Major Tourism Activities

Mountain Climbing

The 800 km stretch of the Nepal Himalayan is the greatest in the world with eight peaks that rise above 8,000m including the highest in the world, Mt. Everest. Ever since the country opened its peaks to climbers in 1994, the Nepal Himalayan has become a great theatre of mountaineering activity and the drama of success and failure have provided impetus to thousands of men and women to meet the ultimate challenge. The Nepal Himalayan has been an attraction to many people, be they saints, philosophers, researchers or adventures.

 

Trekking

The best way to experience Nepal’s unbeatable combination of natural beauty and culture riches is to walk through them. One can walk along the beaten trails or virgin tracks. Either way you are in for an experience for a lifetime. Along with forests of rhododendron, isolated hamlets, and small mountain villages, birds, animals, temple, monasteries and breathtaking landscapes, you will also encounter friendly people of different cultures offering a fascinating glimpse of traditional rural life.

 

Bird Watching

Nepal is a paradise for bird lovers with over 646 species (almost 8% of the world total) of birds, and among them almost 500 hundred species are found in Kathmandu Valley alone. The most popular bird watching spots in Kathmandu are Phulchoki, Godavari, Nagarjun, Bagmati river, Taudaha and so on. Get your binoculars and look forward to a rewarding experience.

 

Mountain Flight

Only awe-stricken silence can come close to matching the experience of going on a mountain flight to encounter the tallest mountains on earth. Mountain flights offer the closest possible aerial views of Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga and the Tibetan Plateau. Mountain flights appeal to all category of travelers and have become a popular tourist attraction of Nepal. For those who are restricted by time or other considerations from going for a trek, these flights offer a panoramic view of the Himalayan in just one hour.

 

Rock Climbing

For all those cliffhangers out there, Kathmandu offers a roster of stone walls that make for an experience of a lifetime. Now of late, Rock climbing has become a popular sport in Kathmandu, which offers some really terrific places for rock climbing. Nagarjun, Balaju, Shivapuri and Budhanil Kantha are some of the places where you can try this sport.

 

Rafting/Kayaking/Canyoning

Rafting is one of the best ways to explore the typical cross section of natural as well as ethno-cultural heritage of the country. There are numerous rivers in Nepal which offer excellent rafting or canoeing experience. You can glide on calm jade waters with munificent scenery all about or rush through roaring white rapids, in the care of expert river-men employed by government authorized agencies. One can opt for day of river running or more. So far, the government has opened sections of 10 rivers for commercial rafting. The Trisuli river (Grade 3+) is one of the most popular of Nepal’s raftable rivers. The Kali Gandaki (5-5+) winds through remote canyons and deep gorges for five days of intense rapids. The Bhote Koshi (4-5) is 26km of continuous white water and the raging Marshyanghi is four days of uninterrupted white water. The Karnali river (4-5) provides some of the most challenging rapids in the world. The Sun Koshi (4-5), 27km, requiring 8-10 days to complete, is a big and challenging river. Adventurers are provided with world-class services by rafting agents. Agencies here provide life jackets, camping and the standard rafting paraphernalia needed by world-class rafting. An extremely popular sport in Europe, cannoning is now available in Nepal. Cannoning gives you the freedom to explore some of the most ruggedly beautiful, yet forbidden places in the world.

 

Hot Air Ballooning

Hot air ballooning is very popular with tourists for it affords the most spectacular bird’s-eye view of the Kathmandu valley and the Himalayan ranges towering in the background. On a clear day it’s a superb way to view the Himalayan (from over 6000m up), and the view of the valley is equally breathtaking.

 

Bungy Jumping

The ultimate thrill of a bungy jump can now be experienced in Nepal at one of the best sites that this sport can boast of anywhere in the world. Nepal’s first bungy jumping site is situated 160m. Over the Bhote Koshi river, inviting you to experience the ultimate adrenaline rush in the surroundings of this amazing place. The jump, at 160m., is staffed and operated by some of the most experienced jumpmasters in the business.

 

Paragliding

Paragliding in Nepal can be a truly wonderful and fulfilling experience for the adventure seeking. A trip will take you over some of the best scenery on earth, as you share airspace with Himalayan griffins vultures, eagles, kites and float over villages, monasteries, temples, lakes and jungle, with a fantastic view of the majestic Himalayas.

