Five best summer destinations in Nepal

Summer is great – travelers have a lot more of daylight to explore new places. Tans will eventually fade away but memories won’t. From watching orange sunsets to admiring the cool breeze on a cloudless day, summer has its own way of casting a spell on everyone. However, like everything else in life, it too has a few shortcomings. For instance, sweltering heat and dripping sweat. However, in Nepal, luckily, summer isn’t very harsh like everywhere else. The summer months stretch from May to August, with temperature rising to 35 degrees on a very, very hot day. Although autumn and spring are the peak seasons for tourist arrivals, summer has its own distinctive character and appeal, making it very worthy for a visit. Here is out list of five best summer destinations in Nepal.

Kathmandu

Since the country’s only international airport is in Kathmandu, virtually all travel journeys commence from here. Kathmandu isn’t just the administrative capital of Nepal but also the cultural capital. It is one of the greatest cities of the Himalayans – a unique survival ground of all cultural practices that died out a thousand years ago in Indian subcontinent. It is a carnival of cultures, traditions, and histories that are seamlessly engraved and entwined. It is the hotbed of communist revolution and an epitome of a failed democracy. The truth is that this city will never fail to shock you. This City of Temples is also home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites and thousand others that failed to make the cut but are equally historical and ancient. There is an endless list of places to visit and things to see in Kathmandu.

Pokhara

Pokhara ticks all right boxes, from luxurious accommodation and food to stunning view of the Himalayans and serene lakes from the terrace top. With frequent rainfalls, summer is considerably cool in Pokhara. This Lake City has its own microclimate. The laidback charm of Pokhara has helped it reign as the number one tourist destination in Nepal for decades. Here, you can choose from a plethora of adventure sports to undertake. Soaring like an eagle on a paraglider or rafting all the way south to Chitwan, you can do anything. And on rainy days, you can visit the Mountain Museum, Annapurna Butterfly Museum, Planetarium and Science Centre, or just go spell some cash at the mall.

Mustang

Mustang is the quintessential Himalayan Shangri-La. Located to the north of the Himalayans, this mountain kingdom lies in the shadow of the majestic Dhaulagiri, receiving little to no rain. Thus, it is the perfect alpine destination to travel in summertime, which is often accompanied by rainfall. The weather is warmer and the visibility is clearer. You can have some of the best views of the mountains that loom behind your back like they’re just a few hundred meters far from you. Since the weather is far more forgiving, you can even trek all the way up to Upper Mustang, cross the Thorung La and reach Manang. The opportunities are endless!

Nagarkot

Nagarkot, the premier hill station of Nepal, is located just 32 kilometers away from Kathmandu. It is a wee distance away from the city borders, into the heart of the Nepalese countryside. This quaint hilltop town is mostly famous for its spectacular views of mountains. You can see peaks ranging from the mighty Everest in east to the stunning Dhaulagiri in the west. Moreover, the sunrise and sunsets views, as the sunlight paints the mountain red, are other noteworthy highlights of Nagarkot. You can comfortably reach Nagarkot on a four-wheeler, get there on a dirt bike, or even hike all the way from Bhaktapur it is also the best trekking summer destinations in Nepal.. There is also a plethora of hotels ranging from moderate, economic ones to high-end, luxurious resorts.

Jiri

Jiri also known as the Switzerland of Nepal. It is the timeless gateway to the Everest. Since it is the closest road head to the Everest region, several treks into the Khumbu region commences from Jiri. A good 184 kilometers away from the capital, it will take an 8 hour long bus ride from Kathmandu to get there. From here, you can have excellent views of notable central peaks like Dorje Lakpa, Langtang Lirung, and Ganesh Himal as well as the Everest. A popular stop for trekkers, Jiri boasts of a great number of teahouses and hotels that offer all kind of standard, basic amenities.

These are some of the trekking summer destinations in Nepal.

4 Short Treks From Pokhara

If Kathmandu is the cultural capital of the country, Pokhara is the natural capital. With its serene lakes, closeup mountain views, and milky white rivers, this is truly the most beautiful Nepalese city. Every year, thousands and thousands of tourists come down to Pokhara to have a merry time or venture into the mountains. This wide valley is surrounded by hills on all sides and is open to different adventurous trails of Western Nepal. All major treks in the Annapurna region commence from Pokhara, thus lending the “Gateway to Annapurna” name to the city. However, many don’t know that the city’s outskirts also boast of equally alluring but short treks that are suitable for visitors who are looking for just a short getaway. Here, in this list, we have 4 best short treks from Pokhara to explore during your next visit to the Lake City.

Dhampus Trek

Dhampus is a small but very beautiful Gurung village in Kaski. It is located in the northern face of Pokhara valley right behind the wet and lush terraced rice fields. If you are looking for a short getaway to the countryside without committing too much time and effort, this is undoubtedly the best trek for you. The highlight of the trek includes beautiful scenery of Mt. Machhapucchre and Annapurna range. On top of that, you can also enjoy views of sunset, sunrise, Pokhara valley, Phewa Lake, and World Peace Stupa from here. The trek also gives you the opportunity to experience the warm hospitality of the Gurung people and indulge in their delicious cuisine.

The trek can be completed in just 2 days, but if you want to spend some more time in this beautiful village, you can extend it to three days. It commences and ends in Phedi which is a 30 minutes’ drive from Lakeside, Pokhara.

