Adventurous
Activities
Adventure tourism
in Nepal dates back to the early attempts to scale
the world's highest peaks. It has come a long
way since. While trekking, mountaineering and
game watching have long been popular, an entire
range of other possibilities have been explored
in the recent years - rafting, biking, fishing,
rock climbing, paragliding, ultra-light aircraft,
hot air ballooning, mountain flight, boating,
pony treks, jet scooter, boating and bungy jumping.
This varied landscape has some of the best sites
for these activities, raging rivers to run, mountains
to scale, clear blue skies, challenging treks,
fine lakes and rivers to boat, fish and raft down,
and a wild terrain to ride.
Go trekking in
the lower slopes where along with forests of rhododendron,
isolated hamlets, villages, temples, monasteries
and breathtaking landscapes, you will also encounter
friendly people of different cultures offering
a fascinating taste of traditional rural life.
Enjoy scenic rafting, one of the
best ways to explore the typical cross section
of natural as well cultural heritage of the country.
You can glide on clam jade waters with magnificent
scenery all around or rush through roaring white
rapids. Rafting is inarguably the best way of
exploring Arcadian Nepal, as it takes you through
hamlets, canyons, virgin forests, and wildlife.
How about a jungle safari in the
densest forest in South Asia? Venture into the
jungles of the National parks located in the Terai
region on elephant back across rivers and swamps,
Rare animals and birds will greet you at every
corner. Be prepared for a royal treat. Royal Bengal
tiger may surprise you by his majestic appearance.
Nepal's diverse terrain is a mountain
biker's dream adventure come true. Mountain biking
offers an environmentally sound way of exploring
this magnificent country, its landscape and living
heritage. Because this is a spartan, laborious
mode of travel, it is also considered the way
to travel by the so-called "purists".
For all those cliffhangers out there,
Kathmandu offers terrific places for rock climbing
that make for an experience of a lifetime. Make
sure you leave time for hot air ballooning for
a bird/s-eye view of the Kathmandu Valley and
the magnificent Himalaya. See life from a new
perspective as you take off in a micro-light aircraft
for motor gliding in Pokhara. A trip will take
you over some of the best scenery on earth, as
you share airspace with Himalayan griffin vultures,
eagles, kites and float over villages, monasteries,
temples, lakes and jungle, with a fantastic view
of the majestic Himalayas. If you thought that
bungy jumping is restricted to some locations
in North America, Europe, and New Zealand, it/s
time you got an update. The sport has found a
natural home for itself in the highest and most
magnificent mountain range in the world. The ultimate
thrill of a bungy jump can now be experienced
in Nepal at one of the best sites that this sport
can boast of anywhere in the world. The Bhote
Kosi, one of the world's wildest raging rivers,
rushes down from the heights of the Himalayas.
It roughly translates as `river from Tibet' and
so there are a lot of rivers that go by this name
in Nepal. This Bhote Kosi is the main tributary
of the Sun Kosi and is followed by the Arniko
highway from Kathmandu to Lhasa. Nepal's first
Bungy jumping site is situated 160 m over this
river, inviting you to experience the ultimate
adrenaline rush in the surroundings of this amazing
place. An extreme sport popular in Europe, canyoning
is now available in Nepal. Canyoning gives you
the freedom to explore some of the most ruggedly
beautiful, yet forbidden places in the world.
Top off your visit with a mountain flight for
a stunning visual finale. Mountain Travel Ticketingoffer
spectacular views of the Himalaya in just one
hour. Only awe-stricken silence can come close
to matching the experience of going on a mountain
flight to encounter the tallest mountains of the
earth. These Travel Ticketingoffer the closest possible
aerial views of Mt. Everest and other above 8,000
m peaks.
COME BE PART
OF THIS EXPERIENCE
Trekking
Trekking is the gift of Nepal to the world in
adventure tourism. To be one with Nature, to regenerate
one`s own self-esteem, to rediscover oneself,
to appreciate Nepal`s beauty, to interact with
its hospitable and friendly peoples are some of
the highlights of trekking in Nepal. Trekking
is one long-term activity that draws repeat visitors
to the country. Therefore, Nepal is the ultimate
destination for the trekking enthusiast.
It offers a myriad of possibilities
- from the 'short and easy' walking excursions
to the 'demanding and strenuous' challenges of
the snowy peaks and their foothills and valleys.
But however easy, or moderate, or strenuous, there
is something for every palate that goes with trekking
in Nepal`s hills, mountains and hinterlands. The
most rewarding way to experience Nepal`s indomitable
combination of natural beauty and cultural riches
is to walk through the length, breadth and the
altitudes of Nepal. Trekking in Nepal is as much
a unique cultural experience as well as an ultimate
Himalayan adventure.
Mountaineering
With eight of the highest peaks in the world,
Nepal has been the focus of some of the most outstanding
achievements in the world of mountaineering. The
dauntless icy peaks have, since decades, challenged
the minds and bodies of those who dare! Currently,
there are more than 150 peaks opened for mountaineering,
including the highest of them all - Mt. Everest.
