The Ultimate Guide to Backpacking Nepal On A Budget: Backpacking Itinerary Backpacking through Nepal is something different then you will ever experience. Trekking is by far the most popular activity in Nepal and this is the reason why every year thousands of tourist enter Nepal during the high seasons. There are countless number of treks that Nepal has to offer according to your need, time or budget. Nepal is especially known from the mighty Mount Everest, and a lot of people travel from all over the world to capture a glimpse of the world’s tallest peak. However, Trek to Everest Base Camp is just a small fraction of beautiful paradise that Nepal is. The country has lot more to offer whether it be high Himalayas, beautiful monasteries or diverse culture that reside under a single roof. You aIso have the option of taking helicopter rides to Everest if you want to see the Mt Everest but don’t have that kind of time and dedication. You will find most unique teahouses, and friendly locals you will come across anywhere on the planet. I loved visiting Nepal and I loved learning about culture and language. Whether you’re exploring the country in your 20s or later in life, you’ll want to make the most of this incredible once in a lifetime adventure. The itinerary that I have listed out below is designed approximately for five to six weeks but you can easily cut out some destinations that don’t interest you or extending your time in places you most want to see.
Set a Budget for Yourself First things first, a lot of my budget went to pre-trip necessities such as trekking gears since hiking is the main reasons you are visiting Nepal. You’re going to want excellent footwear and hiking boots if you are
planning on waking 6 to 7 hours a day and dressing conservatively is the best option to avoid unwanted attention. Before leaving for my first stop in Kathmandu which is the capital city of Nepal, I did a lot of research — lots of it — because that’s how you bring costs down. I planned my lodging, transportation, food, museum tickets, everything for a day and decided to stick to my day’s budget. It’s not too early to think about where you want to go and start planning earlier. I even spent less than I thought I would.
The Best of Backpacking Nepal Routes 1.
Explore Kathmandu Valley: You wouldn’t want to miss out on Sightseeing in Kathmandu valley. There are many beautiful old cities to explore in the valley with ancient temples and Durbar squares before you start trekking in Nepal. I visited the Swayambhunath Stupa. This Temple is also known as Monkey Temple which is considered to be self-made Stupa. Then my next visit was Kathmandu Durbar Square where there was Goddess Kumari then living goddess and number of temples. Then we went on to Patan Durbar Square where we can observe mediaeval architecture along with live history and culture. I also got to see all those monuments represent medieval, history, culture and architecture. Must say Kathmandu valley is really rich in its culture and heritage. Apart from this I got to explore Thamel the most popular destination for tourists visiting Nepal, a place most backpackers make a beeline for, the moment they land in Kathmandu and I must say it is the most happening place in Kathmandu with all the hotels, restaurants, clubs and bars.
2. Explore Pokhara, Track Rhinos at Chitwan National Park and Sightseeing at Lumbini the birthplace of Gautam Buddha: Pokhara is one of the main tourist destination of the country. Surrounded by two of the highest mountain in the world Mt. Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, the Pokhara city, is also the gateway to the most beautiful multi days trekking trail in the world. The next step is Jungle Safari in Chitwan, my absolute favorite part of our Kathmandu Pokhara Chitwan Tour. This national park is an excellent place for jungle activities like Elephant safari, Bird watching, Canoeing etc. You might also be interested in visiting the elephant breeding center there. In the evening, you can enjoy the delicious cuisine at your resort along with the cultural dance program performed by the Tharu community of this place. We visited Lumbini where Lord Buddha was born, we strolled through parks where he spent his childhood, walked through the upscale neighborhood exploring the place and surrounding places, took many
photos of famous sites. Lumbini is popular for Buddhist and Hindu pilgrimage travelers.
3.
Trek around Annapurna Region: For many people who come to experience the incredible mountains of the Himalayas, Annapurna Himalayas is their favorite region to trek among all the trekking places that Nepal encapsulates. This demanding trek consists of some of Nepal’s finest mountains. Located west of Kathmandu, this range contains some of the finest scenery in all of Nepal. With Annapurna I rising to a height of 8,061 meters, it is the 10th highest mountain in the world. This region is home to some incredible treks, like the Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Base Camp trek and Poon Hill, you will have tonnes of opportunities for hiking adventures. We encountered many rivers and lakes along the way so you might as well pack some fishing gears if you’re interested in those stuff. The key attractions of this region are the insight to archaic Gurung as well as Thakali settlement, astounding landscapes, soaring climatic
mountains and lush marshland alongside encounter of exclusive wildlife.
4.
Upper Mustang Trek: The Mustang trek has been on my bucket list ever since I arrived in Nepal. This beautiful place is full of mysterious and enchanting landscapes. I’m fascinated by the deeply-rooted Tibetan culture and practice of Buddhism in this region. I came to know that it is the last forbidden Kingdom, which is situated in the isolated Himalaya desert behind the stunning mountains Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. A hidden paradise, Upper Mustang is fused with mystique valleys, beautiful trans-Himalaya landscapes, ancients Tibetan Buddhist shrines, prayers walls, stupas, century old monasteries and many more. The trek to Upper Mustang is possibly the most unique of all treks in Nepal due to its harsh landscapes, dry, bare mountains with a covering of fresh snow on the top.
5.
Everest Region Trek: Everest region Trek in Nepal is the enthralling legendary walking route. Mount Everest is one of the most amazing natural sites you can see anywhere in the world, this almighty mountain lie in the Everest region. Walking all the way of trekking routes is long duration and needs physically fitness. So, helicopter ride to Everest is the best option to be at the high elevation in short period of time and enjoy the view of Mt Everest in no time. Every year thousands of trekkers trek on this trail and access to Everest’s basecamp is becoming a whole lot easier, which now attracts more people than ever. No matter which trail you follow though, you will soon be immersed in the austere beauty of this awe inspiring trekking region. It’s an incredible experience, a top highlight of my life. I think it’s a lifetime of global adventures.
6. Helicopter Rides: Almost everyone has that desire to conquer awesome vistas of snow-capped mountain, and panoramic landscapes. Thus, Helicopter tour is designed for travelers with tight schedules, who has no time for long 20 days trek but still can enjoy one of the best travel destinations in the world. Everest Base Camp Heli tour starts from Kathmandu, flying east from Kathmandu towards the beautiful Sherpa village. With the helicopter facilities to the Everest region, you’ll get to have the coolest trip that you can imagine and this is specially for the ones who due to some reasons cannot go to Everest base camp via trekking but you still want to explore the Himalayas then Everest Base Camp Helicopter tour is the best way of exploring the world's highest peak.