Nepal’s capital city serves as the departure point for treks into the Himalayas, including Mount Everest and Annapurna, and as a result, it is a major travel and tourism hub. Besides its proximity to these world-class hiking trails, the city also features many charms of its own, including an exquisite setting amidst snow-covered mountain peaks, friendly locals, several UNESCO World Heritage Sites and a series of ornate stone temples dating back hundreds of years. Don’t miss a visit to the sacred Boudhanath Stupa, the ancient tree-swathed site of Swayambhunath, or Kathmandu Durbar Square with its 12th-century temples.
Situated approximately 20 kilometres east of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and is one of the three royal cities of the scenic Kathmandu Valley. Dubbed Nepal's cultural gem, this predominantly pedestrian city, dating back to the 12th century, has managed to preserve many local traditions and old medieval architectural structures. The city is commonly referred to as a living museum due to its medieval squares lined with elaborate temples and palaces, impressive terracotta monuments with ornately carved wood columns, and quaint winding alleyways weaving their way between traditional red-brick homes and quaint hidden courtyards. Visitors can also look forward to experiencing the Bhaktapur’s rich cultural life as the town’s squares are filled with artisans weaving cloth, making exquisite pottery and chiselling timber in plain view of tourists passing by.
Set in the Terai Lowlands of south-central Nepal, the Chitwan National Park is known for its extraordinary biodiversity. This impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site is characterised by lush forests, grasslands, rich floodplains, rolling hills, beautiful rivers, and ox-bow lakes. The park is one of Nepal’s most celebrated nature reserves as it serves as one of the world’s last refuges of the Bengal tiger and the one-horned Asiatic rhinoceros. There are also deer, monkeys, leopards, Indian elephants, crocodiles, sloth bears, and over 500 species of bird inhabiting this spectacularly scenic expanse of protected wilderness. Don’t miss the chance to explore the northern reaches of the Rapti River in a traditional dugout canoe, or to visit the Balmiki Ashram, which is a popular Hindu pilgrimage site.
The second-largest city in Nepal, Pokhara sits on the shores of Phewa Lake in the central region of the country. Often called the ‘Adventure and Leisure Capital of Nepal’, and known as the gateway to the Annapurna Circuit, Pokhara is a popular hub offering plenty to see and do. The range of activities on offer is impressive, with lakes and waterfalls to admire; yoga, reiki, and meditation classes to attend; caves (such as Mahendra) to explore; boating, canoeing, and whitewater rafting on the waterways surrounding the Lake to enjoy; and a number of challenging hikes to test your fitness (the viewpoint of Sarangkot is particularly rewarding). Meanwhile, serious trekkers can access the Annapurna Base Camp from Pokhara, the first stop for a number of stunning trails through the spectacular mountain range.
As previously described