Ghandruk Trek

Ghandruk is undoubtedly the most famous Gurung village in whole Gandaki zone. Its perfectly built lines of stone houses and splendid views of Mt. Machhapuchhre and Annapurna range makes it one of the best short treks in whole of Nepal. This model village is a popular getaway and a resting point for all the treks in Annapurna region. Here, you can enjoy peaceful rural vicinity with green forests, shiny mountains, and picture-perfect homes. You can even visit the Gurung Museum and get to know and see everything about this popular indigenous tribe. You can even wear the traditional Gurung attires and click photos for a good time and good memories.

The trek can be completed in anywhere between 3 to 4 days and commences from Phedi. It is even possible to complete it in 2 days if you travel up to Pothana in a vehicle. The trail to Ghandurk is pretty much straightforward with no difficult ascents or descents and no risks of altitude sickness.

Begnaskot Hike

Begnaskot is a picturesque Hillock that is situate in the northeastern rim of the Pokhara Valley. This place offers an excellent overview of several mountain ranges including the Annapurna massif, Pokhara valley, undulation of lush green hills, and the serene Phewa Lake. During the trek, you will pass through Sundari Danda, which is an exemplary model of agritourism in Nepal. During the hike, you will walk through few rural villages and be able to witness the everyday life of simple, country people. On the top of the hill is a Hindu temple called Begnaskot Temple.

The hike can be easily completed in just a day if you start off early, of course. The hike commences from Begnas Lake – the third highest lake of Nepal. You can even go boating first in this calm lake before commencing your journey. The route is very less trekked and unexplored, thus, leaving you with ample opportunities to trek in a quiet and peaceful environment.

Ghorepani Poon hill Trek

Due to easy accessibility and surreal mountain views, Ghorepani Poon hill trek is quickly becoming one of the most popular treks in Nepal. Ghorepani is a small Gurung village in Kaski and Poonhill is a very popular viewpoint. The trek offers some of the best views of the Annapurna region. From Poonhill, you can see almost 20 towering peaks in all directions. The trail passes through quaint Gurung villages and dense forests of oaks and rhododendrons.

The trek can be commenced in 4-6 days, but you always have the options to either lengthen or short treks from pokhara. It commences from Tikhedhunga which is a 2-hour drive from Pokhara. The highest elevation of the trek is at Poonhill at 3,210 meters. While returning, you can either walk down to Dhampus or Ghandruk, adding more diversity to the trek.

Mardi Himal Trek – Everything you need to know about

Lying in the western region of Nepal, Mardi Himal is the trending route for all Foreign as well as Domestic tourists. The short itinerary and full of scenic view, Mardi Himal is now a sought after trekking route in the present days. A relatively new route, Trekking in Mardi Himal for only a week endows you with the grandiose views of Machapuchhre, Annapurna, Mardi Himal and several other peaks. The trek has been graded easy medium trekking standard by TAAN (Trekking Agencies’ Association Nepal). This route encapsulates rich biodiversity as well as cultural diversity. Along the route to Mardi Himal, you will have the opportunity to experience the beautiful Gurung community cultures of Kaski district. Mardi Himal is a full circuit trek with fantastic views for the ones with limited time.

When to Go

The tourist season for Nepal is from September last week to December’s end week. However, the month from October to November is reviewed by many as perfect season to trek in Mardi Himal Region. Expect fewer chances of snowfall at the high camp and base camp during this period.

It isn’t advised to trek Mardi Himal during the end of December as the temperature goes minus with snow blocking the route from High Camp to Base Camp.

Also, the March and April is the second preferred time to trek to Mardi Himal. The beautiful sight of blossoming Rhododendrons and several other flowers makes the trek full of contrasting colours. However, we advise you to bring a raincoat as there can be outbreaks of rain.

What to Expect

The route lies to the north-west of Pokhara with rich diversity in terrain. The range of this trek takes you from the forested area through to the coarse rocky mountain terrain. Also, the chances of snow are there in the Base Camp.

On the way to base camp, you will get to shoot the picturesque views of MachapuchhreHimal along the top ridge. The time period for this trek is between 4-7 days which solely depends on your pace and requirements for the trek.

Accommodation

The newly initiated trekking route, Mardi has yet to provide full fetched accommodating facilities to the trekkers who want a comfort trek. However, there are plenty of tea houses that provide bed and breakfast with shared bathroom and simple beds.

The room prices come cheap in this trek due to the new establishment. These room prices generally start around 100-300 Rupees. The price of a room in the high camp will cost 600+ Rupees. However, expect an increase in the room price in coming years.

The internet service provider will be available in most of the tea house trek but expect slowest of speed due to the altitude and climate.

We advise you to charge your gadget batteries in every chance you get in the trek. However, charging your batteries from Forest Camp up to High camp will be difficult as the tea houses will have battery themselves for their lighting. You might not even get chance to charge your devices in Forest and Low Camp.

Maps

The detailed Map for Mardi Himal is not available till now. The guides and team leaders will be using the Annapurna Circuit Maps and Annapurna Base Camp for reference and will gladly show you the routes.

As for the itineraries and stops during the trek, your guide will have their own routes and stops along the trek.

Permits

The Mardi Himal lies inside the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP); which means you will be needing a permit to trek in the Mardi Himal trek. You can get these permit in Kathmandu (same building as the Tourism Board). You can also get permits easily at the Annapurna Conservation Area Project office which is in the Dam side, Pokhara (Nepal Tourism Board building). These permit will cost you 2000 Rupees.

A TIMS permit is also required for trekking to Mardi Himal. This will also be available in the same building (Nepal Tourism Board) with a cost of 1000 Rupees. If you would like to travel independently then you need to take Free Independent Trekker (FIT) permit. These permits will be available in TAAN (Trekking Agencies’ Association Nepal).

Have an enjoyable Trek.