Nepal Overview

The Kingdom of Nepal covers an area of 147,181 square kilometers, stretching 145-241 kilometers north to south and 850 kilometers west to east. The country is located between India to the south and China to the north.  Nepal can be divided into three regions based on topography, culture, and religion: the Himalaya to the north, the foothills consisting of the Mahabharat range and the Churia Hills, and the flat Terai to the south.  The highest point is Mt. Everest (8848 m) in the north and the lowest point (70 meters above sea level) is located at Kechana Kalan of Jhapa District in the Terai.  Temperatures vary from less than -40 degrees Celsius in the Himalaya to 40 degrees Celsius in the Terai summer. During June, July and August, Most of Nepal is inundated with the Asian Monsoon, which drops hundreds of inches on rain in a few months!

The Himalaya

The Himalayan range makes up the northern border of the country and represents 16% of the total land area of Nepal. Peaks like Mt. Everest (8.848 m), Kanchenjunga (8.598 m), and Dhaulagiri (8137 m) are found here.  These mountains are home to some of the World’s most rare animals and plants, including hundreds of species of rhododendron, the snow leopard, the Himalayan thar, danphe bird, and the blue/Tibetan sheep.  The people in this region produce and sell cheese, grains such as barley, buckwheat, and wheat, besides working as porters and guides. Many also trade with Tibet and travel across the border to sell their goods.

The Hills

This region covers 65% of the total land area of the country. Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal is located here. Elevations range from 500 to 3.000 m above sea level. During summer the temperature reaches an average of 32 degrees Celsius. Winters are cold, temperature reaching - 1 degree Celsius sometimes. Areas in the eastern hills receive more rainfall because of the monsoon clouds that come from the southeast. The rivers in the west that do not receive much rainfall are dependent upon the melted snow that flows down the Himalaya. Wild animals to be found here are the spotted leopard, barking deer, and Himalayan black bear. The hilly region is also popular for different kinds of birds. Over four hundred species of birds are found here. The people in this region have prospered from the growth in the tourism industry. They work as trekking guides and porters, storeowners, and farmers (producing mustard, sugarcane, rice, and wheat).

Terai

The Terai covers 17% of the total land area of Nepal. It provides excellent farming land and the average elevation of flatlands is 100 to 300 m above sea level. Sub-tropical forest areas, marshes, and wildlife, which include the Bengal tiger, one-horned rhino, and the Gharial crocodile, are found here. After the eradication of malaria in the 1960s, many people migrated to the Terai in search of farming land. Today, about 48% of the country's population occupies this region (and malaria is back with a vengeance). Flat farmlands and the region's flexible topography have given rise to many industries in addition to farming. The main industrial towns are Biratnagar, Butwal, Bhairawa, Birgunj, and Janakpur. Calcutta, a metropolitan city in India is the closest seaport. It lies 1,000 kilometers away from Birgunj.

 

Geology

To the north of Nepal lies the Tibetan Plateau, a vast region with an average elevation in excess of five kilometers, constituting the largest uplifted region on Earth. The Tibetan Plateau is bounded on the south by a 2000-mile long chain of mountains known by various names: the Pamirs Range, Karakoram Range, Hindu Kush, Himalayan Range, but collectively known as the Himalayan Chain. Most of Nepal's nearly 500-mile long northern border follows the arcuate trace of the highest peaks of the Himalayan Range. The only significant deviation of this border is in central Nepal, where the high peaks of Himalayan range swing southward in the form of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Ranges. This area north of the high peaks constitutes the only region of the Tibetan plateau in Nepal (it is the kingdom of Mustang). South of the high peaks region, the Himalayan foothills or 'Middle Hills' extend east west following the high peaks trace, forming a belt throughout the middle of Nepal. These ranges reach heights of 18,000 ft. and are expressed as roughly linear east west ridgelines, cut only by Nepal's major north to south flowing rivers, which from west to east are: the Karnali, Kali Gandaki, Sun Kosi, and Arun Rivers. South of the Middle hills is the flat Terai region, average elevation on 500 ft and home of the Ganges River (in India, to the south of Nepal).
Geologically, the Himalayan Chain exemplifies the process of a continental collision, where two large continental crustal blocks collide as they slowly move over the Earth's mantle in the process called Plate Tectonics. Unlike oceanic crustal material, which is very dense relative to continental crust and therefore is pushed under continental crust when it collides with it, the Indian continental crustal plate and the larger Asian Continental crustal plate are similar in character and do not easily slide under one another. When these two continental crustal plates collided roughly 60 million years ago (mya), the result was a massive buckling and breaking of the crust, forming what we know as the Himalayan Chain. The process is still occurring today and accounts for the earthquakes that are common throughout the Himalaya. In fact, the high peaks of the Himalaya are rising at a rate of up to several millimeters a year as the two blocks continue to collide.

