A few weeks ago, I set off on an unusual journey. I would be joining what looked like a motorcycle gang headed into the Mid-Western Region of Nepal. Despite my time in the country, I’d never traveled further than Butwal, a city far from the Mid-Western Regions border. The mid-west seemed like a far off […]
Chautari: Photography & Symbolism of Nepal’s Banyan Trees
It seemed that all of my favorite photos from my recent trek through the Kathmandu Valley were of trees. But, they weren’t just any trees. Each photograph was of chautari, which are ubiquitous throughout Nepal. These often giant trees are surrounded by a small stone retaining wall, which creates a kind of seating area. What […]
Bungamati, Nepal: Village Guide & Photography
Bungamati is a small town located to the south of Kathmandu. While most tourists will never hear about it, it has a rich culture and holds important meaning to the locals of the Kathmandu Valley. Bungamati was the hometown of the deity named Machhindranath, also known as Matsyendra, Matsyendranatha, Minanatha, among other names. He is […]
30 Sustainable Nepali Brands to Support
Those visiting Nepal for the first time might be surprised to find how many local companies are focused on having a sustainable business model. It’s something I really love about Nepal. After discovering a few, I started to dig deeper and stumbled across tons of Nepali brands that are made in Nepal with sustainable values […]
Kakani, Nepal: Village Guide & Photography
Kakani, Nepal is a small village located on the ridge of the Kathmandu Valley rim. Its prime location makes it the perfect place to view the Himalayas. Every year, tourists flock to Nagarkot for its view, but frankly, the view from Kakani is better. The only reason this little village hasn’t hit tourist’s radar is […]
Kathmandu Valley Trek Packing List
The Kathmandu Valley Trek is a one-week low altitude trek that’s perfect for beginners or for people who want to trek without leaving the comforts of civilization behind. It’s offers beautiful views of the Himalayas without going more than a few hours from Kathmandu, making it perfect for those who are only in the country […]
Losar Festival: Tibetan New Year in Nepal
Nepal is such an interesting country with different festivals happening every couple of weeks. Each caste and ethnic group has its own celebrations and traditions. One of the biggest festivals among Tibetan Buddhists is the Losar Festival. Losar is the Tibetan word for “New Year.” Nepal runs on the Bikram Sambat Calendar. This means that […]
Kathmandu Valley Trek Budget: Including Per Day Breakdowns
The Kathmandu Valley Trek is a low altitude trek which follows trails along the southeast portion of the Kathmandu Valley Rim. It offers beautiful views of the Himalaya, great food, and a wonderful cultural experience. We did the trek in seven days and were able to stay well below our budget of $60 a day […]
Kathmandu Valley Trekking Itinerary – 3 Day, 5 Day & 7 Day
The Kathmandu Valley Trek is one of the most underrated treks in Nepal. For some reason, everyone thinks you have to be above an altitude of 3,000m or 10,000ft in order to be doing a proper trek within the country. The problem is that there’s a small window for trekking season in Nepal, plus trekking […]
Panauti, Nepal: City Guide and Photography
I like to call Panauti “Little Bhaktapur” because of its charm. Although the old city resembled Bhaktapur a great deal, it’s much smaller and much less touristed. Still, it has its own Durbar Square (minus the entry fee), and its own version of Pashupatinath Temple which runs along the water acting as a cremation site […]