I’ve had the absolute pleasure of experiencing Magar culture at its finest. On a trip into the Jajarkot District of Nepal, which is rarely visited by tourists, I got to witness several incredible traditions and festival dances. The Magar people are warm, inviting and eager to share their culture with others. Recently, I did the […]
Nepal’s Gurung Caste: Culture, History & Traditions
There are many different ethnicities in Nepal and each one is unique in its own way. There are around 125 different ethnic groups and 123 different languages making Nepal an interesting place to visit. I experienced the Gurung caste and culture on my first visit to Nepal when I spent a lot of time in […]
Annapurna Circuit Itinerary with 3 Optional Side Treks
I made this Annapurna Circuit itinerary after realizing that there wasn’t a lot of solid information on how to navigate the path without a guide. Everyone I met who completed the Annapurna Circuit said it was easy to navigate, and the trails were well marked. I have to say that I don’t entirely agree. I […]
Annapurna Circuit Cost: Including Per Day Budget Breakdowns
I’d heard a large variety of answers when I asked people what the Annapurna Circuit cost. I usually budget $30 a day for my travels, and after talking to several people who had done the trek, I realized it was well within my budget as long as I carried my own bag and went without […]
Annapurna Circuit Packing List for Trekkers Carrying Their Own Bag
The Annapurna Circuit was my fourth major trek, three of which had taken place in Nepal. I was finally starting to feel like I had the hang of this whole trekking thing, but there was one thing I still had yet to do, and it made me feel like I wasn’t a “real trekker.” I […]
Tilicho Lake Trek Itineray: Annapurna Circuit Side Trek
The Tilicho Lake is a glacial lake located near the very popular Annapurna Circuit at an altitude of 4919m (16,138 ft). The Tilicho Lake trek takes three to four days depending on your itinerary and weather conditions. The lake is famous for being the “biggest highest lake” in the world. Although there are smaller higher […]
Luxurious Tea Houses on the Annapurna Circuit Trek
Trekking in Nepal usually requires camping or staying in typical teahouses. While teahouses used to be small homes with a shared bedroom, they’ve somehow turned into regular hotels but kept the original name. And while those basic hotels are great, trekking can lead to days where you just want to escape to a little oasis […]
The Funniest Signs Along the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal
I usually try to post things that are informative or tell a story, but sometimes you just see funny things and want to share them with the world. While trekking the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal, I kept seeing funny signs and taking pictures. Eventually I had a ton of them, and it only seemed appropriate […]
Milarepa Cave: Annapurna Circuit Side Trek
The Annapurna Circuit is a circular trek around the Annapurna Mountain Range in Nepal. Although the trek is a giant loop, it offers a lot of side treks as well. One of the most popular places to do these treks is in Braka, a small village located right before Manang. Braka is positioned at an […]
Book Review: Annapurna Circuit by Andrew Stevenson
I had decided to trek the Annapurna Circuit with less than 24 hours’ notice and was scrambling for books to download on my kindle before leaving the comforts of guaranteed WiFi. My friend recommended Annapurna Circuit: A Himalayan Journey by Andrew Stevenson. I wouldn’t really recommend this book unless you’ve done a trek in Nepal […]