The People

In Nepal, ethnic cultural groups are diverse and most have their own languages and customs. However, they can be geographically categorized according to their habitats.  These include the Sherpa, the Bhotians (Mustang), the Thakhali, and others. The Sherpas who are of Tibeto-Burman stock mainly occupy the higher hills of eastern and central Nepal. Sherpas inhabit the SoIo Khumbu region, where the world’s tallest peak Mt. Everest stands. Generally they are Buddhist but some follow the Bon, the pre-Buddhist religion of Tibet, and other religions. The Sherpas are famed for their valor and mountaineering skills and are professionally involved in many mountain expeditions. Today. Sherpas have joined other occupations as well, like business, administration and politics.

A wide variety of ethnic groups occupy the mid-hills. The Kirats or Limbus and Rais inhabit the east. During the 7th century BC, they established a dynasty in the Kathmandu Valley and ruled it for 1.000 years. They are predominantly Hindu.  In the former days, they were warriors and skilled hunters. The Kirats speak Tibeto-Burman languages. Many serve in the British Army today and have earned a reputation as the brave Gurkhas.

The population of the Kathmandu Valley consists mostly of Newars. They practice Hinduism and Buddhism. Many families will celebrate both Hindu and Buddhist festivals. Their culture also reflects tantrism and animism. Newars are accomplished in commerce and they run most enterprises in the heart of the Valley. Historically, they are well known for establishing the three artistically beautiful cities of Patan, Bhaktapur and Kathmandu.

The inhabitants of the hill flanks surrounding Kathmandu Valley are mostly Tamangs, who make up one of the largest Tibeto-Burman ethnic groups in the Kingdom. In the Tibetan language, Tamang means "horse soldier" which gives us an idea about their past occupation. Today, they farm and work as semi-skilled and unskilled laborers. Tamangs practice Tibetan Lamaism or the Bon religion and speak their own language.

The Magars live in the western and central hills of Nepal. They had their own kingdoms until the 18th century and were closely associated with the Hindu Indo-Aryans in the west. Much of their cultural practices have been influenced by Chhetris, and today it is difficult to make any difference in the housing, dressing and farming practices of the two. The Magars have been sought after by the British and Indian armies and a great number serve in the Gurkha regiments.

Another ethnic group closely resembling the Magars in many aspects are the Gurungs. They also live in the western and central hills of the country although further to the east. Of Tibeto-Burman stock, the Gurungs have their own distinct language and practice shamanism. Many find employment in the British and Indian armies.

The Khas are the Bahuns and Chhetris who formed their own kingdoms in the far west. They are Hindu. , The Khas originally spoke Nepali, which is the country’s official language. Traditionally, the Bahuns were priests and are better educated than most ethnic groups. In fact, many occupy important government and educational posts in the kingdom today. The Chhetris have traditionally been known as warriors. Those living in the higher hills in the far western region lead hard lives because of lack of rain, thus farming is practiced mainly in the river valleys and on the hill flanks.

The Tharus are one of the original ethnic groups to inhabit the Terai. The Majhi, Danuwar, Rajbansi, Darai, Satar, and Dhimal also occupy the flat lands. The Tharus have their own unique animistic religion. They are especially suited for the hot plains with a natural immunity to malaria. They have Mongoloid features and speak their own language. There is much migration going on in the country now and the cultural definition of the people by area is difficult. Urban population is increasing by 7% each year and most cultures have intermingled.

Religion

Religious practices are an important part of the lives of the Nepalese people. Mythologies of various Hindu gods and goddesses abound in this country and cultural values are based on the philosophies of holy books like the Swasthani Gita, Ramayana etc.

