Tourism in Nepal after COVID-19 – Best Adventures You Must Try
Whether you’re interested in religion, spirituality, nature, the Great Outdoors, culture, or history, Nepal boasts more than its fair share of world-class attractions. Everyone has heard of Kathmandu and Sagarmatha (Mount Everest), but there’s so much more to Nepal. Here is a diverse selection of adventures you must try in Nepal.
Enjoy a fantastic hiking adventure at the top of the world
Nepal boasts some of the best hiking trails in the world with views of mountains, picturesque ancient temples, and scenic forests. The most famous trail in Nepal is the Annapurna Circuit Hiking Trail. Some sections of the trail offer great day hikes for novice trekkers while other stretches of the path will provide an interesting challenge to experienced trekkers. At its highest point in the Thorong La Pass, the trail reaches an elevation of 17,769 feet!
The complete 21-day circuit is the experience of a lifetime. In order to gain the most from this adventure, hike in complete safety, and learn all you can about the cultural and natural attractions along the way, it’s best to enjoy this trek in the company of an expert local guide arranged by an organization such as Nepal Footprint Holiday.
For such a long hike, you should wear a backpack to bring extra clothing and essential gear. The changes in altitude will mean stripping off or donning layers, and you’ll need waterproof clothing during the monsoon season. Ensure you wear durable boots to cope with the steep slopes and rocky terrain.
The Annapurna Circuit benefits from sitting within a rain shadow, which means the trail is suitable for trekking year-round, including during the monsoon season. However, to enjoy the best views, hike this trail in spring. The trail is less crowded in spring than summer and the high passes are not covered in snow like in winter.
Go mountain biking
Kathmandu Valley is surrounded by 4 mountain ranges, and their foothills are excellent destinations for mountain biking adventures. The best thing about mountain biking in this area is that you don’t only benefit from superb mountain views, but there are also some amazing cultural attractions and national parks you can explore by bike.
Shivapuri National Park to the north of Kathmandu is a protected watershed and wildlife reserve that features a popular hiking trail you can explore by bike. The park contains several fascinating religious sites, including a Hindu temple with a giant statue of Sleeping Bishnu. However, the most interesting feature of the park is its diverse range of bird species.
A popular destination for mountain biking is the hill station of Nagarkot. At an elevation of 7,136 feet above sea level, the station boasts fantastic panoramic views of Shivapuri National Park and of 8 out of the 13 Himalayan ranges in Nepal and Mount Everest. Nagarkot is especially renowned for its sublime sunrise views. There are many hiking trails around the station where you can bike, including the Nagarkot Panoramic Hiking Trail and the Nagarkot Eco-Trail.
Experience paragliding
The breathtaking hills and mountain vistas of Nepal are one of the main reasons so many people visit this beautiful country every year. A unique way to experience this landscape and gain a bird’s-eye view is by paragliding.
Paragliding is a thrilling adventure that gets your adrenaline pumping. You don’t need any prior experience as experienced local professionals will provide you with all the necessary safety equipment and show you what to do. Novice paragliders will be accompanied by a local expert in a tandem jump to ensure a safe flight.
After leaping off a hilltop, you’ll soar alongside eagles, kites, and griffin vultures. The best paragliding adventures are located in places where you’ll also glide over temples, monasteries, picturesque villages, lakes, and forests. A popular paragliding base is Sarangkot hill in the city of Pokhara, which is also a base for the famous Annapurna Circuit Hiking Trail.
Enjoy a photo safari
You don’t have to go to Africa to hunt for Big Game animals to photograph. Chitwan National Park in Nepal features elephants, leopards, and rhinos. There are also deer, sloth bears, Bengal tigers, crocodiles, king cobra, rock python, and over 500 bird species. Of particular interest is the gaur (Indian bison), which is the world’s biggest surviving bovine.
You can join a jeep safari tour across the park’s marshes, grasslands, and jungles to experience its diverse ecosystems. The tropical monsoon climate of the park creates ideal conditions for its diverse range of flora and fauna. The monsoon season is mid-June to late September, so visiting will prove more pleasurable from the fall through spring.
Also found along the borders of Chitwan National Park are the villages of the Tharu ethnic group. The Tharu village of Meghauli forms one of the two main entrances to the park. The village is a well-preserved example of a traditional Tharu settlement.
Join a pilgrimage tour
Nepal is recognized as one of the world’s top destinations for spiritual journeys. This mountainous country contains many temples that are important to the Hindu and Buddhist faiths. People of other religions often like to visit the mountains to simply contemplate the wonder of Creation. Tour operators such as Nepal Footprint Holiday offer specialist pilgrimage tours for Buddhist and Hindu pilgrims.
One of the highlights of any Buddhist pilgrimage is Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha in 563 BCE. There are multiple Buddhist temples in Lumbini, including the ancient Mayadevi Temple originally built in the 3rd century BCE atop a pre-existing 6th-century wooden shrine. This key temple stands adjacent to a sacred garden and sacred pool.
Other important Buddhist sites to visit in Nepal include Swayambhunathon top of a hill in the Kathmandu Valley and Bhaktapur, the City of Temples in the east of the Kathmandu Valley. Bhaktapur is also distinguished by having the best-preserved ancient city center and palace complex in Nepal, which is why it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The magnificent Pashupatinath Temple northeast of Kathmandu is an important site for Hindu pilgrims and one of the 275 Holy Homes of Shiva. Its extensive complex of temples and ashrams alongside the Bagmati River offers a peaceful sanctuary for Hindu prayers and contemplation.
At 12,500 feet above sea level, the Muktinath Temple in Mustang is one of the highest temples in the world. This picturesque temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu is set in beautiful surroundings and features 108 sacred faucets that produce water for purification bathing.