu

We hope you have enjoyed and will also share these ideas with your friends and family. Please write to us at info@itreknepal with any comments or suggestions.
Feri bhetaunla – Namaste!

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