Women and children visit neighborhood shrines at dawn to offer worship to the gods. Holding plates of rice, flowers, and vermilion powder, they perform puja by lighting incense, ringing the temple bell, and applying tika, a red paste, on their foreheads. Passers by stop at temples and show their reverence to the gods by spending a few minutes praying. Occasionally, groups of men sit near temples playing music and singing hymns until late night.

In Nepal, Hinduism and Buddhism are the two main religions. The two have co-existed down the ages and many Hindu temples share the same complex as Buddhist shrines. Hindu and Buddhist worshipers may regard the same god with different names while performing religious rites.

Though Nepal is the only Hindu Kingdom in the world, many other religions like Islam, Christianity, and Bon are practiced here.  Over the years, Hinduism and Buddhism have been modified to form a synthesis of newer beliefs through interactions with each other and the myriad of other lesser religions.

As a result, visitors to this country may often find the religious practices in Nepal difficult to follow and understand. But this does not prevent one from enjoying the different traditional ceremonies and rituals of Nepalese culture. It is indeed a totally new experience of religious fervor.

Hinduism

Thousands of gods and goddesses make up the Hindu pantheon. Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are he three major Hindu gods who have heir own characteristics and incarnations. Each god has his own steed that is often seen kneeling faithfully outside that god's temple. Symbolic objects are carried by the multiple incarnations of each deity that empowers them to perform great feats.

Buddhism

Sakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, lived and taught in this part of the world during the sixth century BC. The great stupas of Swayambhunath and Bodhnath are among the oldest and most beautiful worship sites in the World (they are both listed on the UN list of World Heritage Sites).

The spinning of prayer wheels, prostrating pilgrims, collective chants and burning butter lamps are some Buddhist practices that capture the imagination. Many Buddhist followers are seen performing these practices in Swayambhunath, Bodhnath, and at other Buddhist sites around the Valley.

Climate

It is difficult to generalize about the climate of a country ranging in elevation from near sea level to the heights of Mount Everest. About the only constancy is the coming of summer monsoon rains throughout Nepal in June. In general, temperatures vary along with altitude; higher altitude brings lower temperatures and visa-versa. Although five distinct seasons prevail in Nepal, traveling in Nepal requires that you weigh not only the season, but local weather anomalies, road/trail conditions, visibility, festivals, wildlife, crowds, etc. These five seasons are:

Autumn
Probably half of all tourists visit Nepal in the autumn (October to November), and for good reason: the weather is clear and dry, temperatures are neither too cold in the high country nor too hot in the Terai, the air is clearer from the cleansing monsoon rains making the mountains at their most visible, and nationally Nepal celebrates two major festivals, Dosain and Tihar.

Winter
In winter (December and January), the snow line descends to 2.000 - 3000m, making the high country inhospitable. Many of the summer residents of the mountains move to lower camps during this time. Although it never snows in Kathmandu, the "mists of India" make the capital feel cold and clammy. Most travelers head south to India, leaving the trekking routes and guesthouses fairly empty. This is a wonderful time to visit the foothills and Terai regions of Nepal!

Spring
Spring (February to mid-April) brings warmer temperatures, longer days, weddings and more festivals. The rhododendrons are in bloom in the hills towards the end of this period, and in the Terai the thatch has been cut, making this the best time for viewing wildlife. All of this creates another tourist rush, albeit not quite as severe as the autumn. As the monsoons build throughout April and May, a haze covers over the lowlands, obscuring the mountains.

Pre-monsoon
The pre-monsoon (mid-April to early June) is stifling at lower elevations, and dusty wind squalls are common. Trek high, where the temperatures are more tolerable.

Monsoon
Nepalese welcome the monsoon (June to September), which breaks the monotony of the previous months, and makes the fields come alive with rushing water and green shoots. The rains rinse away the dust and filth of the year and renew the land. This can be a fascinating time to visit, when Nepal is at its most Nepali, but there are many drawbacks: mountain views are rare, leeches come out in force along the mid-elevation trekking routes, roads wash out, flights get canceled, and disease runs rampant as the rising water table brings the entire contents of Kathmandu's sewers to the surface.

