Kathmandu

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Trekking and Rafting in Nepal

An October 1998 trip to Kathmandu by globetrots Best of IgoUgo

Trail sceneMore Photos

Nepal is an outdoor explorer's paradise. For trekking and whitewater rafting, there's no better place.

  • 7 reviews
  • 3 photos

Trekking and Rafting in NepalBest of IgoUgo

Overview

Nepal is too good to be true: some of the most fantastic scenery on Earth, humbling mountains, and interesting culture and architecture. Despit all this, you'll pay less to experience Shangri-La than you would spend on a routine road trip in your home country.

Quick Tips:

Spend some REAL time here! A quickie two-week vacation, with two days traveling and two days suffering from jet lag is an injustice. This is a small country, but it is a very mountainous and complex one with a wealth of treasures--don't miss out by trying to cram it all in quickly.

Best Way To Get Around:

Fly in and out unless you're a masochist. Book well ahead if you're coming from India or Thailand. The luxury bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara is the best you could spend--this is not the place to say, 'well, the cheap bus can't be THAT bad...'

Yak And Yeti HotelBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Yak & Yeti"

If you travel in style, this is the best hotel in Kathmandu, mainly due to its great service, historic atmosphere, and excellent dining. You can walk to Thamel and Durbar Square from here and it's very central. The Soultee Crowne Plaza is nicer in some ways and is in a quieter location if that's important to you. Hotel Malla and the Shangri-La are the best hotels in the next tier down and they're quite nice overall. (I was reviewing hotels for a travel guide while there, so I inspected them all in person.)
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by globetrots on July 11, 2000

Yak And Yeti Hotel
DURBAR MARG Kathmandu, Nepal
977 1 4248999

Fish Tail LodgeBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

This is a very special hotel, situated on a small island in the middle of Lake Phewa, with stunning views of the famous 'Fish Tail' peak and the Annapurna range. Rooms are simple but enchanting, much like a comfortable lodge near trekking routes should be. The grounds are lovely and the service is gracious. The setting and views are alone worth the price. Other good hotels here include the amazing opulent Fulbari Resort on the outskirts of town (most luxurious rooms), the atmospheric Tiger Mountain property also on the outskirts, and the attractive Shangri-La hotel nearer to the lake. All of these have good mountain views if the weather is cooperating.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by globetrots on July 11, 2000

Fish Tail Lodge
Phewa Lake Kathmandu, Nepal

Hotel TibetBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

Kathmandu has some of the best hotel deals in the world. When I was finished reviewing top-end hotels for my writing assignment, I paid two dollars a night at this place (one of the many variations with 'Tibet' in the name). For this price I got clean sheets, a comfy bed, my own bath with a hot shower, and lots of light from the big windows. On a clear day, I could see the Himalayas from the roof. There are a hundred hotels like this, so finding a deal is very easy. Prices go up a few bucks in the prime trekking season, but you can still find a decent room for $4-$5 and a really great room with more luxuries for under $20.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by globetrots on July 17, 2000

Hotel Tibet
Thamel Kathmandu, Nepal
none

Various eateriesBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

It's really hard to spend over $5 on a meal in Nepal-you have to search out a hotel restaurant or drink a lot of beers to manage that. Most restaurants are simple affairs with an overly-ambitious menu. Most will try to make far more dishes than they are really capable of, so stick with simple western foods (like pizzas or potato dishes). Better yet, order Indian, Nepali, or Tibetan food, which they really will know how to make. Nepal is third world and a lot of people get a stomach bug, so be sensible. If you've been on the road a while, you'll probably be okay because the deluge of tourists and the competition keep things pretty hygenic in the two main cities. If you want to splurge or go upscale, even the best hotel restaurants are a great value. Some feature 'folkloric' dancing and singing shows, which can be fun (well, once anyway). No point in making recommendations--there are about ten restaurants on every block in Kathmandu's Thamel and Pokhara's Lake Road.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by globetrots on July 11, 2000

Various eateries
Thamel and Lake Road Kathmandu, Nepal

Annapurna Circuit TrekBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Trail scene
This was the most amazing experience of my life from a travel standpoint. No matter how many pictures and movies you've seen of the Himilayas, it will still steal your breath away every morning as you look up at these majestic peaks. It's humbling and inspiring at once. Skip the overpriced organized trips, however, and form a small group on your own. You'll be much more comfortable because the organized groups stay in tents, while the independent hikers stay in lodges--for $2 or $3 a night tops. Plus they have warm restaurant areas where you can while away the night before bed. Anyone who's reasonably fit can do this trek; because there are so many villages with places to stay along the way, you can be pretty flexible about how far you hike each day. Just pack light, bring two or three hundred bucks tops, and leave the world of traffic, noise, and pollution behind. See the Lonely Planet guide for details, but plan carefully about what time of year to go: spring and late fall (esp. November) are the most ideal.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by globetrots on July 11, 2000

Annapurna Circuit Trek
Annapurna Range of Himilayas Kathmandu, Nepal

Rafting the Bhote Kosi RiverBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Whitewater rafting"

This is reportedly the steepest rafting river in the world and the well-traveled guides from the US and New Zealand said this was their favorite. It's an intense, white-knuckle romp that provides almost non-stop rapids for two days of rafting. It was simply incredible and any other whitewater trip will seem tame after this. You drive three hours out of Kathmandu and put in less than ten miles from the Tibetan border. After safety lessons and practice, you catapult off the bank to a series of Class 3 to 5 rapids and never look back. The company I went with was Ultimate Descents--they have the best reputation of anyone in Nepal. It's run by experienced people who use only the best equipment and who are looking out for everyone's safety. You stay in a fantastic camp that has a central hang-out/dinner area and nice huts to sleep in. Despite all this, the price was a $40 per day, including all meals. They're located near Kathmandu Guest House in Thamel, or you can pay a bit more and book ahead through their (New Zealand) web site.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by globetrots on July 12, 2000

Rafting the Bhote Kosi River
Bhote Kosi River Kathmandu, Nepal

About the Writer

globetrots
globetrots
Nashville, Tennessee

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