Trip: Thursday morning till Saturday Evening Price: 1.200 AED per person (flight & hotel)
The Country: Nepal is a small country neighboring India and China. Nepal is famous for its high peaks in the Himalayas including Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth at 8848m and 7 of the 10 highest mountain peaks on Earth.
Even though the lowest point in the country is 70m, Nepal has an average height which is 300m above the highest country in the world. The Himalayas is not dense in population but a travel hot spot for hikers and climbers. Apart from the mountains, Nepal is rich in culture, especially with the abundance Buddhist and Hindu temples. Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world and has suffered inner political problems for decades. Because of the poverty, many historical sites abundance of bad conditions, as is infrastructure. Farming in the country is, in many cases, technologically equal to that of the Middle Ages, and the big cities can be very dirty, and many homeless people. This should not discourage anyone from visiting this beautiful country. Nepal boasts incredible mountains and greenery, and the people are very friendly. If you are looking for a little bit of adventure, Nepal is your destination.
Destinations and General Things: A weekend trip will not be enough to experience the mountains and to go hiking. For a hike in the Himalayas, you should plan at least a 10-day trip. A weekend will be enough to get a first impression of Nepal and to see Kathmandu, the capital of the country. If you think the traffic in the UAE is crazy, you must see Kathmandu. A mix of buses, cars, motorbikes and bicycles are squeezed onto roads which are sometimes not much better than an off-road track. Don’t expect to see posh SUVs or expensive sports cars. Un- fortunately, you will see a lot of garbage on the road, and power cables hanging over the road like spider webs. New buildings are also very rare, which is a perfect contrast to the UAE. In many areas of the city you get the feeling that time has stood still, or that you have entered another world and time. As mentioned before, Nepal is a very poor country, therefore prices for transport and food are very cheap, but always negotiate, even if you have a feeling the price is low. Water should only be taken from sealed bottles even for brushing teeth. With food you have to be careful. Eat only well-cooked food, and check the restaurant out first for hygiene. Be careful, but don’t be afraid, as usual in Asian countries which are not well developed. If you are looking for a five-star holiday, this is not the place. If you want to see the world, experience other cultures and like a little adventure, it’s here. Even with many unpleasantries, like poverty and dirtiness, Kathmandu has a special atmosphere. The friendliness of the people (outside of the city they are even friendlier and always smiling) are one thing which you will have great memories of. Kathmandu, the ‘City of Temples’, is so rich in culture that we recommend buying a travel guide (e.g. Lonely Planet Travel Guides) Where to go & must sees: Thamel After arriving at the airport you should go to Thamel, which is the tourist center in the city with a lot of shops, restaurants, hotels and bars. After checking into your hotel or guesthouse, dive into the busy streets of Thamel. Swoyambhu Stupa: The Swoyambhu Stupa (Temple), with the Eyes of Buddha, is about 3km from the center of the city, and can be reached by foot, taxi or rickshaw. This temple is a must-see in Kathmandu. After climbing long flights of stairs up the temple mountain, there are great views overlooking the city. Watch your belongings for the little thieves, because the temple is also home to many monkeys, and even known as the ‘Monkey Temple’. As for every temple, there is a long story of its history and myths. It’s also worth a visit at night.
The Monkeys: Watch out for the monkeys over there, they are familiar with humans and are certainly not afraid of us. These sneaky little fellers will try to steal everything that’s catching their interest. If a monkey scratches you, be sure to treat the wound properly as they can transfer nasty diseases!
Durbar Square: Durbar Square is the area in front of the old King‘s palace, the ‚Hanuman Dhoka’. It is also a part of the city with many temples and pagodas, as there are about 50 in the surrounding area. For Durbar Square, as well as for the Swoyambhu Stupa, tourists have to pay a small entrance fee. The Himalayas and the highest summits: If you want to see the mountains up close, you can book a sight-seeing flight from Kathmandu Airport to the Himalayas. The flight is about an hour and costs 500 AED per person (www.buddhaair.com). If the city itself didn’t convince you to return to Nepal, the mountains will definitely do the trick.
Food: The national dish of Nepal is ‘Daal Bhaat’ (lentils and rice), which is simply rice and lentils of any kind. Usually, the dish is combined with side dishes, such as any kind of meat and vegetables, upon availability. The Nepali eat their national dish everyday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Daal Bhaat is a tasty dish and should be tried by all tourists (a portion costs about 15AED). Usually you eat it with your hands, rather than cutlery. The rule with the left hand being the dirty hand also applies in Nepal (for Hindus), and should be respected. Another great dish is Momos, which are stuffed noodles, like ravioli (a small portion costs about 8AED). Usually drinks are water, and tea with milk and lots of sugar. There are also traditional alcoholic drinks like Rakshi (liquor) and Chhang (rice beer). But in Kathmandu, as the capital, and especially in Thamel you will get most food and beverages at very affordable prices (compared to the UAE). Accommodation: In Thamel, you will find plenty of guest houses and hotels that you don’t have to book in advance. Average double room prices range from 100-300AED per night. If you want to book in advance, here are some good links: Visa: You will need a tourist visa to enter the country which can be obtained directly upon arrival. You need to have a valid passport (at least 12month before expiry) and pay a visa fee (about 120AED/30USD). Travel time: You can travel to Kathmandu during the entire year, but try to avoid monsoon season (July/August). The best time is after the rain season, beginning in September. The climate is moderate (daily temperatures during the year 19-30C°), and if you forget proper clothing – you will find whatever you need in Thamel at a low cost – as long as you aren’t looking for labels, as most are fake.