Climatological data for selected towns in Nepal

NOTE: data is in the form - precipitation (mm):temperature (degrees C)-min/max

Town (altitude-m/ft)

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Kathmandu (1336/4383)

18:19/2

11:21/3

33:25/7

54:28/10

83:30/14

270:29/18

383:28/19

338:28/19

160:27/17

62:27/12

7:23/7

2:20/2

Trisuli (541/1775)

20:22/7

23:25/8

29:30/13

57:34/17

90:33/19

319:33/21

463:32/20

474:32/20

265:31/18

107:30/15

14:27/12

5:23/8

Langtang (3500/11483)

:2/-11

:3/-10

:8/-6

:14/-2

:17/2

:18/7

:19/9

:18/8

:16/7

:15/2

:9/-8

:8/-10

Pokhara (827/2713)

26:19/6

25:21/8

50:26/12

87:30/15

292:30/18

569:29/20

809:29/21

705:29/21

581:28/20

224:26/17

19:23/11

1:20/7

Lumie (1615/5300)

28:13/5

45:14/6

52:19/10

194:22/13

318:22/14

902:23/17

1522:22/17

1339:23/17

932:21/16

295:20/14

23:16/9

2:13/6

Marpha (2667/8750)

14:10/-1

13:12/0

27:15/3

22:18/5

26:19/7

44:21/11

63:21/12

58:21/12

45:20/11

58:17/7

7:14/2

2:12/0

Jomsom (2713/8900)

20:12/3

18:13/-1

23:16/2

15:20/4

11:23/7

17:25/12

41:25/14

54:25/14

35:23/11

37:19/5

2:15/1

2:12/-2

Chame (2615/8580)

3:9/-3

71:13/1

72:14/1

20:20/7

50:19/6

106:21/11

182:21/10

145:21/10

65:19/10

59:17/6

8:14/1

24:11/-3

Jumla (2329/7640)

32:11/-2

40:13/-3

43:17/0

27:22/3

40:24/6

70:24/13

162:23/15

173:24/15

92:23/12

39:24/6

1:19/-4

4:15/-5

Jiri (1905/6250)

18:13/0

20:15/1

47:19/4

71:22/8

139:22/12

381:23/16

599:23/17

605:23/17

337:22/15

93:20/10

15:17/4

3:14/1

Namche Bazaar (3446/11300)

26:7/-8

23:6/-6

34:9/-3

26:12/1

41:14/4

140:15/6

243:16/8

243:16/8

165:15/6

78:12/1

9:9/3

39:7/-6

Tengboche (3867/12887)

13:4/-9

24:5/-9

23:9/6

25:12/-4

29:14/-1

95:14/3

280:14/5

265:14/1

140:13/2

72:12/-2

9:8/-7

2:6/-7

Taplejung (1783/5850)

15:14/4

32:15/6

55:19/9

111:22/2

243:23/14

335:24/17

448:24/18

400:24/17

271:23/16

82:22/13

14:18/8

4:15/5

Ilam (1300/4265)

10:/9

8:/10

18:/14

62:/16

139:/17

321:/18

463:/18

280:/19

215:/17

81:/16

8:/12

2:/8

 

Money, Commerce, and Communication

Nepal’s monetary unit is the Nepali Rupee.  It is backed by the Indian Rupee at a fixed exchange rate of 1.6 Nepali Rupees to 1 Indian Rupee. The present US dollar exchange rate is 1 USD: 73 NRP. Earthbound Expeditions recommends carrying your money in the form of traveler’s checks instead of cash. Traveler’s checks are easily convertible and replaceable in both Kathmandu and Pokhara. Outside of these two cities, banks dealing in foreign currencies are few a far between (nearly non-existent). Although a large sum of cash is not required when traveling on an Earthbound Expeditions trip, one should carry a sufficient amount to purchase luxury items such as alcohol, sodas, candy, etc as well as tipping, gift, and emergency money. These monies will need to be exchanged upon arrival in Nepal and should average about $5/day spending money plus whatever is necessary for larger purchases and tips. Credit cards should be avoided at shops in Nepal, however in Kathmandu and Pokhara many of the banks now offer credit card withdrawals in a secure manner.

