Trekking Nepal – An Adventure Guide to the Perfect Hike

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trekking nepal

You can hike all over the world, but there is no place like trekking Nepal. This is the land where you can trek through the highest mountains on earth, the Himalayas. The apeaks are legendary and the scenery is unparalleled. For an adventure of a lifetime, here are some of the most incredible hiking places in Nepal.

THE MT. EVEREST CIRCUIT

This trek surrounds the tallest and most famous mountain in the world – Mt. Everest, called Chomolungma in the local language. Aside from seeing the mountain itself, this trek winds through the Khumbu region of Nepal, which is home to Buddhist and Sherpa cultures. Most trekkers fly into Lukla (at 9,380 feet) to begin their trek, and depending on your route, it’s typically a 17 to 25 day trek.  Gorek Shep is a little town on the way that has incredible views of Everest. You can extend the trip by adding a leg up to Everest Base Camp, or by doing a loop through the beautiful Gokyo Lakes

THE MT. KANGCHENJUNGA CIRCUIT


Everest is the most famous peak, but a trek around Kangchenjunga gets you away from the crowds, and into more pristine, remote territory. This peak is 28,169 feet high, and is the third highest mountain in the world. Adventurers who want to get off the beaten path will love it, and a trek here means you have a chance to spend time with some of the local Nepali people, too. Trekking in this area you can find basic accommodations and meals, but nothing fancy. You traverse a wide range of ecological zones, and travel where few trekkers have gone before.

THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT


In the western portion of Nepal, a very famous trek is the Annapurna circuit. This route passes through the glorious Annapurna Conservation Area, which has amazing scenery of mountains and glaciers. The path itself begins near sea level, and climbs all the way to 17,388 feet high. Along the way, trekkers pass through humid jungles, temperate regions, and on into the high alpine area. Most of the region is dominated by the Tibetan Buddhist culture. Treks begin in Pokhara, and are usually 16 to 20 days.

THE ANNAPURNA SANCTUARY


If you want to visit the Annapurna base camp, where climbers prepare for a dangerous summit attempt, then this is the trek to take. The Annapurna Circuit trek does not go to the base camp. Like that trek, this one also begins at Pokhara, at the foot of this massive peak which reaches 26,545 feet high. Though this trek is shorter, just 8 to 10 days, it is still challenging for those who have not acclimated to the altitude, and the trail reaches a height of 13,638 feet.

THE LANGTANG REGION


For people who are looking for a somewhat easier trekking option in Nepal, this can be a good choice. Treks through the Langtang region begin very near, or sometimes even in, the city of Kathmandu, so there is less travel time required and it is easier to organize. The route here will take you past Buddhist monasteries, and you also see a nature reserve that is famous for its wildlife viewing. The trek will reach an altitude of 15,419 feet, and it offers splendid views of the Makalu region to the East, and Annapurna to the West.

PHULCHOWKI HIKING


Phulchowki surrounds the beautiful valley of Kathmandu, and it’s an excellent hiking spot for trekkers of all ages. What makes this trail different than the others is the abundant flora. Packed with heaps of wild roses, irises and yellow jasmines, Phulchowki is absolutely breathtaking. On top of the hill there’s a traditional Buddhist shrine you’ll want to stop by to catch your breath before moving further to the peak.

The Nepalese mountain chain of the great Himalayas is a superb trekking destination for adventurous travelers ready to engage in a memorable trekking experience. The land is packed with breathtaking scenery, abundant vegetation, fluttering prayer flags, Buddhist temples, and epic mountain adventures. Choose from the two main expeditions – Annapurna Circuit or the Everest Base Camp – and test your body’s physical limits. Skilled hikers can also try the hidden paths, which are challenging yet a lot more spectacular.

5 MUST-SEE SPORTING EVENTS BEFORE YOU DIE

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Nothing beats the thrill of watching live sports in a venue packed with screaming fans. The following list covers five major sports events that must be seen in a lifetime.

FIFA WORLD CUP

So this year’s World Cup may be over, but fear not… There’s more! Football (soccer) is by far the world’s most popular sport. Every four years, one lucky nation gets the amazing opportunity to host the FIFA World Cup, the ultimate competition in football. National teams spend several years playing qualifying rounds in order to make a highly anticipated appearance at the World Cup, which is hosted at a different country each time. 32 of the world’s best national football teams compete for history and prestige across various venues in the host country. Fans get the chance to travel through an entire country while enjoying three weeks of world class football. Fans are allowed to display their national pride while cheering on the players from their home country.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN

As one of the four grand slam events, the Australian Open is a very important tournament in professional tennis. Hundreds of the world’s best male and female tennis players compete for this title as well as some serious prize money. There are singles, doubles, mixed doubles and junior events. Trips to Australian tennis open are made by tourists from all over Australia and the entire pacific region. Melbourne Park in the city of Melbourne welcomes well over half a million tennis fans each year during the two weeks that the Australian Open is held in January. While watching the smaller side courts, spectators can get up close to some rising stars in the game of tennis. There is also the chance to sit in several iconic tennis stadiums like Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena.

SUPERBOWL

The National Football League playoff season comes to a climax with the Superbowl. This championship game has made its way into American pop culture. The halftime shows and advertisements are topics of discussion beyond the realm of professional football. Each year, there is a sense of excitement as the Superbowl is held at a different venue in the United States. The unknown factors about the conditions in early February add to the challenge and thrill of this important NFL game.