 

Ultralight Aircraft

Ultralight aircraft take off from Pokhara and offer spectacular views of the lakes, mountains and villages. This is an ideal way to see life from a new perspective. The choice of Pokhara Valley for ultra-light aircraft is appropriate chiefly because of the proximity of the mountains, and the scenic lakes. For those who wished they could fly birds when growing up, this flight is a must. It might be lonely at the top, but this flight is a must. It might be lonely at the top, but the spectacular view from up high certainly makes it all worth it. Flights are from the Pokhara airport beginning September through June. The flights take place from sunrise to 11 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to sunset every day during these months.

 

Mountain Biking

The best way to explore the Kathmandu Valley is on a mountain bike. Nepal’s diverse terrain is a mountain biker’s dream adventure comes true. Mountain biking offers an environmentally sound way of exploring this magnificent country, its landscape and living heritage. There are plenty of dirty roads and trails in Nepal to meet every mountain biker’s wildest fantasy. Mountain biking is specially recommended if you wish to explore urban centers of Nepal such as Pokhara and Kathmandu as well as the countryside. Adventurous souls may plan extended trips to such exotic locals as Namche Bazaar, and western Nepal. You could even do the entire length of Nepal across the plains. Mountain bikes are available for rent by the day or longer in many of the bicycle rental outlets in Nepal and around the city.

 

Jungle Safari

National Parks located specially in the Terai region in Nepal attract visitors from all over the world. A visit to these parks involves game- stalking by a variety of means-foot, dugout canoe, jeep, and elephant back. One is bound to sight a one – horned rhino or two at every elephant safari. Besides the rhinos, wild boars, samburs, spotted deer, sloth bear, four-horned antelope are also usually seen. A Royal Bengal tiger may surprise you by his majestic appearance.

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Destination Nepal ?

Monument and Historic Building The Himalaya's most sophisticated urban cultures took shapehere, in the three great minikingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley -Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur - home to a world-class artistic and architectural heritage.Draped along the greatest heights of the Himalaya, Nepal is where the ice-cold of the mountains meets the steamy heat of the Indian plains. It's a land of yaks and yetis, stupas and Sherpas and some of the best trekking on earth.

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Most Popular Places In Nepal

1. Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal. It is located faintly south-east of Nepal’s centre and covers an area of about 230 square kilometres. The city has a population of about 700.000 inhabitants. Kathmandu is really two cities: on one hand a legendary capital of friendly pilgrims and engraved rose – brick temples, on the other hand a quick -tempered sprawl suffocated in the pollution of diesel fumes, dirt, monkeys and beggars.
Travel Guide:
The best way to explore Kathmandu is to walk. By foot you can reach great part of the sights in the town. Most travellers head to the old city of Kathmandu. The sights are very collected in the old part of the city from Kantipath west towards the Vishumati River. Durbar Square is the centre of the old town and residence of the old Royal Palace. The new tourist centre called Thamel is situated about twenty minutes walk north from Durbar Square. In Kathmandu you can enjoy shopping in the main streets of the city, where you can buy jewellery, statues and other manufactured souvenirs of Nepal. Also nightlife in Kathmandu
offers many kinds of entertainments for tourists and local people, there are theatrical shows, discos and casinos. The climate in the city is rather mild and characterized by the monsoon. The average temperatures in summer go from 19°C to 27°C and in winter from 2°C to 20°C.