                Haggling is a necessity in Nepal. Almost no deal is struck without a series of back and forth offers, often escalating to what will appear a very hostile exchange. After the deal is agreed upon, both sides will then be very kind and act as though nothing out of the ordinary has occurred, because for them nothing has! This is expected by the shop owners in Nepal and is not considered disrespectful. The only place that haggling is inappropriate is in restaurants and shops clearly signed as ‘fixed price’. Do not be afraid to set a price you are willing to pay for an item and stick to it! If the shop owner will not sell it for what you think it is worth, find another shop. You do not have an obligation to buy from a shop once you enter into price negotiations and there will be no hard feelings regardless of what the shop owner says. Many of the shop owners have learned to guilt westerners into buying an item by making it appear as though you have insulted them, but keep in mind that this in only an act. If they are insulted, they will simply tell you to leave their store, not continue to haggle for a higher price. Of course, you should be pleasant and kind to all the people you deal with and do not assume they are trying to ‘rip you off’.

                Communicating with the outside world has come a long way in Nepal in the last five years. It is now possible to send and receive email from Kathmandu and Pokhara at numerous ‘internet’ shops. It costs 10-30 NPR/minute for Internet access and 15 NPR per kilobyte of email. You are also welcome to use the computer in Earthbound Expedition’s offices to send and receive email. The address to give out for incoming email is: tripmember@trekthehimalaya.com and have your name in the subject line. This is also a good emergency contact. Telephone services are also available throughout Nepal; however international calling is only easily available in the larger cities of Kathmandu, Pokhara, Tansen, Nepalgunj, etc.

Visiting Nepal

Nepal is a land rich with differing climates, ecosystems, cultures, and services. There is not a 'best' time to visit Nepal. Every season offers a spectrum of experiences. The best way to decide WHEN to visit Nepal is first to figure out WHAT and WHERE interests you personally. If you are interested in traditional Tibetan Buddhist culture or the 'high peaks' region, you will not want to visit during December to March, however this is a great time to visit the Terai region in the south of Nepal to view wildlife and meet the Tharu people that inhabit this region. The summer months of June thru August are not the best times to visit any region south of the Himalayan chain, but the regions north (Mustang and Dolpo) are ideal at this time with very few tourists and wonderful scenery. The point is that although the spring months of March thru May and the fall months of September thru November are the 'high season' in Nepal, you should consider what and where you wish to see and go before setting a trip date!

Transportation

Nepal is accessable by plane and bus. There are no railroads in Nepal. All international flights arrive and depart from the capital, Kathmandu. At present it is possible to reach Nepal by plane from London, Moscow, Osaka, Paris, Frankfurt, Dhaka, Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Bangkok, Lhasa, Paro, Doha, Karachi, Beijing, Hong Kong, and Singapore. The carriers include Royal Nepal Airlines, Lufthansa, Pakistan Airlines, Aeroflot, Thai Airlines, Singapore Air, Qatar Air, China Air, Druk Air, and India Air. Kathmandu is the hub of Nepal and from here flights to nearly all of the country's smaller airports can be arranged, including Pokhara, Taplejung, Jumla, Jiri, Lukla & Nepalgunj. Some of the more remote airstrips will require switching flights in an intermediate city such as the stopover in Nepalgunj to reach Simikot or Chainpur and the overnight in Pokhara to reach Jomsom.
Buses are the most common transport in Nepal. This is an experience not to be missed! The rides range from tests of faith as the overstuffed bus navigates the twists, turns and road washouts to pleasant scenic tours of the countryside. Most will experience something in between. The majority of buses in Nepal are overused, overpatched, and overfilled Indian vehicles from many years ago. They are amazingly punctual and safe considering the state of the roads in Nepal, however breakdowns are not uncommon. Do not be surprised if you bus grinds to a halt for what seems like just another smoking/bathroom break only to have the front pulled off, a few things banged and adjusted, people loaded back on and hits the road inside of 10 minutes. Tourist buses are becoming increasingly popular and more plentiful. These are a spruced up version of the common bus with clean seats, limited passenger numbers, and far fewer stops. They are a good choice if you treasure comfort and your own space!
To reach Nepal, the most common entry point is Sonauli via Ghorakpur in India. Buses are easy to catch in both Kathmandu and at the border. This is the most popular overland entry from Delhi, Calcutta, Varanasi, and most other north Indian cities. Three other overland entry points are slowly gaining popularity: Raxual/Birganj - accessible from Calcutta, Kakarbhitta- on the east side of Nepal serving Darjeeling, and Mahendranagar- on the south-west side of Nepal serving the hill stations of India and even Delhi. Entry into Nepal is also possible along the 'peace highway' in the north bordering Tibet. This crossing is tightly monitored by China and only those with the appropriate permits will be allowed to pass through this post.
Private cars are for hire in all the major cities of Nepal and can even be arranged in many of the smaller roadside towns in a pinch. Both four wheel drive vehicles and cars are available. Cars are the cheaper alternative, ranging from $15 for a 2 hour drive to $90 for an all-day drive. Four wheel drives are more expensive at $90-$150/day, depending on the distance covered. Most roads in Nepal are much more pleasurable when traveled in a 4wd and many require 4wd. However, the routes along the southern roads across the Terai and between Kathmandu and Pokhara are perfectly suited for car travel. Whenever heading into the mountains or off the very major roads, a 4wd is recommended.

