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Adventure Activities in Nepal
Whether you choose to balloon, bungy jump, canyon, ice climb,
rock climb, climb trekking peaks, fly over mountains or fly an
ultra light, you will find an adventure everyday in Nepal.
The Himalayas have long since held a mysterious attraction
to travelers and trekkers alike. In recent years, there has
been a surge of extreme sports to the small Himalayan Kingdom
of Nepal. Now, in this part of the world, you can experience
some of the most physically and mentally challenging action
sports in an exotic destination.
 Mountaineering
:
The 800km stretch of the Nepal Himalaya 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 1949, the Nepal Himalaya 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 Himalaya has
been an attraction to many people, be they saints, philosophers,
researchers or adventurers.
 Trekking
: The best way to experience Nepal's
unbeatable combination of natural beauty and cultural 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, temples,
monasteries and breathtaking landscapes, you will also
encounter friendly people of different cultures - offering a
fascinating glimpse of traditional rural life.
Trekking is possible any time of the year depending on where
you are going. The popular seasons are spring and autumn.
During winter, trekking is possible at lower altitudes. During
the monsoon season, you can trek in the rain shadow areas
north of the Himalaya like Mustang, Upper Manang and Dolpo.
These places are out of reach of the rain clouds because of
the high mountains and are unaffected by the monsoon. The best
part about trekking in this season is that the routes are less
crowded and if you happen to be a keen botanist, you will
revel in lush vegetation as meadows blossom in full swing. To
ensure quality service and safety, it is advisable to make the
trekking programs through a government recognized trekking
agency.
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 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
magnificent 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 a day of river running
or more. So far, the government has opened sections of 10
rivers for commercial rafting. The Trishuli river (grade 3+)
is one of the most popular of Nepal's raft able 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 Marshyangdi
is four days of uninterrupted white water. The Karnali river
(4-5) provides some of the most challenging rapids in the
world. The Sun Kosi (4-5), 270km, 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 gear and the standard rafting paraphernalia
needed by world-class rafters. 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.
 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, elephant back.
One is bound to sight a one-horned rhino or two at every elephant
safari. Besides the rhinos, wild boars, sarnburs, spotted
deer, sloth bear, four-horned antelope are also usually seen.
A Royal Bengal tiger may surprise you by his majestic appearance.
Nature
walk or jungle walk is another way of experiencing the wilderness.
In fact, jungle walk gives close-up opportunities to view
animals as well as observe their tracks, signs, and sounds.
Early morning and late-afternoon walk is the best to avoid
mid day heat.
Dugout-canoe
trips down the Rapti river offer views of water birds: brilliant
blue Eurasian kingfishers, egrets, osprey and ruddy
Sheldrake.
A pair of binoculars is a must for bird watching. A jeep safari
through the jungle provides more game spotting opportunities
than might he expected otherwise because it goes deeper into
the jungle, usually beyond the beaten track. After the thrill
of elephant rides, nature walks and jeep safaris, visitors
can splash around in the swimming pools that some of the resorts
offer.
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 Rock
Climbing : For all those cliff hangers 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 Budhanilkantha are some of the places where
you can try this sport.
 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 come true. Mountain biking offers an environmentally
sound way of exploring this magniflcent country, its landscape
and living heritage. There are plenty of dirt 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 locales 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 and around the city.
 Bird
Watching : Nepal is a paradise for bird lovers
with over 848 species (almost 8% of the world total) of birds.
And among them almost 500 hundred species are found in the
Kathmandlu 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.
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 Mountain
Flight : Only awe-stricken silence can come
close to matching the experience of going on a mountain flight
to encounter the tallest mountains of the 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 trekking, these flights
offer a panoramic view of the Himalaya in just one hour.
 Ultra light
Aircraft : Ultra light 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 the 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 like birds when growing up, 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 am. and from 3 p.m.
to sunset every day during these months.
 Meditation,
Yoga And Ayurveda : Nepal provides the solitude
and environment for meditation which is unparalleled in this
part of the world. Nepal has much to offer to those interested
in meditation, yoga and Ayurveda. There are guided and residential
courses for meditation and yoga and the effects are far-reaching
and cumulative. Kathmandu, in particular, is where most of
these activities happen.
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 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. Nepals first
bungy jumping site is situated 160m. over the Bhote Kosi 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.
 Cable-Car
: Cable-car is a recent phenomenon in Nepal
that has become extremely popular with the locals and tourists
alike. The 10-minute cable-car ride takes the visitor to the
temple of Goddess Manakamana who is believed to have the power
to fulfill wishes. The temple of Manakamana lies 125km to
the west of Kathmandu. Cable car ride starts at Cheres, 104km
from Kathmandu on the highway to Pokhara.
 Para
Gliding : 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 griffin vultures, eagles,
kites and float over villages, monasteries, temples, lakes
and jungle, with a fantastic view of the majestic Himalaya.
Gliding
is a weather dependent sport and the flying season in Nepal
commences from November through Fenruary, the best months
being November and December. The take-off point for these
flights is Sarangkot (1592m), which also offers prime views
of Phewa Lake and the mountains at sunrise and sunset (provided
the skies are clear) and the landing is by the lake. No previous
experience is required as qualified pilots provide a short
briefing before launching.
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 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 Himalaya (from over 6000m up), and the view
of the valley is equally breathtaking.
 Village
Tours : Village tours allow visitors to experience
a stay in a typical Nepali village. You will get to stay in
home of one of the villagers and during your stay, you will
get delicious local food and drink and comfortable accommodation
provided by your host family. You will also get a chance to
interact with the villagers and get to know their culture,
tradition and way of life first hand. Besides, you will be
contributing directly to the welfare of the village. Village
Tours are conducted in Sirubari, Gorkha and other places.
Special
Interest Tours : Special interest tours are
conducted in Nepal throughout the year to match all tastes.
Lepidopterology is one, since eleven of the 14 families of
butterflies are found in Nepal. These exotic species are specially
visible in the summer and the monsoon seasons. Similarly,
fossil hunting, archaeological, zoological, geological, mythological,
meteorological, historical tours, game hunting, village tours
and other special interest tours take place throughout all
seasons.
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