Explore The World

Nepal was one of my absolute favourite countries to visit.

If you are in to beautiful scenery, mountains, walking and experiencing life as the Nepalese live then it is a must destination. We spent a month in this wonderful country. No wonder Sir Edmund Hillary kept going back – the people are so friendly and they live in one of the most beautiful but harshest environments in the world.

We arrived into Nepal after enduring an overnight bus from Varanasi in India. We got to Pokhara in the early hours of the morning , found a place to stay and in the morning were woken up by our Nepalese host knocking on our door. He said ” Come have a look at the mountains”

Some places we visited in Nepal after a few weeks in India

The view from our Pokhara Guest House

We spent a few days in Pokhara just chilling and getting organised for our trek in the Annapurna ranges. It was a great town with a large lake and the mountain ranges as a backdrop.

The trek through the Annapurna’s was unbelievable. We spent about 10 days walking up through the villages and staying when we felt we had enough for the day. The trail is the same that the Nepalese have used for centuries – living, working and surviving in the mountains off the land.

The people are lovely. They put you up in their homes and cook a meal after a long day walking. The digs weren’t luxurious but they were comfortable enough. The food wasn’t Michelin star quality but satisfying – rice and spinach dhal was the staple fare. Occasionally you would be spoilt with a chocolate cake. They had extensive menus but little was available. However they were edible and filling.

A typical village in the mountains

Life was simple in the Himalayas. It probably hasn’t changed much. All the following images are all on our trek through the Annapurna ranges. It was wonderful we were allowed to follow in the Nepalese footsteps and cherish for a short time living and being with these lovely people.

Yaks were used a lot to cart stuff

The locals were pack horses as well

No chainsaws in the mountains

An elderly woman weaving

The views around every corner were fantastic

They grew rice where they could in the valleys

The women seemed to do more than there fair share

Always time for a bit of down time

Below is the type of place we stayed at. We met a great guy on the way – Keith from Canada. We went to Annapurna base camp together which was spectacular.

Annapurna Base Camp

Keith and I on a superb day

Very few tourists back then which was great

Then it snowed which was quite cool

Canadian Keith with his young mate

The mountain villages are so quaint

The locals were always friendly and smiling

Rhododendrons were out in force

From Pokhara we bused to Kathmandu – A bustling and noisy town after Pokhara and the mountains

Streets of Kathmandu

Out in the hinterland near Kathmandu

Temples were everywhere in the mountains

Nepal – Just a fabulous place to visit. If you want adventure, mountains, to experience another way of life and go home with fabulous memories go and spend a few weeks in Nepal.