Travel Costs

Traveling within Nepal is generally not very expensive if one uses the public transportation. Bus rides range from a few rupees( 73 Nrupees = $1 USD) to nearly a thousand rupees to cross the length of Nepal. Tourist buses are generally twice the cost of public buses and chartering a bus is rather expensive at a few hundred dollars a day. Vehicle hire costs are outlined in the section 'transportation' above. Plane fares are comparable to most western countries for the distances covered. An abbreviated table of flight costs for spring 2007 is below (these are subject to change without notice!):

KTM-Lhasa	$260
KTM -Paro	$190
Spring 2007-KTM -Lukla	$140
KTM -Lukla	$101
KTM-Tumlingtar	$69
KTM-Pokhara	$74
Pokhara-Jomsom	$67
KTM-Nepalgunj	$99
KTM-Biratnagar	$77
KTM-Bharatpur	$55
KTM-Bhairawa	$65
KTM-Papla	$77
Mountain flights from KTM	$100

Besides transportation, you next greatest costs are food and accomodations. Both the quality and price of these vary according to the region, popularity among tourists, and range of options. In general, Kathmandu, Pokhara, Tansen, the national parks, and any popular trekking regions are more expensive than other areas. In Kathmandu and Pokhara accomodations range from sub-standard rooms for $6-7/night to the posh first world extravagance of places like Yak and Yeti at $150+ a night. Most acceptable mid-tier accomodations are in the range of $15 to $50/night with factors like size, cleanliness, probability of hot water, and security oweing to the range in prices. There are literally hundreds of choices throughout Kathmandu alone, from countryside resorts to in-town slums. To choose a place, rely on recomendations or employing a reputable and trustworthy travel company. Travel companies are able to use thier bargaining power to get reduced rates for their clients, so this is often a great way to go. Hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara are usually graded using a 5 star system with a 5 being a top rated world class hotel and a 1 being just a room, maybe clean, maybe not! Accomodations while trekking are available in small 'teahouses' along the more popular routes such as Annapurna, Everest, and Langtang. These are generally little more than small rooms with two or more spring beds and maybe a table. Expect to pay 90 to 900 rupees a night.
Food also varies in both price and quality. By far the cheapest and most cultural way to travel is to eat the local food, usually dal-bhat -"beans and rice". This is between 30 and 200 rupees a meal and usually comes with all the rice and beans you can eat along with the vegetable of the day! Although rice and beans every day may sound boring, in actuality the variety of recipes and local produce makes every dal-bhat a unique experience. In addition to the rice and beans, these meals usually include a vegetable, which may be spinach, squash, potatoes, cauliflower, eggplant (aubergine), mustard greens, cabbage, green beans or whatever else is in season. Western food is available in the teahouses while on trek and in the larger cites of Kathmandu and Pokhara. Western foods are generally more expensive than traditional foods and are in most places a poor imitation of the meals for which they are named. Some examples while trekking include: fried rice, potatos Au Gratin, mousaka, chow mein, lasagna, boiled potatoes, fried eggs, Tibetan bread, and pizza. In the larger cites, very good western food can be found in the up-scale hotels and in tourist districts such as Thamel in Kathmandu and Lakeside in Pokhara. Expect to pay between 50 and 1000 rupees for a western meal.