NBA FINALS

The world’s highest level of professional basketball comes to an exciting finish with the NBA finals. Two of North America’s best teams face off against each other in a best of seven game series. The drama of this sports event grows with each game throughout the course of roughly two weeks. Each team also plays several home games, something that adds an interesting dynamic to the competition. The NBA Finals have traditionally defined some of the league’s legends. This is where superstars are born and make a name for themselves.

OLYMPIC GAMES

The Olympics are arguably the world’s greatest sporting events. There are Summer and Winter Olympic games that offer competitions in dozens of different sports. There is nothing better than watching athletes competing for their country. The collective battle for medal counts is something that motivates nations to compete at the Olympic Games. Additionally, the opening and closing ceremonies are enormous spectacles that leave a lifelong impression on fans. The host nation of an Olympic event prepares for years to accommodate the enormous amount of athletes, media and fans from all over the world. This is the only sporting event in which the world comes together and puts aside differences regarding politics and economics.
The world’s best sports events often bring together the greatest athletes on the planet. Sports fans can travel the globe to experience incredible action packed competition.

10 ROAD TRIPS IN EASTERN EUROPE

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Road trips are a great way to see a place without spending a whole lot of cash! One of the places you should be heading to is Eastern Europe – with it’s spectacular landscapes, rich history and sheer cultural variety, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Our top ten road trips are:

PRAGUE TO ISTANBUL

This is one for the truly committed amongst you. It’s 1,150 miles and heads through the Czech Republic, down through Slovakia (or you can go through Austria if you prefer) then to Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria and then finally into Turkey to Istanbul. It’s best if you’re going for a few weeks so that you can stop off and see the sights of each country. We recommend Budapest and Belgrade in particular.

THE CROATIAN COAST

The Southern Croatian Coast is a great starter for those of you who haven’t explored the option of roadtrips before. It’s a smaller route than most, being in just one country, but it’s packed with a variety of places to stop and enjoy. Split contains the Roman building of Diocletian’s Palace. It’s a huge ruin, spread throughout the whole city and you can see many different layers of history here. If you’re willing to head out on a ferry, you can also see the Dalmatian Islands – in particular, the longest of them called Hvar. Make sure you leave plenty of time to see Dubrovnik, known as the Pearl of the Adriatic. It’s a beautiful walled city, filled with churches and museums. Definitely not one to miss!

KRAKOW TO BUCHAREST

This is a nice in-between length one. It’s around 400 miles in length if you were to go completely straight, but of course you’ll want to see the sights! It’s worth stopping over in Bratislava (the capital of Slovakia) on route in order to experience the Danube River and enjoy it’s rich history. On a route like this, it’s worth spending time in the smaller towns you come across as this can be the best way to truly get a feel for the countries you pass through.

VIENNA TO BUDAPEST

Another short one! This is only 150 miles, so feasibly you could do it in an afternoon. However, it’s a great start for those of you who want to try how roadtrips feel without committing to a lot of driving. We recommend starting from Vienna and heading down to Neusiedlersee National Park and doing some birdwatching to start. It’s a gorgeous location, and a great start to any trip. If you’re up for a longer trip, you could head down to Graz to see it’s Old Town and the museums. From there, head to Gyor in Hungary to see where the Danube the Rába, and the Rábca meet before heading on to Budapest itself.

THE TRANSFAGARASAN MOUNTAIN ROAD, ROMANIA

Another single country route! It’s only 60 miles, so we recommend incorporating this into a longer route, but it can be worth it on its own. It’s the second highest mountain pass in Romania, so you’ll need to go in summer. Make sure to stop off at Arefu, the village closet to the Poienari fortress – home of Vlad the Impaler, inspiration for Dracula.

BERLIN TO WARSAW

This one is around 350 miles, making it perfect for those of you with less time to spare. Both Berlin and Warsaw are worth a holiday on their own, so try to leave at least a few days at each end to explore them. Poznan is another great city to spend time in, as it’s the historical capital of the Greater Poland region and is a great blend of new and old. If you don’t mind heading off route a little, we also recommend Toruń, considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

LJUBLJANA TO SARAJEVO
This one is also around 300 miles and will take you through Slovenia, Croatia and into Bosnia and Herzegovina. Starting from Ljubljana you can head out to the city of Zagreb, the capital of the Republic of Croatia. Dating back to Roman times, there’s plenty to see so leave a day or two aside for it. From there, stop off in Lonjsko Polje, a gorgeous protected wetland, before heading down to Banja Luka. If you’re lucky, you can time this to coincide with one of the festivals. Finally, it’s down to Sarajevo.

AMSTERDAM TO RIGA
Another lengthy route – this time around 1140 miles! Whichever end you start, you’ll begin in a city well known for partying, so make sure you leave time to sober up before heading on your journey! We particularly recommend stopping in Hannover, Berlin, Lodz and Vilnus. If you’re looking to extend your journey even longer, head from Riga up to Finland and book onto one of the many northern lights holidays available.

MINSK TO TALLINN

Around 500 miles in total, Minsk to Tallinn is one of the more unusual routes. It’s worth spending a few days in Minsk itself, especially if you have an interest in religious architecture. Though you can head up through Latvia if you want, we recommend starting through Lithuania and heading up the coastline. Once again, you could extend this trip up to Helsinki and then into Finland itself.

GENEVA TO KIEV

This is the longest on our list – nearly 1500 miles. There’s a huge variety in what routes you could take, but we favour heading up to Nuremberg, Dresden, Lodz, Krakow, and Chernivtsi. This last city is often missed, but it’s considered the cultural centre of western Ukraine, and was once known as Little Vienna. Well worth the extra distance!