Sabbatical & Experiential Travel to Nepal

Holidays & Sabbaticals to Nepal – In a Nutshell

Nepal should be on everyone’s bucket list. With breathtaking natural scenery, a strong cultural identity and some of the friendliest people on earth, travel here is an adventure you’ll never forget. Most come for the trekking: the soaring Himalayan peaks and glacial lakes of the Annapurna Circuit, and the unforgettable 11-14-day trek to Everest Base Camp. Eight of the world’s tallest mountains are in Nepal. Have you got what it takes to climb one? The religious and spiritual worlds are a huge pull too, with golden stupas and sacred shrines including Pashupatinath and the 5thC Swayambhunath, which flutters with colourful prayer flags. There are 3 UNESCO-listed royal cities – Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur – all medieval backstreets and glittering ornamental buildings. And at the other end of the scale, remote and simple mountain villages; a homestay here will change your whole perspective on life. Adventure lovers can white-water raft down snow-fed rivers; wildlife enthusiasts can spot Bengal tiger and one-horned rhino in Chitwan National Park. There’s something for everyone, and a massive amount of that something, whatever you’re into! And that’s the reason people return here time and again.

How to Get to Nepal

There are numerous border crossings between India and Nepal, and you can also travel overland from Tibet and Bhutan. If you’re flying in, you’ll land in Kathmandu, Nepal’s only international airport. There are no direct flights from Europe or the US. Nepal is a big country so you’ll likely hop around by plane; there’s an excellent domestic network in terms of coverage. Roads are poorly maintained so overland travel isn’t for the faint-hearted. Local buses are likely to be crowded; tourist buses are better, generally comfortable and air conditioned, but schedules are prone to frequent change. Our biggest piece of advice: be flexible.

When & Weather – Nepal

Though it varies considerably with altitude, Nepal has a mild climate and two distinct seasons: Dry (October to May) and Monsoon (June to September). October and November, and mid-February to mid-March are the peak tourist seasons, with the clearest mountain views and the best trekking weather. To climb Mount Everest you’ll need to come late May to early June or during October. Temperatures range between -5 °C (14°F) and °26C (33°F).

Who will Nepal Appeal To?

Outdoor enthusiasts. Nepal is heaven for trekking, biking and white-water rafting. It’s also fascinating culturally and there’s wonderful wildlife.
In particular, it’s suited to:

Active travellers
Adventure lovers
Culture lovers
Keen photographers
Solo travellers

Accommodation

We work with simple teahouses throughout the Annapurna region, remote jungle lodges, tented safari camps and the handful of upmarket hotels that exist in Nepal. We can also arrange village homestays.

Off The Beaten Path

Take a pilgrimage to the Maya Devi Temple, the birthplace of Buddhism
Trek through pristine Manaslu past towering Himalayan peaks and glacier lakes
Climb Kanchenjunga, the 3rd-highest mountain in the world
Raft through jungle wilderness and camp on pristine beaches
Buy Newari handicrafts and colourful prayer flags in Patan
Paraglide over Bandipur, a traditional 18thC Newari village
Trek through glacial forest in the Langtang Valley, then out to the holy Gosainkund lakes
Bike the Annapurna circuit, through rainforest and desert, lowland villages and mountain foothills
Visit remote village communities in the wild Upper Dolpo region

Wildlife

Wildlife tourism is a major source of Nepali income. Beyond the commonly known mugger crocodile, sloth bear, golden jackal and swamp deer, visitors come to see:

The elusive snow leopard and unique blue sheep, which hide in the Upper Dolpo
The iridescent monal pheasant (Nepal’s national bird)
One-horned rhino and Royal Bengal tigers on a safari in Chitwan National Park
Gangetic dolphins, which play along the snow-fed Narayani and Karnali rivers
Beng panda and Tibetan wolves, which hide in the eastern mountains
Rare tahr mountain goats leaping around the Himalayan foothills
The Nagarjun, Godavari and Phulchowki hills are heaven for birders, with 900 species including the endemic spiny babble and super-rare red-headed trogan

Nepal Experiences you shouldn’t miss:

Watching the sun rise over the Himalayas from Pokhara
Trekking to Everest Base Camp
Exploring Old Kathmandu’s medieval streets, lined with pagodas, temples and shrines
Watching Tibetan monks on their dawn pilgrimage around the Bodhnath stupa
Eating momos – Nepal’s national dish
Trekking the Annapurna Circuit
White-water rafting down the Trisuli river
Wandering around medieval Bhaktapur, a UNESCO site
Spotting wild rhino and tigers on safari in Chitwan National Park
Visiting the 5thC Swayambhunath stupa, one of Nepal’s most sacred Buddhist shrines

Giving back

Coming soon.

Start Planning

Our experienced team will guide you through a number of ideas based on how you would like to experience Nepal.

Consider visiting Nepal in combination with neighbouring countries India and Bhutan on a longer Himalayan journey.

Browse our gallery for inspiration and read the sample itinerary below to whet your appetite.

No matter how long you wish to travel, we’ll guide you through the planning process to ensure a trip is carefully pieced together to suit your interests, pace of travel and budget.