The Good…
Friendly People with always a smile on their face:
‘Trekking in Nepal is not wilderness walking. You’ll share the trail with Sherpa, Gurung, Rai, and Thakali and pass by monasteries, temples, and sacred sites, all the time experiencing the friendliness, outgoing nature, and good humor that characterizes almost all Nepalese”, says Lonely Planet (Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya).
However, not only during the trek, you will meet friendly people right from the time you land at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal.
Each Nepalese you meet (especially the service providers), during your stay in Nepal, will greet you with a smile on their face. Be ready to experience a homely environment, while you are away from home.
Strong, Brave, and ready to help people:
Nepalese people are famous all over the world for their bravery. We are the brave Gurkhas, and now we are also the survivors of the destructive earthquake and the blockade that followed immediately. Despite a number of unfavorable circumstances, Nepalese people have never failed to be strong, brave, and help others, when in need. Visiting Nepal will allow you to make friends with these people.
Natural Beauty:
Nepal is a beautiful county. Its beauty is famous all over the world. The topography is very interesting. Within the area of 1,47,181 km2, you can enjoy the mountain range that includes Mount Everest, a number of lakes including Tilicho (the lake situated at the highest altitude in the world), the deepest gorge (Kali Gandaki Gorge), green hills, beautiful valleys, rivers (originated from mountains), waterfalls dense forest providing shelter to a wide variety of animals and birds and many other beautiful creations of nature. Even a single visit to Nepal allows you to enjoy most of these natural beauties in Nepal.
Respect
“Atithi Devo Bhawa”, which means, ‘guests are god’. Therefore, if you ever want to feel as special as a god, you should plan a trip to Nepal. Every individual in Nepal treats guests as gods. Every ethnic group in Nepal has its own way of showing respect; therefore, visiting Nepal allows visitors to experience various forms of respect.
Perfect climate
The climate in Nepal varies with its topography and altitude ranging from tropical to arctic. In the southern part of the country, the Terai belt has a hot and humid climate that can rise to above 450 C during summer. The climate in the mid-land regions is cool and pleasant (nights are cooler than days).
However, in the northern mountain region, especially above 3000m, the temperature one can experience is an alpine climate and a very low temperature. The best way to experience all of these climates in Nepal is to plan any trekking package with Chitwan Jungle Safari.
Religious diversity and respect for all religions
Nepal is a secular country. People in Nepal are free to follow the religion of their choice. Also, the constitution of Nepal has declared Nepal a secular country. As a result, you can experience a variety of religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Kirant, and many more.
However, with the majority following Hinduism and Buddhism, these two religions are still the predominant religions in Nepal. Nevertheless, people in Nepal show great respect for all religions that are practiced in Nepal. Religious tolerance and harmony in Nepal have also become an example to the world.
Diversity in ethnicity
Can you imagine a country, where 125 ethnic groups are living in complete harmony? Visiting Nepal allows you to experience this diversity and harmony. Nepal provides a home to about 125 ethnic groups living in different parts of the country. Chhetri, Khas, Bahun, Magar, Tharu, Tamang, Newar, Khas-Kami, and Muslims are some of the major ethnic groups in Nepal.
These ethnic groups have their own unique lifestyle, culture, tradition, housing style, food, and language, which distinguish them from any other ethnic group in Nepal. All of these ethnic groups in Nepal live in complete harmony and peace. This diversity allows visitors to enjoy a variety of lifestyles, cultures, traditions, food, and hospitality.
Geographic diversity: Nepal is a landlocked country; however, it offers remarkable geographic diversity to its visitors. Starting as low as 59 meters, the altitude rises as high as 8,848m (Mt. Everest). Mountains, hills, flat lands, forests, lakes, rivers, waterfalls everything can be found perfectly arranged within the territory of Nepal. To best understand the geography of Nepal, the country is divided into 3 belts: Terai, Hill, and Mountain regions.