Trip Information

TOUR ESCORTS
Well-trained, knowledgeable guides certified by the Tourism Authority of Nepal escort all our tours. Most of the guides are English speaking but Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Russian-speaking guides can also be provided with prior information and additional cost.

FOOD
Nepalese cuisine encompasses a huge variety of cooking styles, from Indian Tandoori to Tibetan Tsampa (a mixture of roasted barley with butter). The most common, however, is the meal of "dal-bhat". Dal is any legume/bean, usually prepared with mild curry spicing into a watery soup. Bhat means 'rice' in Nepalese and a very generous helping accompanies every meal. These are usually served along with a curried vegetable and an 'achar', a pickled item such as mango. The differing styles of cooking dal and the wide variety of vegetables (cauliflower, potatoes, squash, eggplant/aubergine, spinach, mustard greens, - what ever is in season!) make every 'dal-bhat' meal a wonderful experience! Also available in the larger cities and along the trekking routes are many continental and Indian dishes. Even on trek, our trained cooks prepare dishes suitable to western taste ranging from Continental to Chinese and Nepalese to Indian.

WHAT TO PACK
When you sign up with Earthbound Expeditions, we will provide you with a detailed recommended packing list, including recommended vendors and some things you can probably buy enroute. For most of the cultural tours, you will not need to spend additional money on new gear. The trekking trips do require some specialized gear such as a daypack, large duffel bag, etc.

Touring in Nepal

Earthbound Expeditions offers numerous cultural tours throughout Nepal, ranging from 4 days/3 nights, to 21 days/22 nights. Longer trips can be arranged for custom groups. All of our cultural trips and tours have little or no trekking and emphasize the cultural highlights of Nepal. For custom groups, your itinerary will be assembled with the help of our skilled travel experts or you can choose to pattern your trip on one of our pre-assembled itineraries. Please fell free to email or write us to receive more information on putting together a trip or a pre-planned itinerary.

Trekking in Nepal

The scope for trekking in Nepal is immense from short walks to arduous treks. Trekking gives the opportunity to see Nepal at its most magnificent. All of the trekking routes follow old trading routes, from the towering snow peaks of the inner Himalayas to the verdant forests that cloak the hills above its peaceful valleys. The trails are clean and unspoiled, and the wilderness is still pristine in its' beauty.

SUMMARY & SEASONS FOR TREKKING IN NEPAL

Trekking Regions	NUMBER OF ROUTES	TREKKING ROUTE NAMES	BEST TIME	MID SEASON	LEAN SEASON	Trek Duration (DAYS)	Highest Altitude (m)	REMARKS
Annapurna Himal	4	Kali Gandaki Corridor; Round Annapurna; Annapurna Sanctuary; Annapurna Foothills	Sept - Nov( Dec); Mar (Feb) - May	Oct & April	Jun – Aug; Dec - Feb.	4-28 days	3000, 5416, 4600, 2700	easy+ to Moderate+
Everest	3	Everest Base Camp; Gokyo; Mera & Island Peaks	Sept - Nov; Mar - May	Oct & April	Jun – Aug; Dec - Feb.	11-21	5200, 5350 (3440, 4600), 6476	Moderate (-) to very difficult
Langtang	2	Langtang Valley; Lori Bina Pass to Helumbu	Sept - Dec; Feb - May	Oct & April	Jun – Aug; Dec - Feb.	10-11 days	4050, 4610	Moderate (–)
Helumbu	2	Langtang to Kathmandu	Sept - Dec (Nov); Jan (Mar) - May	Oct & April	Jun – Aug; Dec - Feb.	7	3500	Easy (+) to moderate
Manaslu	1	Round Manaslu	Sept - Nov; end Feb - May	Oct & April	Jun – Aug; Dec - Feb.	20	5100	Moderate-difficult(-)
Ganesh Himal	2	Ganesh Base Camp; Ganesh Southern Slopes	Sept - Nov; Mar - May	Oct & April	Jun – Aug; Dec - Feb.	7 - 18	4400	Moderate to difficult
Kanchenjunga Himal	2	North Base Camp; South Base Camp	Sept - Nov; Mar - May	Oct & April	Jun – Aug; Dec - Feb.	16-24	5100 or 5230	Moderate+ to difficult
Mustang	1	Jomsom to Lo Manthang	Sept - mid Nov; end Mar - May	Oct & April	Dec - Feb.	10-12	4200	moderate
Dolpo	1	Upper Dolpo	Sept - mid Nov; end Mar - May	Oct & April	Dec - Feb.	15-20	5190	Moderate (+) to difficult
Dhaulagiri	1	Round Dhaulagiri	Sept - Nov; Mar - May	Oct & April	Jun – Aug; Dec - Feb.	20	5360	moderate +
Rara Lake	2	Simikot to Jumla; Jumla return	Sept - Nov; Mar - May	Oct & April	Jun – Aug; Dec - Feb.	9-11	3130, 3640	Moderate
Far Western Nepal	2	Saipal Region; Kaptad NP	Sept - Nov; Mar - May	Oct & April	Jun – Aug; Dec - Feb.	9-14	4100, 3100	easy to moderate
Kathmandu Valley	1	Round Kathmandu Valley	Sept - May	Nov & March	Jun – Aug	3	2732	easy

