Arrival

An elephant ride is fun, especially when the elephant goes for a swim and sheds its load.

Tribhuvan International Airport, various airlines serve Nepal's largest airport. The direct flight from Europe Istanbul-Kathmandu is the most convenient one. There is also the option of a more adventurous bus journey from Delhi to Kathmandu, which takes around 31 hours (depending on how many cows are blocking the roads). The cost for such a long journey is about CHF 38, which makes a huge impression as the journey takes you through wide valleys and mountain hills.

Entry and Visa

The passport must be valid for at least six months on entry and have a blank page, as the visa paper will be glued in.
The visa can be obtained at the Nepalese embassy in Geneva for Swiss citizens and in Berlin for German citizens. However, this is not absolutely necessary, as the entry requirements are very simple if you fill out the form at the immigration office on arrival. For the last eight years, there has been a third gender to tick on the entry form: f/m/d. Just how progressive a developing country can be is evident from the very first moment. You then pay for your stay at the counter. If you want to stay longer, an extension can easily be arranged at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu or Pokhara.

15-day stay            CHF 40

30-day stay            CHF 70

90 days stay           CHF 140

(Prices have been stable for years)

Tip:  It is advisable to have several passport photos with you. You will need them again and again for travel purposes in the country or trekking tours.

Namaste in Nepal

It is worth learning a few words of Nepali. People really appreciate it. The words are also very easy to pronounce. There are also apps to learn the language easily.

Overnight Stay in Kathmandu

If you are traveling on a budget, it is best to go to the Thamel district of Kathmandu, where accommodation is available for CHF 20 a night – no reservation needed. Simply choose according to your feelings and impressions, Certain hotels/hostels are located on busy roads, which is not declared on online booking sites.

It is advisable to plan about three days in Kathmandu before continuing your journey so that you can acclimatize to the country and enjoy the diversity of the city. In any case, you should treat yourself to tea and cake or even dinner in the most beautiful hotel Dwarika, a building of high Newari art.

The five-star Hotel Dwarika impresses with its breathtaking architecture.

The Bodnath district is also very beautiful and attractive for overnight stays. It is home to the world's largest stupa (Buddhist temple). It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1975 (built in 1950). After the earthquake in 2015, the top was damaged, everything was demolished and rebuilt. Depending on the festivities, the yellow arches are sprayed with new paint, with workers taking paint buckets and emptying them with a big swing, hoping it looks a bit neat, a wonderful spectacle.

The large stupa in the Bodnath district is one of the most important destinations for Buddhists from Nepal and the surrounding regions of the Himalayas.

Buddhists as well as tourists are invited to circle the monument three times at dawn or dusk in a clockwise direction (this is important) and are allowed to turn the prayer wheels, which are placed every few centimeters. The big spectacle is put on by Buddhist women or men who, wearing knee and hand protection made of wooden shingles, perform their rounds on the ground with their bodies stretched out.

Buddhist woman on the ground circling                     Prayer wheels

a stupa

Around the Crystal Mountain in 30 Days

There are Buddhists who also circle Mount Kailash (6638 meters above sea level) on Tibetan soil in 30 days while on their knees, as the distance to be covered is 53 kilometers! The mountain has never been climbed as it is sacred and the gods should not be angered. Tourists can do it on two legs within three days. Watch out: You walk at an altitude of 4500-5200 meters, so a medicine against altitude sickness is recommended. The people who live there eat a lot of garlic and garlic soup to counteract the symptoms. However, it has not been medically proven whether this really helps. In any case, such a garlic dish cannot do any harm if you like the smell. Moreover, at this altitude, where the oxygen content is reduced, our olfactory cells are restricted.

Kailash is Tibetan and means “crystal”.

A trip to Kailash must be checked, preferably before departure at home or at a travel agency in Kathmandu, because a special visa is required and these are issued arbitrarily.
I have met people who had a visa but were not allowed to enter the country. You have to come to terms with this and there is no explanation from the Chinese authorities.

Trip to Nagarkot

I can also recommend a trip to Nagarkot, a small village on the hill before Kathmandu at over 2000 meters with an incredible view of the Himalayan chain. The best place to spend the night is in the highest hotel, the small, charming At The End Of The Universe, where you can enjoy the clear starry sky in the evening.

^{The Hotel At The End Of The Universe is located at over 2000 meters above sea level.}

If you would like to volunteer in a soup kitchen, an orphanage or as a specialist in a hospital, you can do so locally. However, it should be at least eight weeks so that it is a win-win situation for both sides.

On the following pages you will find offers for volunteer work in Nepal:

• www.workabroad.ph
• www.allhandsandhearts.org
• www.rokpa.org/de
• www.icye.ch

Diversity and Hospitality

Nepal is one of the most diverse travel destinations in the world. Politically stable, no crime: I left my valuables (passport, phone, money) under the table in a restaurant one day and when I noticed it about three hours later on my return, the owners were already running towards me to give me my things. Every village, no matter how remote, offers guest rooms.

Tip: It is advisable to bring your own sleeping bag as the bed linen is often not up to our standard.

Many national parks and routes require an entry visa. You should therefore inform yourself in good time and buy one, as you cannot buy one at the park control. The porters (often incorrectly called Sherpa, as Sherpa refers to an ethnic group from the mountains) earn their living by accompanying tourists. A porter or tour guide is now recommended for many routes.

Tip: Meet the guide before setting off on a trek. If you don't like them and/or their English skills are poor, hiking together for several days can turn into an uncomfortable experience.

Trekking

One of the most beautiful, diverse trekking routes with impressive mountains is the Manaslu Conservation Area Route, where you hike past the foot of the 8163-metre-high mountain. The duration of the whole trip is ten days and you cross the 5000 meter high Larkya La Pass. This is doable with moderate mountaineering experience. The route requires stamina and good footwear.

Tip: Always wipe (disinfect) cutlery, glasses and plates with your own cloth before eating. This is where most bacteria such as salmonella or campylobacter are found, which are harmful to health. The dishes are usually washed in dirty water.

Mount Manaslu with cloud cap

If you have a little more time at your disposal, you should definitely head to the south of Nepal, to the Indian border, to Chitwan National Park, where there are still rhinos living in the wild. Here you can follow the tracks of these animals on foot with a ranger on an adventurous stalk. It is impressive to encounter such a large, aggressive colossus. However, there are a few safety measures to follow: Don't run away, hang a brightly colored piece of clothing on a tree and hide. And do this very calmly.

The rather shy yaks are not uncommon.

Lumbini Park

Another highlight is the birthplace of Buddha Gautama Siddharta in Lumbini. The almost 10 km² area seems utopian, as various countries around the world have immortalized their form of gratitude and honour in a building of every conceivable architectural style. Even Austria has built its own work of art with Switzerland and you can spend the night there. You have the opportunity to explore the whole area by bike or on foot.

Lokamani Cula Pagoda in Lumbini Park                    Snow-white Buddhist temple in Lumbini Park