Terai: The southern border of the country is known as Madhesh. It’s a flat land that occupies 17% of the total area of Nepal providing suitable space for agriculture and industrial development.
It also allows visitors to enjoy sub-tropical forests mostly inhibited by animals that include the Royal Bengal Tiger, leopard, wild boar, one-horned rhinos, wild elephants, and various species of birds. This region ends at the base of the first range of foothills called Churia.
Hills: It covers about 65% of the total area of Nepal covered by mountains, hills, flatlands and deep valleys.
Mountain region: Northern border of the country, occupying 16% of the total land area consists of mountains ranging from 6000m to 8848m.
Average
Service charge and VAT
Restaurants, hotels, and many other service providers in Nepal will send you a bill that includes 13% Value Added Tax (VAT) and a 10% service charge. Therefore do not be surprised if your billed amount exceeds the amount that you have calculated in your mind.
Tipping guide and porters
Although not mandatory, tipping guides and porters at the end of the trip are customary in Nepal. Therefore, your guides and porters will expect tips at the end of the trip. It’s a sign of gratitude for the service provided. The amount depends on your satisfaction with the service received from these team members.
Bargaining option
Unless you see a sign that says ‘FIXED PRICE’, you can bargain with the shopkeeper, while shopping in the markets of Nepal. You will definitely get a good discount on the market price if you can show your bargaining skills.
Entrance fee for every monument
You will not be allowed to enter any monuments in Nepal without an entrance ticket. However, entrance tickets can be purchased at the entrance gate of most of the monuments in Nepal.
Crowded city
Due to the availability of facilities like schools, colleges, hospitals, and markets in the cities, people in Nepal choose to live in cities than villages. As a result, the major cities of Nepal are more crowded than the villages.
The Bad
Traffic jams in major cities:
Traffic jam has become a major problem in cities in Nepal, especially Kathmandu. During the peak hours, that is, 9 to 11 in the morning and 4-6 in the evening, the roads are flooded with private and public transportations. The narrow roads, careless drivers, unmanaged parking, footpath business, absence of overhead bridges, as well as carefree pedestrians, all contribute equally to helping you experience the worst traffic in the cities of Nepal.
Not just in cities, but sometimes you can also experience the same on highways. Accidents and natural disasters are the major causes of traffic jams on highways. Therefore, if you are planning to travel during rush hours, we recommend you set aside extra travel time.
Pollution in cities:
Pollution: air, sound, and water are the major types of pollution that you will experience in the cities of Nepal. Smoke emitted by vehicles, unmanaged dumping of wastes, and construction of roads and building is the major cause of this pollution in the cities.
Urbanization, where people cut down trees (the only natural air purifier) to construct buildings, has become the major cause of pollution in the cities of Nepal. However, during trekking, you can definitely breathe fresh air and experience a clean and green environment around you.
Political instability:
Political instability is one problem that has persisted for a very long time in Nepal. While the citizens seem to have gotten used to it, the problem definitely affects various sectors, including tourism. However, despite the effect, the service providers do their best to provide the utmost quality service to make your holiday memorable in Nepal.
Unpredictable weather:
Weather in the Himalayas is very unpredictable. It directly affects the flight schedule and the trial causing unwanted delays. Therefore, it’s always good to add a few extra days to your holiday, just in case. The best season to visit Nepal is during spring and autumn.
The weather is fairly supportive during these seasons. However, if you cannot manage to go on a vacation during peak seasons, Nepal offers a number of off-season travel destinations, which can be done any time of the year.
Bad infrastructure:
Nepal is a developing country and infrastructural development is an ongoing project in most parts of the country. Although infrastructures like roads, buildings, and power supplies are more developed in cities, most of the villages in Nepal are still deprived of basic infrastructures. Therefore, do not expect the comfort of city life, but be prepared to live with the minimal or the basics for days, if you are planning any trek in Nepal.