 

Please, write or email Earthbound Expeditions for a detailed itinerary for any of these treks (info@earthboundexp.com).

Festivals of Nepal

The diversity of religions and people in Nepal makes for an active festival calender, with a major festial nearly every month! The most notable are National holidays of Dasain and Tihar as well as the smaller mountain festivals of Mani Rimdu held in the Everest Region and the Tiji Festival held in the walled capital town of the Kingdom of Mustang. Below is a listing of some select festivals of interest.

Festival	Time of Year	Place	Description
Magh Sankrati	Jan 14 or 15	Devghat	ritual bathing in sacred river confluences
Basanta Panchami	Feb-5th day after the new moon	all Hindu towns	Recognize Saraswati - the goddess of learning
Losar	Feb. New moon	Tibetan and Buddhist regions	The Tibetan New Year
Shiva Raatri	Feb-Mar New Moon	All Hindu, especially Pushiputinath	Bonfires,night vigils, and collecting donations from travelers
Faagun Purnima (Holi)	Feb-Mar full moon day	all Hindu	The spring water festival- beware red die filled water ballons! It is all in fun and is considered rejoicful if you are a target
Seto Machhendranath Jaatra	8 days after the Mar-April new moon	Kathmandu	a four-day chariot procession through Kathmandu
Nawa Barsa	April 13 or 14	all Hindu, notably Bhaktapur	Nepali New Year celebrated with colorful parades and games including tug-of-war
Machhendranath Raath Jaatra	April-May	Patan	A grand colorful display as Kathmandu Valley's rain deity is pulled around the city by chariot-last up to four weeks
Buddha Jayanti	April-May full moon	Swayambhu and Boudha Nath	Anniversary of Gautama Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death
Tiji Festival	Late May-early June	Lo Manthang, Mustang	Driving of the demon from Mustang with dancing, horse racing, and lively reenactments of great battles
Gaai Jaatra	2 Days after full moon July-Aug	Kathmandu	Celebrates the cow-people dress up in whimsical cow costumes and parade the old town
Indra Jaatra	around the full moon of Aug-Sept	Kathmandu	a week long celebration with chariot processions and beer gushing fountains.
Yartung	Sept	Muktinath, Annapurna Himal	features horse racing, dancing, and drinking
Dasain	10 days prior to full moon Sept-Oct	All Nepal	This is Nepal's most popular holiday! Families get together in their traditional homelands. Swings, ferris wheels, and clean children dot the countryside. The ninth day is a day of animal sacrifice when over a million animals are slaughtered at temples throughout Nepal in preparation for the festival feast.
Tihar (Diwaali)	The five days before the full moon Oct-Nov	All Nepal	This festival follows on the heals of Dosain.  Days are dedicated to honoring the crow, dog, cow, and bull before the day of lights when all windows are filled with candles and lamps to attract Laxmi, the goddess or wealth. This has become a time for fireworks throughout Nepal.
Mani Rimdu	Full moon of the ninth Tibetan month - Oct-Dec.	Tengboche Monastery, Everest region	Celebrates Buddhism's victory over the Bon faith through dancing and prayer.