Fun things to do in Nepal

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Walking through this place, you feel like you're on another planet. It is the kind of place that you only see on National Geographic. It's a real piece of history, and if like most tourists here you are not from the east, this is history the type of which you know nothing about.

You can't avoid this place for a real taste of what it means to be Nepali. The street stalls around the temple are also the best places in town to find traditional nepali games like Bagh-Chal and paintings like Thankas.

Google either one and prepare to have your mind blown.

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The Last Resort, which is a hotel built around a bungy jump, is probably the most adrenaline filled activity you can do in Kathmandu. It's technically 3 hours drive out of Kathmandu, but you can choose a package which is either a day trip or includes a stay at the resort overnight.

The jump is off a static bridge which looks not at all sturdy, and the fall is 160m, or probably the 3rd highest in the world. Higher than any in New Zealand, which made up the sport anyway. To get higher than this you are jumping from Victoria Falls in Africa or Verzasca Dam in Switzerland.

Costs $90 first jump, $25 per jump after that. There are also swings and abseiling. You can buy video for $25.

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It was really fascinating just wandering around the streets of Kathmandu. It has been 20 years since my last visit to the country and I was amazed at all the changes - but also at all the things that were still there.

Day 1 – Arrive Kathmandu, settle into hotel, Pop into your agents. Meet your guide / porter/guide and get him to take you on a visit Durbar Square so as to asses his suitability.
Day 2 –Tourist bus to Pokhara, then taxi to Phidi and trek to Dhampus for your overnight.
Day 3 – Trek to Ghandruk
Day 4 - Trek down to Naya Pul and bus back to Pokhara
Day 5 – Sightseeing / Relaxing in Pokhara
Day 6 – Morning flight back to Kathmandu and overnight at Bhaktapur.
Day 7 – Visit Bodnath and Pashupatinath, afternoon shopping in Kathmandu
Day 8 – Swayambhunath and taxi to airport for your flight home

(Trek can easily be followed on the downloadable map in link)

If you can fit a Buddha Air Mountain flight in when you are in Kathmandu – perhaps on your last day, and see Everest then this is also a Great Idea

Good Luck and Happy Travels
Rob

My travels to Baudhanath:

I've visited Baudhanath several times on each of my two trips to Nepal - in May 2010 and later in September - October 2011.

Things to do in Baudhanath:

The Baudhanath area is dominated by the huge stupa - said to have been built to house a relic of Buddha himself. So a visit to the stupa, and maybe a kora or three - is a must. Baudhanath is also very much worth a visit as it's one of the few places - alongside Dharamsala in India - which allow a glimpse of what Tibet would have been like outside of China's rule. Shop for Tibetan souvenirs, visit some of the 40+ monasteries surrounding the stupa as well as located along the nearby streets, take a course in yoga, meditation, Tibetan language, sand mandala making, traditional Tibetan music - anything Buddhism- and Tibet-related that you can think of. Have a meal at one of the rooftop cafes overlooking the hustle and bustle of the stupa square.

Choice of Hotel:

Hyatt Regency Kathmandu - and if possible get a stupa-view room!

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Day 1 – arrive Kathmandu, settle into hotel and depending on what time you arrive, maybe visit Durbar Square.
Day 2 – arrange a 2 night / 3 day package to visit Chitwan Nation Park including onward transport to Pokhara at HMA, then hire a taxi to visit Pashupatinath and then onto Bodnath, take lunch in one of the roof top cafes overlooking the Stupa and then onto Swayambhunath,
Day 3 depart on the early morning tourist bus for Sauraha, arrive there for late lunch then afternoon activates, maybe a bird watching walk and evening cultural programme.
Day 4 Full day of activities in Royal Chitwan Nation Park, Dugout Canoe trip, walk inside the national park, then lunch followed by an elephant ride and visit to the elephant breading farm.
Day 5 depart Sauraha for Pokhara, arrive Pokhara for late lunch and afternoon relaxing
Day 6 – Catch a boat over Fewa Tal and then do the short trek to The Peace Stupa, then onto The Tibetan Refugee camp and then Devi Falls and catch the little bus back to Lakeside
Day 7 Up early for taxi to Sarangkot for sunrise and trek back down to Pokhara, Lunch and then take a Micro-Light flight for a birds eye view of The Himalaya
Day 8 Flight back to Kathmandu and afternoon and overnight at Bhaktapur.
Day 9 Flight home - If you can fit a Buddha Air Mountain flight in when you are in Kathmandu – perhaps on your last day, and see Everest then this is also a Great Idea


Happy Travels
Rob

You should have no problem finding a group to join, since the majority of people to Nepal want to go to EBC or Annapurna.

Always ask the Agency as they have many people on their books who want to trek, The question is how many people do you want to trek with. I got luck with my tour as the people I joined where a hushband and wife who wanted just two extra people to join. but I saw many large tours about which I am glad I never joined.
So whatever agancy you go to ask how large the tour is before booking, don't forget if their is 16 people in the group then the tour will be double the size with the sherpa's added.

If you can gather a few travellers in Kathmandu who want do the trek then all go together and arrange a trek with an agency and work something out.

either way you will get on a trek somewhere.

The First thing that I would Strongly “Advise” is to get back to Kathmandu at Least 24 hours before your international flight departs as delays on the roads / internal flights are very common in Nepal and you wouldn’t want to miss your flight home

Arrive Kathmandu and settle into your chosen hotel – Depending on what time your flight arrives then maybe a little sightseeing at Durbar Square or Swayambhunath.

Start off on your first full day with a Tourist bus from Kathmandu to the put in point on the Trisuli River and ½ days scenic rafting
From there onto Chitwan for a 2 night package (Usually a package that includes transportation from either Kathmandu or Pokhara by Tourist Bus and Includes accommodation with Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner as well as All your activities (National Park Entrance fee, Elephant Ride, Dug Out Canoe Trip, Jungle Walk, Cultural Show, Bird watching / Village Walk etc) start at $30 per person per day.
My Own favourite for Sauraha is Tiger Residency This is a little more expensive but the accommodation and the food is well above average and the guide, Laxman is simply superb, he can recognise all the birds by sight, silhouette and bird call and knows their names in English, Latin and Nepali
I have steered quite a few people to Tiger Residency over the years and have had a lot of Good feedback !!

Day 3 – Tourist bus or private car to Pokhara afternoon sightseeing and overnight
Day 4 – Morning Paragliding and maybe a boat over Fewa Tal and walk to the World Peace Pagoda in the afternoon
Day 5 Maybe a sunrise at Sarangkot and afternoon flight back to Kathmandu
Day 6 Full days sightseeing around Kathmandu and the valley
Day 7 – Last Minute sightseeing, shopping and flight home

Details of most of my suggestions can be found in the tips sections on here

Happy Travels
Rob