Climbing permit to scale the Nepal Himalaya as
is issued for all seasons.
Pony Treks
Ponies have been a cheap and convenient form of
transport for man and materials in the Himalaya
since ages, and are still an easy way to explore
the remote areas. Nowadays, ponies are being utilized
extensively for trekking. Pony treks follow nearly
the same routes as the ones for trekking. The
pony treks are offered mostly in the western region,
normally around Pokhara and also to the hinterlands
of Dolpo and Lo Manthang (Mustang).
Biking
Nepal/s extraordinary contours and numerous tracks
and trails make it an ideal place for mountain
biking. You not only climb up and down challenging
moountain roads but also have wonderful opportunity
to admire the magnificent scenery around.
A classic off-road adventure is
the 70-km Scar Road that starts from Balaju to
the west of Kathmandu city, traverses the hill
resort of Kakani, Trisuli bazaar and Shivapuri,
and then descends back to Kathmandu. Another route
is the two-day circular tour to Dhulikhel to the
east of Kathmandu. You can combine this ride with
a visit to the ancient townships of Bhaktapur,
Namobuddha and Panauti which lie en route. Yet
another possibility is the 75-km ride on the adventurous,
hair-raising Tribhuvan Highway to the hill resort
of/ Daman southeast of Kathmandu that offer even
tougher challenges. Pokhara and its environs provide
equally great venues for this sport. And if/ you
have not brought your own mountain bike- you can
easily rent one.
Rafting & Kayaking
White water rafting means cruising down a rushing
river in an inflatable rubber raft or white water
kayak over crashing waves and swirling rapids
for the excitement of a lifetime. Nepal has earned
a reputation as one of the best destinations in
the world for white water rafting. Nepal/s thundering
waters, coming from the glaciers of the mighty
Himalaya, provide unmatched thrills for rafting
and immersing oneself in the landscape. A rafting
trip is bound to be the highlight of your stay
in the country. Rivers are graded on a scale of
one to six, with one being a swimming pool and
six a one-way ticket to your maker. Four is considered
to be quite challenging without being exceedingly
dangerous to the novice rafter. Five requires
some previous river experience.
Jungle Safari
While the high Himalaya makes up Nepal/s northern
region, the southern lowland known as the Terai
is covered with dense tropical jungles teeming
with diverse wildlife and exotic birds. Here you
will find some of the most exciting safari destinations
in the world. You will be going into deep jungle
on elephant back or four-wheel drive vehicle to
view wild animals in their natural habitat. Other
thrills are canoe rides on the jungle rivers,
nature walks, bird watching excursions, and village
tours. Among the 14 national parks and wildlife
reserves in the Kingdom, the Chitwan National Park (932 sq km) is the most popular safari destination.
More than 43 species of animals are found in Chitwan.
The endangered one-homed rhino, Royal Bengal tiger,
Gharial crocodile, four-horned antelope, striped
hyena, and the Gangetic dolphin are the main attractions
here. The best part is that it is close to Kathmandu
and easily accessible (only 165 km overland),
and Bharatpur airport adjoining the park is a
mere 25-minute flight away (there are daily Travel Ticketingfrom Kathmandu). Many adventurers also choose
to go down by raft. However you go, a jungle safari
is an experience you will remember for a long
time.
Fishing
Fishing has formed a basic livelihood for numerous
communities in the hilly and the Terai regions
of Nepal. With its numerous rivers and lakes,
Nepal is an ideal location for pleasure fishing
and angling. Some of the popular rivers for fishing
and angling are Betrawati, Indrawati, Karnali
and Koshi. While fishing, one should look out
for other aquatic species too, especially the
fresh water dolphins in the Koshi, Rapti and Narayani
river systems.
Boating
Boating is a common form of transport in the lowlands
and the Terai in Nepal. Leisure boating can be
done in various locations. Pokhara has many lakes.
Therefore, Pokhara is also known as the lake District
of Nepal. These turquoise lakes, reflecting the
Annapurna Range on their waters, are ideal for
boating. The most famous and pleasurable ones
are the lakes of Phewa, Begnas and Rupa. Traditional
canoe-style boating can be done in Chitwan and
on some other rivers, including the Koshi. Windsurfing
is also available in Pokhara from time to time.
Skiing
Nepal has some of the steepest mountain slopes
in the world. Though not available on a commercial
scale, skiing is one of the exciting forms of
adventure possible in Nepal. Skiing can be done
on the slopes of western Nepal, Langtang area
and some parts of the Khumbu area. Rental equipment
are hard to find and must be provided on ones
own.
Gliding
Gliding, one of the few adventures which provides
the opportunity to observe cities as well as nature
is also gaining popularity. Power gliding is organized
by an aviation company at Pokhara using ultra
light aircrafts. Hang gliding can be done from
various parts of the country.
