For more information about kayaking and rafting in Nepal visit the iTrekNepal website

Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp are two of the most popular treks in Nepal. I concurred Everest Base Camp towards the beginning of my trip and I recently returned from Annapurna Base Camp, and now have a solid grip on the pros and cons, and similarities and differences between both treks.

If you are only in Nepal for two weeks and planning on doing either EBC or ABC I would recommend ABC because of the diversity in landscape.  The Everest Base Camp Trek begins and ends at such a high elevation that the scenery stays relatively consistent throughout the trek. The soaring peaks of the Himalayas surround the path, and the altitude and cold temperature become a factor as you rise above the tree line.  The Annapurna Base Camp trek begins outside of Pokhara where it is dry and hot. The path follows a river and at the beginning my friend and I were able to swim in waterfalls and swimming holes because of the blazing sun. We walked through canopies of trees and Rhododendron forests surrounded the path. But this warm and scenic landscape instantly changed once we got close to base camp.  The day before we reached base camp we got caught in a snowstorm. The next morning we walked to ABC from Machhapuchhare Base Camp during sunrise where we had to trek through the snow. Although in some ways Everest was more epic because of the harsh conditions and the excitement of being able to see the highest mountain in the world, Annapurna showed the diversity and wonder of the Himalayas.

Another big difference between the two treks was during EBC I had a guide and porter, and for ABC I went with a friend and we carried our own bags and had no guide. For the Everest trek, I would definitely recommend having a porter. Because of the altitude, I felt relieved to have someone carrying my bag.  It made the whole experience much more enjoyable. But not having a porter or guide for ABC created a sense of adventure and a feeling of doing something on my own. The trail was decently straightforward except for when it went through the villages, so we always made sure to ask if we were heading down the right path before leaving a village. Even though we came close to taking wrong turns a couple of times, we always managed to find the right path.

Another difference between the two treks is that ABC is less touristy than EBC.  I personally did not experience this as prominently because I went to EBC at the beginning of the trekking season and it was not that crowded, but I heard that in the middle of the season it can be pretty crazy. If you plan on trekking to EBC, I would recommend going at the beginning of the season in order to stay away from crowds. Annapurna Base Camp is also definitely a popular trek, and I did see a lot of tourists. I talked to people who had done the Annapurna Circuit and were finishing with ABC, and they said that the circuit was a lot less crowded and that the villages had more of an authentic feel.  If that that is something that you’re interested in, it might worthwhile to check it out.

Although the Annapurna trek has its perks, one of my favorite parts of the Everest trek was the sense of accomplishing something great. There were many people I met on the trek who were carrying out a life long goal to make it to Everest Base Camp. Everyone seemed to be in it together and excited about pushing themselves to make it to their goal.

Other than the factor of altitude, I thought that the two hikes were pretty equal in difficulty. Both had a lot of really steep and long uphill, and really steep and long downhill. Both were very demanding hikes that asked a lot from you physically, but had really great rewards at the end.

All in all, I would say that both of the hikes are incredible, but they are definitely different experiences and it just depends on what you are looking for. If you want an epic and exhausting trip where you are fighting through the thin air and altitude head to EBC, and if you are looking for a diverse landscape where in a single day you will be in the snow surrounded by high peaks and swimming in a waterfall head to ABC.

Bisket Jatra is the annual celebration of two of the most important deities of the town of Bhaktapur, the wrathful god Bhairab and the goddess Bhadrakali.

Bisket Jatra heralds the start of the Nepali New Year and is celebrated with the most intensity in Bhaktapur. In one of the most exciting annual events in the Kathmandu valley, a huge chariot carrying images of the god Bhairab is hauled by dozens of young men to Khalna Tole. The creaking and swaying chariot lumbers around town, pausing for a huge tug of war between the eastern and western sides of town. The chariot also rests at certain time-honored places in the city and people come out to throw offerings of flower, rice, coins and red sindur powder.

After the battle, the chariots head to Khalna Tole, where a huge 25m-high lingam (phallic symbol) is erected in the stone yoni (female genital symbol) base.

In the evening of the following day (New Year’s Day), the pole is pulled down by contesting terms of men, a moment of danger and excitement and in an often-violent tug-of-war. As the pole crashes to the ground, the New Year officially commences.

