Best Places to Visit in Nepal

Nepal is a home to high mountains including Mt. Everest, mesmerizing natural beauty, diverse culture and warm hospitality. Every year thousands of travelers visit Nepal to seek adventure in its amazing nature, and insights in its authentic cultural spectacles. Geographically, Nepal is a small country but naturally and culturally it’s much wide and diverse. From the Himalayas and Hills to lowland Terai, every region has its own specialty and uniqueness to offer the visitors of every age group.

Getting around Nepal is not difficult – you can travel by road or air to reach the trek points. Some roads are off road but most of them are smooth and easy but every road has different and unique stories with beautiful scenery. So, before your real adventure starts, you get to see some glimpses of Nepal’s beauty. Besides scenic beauty, Nepal also has vibrant festivals, interesting local lifestyle, great food, and impressive historical and religious monuments. So every time you come to Nepal, there is always more to discover.

Best Places to Visit in Nepal

Everest Region:

Everest region is a famous trekking destination. Everest region is full of mountains and extraordinary views of Sherpa villages and monasteries. Everest region, also known as Solukhumbu region, comprises of Solu and Khumbu. Solu is the lower region and Khumbu is the upper region. In Solu, you can trek to Pikey Peak, Dudhkunda and many other villages. In Khumbu, you can trek to Everest Base Camp, Kalapatthar, Chhukung valley, 3 High Passes, Gokyo Lake etc. During your trek, you can witness the spectacular views of Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu, Everest, Cho Oyu, Ama Dablam, Island Peak, Numbur, Karyalung etc. Best time to visit Everest region is during Spring and Autumn. You can also trek in December when the paths are quieter and views clearer, but you can’t go to higher altitude.

Annapurna Region:

Annapurna region is another popular trekking area of Nepal. Annapurna region is an area of contrasts comprising of the wettest, driest and windiest places in Nepal. Most of the treks in Annapurna region start from Pokhara, the lake city. Some of the popular trails are Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Sanctuary trek, Annapurna Base Camp, Upper Mustang, Kapuche Lake, Nar Phu Valley, Mardi Himal, Ghandruk Circuit, Ghorepani Poon Hill and many more. Annapurna region trek is a dream adventure for many because it combines some of iconic mountains, natural beauty, diverse culture of Gurung, Thakalis and Manangi adding extra charm to the region’s beauty.

Manaslu region:

Manaslu region is an off beaten destination in Gorkha district with remote villages, adorable mountain panorama, lush green forest, beautiful rivers & refreshing waterfalls. In this region, you will enjoy the breathtaking views of Annapurna and Manaslu ranges. The trail passes through rich woodlands of rhododendron, pine, cedar, birch, and juniper along with spectacular mountain views. Manaslu Circuit Trek and Tsum Valley trek are the popular treks of this region.

Makalu Region:

Makalu region lies in the eastern Himalayan region of Nepal which is a combination of rich culture and natural beauty. In this region you will witness the world’s 5^th highest mountain “Mt. Makalu”.  Makalu Barun National Park falls in this region which is an extension of Sagarmatha National Park. While trekking in this region, you will get the chance to witness rare species of animals and plants being flourished in the region’s diverse climate and habitat. 3 Col Trek and Makalu Base Camp Treks are popular treks of this region.

Kanchenjunga Region:

Kanchenjunga region is named after Mt. Kanchenjunga, which is the 2^nd highest mountain in Nepal, and 3^rd highest in the world. It lies in the border between Nepal and Sikkim, India. The trail of Kanchenjunga region is combined with rich nature and culture. The region is home to various ethnic groups especially Rai, Limbu, Sherpa and Tamang. Spring and Autumn are the best seasons to trek in this region. The trail takes you through Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, which is the habitat of many endangered species like snow leopard, red panda, Asian black bear, Assamese macaque, musk deer etc. The region is also popular for a variety of butterflies and insects. Kanchenjunga South Base Camp, Kanchenjunga North Base Camp and Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek are some of the well known treks of the region.

Kathmandu Valley:

Kathmandu Valley is the heart city of Nepal, not just because it’s a capital city. Kathmandu is an epicenter of historical and cultural wonders of Nepal. It is located in the foothills of the Himalayas, where you find rich cultural heritage of Newari people that blends Hinduism and Buddhism. There are seven UNESCO enlisted monuments that include 3 Durbar Squares (Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur), 2 Buddhist stupas (Swoyambhunath and Bouddhanath) and 2 Hindu temples (Pashupatinath and Changu Narayan). From the valley you can also see the mesmerizing views of Gaurishankar Himal, Lamjung Himal and Ganesh Himal range from its beautiful viewpoints. While in Kathmandu, you can also visit Nagarkot, Dhulikhel, Shivapuri, Namobuddha and Chandragiri to see the natural beauty and diverse culture. During festival time, Kathmandu Valley becomes very lively as you can see the most vibrant display of various rites and rituals.

Rara Lake:

Rara Lake is the biggest and deepest freshwater lake located in Jumla and Mugu districts. It is an ideal destination for wilderness lovers with off beaten trails that will land you on the lap of Rara National Park with stunning views of mountains. The trail is surrounded by endangered flora and fauna which will make journey more beautiful and memorable. It also offers a unique cultural display of the western Nepal.

Langtang Valley & Gosaikunda Lake:

Langtang Valley is known as the valley of glaciers. It is near Kathmandu Valley and gives you stunning views of the snowcapped mountains like Langtang Lirung, Dorje Lakpa, Langsisa, Sishapangma and Ganjala Peak. While trekking you will experience the high-land Buddhist culture & visit the old Buddhist monasteries like Langtang Gompa and Kyanjing Gompa. The trial is full of spectacular rhododendron forests and small valleys. Langtang Valley is also the best place for star gazing.

Gosainkunda Lake is a holy lake located in Langtang region. People believe that this lake is created by Lord Shiva himself. When Lord Shiva consumed and stored poison in his throat, he searched for a cool place to ease the burning. Then, he found Gosaikunda and dug up a lake to relieve himself. Every year people visit the lake in Janai Purnima festival.

Both Langtang Valley & Gosaikunda Trek pass through Langtang National Park which has majestic flora and fauna, local cheese factories and yak pasture. This is another most beautiful places to visit in Nepal to explore Buddhist culture and holy Gosainkunda.

Tilicho Lake:

Tilicho Lake is one of the highest high-altitude lakes in the world at 4949m. Trail to Tilicho Lake offers an amazing view of Annapurna II and Annapurna I, traditional villages of the Buddhist community and wide meadows. It is an ideal destination for nature lovers who seek for peace on the lap of the Himalayas.

Panch Pokhari:

Panch Pokhari is an off the beaten trekking destination at the base of Jugal Himal. This is another beautiful places to visit in Nepal. It is a group of 5 holy lakes. People travel to these five lakes to perform the ritual of changing the sacred thread they tie around their body called “Janai” during Janai Purnima. It offers unforgettable experience of the Himalayas and cultural diversity. Panch Pokhari trails offer the view of majestic Himalayan peaks of east-central Nepal including Phurbi Ghyachu, Dorje Lakpa, Madiya of the Jugal Himal range, peaks of the Langtang and Rolwaling ranges.