2. Nagarkot
Nagarkot is a scenic city located in the Bhaktapur district of Nepal. It is a widely popular hill resort with a marginal populace. Renowned for its spectacular views of the Himalayas, Nagarkot is a preferred weekend getaway for nature lovers. Blessed with a cool and pleasant climate all year round, Nagarkot is a treat for
the tourists in any season. Summers are mostly moderate and pleasant, while winters are cold, and sometimes chilling. Monsoons make their presence felt in the period of June to September. Nagarkot, meaning ‘city of forts’, was an important trade route for Tibet in the ancient times. Today, the city’s trade
and commerce is mainly centred  on agriculture, followed by tourism, carpets and textiles.
Travel Guide:
The city has plenty to offer visitors in the form of panoramic sights, hiking, nature trails, mountain biking and more. Nagarkot is most beautiful during spring, when the city beams with life and colour. The stunning sights of the Dhaulagiri range in the west and Mount Everest in the east are the most popular with tourists. Along the way, the historic town of Sankhu is a much frequented tourist spot. Bhaktapur, Sundarijal and Banepa are excellent hiking destinations. While on their hikes, visitors can also visit the temples of Sankhu, Changu Narayan and Vajra Jogini. Café Dumont is a peaceful place, where visitors can soak in the beauty of Nagarkot and watch the sunset. Also, the Fort is the city’s first resort with exceptional dining and boarding facilities. The place is equipped with an organic garden and displays traditional architecture.

3. Pokhara

Pokhara, located west of Kathmandu, is the capital of the Western Development Region in Nepal. With a population of about 190,000 inhabitants, it is the third largest city in the country. It is a well-known excursion destination with its relaxed nature and lush beauty. Pokhara has a subtropical climate with moderate temperatures. December to January is the coolest period with snowfall being a regular event. February to April is a warm period. The months of October and November are the best time to visit for the pleasant weather and lush green surroundings. Historically, Pokhara was a mystical place which was partly inaccessible. After the construction of roads in the sixties, the city developed rapidly; today, it is a peaceful, yet active, resort town.
Travel Guide:
The World Peace Pagoda is a huge Buddhist stupa located on atop a hill on the banks of the Phewa Lake. It is an interesting site with a beautiful shrine for devotees, also offering impressive views of the city. The lake itself is considered one of the most spectacular places globally. Surrounded by evergreen forests and bleached mountains, visitors can take a boat ride and enjoy the scenic beauty. There are many restaurants and shops along the shoreline. Devi’s Fall is a remarkable waterfall close to Pokhara’s airport. It is one of the most popular spots frequented by tourists. Bindhyabasini Temple is an ancient temple of Goddess Bhagwati. Devotees and visitors from all over come here and perform rituals. This temple wears a festive look on Saturdays, which is when a fair is held here. The Annapurna Museum displays an impressive collection of various wildlife species as well as precious rocks and stones.

4. Lumbini 

Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddhism, is a holy city in the Lumbini Zone of Nepal. It is blessed with exquisite flora and fauna and is one of the four major pilgrimage sites in Nepal. The place is home to a population of about 50,000 inhabitants. Characterised by a tropical monsoon climate, Lumbini remains humid for most of the year. Summers are hot and humid with May being the hottest month. December is usually the coldest
month during winters. Monsoon is active between June and September. The city was a prominent park in the ancient times. Today, it is a listed World Heritage Site for its holy monuments and rich history. Tourism is the major industry, and it employs a large section of the population. Agriculture is another thriving
occupation.
Travel Guide:
A famous historic landmark is the Ashoka Pillar. The magnificent inscriptions on the pillars and the ruins of ancient temples are a visual treat. The place is of great importance and a much-visited spot. The Sanctum is considered to be the most important place in Lumbini, regarded as the birthplace of the Buddha. Visitors are enchanted by the painstaking excavations undertaken to reveal the site. Lumbini is most famous for its
temples which are befitting examples of the Buddhist culture. The most famous shrine is the Maya Devi Temple, which is a small structure displaying an image of Maya Devi, mother of the Lord holding the infant Buddha. A splendid combination of small pagodas, prayer halls and meditation rooms is the China
Temple. The Myanmar Temple and the International Gautami Nuns Temple are other sites of interest. The Lumbini Museum and the Kapilvastu Museum house the ruins of ancient
kingdoms and information about Buddha’s youth.

5. Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur is an ancient town of the Newar culture found in the eastern corner of the Katmandu Valley in Nepal. It is primarily located in the Bhaktapur District. It is the third largest city in the entire valley and was formerly the capital city of Nepal, sometime during the 15th century. It is a mere 13 kilometers away from Katmandu, the capital of Nepal. Bhaktapur, as the name suggests stands for the town of devotees. The city is very traditional in terms of cultures and customs. The city seems to be carved out of a fairytale as it has rich art and architecture, some excellent historic monuments, brilliant pottery industries, magnificent temples, clear and serene ponds, great festivals, drama and music centers and the list goes on. Bhaktapur is unaffected with the development of the outside region but has remained faithful to its ancient customs and have preserved their resources well.  It has a population of about 75,405 inhabitants. The males here are characterized by a special type of cap called the Bhaad-gaaule topi.
Travel Guide:
There are a lot of visiting places in this city, which can be completed in a day alone. So, Bhaktapur is the best place to visit for tourists visiting Katmandu and other major cities. It is said that the journey of Nepal is incomplete if one does not visit Bhaktapur. There are the three squares namely the Darbar Square, the Dattatreya and theTaumadhi squares which are well-renowned heritage sites. Bhaktapur is a land of temples.
Some of the breathtaking sites are the Surya Vinayak, the Changu Narayan and not to forget the Chonga Ganesh which are something to really look forward to. There is also a temple which houses the largest Shiva Lingum. The Durbar square is a popular area because it holds the magnificent palace created by King Bhupatindra Malla, and is now a national gallery. The Taleju temple which is dedicated to Taleju Bhavani is also a great pilgrim attraction.

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Trekking in Nepal

Trekking is not mountaineering although some of the popular trails are used by mountaineering expeditions to get to their base camps. Most of the trails you will walk on are still used predominantly by Nepali people for everyday travel and trade. It is not uncommon to be passed along the way by a Nepali porter carrying lengths of corrugated roofing iron slung from a jute strap (namlo) around the head or a sick relative being carried in a basket (doko) in the same manner to the nearest medical facility.

Trekking Region in Nepal

1. Everest Region

This region known as the Solu Khumbu is known around the world as the famous home of the world's highest mountain. Mt. Everest, or Sagarmatha as the Nepalese call it, rises 8,848m. into the sky. The hike to the base camp attracts trekkers from all over the globe. We runs 3 versions of treks in the Everest region with many possibilities to add Trekking in Everest Region.

2. Annapurna Region

Annapurna region is the one of the popular adventure destination lies on the North of Pokhara and easy accessible 210 km drive or 35 minute flight to Pokhra from Kathmandu. Pokhara is the getway to Annapurna region, the trek can be plan 3 to 25 days - namely Circuit, Sanctuary, Foothills, Ghorepani, Ghandruk, Jomsom, Siklis and some other trek.

3. Langtang Region

Straight north from Kathmandu is the Langtang - Helambu region which enjoys snow-covered peaks, a mild climate, and friendly hospitable inhabitants which makes it the ideal trek almost year round. The 1,710 SQ km Langtang National Park hosts a variety of natural splendours, from lush valleys alive with langur monkeys to the towering fir and rhododendron forests bursting with spring colour.

4. Restricted Area

Restricted aea treks will give you the opportunity to experience mountains and cultures that very few outsiders have.
All of our off the beaten path treks require us to carry our own camp and cooking facilities due to the fact that there are no lodges or tea houses on the route.

5. Kanchanjunga, Makalu,etc.

A trekking tour in different area offers a unique possibility to watch the Nepalese Himalaya like Mt. Kanchanjunga, Mt. Makalu, Mt. Rolwaling, Mt. Dhaulagiri, Mt. Ganesh Himal

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Nepal Travel Information

Getting to Nepal:

