Kathmandu, Pokhara and Annapurna, Nepal

I joined a G-adventures 10 day adventure to visit Kathmandu and also trek a part of the Annapurna Circuit. It was definitely the more convenient method to see everything, get explanations, have our trekking permits sorted out for us and also make new friends from all over the world. These tours are capped at 15 per group and you get local group leader that is with you from start to finish. https://www.gadventures.co.uk/trips/nepal-adventure/ANNA/

Tips: Make sure you bring two passport photos to obtain the trek permit, pre-buy your visa from your home country and consider a face mask due to the intense pollutions in Kathmandu.

Here are my highlights from this 10 day tour:

Kathmandu: Thamel (the main market to buy all sourvenirs and by far the most polluted place I’ve ever visited), Bhaktapur Durbur Sqaure for all its temples famously made out of wood and heavily affected by the 2015 Earthquake, and the Bodhnath Stupa
Sisterhood of Survivors Project. Modern slavery is a major issue in our world today and in fact has a larger amount of illegal money in circulation than the drug trade. This project aims to help women gain their confidence back through educating them in accounts, law, English and to make Nepalese momos (dumplings). We got to learn how to make these and hear the story behind the project which was very moving.
Annapurna trek and views. The landscape kept changing along the hike and you also get a chance to get into a natural hot spring.
Pokhara. Enjoy a peaceful boat ride along the lake and a whole lot of shopping. This area is practically man made for tourists but you do get beautiful natural views still.
Chitwan National Safari park. We managed to see Rhino’s so up close! I was a bit concerned how the guides were only equipped with a long wooden stick in case anything went wrong though.
Flight to see Mount Everest. This can be done through Yeti airways or Buddha air, and is dependent on weather. You get to sit alone so everyone gets a window view on this small propeller flight which isn’t as scary once you’re in the air, and they even give you champagne and a certificate!