Nepal

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Definitely Nepal has a natural beauty to be appreciated and probably it is the most interesting focus here. Visit Pokhara to enjoy nature and fresh air and visit the capital Kathmandu to see the original architecture of the country, chaos and pollution. Two contrasting realities but both very interesting.

The change from India to Nepal was very good for us. We left the chaos, dirt, noise and pollution to the fresh air, green and relaxing vibe of Pokhara. The People also have the same vibe, much more relaxed and friendly. And unlike your neighbor has many young fashion people, with gel in their hair and playboy vest, even in the most remote villages. Moreover, it is possible to find a quality cuisine at incredible prices.

What was worth it: Trekking in the reserve of Annapurna mountains, the fresh air and relaxed vibe of Pokhara and the wonderful architecture of the ancient city of Bhaktapur.
What we wanted to do but we didn’t: Visit to the small town of Bandipur, between Pokhara and Kathmandu, and make a longer trek to be delighted at the foot of the Himalayas.

A few tips:

• TRANSPORTATION: Probably one of the slowest we’ve had so far. The only option is the local bus falling apart and sometimes it makes just 18 km per hour. So if you have to do just 150 km get ready to spend 8 hours on the bus. Unbelievable no! Between Pokhara and Kathmandu there are tourist buses more modern and comfortable, with little price difference from the local buses.
• FOOD: If you are desperately missing western food this is the place. By far it was the best underdeveloped country in Asia to find quality western dishes at incredible prices. And they also have many bakery products and pastries that are delightful. Enjoy it.
• TREKKING: To go trekking in the Annapurna reserve is compulsory to pay a government fee (TIMS) and reserve permit the, which together account for 45 USD per person and where you register your entry and exit dates and the path you will make. During the walk there are several control points and they use it to track or if there are no tourists lost. For Himalayas there are also the same fees but the costs are different. There are several options of trekking, from 2 to15 days and with different levels of difficulty. Surely you can find an option that fits your profile. It is not necessary to take sleeping bag, blanket, towel or tent camping with you. In the way there are guesthouses offering everything and you will pay about 1-2 USD per person only. But beware, once you accept to lodge there you are obliged to eat at the guesthouse and they keep the eye on you. But don’t worry, the price of food is fixed (and is more expensive, of course, and the higher you go more expensive it gets) and works the same everywhere. And if you try to bring your own food they will charge you an absurd rate. It is not worth. Before leaving for your hiking do not forget to buy some chocolates and cookies in town. You’ll do a lot of physical effort and between meals is important to replenish your energy. If you decide to buy in the mountain it will be much more expensive. Related to guides, it is not really necessary. The path is well marked, there are points of tea and restaurant all the time and for sure you will meet other travelers on the road to make you company. You can also pay a porter (a person who carries your luggage all the way), but is only really needed for much longer treks and for those who are not used. Take only what is essential and you will be able to deal with it. Remember, in the mountains there are no ATMs and credit cards are not accepted, so do go with short money, around 25 to 30 USD per person / per day should be more than enough to cover all your expenses (accommodation, 3 meals and water).
• OUR OPTION OF TREKKING: We are not trekking lovers and we were afraid to go for a long hike and don’t make it. So we choose a short trek of just four days. We made the circuit of NAYAPUL – GHOREPANI – POON HILL – GHANDRUK – NAYAPUL and it was a great option. We were walking about 5 hours a day, just a few parts were very inclined and we managed to have incredible views of the mountain. The best places to sleep in this course are: night 1 – Ulleri / night 2: Ghorepani (view to the mountain in the morning) / night 3: Tadapani (incredible view to the mountain in the morning). And in Ghorepani you should start hiking at 4:45 am to the Poon Hill in order to see the sunrise illuminating the mountain of Annapurna. Incredible view!

Our itinerary (13 days)

We took a bus from Gorakhpur, India, by Sunauli on the border with Nepal. We did our visa at the spot and continued to our destination in Pokhara. As the trip to Pokhara was too long, we stopped for a night in Palpa and continued the next day. In Pokhara we did four days trekking in the Annapurna reserve and then we went on a tour bus to Kathmandu, where we made motorcycle tours to the cities of Bhaktapur and Patan. From Kathmandu we flew to Tokyo in Japan.

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