Draped along the greatest heights of the Himalaya, Nepal is where the ice-cold of the mountains meets the steamy heat of the Indian plains. It's a land of yaks and yetis, stupas and Sherpas and some of the best trekking on earth. The Himalaya's most sophisticated urban cultures took shape here, in the three great minikingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley - Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur - home to a world-class artistic and architectural heritage.
Behind the Vishnu shrine of Ichangu Narayan, northwest of Swayambhunath in the Kathmandu Valley, rises the 'Abode of Snows' (Himalaya in Sanskrit), a magnet for trekkers and mountaineers the world over. Only in Nepal can you trek for weeks without the need even for a tent. No longer does your name have to be Tenzing or Hillary to set foot in Everest Base Camp. Out of the mountains, get your adrenaline kick from world-class white-water rafting, kayaking and mountain biking, or from the spine-tingling sight of your first tiger or rhino in Chitwan National Park.
Nepal is not just a bungee-jumping, apple-pie eating Shangri-la. It's also one of the poorest countries on earth. However, many visitors, drawn to Nepal by the promise of adventure, leave equally enchanted by the friendliness and openness of the Nepali people.
From the natural rhythm you ease into on a trek to the rhythm of a tabla drum at one of Kathmandu's palace restaurants, Nepal is an amazingly diverse country that offers something for everyone. One journey through this land is rarely enough. The first thing many people do after a visit is start planning the next one.
The fertile, mountain-sheltered Kathmandu Valley is the historic heart of Nepal, where the Himalaya's most sophisticated kingdoms rose and fell and where Nepali art and culture were developed and refined. In many ways the Kathmandu Valley is Nepal.
Swyambhunath Stupa
The great Buddhist temple of Swayambhunath (admission Rs 75), on the top of a hill west of Kathmandu, is one of the most popular and instantly recognisable symbols of Nepal. The temple is known affectionately as the 'Monkey Temple', after the large troop of handsome monkeys that guards the hill and amuses visitors and devotees with tricks (including sliding gracefully down the banisters of the main stairway to the temple).From its hilltop setting, Swayambhunath offers fine views over Kathmandu and the valley. It's particularly striking in the early evening when the city is illuminated, and the site is also very attractive under the soft glow of moonlight. There are several curio shops around the stupa, as well as a couple of reviving cafés.
Pashupatinath Temple
Nepal's most important Hindu temple (admission Rs 250, under-10s free) stands on the banks of the holy Bagmati River, on the eastern fringes of Kathmandu, not far from the Tribhuvan Airport. Pashupatinath is also one of the most important Shiva temples on the subcontinent and draws devotees and sadhus (wandering Hindu holy men) from all over India.Pashupati is considered to have a special concern for Nepal and, accordingly, he features in all official messages from the king. Before commencing an important journey, the king will always pay a visit to Pashupatinath to seek the god's blessing. Nepal's Dalit (untouchable) community was only allowed access to the shrine in 2001.You can visit Pashupatinath as a half-day trip from central Kathmandu or en route to Bodhnath, as the two sites are an interesting short walk apart. Of all the valley's entry fees Pashupatinath offers the least value, as many of the temple buildings are closed to non-Hindus.
Dhulikhel
Only 3km southeast of Banepa (32km from Kathmandu) is the interesting small town of Dhulikhel. It's popular as a Himalayan viewpoint, in part because the road to Dhulikhel is an easier route than the steep and winding road to Nagarkot, but also because Dhulikhel is a real Newari town, not just a tourist resort. It's also a good centre for short day treks - many visitors come here to stretch their legs before setting off on longer treks.A new highway from Dhulikhel to Sindhuli is being finalised with Japanese assistance and will considerably shorten the travelling time between Kathmandu and the towns of the eastern Terai. What an increase in heavy vehicle traffic will do for the peaceful ambience of Dhulikhel - and the narrow and already inadequately engineered Arniko Hwy back to Kathmandu - is not yet clear. Construction was seriously delayed in 2002; every time the government workers laid some tarmac, Maoist rebels would creep up in the middle of the night and blow it up!
Nagarkot
There are various places around the edge of the Kathmandu Valley that offer great mountain views, but the resort village of Nagarkot, 32km from Kathmandu, is generally held to be the best. Dedicated mountain watchers make their way up to the village, stay overnight in one of Nagarkot's lodges, then rise at dawn to see the sun appear over the Himalaya.The original army camp at Nagarkot never developed into a traditional village, so while the views can be stunning, the unplanned scatter of lodges is messy. Relations with the local army base were severely strained during a religious festival in December 2005 when a deranged soldier massacred 12 locals during a drunken rampage.Nagarkot is very much a one-night stand, and few visitors stay longer. The best way to leave Nagarkot is on foot, on downhill hikes west to Sundarijal, Sankhu, or Changu Narayan, north to Chisopani or south to Banepa.
Weather
In summer (May to September) Kathmandu and the valley can get very hot, with temperatures often above 30°C. Even in the winter months (December to February) the bright sunny days often reach 20°C, although with nightfall the mercury may plummet to near freezing.
It never snows in the Kathmandu Valley, but climb higher to the valley edge at Nagarkot and it gets significantly colder, so bring a jumper.
Booking
Our Travel Consultants will be pleased to advise you about the suitability of the holiday you have chosen. You can book by telephone, mail or letter; there is no need to complete a booking form. Your holiday is confirmed when we send you a written confirmation invoice
These booking conditions apply to Happy Treks. The prices and descriptions contained therein are subject to change.
Airport Tax
Foreign nationals departing from the Tribhuvan International Airport are required to pay an airport tax of NRs. 1356/- (Tourism service fee 565 + Tax 791) if going to SAARC countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) and NRs. 1695/- (Tourism service fee 565 + Tax 1130) to all other international destinations.
Domestic airport tax is NRs 170 per person for all nationals including Nepalese each way.