By Air: Kathmandu is served by direct flight to/from Amsterdam, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Moscow, Vienna, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, Karachi, Kolkota, Banglore, Delhi, Mumbai, Patna, Varanasi, Dhaka, Paro (Bhutan), Lhasa (Tibet) Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai (China) and Osaka (Japan).
By Land: All visitors entering Nepal by land can enter through the following routes-Kakarbhitta, Birjung, Sunauli, Nepalgunj, Dhangadhi, Mahendranagar on the Nepal-India border and Kodari on the Nepal-China border.
Visa Regulation: The single entry tourist visa can be obtained from the entry points of Nepal or from the Nepalese diplomatic missions abroad by paying US$ 30 for 60 days.
Multiple entry facility can be obtained paying additional US$ 50 and valid for a visa year (Jan-Dec)
Season:The most popular seasons for traveling to Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and India are spring (Feb-May) and autumn (Aug-Nov). During the monsoon season (June-Aug) tours and treks are also possible depending on where you are going.
What to wear: During most of the year light woolens and cottons are sufficient for day wear, with warmer attire necessary in the evenings. Heavy woolen clothing is required during winter months.
Communication: Private communication centers and hotels provide ISD, STD, Fax and E-mail services. The STD code for Nepal is 977. Inquiries can be made at 197.
Electricity: Major towns in Nepal have electricity and the voltage available is 220 volts and 50 cycles. Load shedding is sometimes experienced in Nepal. However, most of the hotels have installed their own generators.
Time:Nepal is 5 hours 45 minutes a head of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) and approximately 12 hours and 50 minutes a head of Pacific Time.
Money and Credit Cards: Payment can be made in foreign exchange in hotels, travel agencies and airlines. Credit cards such as American Express, Master and Visa are widely accepted at major hotels, travel agencies, shops and restaurants.
Travel Documents: It is the traveler's own responsibility to obtain passport and travel visa. The passport should be valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended return date. The travelers is responsible for providing us the correct complete and accurate information about personal details including physical disabilities.

Tourist Guide: Our company provides all government-registered tour guides fluent in different foreign languages throughout the trips.

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Why Nepal is the Destination

Nepal is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of bio-diversity. Its unique geographical position and latitudinal variation have made Nepal the biggest natural museum in the world. The elevation of the country ranges from 70 meters above sea level to the highest point on earth, Mt. Everest, at 8,848 meters, all within a distance of 150 km with climatic conditions ranging from subtropical to arctic. This wild variation fosters an incredible variety of ecosystem, the greatest mountain range on earth, thick tropical jungles teeming with a wealth of wildlife, thundering rivers, forested hills and frozen valleys.

Within this spectacular geography is also one of the richest cultural landscapes anywhere. The country is a potpourri of ethnic groups and sub-groups who speak over 70 languages and dialects. Nepal offers an astonishing diversity of sightseeing attractions and adventure opportunities found nowhere else on earth. And you can join in the numerous annual festivals that are celebrated throughout the year in traditional style highlighting enduring customs and beliefs.I love Nepal. Nepalese are very good people. They are very helpful. Now Nepal is one of the peace country. I visited India and Nepal together... Indian are too crazy. My 2 Cameras were stolen from my pillow. But Nepal is lovely country. Very safe for traveler. Thanks Nepalese for offering Kindness...

Himalayan Beautiful Country. People are peace. Very nice temperature. Buddha Born in Nepal and Mount Everest lies in Nepal. I really like Nepal. I am proud to be a Nepalese. it deserves first position in this list.Best and most beautiful country on the world, with the diversity of multi culture and ethnic group of peoples, and very rich on natural beauty, its small but you can see the world on it, and I found the people are very honest and loyal for others, I read the comment below AND REMEMBER that I was travelling to Nepal through India on 2009 summer and my hand bag was stolen from the Delhi airport but travelling to Nepal is very safe and its very peaceful country with best peoples... Long live nepal and Nepalese. 

Problems exist in heaven too... But heaven is heaven... And truly without exaggeration, NEPAL is a heaven... It's a paradise... Flora, fauna, Himalayas, ethnic and cultural diversity... Hinduism and Buddhism Center .. Pashupatinath ( billions of Hindus pay full devotion)... Lumbini ( birthplace of Buddha)... And numerous other religious monuments, natural and cultural heritages... A serene valley...

Nepal is a wonderful place for trekking. If you like to walk, there is no more inspiring place to do it. Traveling to Nepal is actually not very difficult, and the country is well-prepared to receive trekkers.

Finally, I visited the Royal Chitwan National Park for some elephant rides and jungle walks among the rhinos, monkeys, and other wildlife. Nepal is a beautiful country with wonderful people. I was so happy with my first trip that I returned in 2000 with friends for a camping trek around the Annapurna Circuit (and an anticipated peak climb, which was canceled due to heavy snow).

