Our Nepal backpacker tour packs in a whole lot of variety in 13 action-packed days. From marvelling at the Himalayan views, spotting wild animals in Chitwan National Park to absorbing yourself in tranquility at a hillside monastery – this adventure tour has it all. It’s tough to whittle it down to just 5- but this list provides places that you simply can’t leave Nepal without visiting! What’s more they’re all available on our 13 day Nepal budget tour.

Chitwan National Park

You might not expect to be face to face with rhinoceroses whilst on a backpacker tour to Nepal but you’ll be in for a treat at the Chitwan National Park! It’s not just rhinos who you’ll be able to get up close and personal with but also sloth-bears, monkeys, deer, crocodiles and leopards in this natural paradise. We can’t guarantee you’ll get a rare sighting of a Royal Bengal Tiger but you never know. What’s more your chances have doubled since 2009. Back then, there were merely 120 Bengal Tigers in Nepal. In 2020, there are 240 due to the conservation efforts of the community.

Not only does this national park provide fantastic experiences- it also does a lot of good work too. Since it was established in 1973- there’s been a consistent focus on maintaining the biodiversity in the park. They conduct a rhino census to ensure the protection of these great creatures and up to 50% of the revenue from the park is put back into community development projects. We’ll journey through the park via jeep or, in the summer, via dug out canoes!

Buddhism in Nepal

Some consider Buddhism to be born in Nepal, not India. Regardless of the origins- it plays an important role in Nepali society alongside Hinduism with about 10% of the population registering as Buddhist. On our Nepal backpacker tour, we visit Lumbini- a place where many believe Lord Buddha was born in 623 BC. In the centuries afterwards- this was a teeming centre of activity with a huge monastic complex. However, it was then rediscovered at the end of the 19th century. The area continues to attracts pilgrims and we’ll visit some of the key sites including the Maya Devi Temple. The beautiful town exudes a sense of tranquility and we’d advise learning the art of meditation and letting yourself succumb to the calm nature of your surroundings.

We also do a monastery experience where you’ll get the chance to gain a snapshot into life as a monk. We witness their debating and join their daily protection puja, morning prayers and evening’s dinner. This experience takes place in the Newari town of Pharphing which hosts thousands of Tibetans.

Hiking in the Himalayas

Our tour is very much not a hiking trip but we do offer the chance to get yourself immersed in the Himalayas! You have the option of taking on a 3 day trek or a morning’s experience on Poon Hill. It’s also known as the Annapurna Sunrise trek which gives an idea of some of the treats that await. Whether you choose the shorter or longer option- you’ll be treated to a gorgeous array of jaw-dropping Himalayan vistas. Your Instagram won’t know what’s hit it! Our 3 day option is the Poon Hill trek and you’ll be trekking for 6-7 hours a day. This trek is known as one of the easiest in Nepal and is a fantastic introduction to trekking. At 3,193 metres- it also has the sweet spot of offering majestic mountainous views whilst also not provoking altitude sickness.

You can find out more about the man who has guided hundreds of these trips on our blog article here. You’ll be following in royal footsteps!

Kathmandu

Whilst the stunning countryside and natural splendour (deservedly) gets a lot of the plaudits – the nations’s capital also offers a fascinating place to start our Nepal adventure tour. The city itself is nestled in a valley surrounded by the Himalayan mountains which is not a bad starting point. There’s a constant buzz to the city and we’ll venture through the various districts on tempoes which are large rickshaws. There’s the famous Swayambhunath Stupa Temple with its holy monkeys to enjoy as well as other sights in the city’s Old Town. We stay in the Thamel District which has become a backpacker’s haven and is full of fun, buzzing bars  in its myriad of streets.

Bandipur

This slice of Nepali history is immaculately preserved amidst the forest-covered hills and provides both a breathtaking and enriching final stop of our Nepal backpacker tour. The village has retained it’s ancient charms and offers an intriguing snapshot into Nepal’s history. It was a key bazaar town in the 19th century and played host to Tibetan traders selling their wares along with Indians. However, it was not included on the Kathmandu-Pokhara highway and lost some of its importance as a commercial centre from the 1970s. This has meant that unlike other equivalent places- it did not lose its sense of identity.

Ready to explore Nepal? Take a look at our tour here, or browse our other adventure travel tours. Drop us a message in the chat box below or send us an email at trips@thedragontrip.com to find out more!

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