Long banners hang from the pole, symbolizing the conquered in a mythological battle. On New Year’s Day, contesting terms of men pull the pole to the ground, a moment of danger and excitement.

Annapurna, Nepal

In terms of sheer geological and cultural diversity, a trek to Nepal’s Annapurna region is unbeatable. By circumnavigating the giant Himalaya, you’ll see everything from lush bamboo forests to arid high mountain landscapes. Most visitors here climb over the famous Thorung La (17,599 feet; 5,368 meters). The hike into this glorious mountain pass rewards one with spectacular blazes of orange as the sun rises, casting the white Himalayan peaks in a fiery glow.

Mount Everest, Nepal

Rising 29,035 feet (8,856 meters) above sea level, Everest is the highest mountain on Earth. For decades, reaching the top of this giant has been considered one of the greatest mountaineering achievements. Sir Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay accomplished this feat in 1953 when they approached the peak along the South Col route. Since then, more than 2,000 others have made ascents through South Col. It is, by far, the most successfully climbed route on the mountain.

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/top-10/climbs/#page=1

Before going to Thamel, other than on my way to Everest Base Camp, I had seen very few white people. I had just assumed that Kathmandu did not have that many tourists until I walked around Thamel and realized that all the tourists just congregated in one area.

The streets of Thamel are crowded with stores, people trying to sell you things, and white tourists with dread locks; at night there are a lot of bars and tourists out having a good time. Whether this is your scene or not is up to you. I am happy living outside of the city, and being able to go visit with reasonable ease.

My one major recommendation is that if you do decide to stay in Thamel remember that there is a world outside of those busy streets, and go and explore other parts of the Kathmandu Valley. Definitely take the time to see the beautiful city of Bhaktapur, the temples in the valley, and check out Gundu Valley or the other mountain and valley villages outside of Kathmandu. An easy way to do this is to rent scooters, if you feel comfortable, or just take the public buses and walk. It is definitely worth it because these villages are truly something magical. The people living in them are genuine and happy to see tourists because it is uncommon. They will invite you into there homes, let you pet there animals, practice their English with you, walk with you for a while, offer you food, tell you their names, yell and wave to you from windows, and give you the biggest smile you’ve ever seen. This kind of exchange is not possible in Thamel. So, no matter where you stay, see if you can catch a glimpse of both parts of the Kathmandu Valley.

Here is what you need upon arrival to get a visa successfully:

-A passport photo: I would bring at least four passport photos before arriving in Kathmandu because you seem to need a passport photo for everything here. Including trekking passes and passes to get in to Bhaktapur. So although you only need one for your visa it is good to bring some extras.

-Cash: 15 day tourist visa is 25 USD, 30 day tourist visa is 40 USD and 90 day visa is 100 USD: It can also be paid in euros, but not in rupees. The nearest ATM is outside the airport so it was really hard to find and the airport is so hectic that it made it a way longer journey than it should have been. Bring cash with you!

-Visa Application Form: Print and fill out this form before landing in Kathmandu. Here is a link to the pdf: http://www.nepalembassyusa.org/resources/visa_application_form.pdf

-Passport: of course!

-Immigration form: On the airplane they will hand out an immigration form and it is necessary to fill out the visitors section as part of your visa application.

If you have all of these materials you should be all set! Have a great trip.

For more information visit the iTrekNepal website

The first day was the easier of the two days and the river had at the highest class three rapids, so it seemed more like a scenic tour of the riverside villages than an epic adventure. After the first day down the river we headed to the Borderlands Resort, which was very charming. We stayed in luxury safari style tents, which were large and had comfy beds and blankets. The dining area was probably my favorite part of the resort; with low tables, large pillows to sit on, a bar area, paintings on the walls, and lots of space it was a perfect place to hang out and get to know our fellow rafters after many hours in the sun.

The next day we headed back to the river, but this time instead of a scenic day it was one rapid to next. The other boat completely capsized. Luckily, we managed to stay afloat the whole time, although we probably got stuck on rocks over 10 times. At times, it may have felt like we were paddling more for our lives than for fun, but it made for a great adventure and a full day of madness. All three of us, completely exhausted, fell asleep on the bus on the way back to Bhaktapur.

For more information about kayaking and river rafting in Nepal check out the iTrekNepal website