Nepal is a wonderful country, with wonderful people. Worlds highest peak Mt. Everest lies here. Nepal is a country which is moving with the motto of unity in diversity. Being so many ethnic group Nepal has maintain its harmony and it is one of the lesson which world should learn from Nepal. Nepal is a only sovereign country in the world. The brave Gurkha are famous all around the for their bravery. Nepalese better love to die, then ruled by other.

So beautiful country in the world. I have visited many countries but I have not seen such a naturally beautiful country where we can get cold n hot with in a drive of a hours.. People are so co-operative and respects tourists as their guest. I want to visit Nepal again. Love Nepal and Nepalese people...

Nepal is the best country in the world with the best people. It's a world of it's own with plains in the south hills in the middle and mountains in the north it has the highest point on earth it has the most important Hindu and Buddhist temples in the world and how can India first it's the worst they treat Nepal like is real does to Palestine and they are slowly eating Nepal

Nepal Natural beauty country.. 8 among 10 top mountains along with Mount Everest. Kathmandu valley " valley with temples" pokhara valley are the beautiful cities of Nepal. Lumbini where Gautam Buddha was born.. Many conservation area for wildlife and mountainous places where trekking are famous to tourists.. Bungee at bhote khosi, rafting at many fast flowing rivers, paragliding at pokhara are the most enjoyeble place..

East or west Nepal is the best. It is heaven
Country of MT Everest
Mother land of Buddha
Beauty of Pokhara
Culture of Kathmandu
Having more than 678 cultures
Beautiful people, beautiful country
And many more

We don't need the army or force to be number 1 in the world because Nepal is peaceful country.. Because Nepal is the birth place of budhha in lumbini. Bye the way we are Gorkhali we all are 1 man army... But its not the thing we are taking about: lets talk about the beauty. "MT EVEREST" Nepal has speechless beauty. No words to describe. Nepal::"ONCE IS NOT ENOUGH"

This is the most beautiful country in this Universe. My First trip to Nepal was best... Thanks’ to Nepali

Best country Shangri-La(paradise on earth) birth place of Buddha, only Hindu country in the world, beautiful sceneries,8 out of 10 highest peak of the world including mount Everest, beautiful natural sceneries, second largest water resource in the world, beautiful girls, adventure sporty, low cost of living, hidden natural resources god so much more.. You need to visit Nepal... They say once is never enough

Incredible Nepal
I love Nepal
Himalayan Beautiful Country. People are peace. Very nice temperature. Buddha Born in Nepal and Mount Everest lies in Nepal. I really like Nepal.

Geographically divided country Himalayans, Terai, hilly beautiful natural scenes peace loving country with 4sub-cast&36casts. Moderate climate to live with helpful citizen & birth place of Lord Buddha lumbini which is like heaven& the highest mountain in the world mount Everest

"Nepal" is most beautiful place in world.. Nature is gift of god.. Very friendly people and many cast and culture even it is very small country. If u visit once u ill more. Its is unknown about its beauty due to lack of publicity in the world. I love Nepal and its amazing beauty.

Nature has given us Mt. Everest; history has given us birth place of Buddha; we are simply recognized as the brave Gurkha around the world... What else we need now! I am so proud to be Nepali and Nepal deserves the top position.

Nepal is the best country ever I travelled. People are very nice and country is really beautiful. I feel like I was in the different world of natural beauty and innocent people. 

Nepal : Only 100% pure Hindu Nation, Buddha's Birth Place, Mount Everest, Ancient ^^ diverse culture, Didn't ruled by any nation, Kind ^^ innocent peoples, Tourists are more than welcome, Lots of Natural Beauty, great place for Adventure... Plus lots more... M proud to be Nepali

I think Nepal is most beautiful country in the world. Switzerland and Nepal is same but Switzerland is more develop then Nepal. If Nepal began develop it will happen like this Switzerland.

I think Nepal is the most beautiful and best country. I am very lucky and proud to be a Nepali  I know it is quit undeveloped due to political instability but I will try to develop my country Nepal.

If you talk about Beauty of nature, just go to Nepal. Nepal has a diverse land. Beautiful tallest mountains are very good for view. Nepal is only one peaceful country rather then any other country.

