Difference between revisions of "Himalayas (Nepal)"

Revision as of 00:26, 3 January 2010

The Himalayas seen from the International Space Station

The Himalayas is the northernmost region of Nepal. It includes eight of the world's ten highest peaks, including the world's tallest - Mount Everest.

Cities

• Jiri - the nearest roadhead for trekkers heading to Everest Base Camp
• Jomsom - airstrip in the upper Kaligandaki valley. Most basic services can be found here; end (or start) of the Jomsom Trek. Ghasa to Jomsom Bus travel is also available (NRs 300 for Nepali and NRs 600 for foreigners), but you will have a heaven images in trekking
• Junbesi - a pictureque village
• Lukla - home to the Khumbu's airport
• Namche Bazaar - at the foot of the Mount Everest
• Tukuche - center of Thakkali culture, important trading village, hotels and restaurants

Other destinations

• Annapurna - some of the most popular treks of the country
• Cho La
• Mount Everest - the tallest peak of the world
• Langtang National Park
• Mustang - can only be visited as part of a tour group, independent travel is very restricted
• Rara National Park - including Rara Tal, a large, deep subalpine lake at the foot of Kanjiroba Himalaya. Another gateway to transhimalayan Humla and Dolpa regions
• Sagarmatha National Park - protected area around Everest
• Shey-Phoksundo National Park - in the Dolpa district

Understand

Talk

Get in

Get around

See

Most sights relate to the mountains themselves, and to religious structures, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist. Many of the most popular destinations are sights in themselves.

Itineraries

• Annapurna Circuit
• Everest Base Camp Trek
• Himalayas
• Island Peak Trek
• Jomsom-Muktinath Trek

Do

Trekking is the most popular activity, with a wide selection of possibilities, from desserts to jungles. It's also popular to study Yoga or Meditation. White Water Rafting is popular in many places

Eat

Drink

Stay safe

Stay safe

• Altitude sickness is a worry, with many of the passes in the Himalaya being over 5000m. Increase your elevation as slowly as possible, avoid flying from a low elevation to a high one, and physical activity; and drink lots of liquids after gaining altitude. Altitude sickness is unpredictable, and may strike people who haven't had problems before. Give yourself lots of flexibility in your plans, to avoid pushing yourself higher when you need to rest.

• Stay up to date with the news, and be willing to change your plans, when going to places such as Kashmir or Nepal, that are facing armed uprisings.

• Traffic on the narrow roads is often frightening, but due to the slow speeds is unlikely to result in fatalities.

Get out

Flights out of the Himalayas are often cancelled due to bad weather, be sure to give yourself at least a few days before needing to catch a connecting flight.