Nepal Travel Guide

Nepal is a country of grassy lowlands covered in wildflowers, barren highlands with icy streams, snow-peaked mountains howling with frozen winds, and the tanned, smiling faces of sherpas wielding mountains of supplies for Himalayan explorers. It is a small country high in the Himalayas sandwiched between two giants - China (the Tibet autonomous region) to the north and the vast Indian subcontinent to the south. The population of Nepal is approaching 30 million people which are spread across the country with a higher density in the lower southern regions. Kathmandu is the capital and by far the largest city with around 1 million residents.

The Nepal region has been inhabited for thousands of years but the many disparate kingdoms were united into one kingdom in the middle of the 18th century. This unified monarchy remained in place until the early 21st century when it was replaced by a democratic republic.

Trekking is by far the biggest tourism industry in Nepal attracting climbers from all over the globe. The Himalayas have eight of the ten highest mountains in the world and includes the pinnacle - Mount Everest. The trek to the Everest base camp is an adventure in itself and even this requires a lot of fitness preparation prior to taking the challenge. The Annapurna Circuit is a famous and very popular trail in the Annapurna trekking region and can take up to three weeks to complete, but the views are spectacular. There are several options when exploring the heights of Nepal including trekking, rock climbing, peak climbing and mountaineering. There are many tours and guides available to lead your adventure but take the time to research the companies as some will cut corners in order to keep the prices down.

Other popular activities whilst in Nepal include whitewater rafting and kayaking. There is an abundance of rivers in Nepal so the options here are huge catering to all levels of experience. Short trips last between one and three days with longer trips taking weeks to complete. Mountain biking is fast becoming a popular sport in Nepal with several tour operators offering biking tours of the country. If two wheels is your thing but you don't feel like pedalling hiring a motorbike offers a wonderful way to see the countryside. There are some of the best motorcycling roads in the world here and local tour operators can arrange for bike hire and group tours.

Chitwan National Park is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site and covers over 930 square kilometres (360 sq miles) in central Nepal. There are safari tours available offering the chance to see local wildlife including crocodiles, rhinos, tigers as well as a huge amount of bird life. Within the park is also the spectacular Bishajari Tal chain of lakes which covers a large part of the park. Some visitors to Nepal come not just to witness the beautiful scenery but to expand their mind and spirit and there are courses in meditation, yoga and massage available in many of the towns and cities in Nepal.