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Nepal’s Tourism Industry Needs Low Cost Airlines

According to PATA, Nepal has so far seen foreign visitor arrivals by air increase by 18.4% to reach 168,958 for the first five months of 2011. The country is nominally on target to reach its goal of one million visitors this year, a figure that includes both air arrivals and land-based visitors, mostly from India. Representatives of the Nepal Tourism Board have said that Nepal's tourism industry needs low cost carriers such as AirAsia to start flying to Kathmandu. "Airfares to Kathmandu from Southeast Asia are a little expensive," admitted Mr Sunil Sakya, Vice President of KGH Group of Hotels in Nepal. "A low cost carrier would bring a real paradigm shift ... Only 25,000 Thais visited Nepal in 2010, despite the close Buddhist pilgrimage links between the two countries. It should be three-times that number." Adventure tourism activities such as paragliding, flying in ultralites, white water rafting and mountain biking are now being heavily promoted, especially in Pokhara, the adventure capital of Nepal. The aim is to attract younger urban residents in big Southeast Asian cites who want an adrenalin fix in a wild 'back to nature' setting. On the other side of the coin, gambling is available in seven hotels in Kathmandu. Nepal Airlines, THAI, SilkAir and Dragonair offer a total of 25 flights a week into Nepal from Southeast Asia. Ms Ujjwalla Dali, Nepal Tourism Board's Senior Manager for Tourism Marketing, said the destination needs more than that if the country is to reach its tourism targets. "I hope that AirAsia will start flying to Kathmandu within a year," she said. See other recent news regarding: Airlines, Airports, Awards, Flights, Codeshare, FFP, Inflight, Lounges, First Class, Business Class, MICE, GDS, Rewards, Miles, Hotels, Apartments, Promotions, Spas, Yoga, Retreat, New Hotels, Traffic, Visitor Arrivals, Cruises, Free Deals, Interviews, Videos, Paris, France, Airshow, Airbus, Boeing, ATR, Nepal, AirAsia

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Tourism in Nepal

LET ME TALK ABOUT TOURISM FIRST

            Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure, or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than

one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes.

Tourism is the largest industry in Nepal, and the largest source of foreign exchange and revenue. Possessing 8 of the 10 highest mountains in the world, Nepal is a hot spot destination for mountaineers, rock climbers and people seeking adventures. The Hindu and Buddhist heritage of Nepal, and its cold weather are also strong attractions.

Nepal is the country where Mount Everest, the highest mountain peak in the world, is located. Mountaineering and other types of adventure tourism and ecotourism are important attractions for visitors. The world heritage Lumbini, birthplace of Gautam Buddha, is located in southern Nepal, and there are other important religious pilgrimage sites throughout the country.

The government of Nepal declared 2011 to be Nepal Tourism Year, and hoped to attract one million foreign tourists to the country during that year. The tourist industry is seen as a way to alleviate poverty and achieve greater social equity in the country. The government of Nepal has also declared Lumbini Tourism Year 2012 to promote Lumbini - the birthplace of Lord Buddha.

According to Nepal's Ministry of Tourism, major tourist activities include wilderness and adventure activities such as Mountain biking, Bungy Jumping, rock climbing and mountain climbing, trekking, bird watching, flights, paragliding and hot air ballooning over the mountains of Himalaya, exploring the waterways by raft, kayak or canoe and jungle safaris especially in the Terai region.

The major religion in Nepal is Hinduism, and the Pashupatinath Temple, the world's largest temple of Shiva which is located in Kathmandu, attracts many pilgrims and tourists. Other Hindu pilgrimage site include the temple complex in Swargadwari located in the Pyuthan district, lake Gosainkundanear Dhunche, the temples at Devghat, Manakamana temple in the Gorkha District, and Pathibhara near Phungling.

Buddhism is the largest minority religion. The World Heritage site Lumbini, which is traditionally considered to be the birthplace of Gautama Buddha, is an important pilgrimage site. Another prominent Buddhist site is Swayambhunath, the Monkey Temple, in Kathmandu.

Muktinath is a sacred place for Hindus as well as Buddhists. The site is located in Muktinath Valley, Mustang district.

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