About Nepal

Nepal is one of the most spectacular and fascinating destinations on earth. This tiny Himalayan country,only open to the outside world for the past fifty four years, provides a wealth of experiences for a variety of interests and ages. Stunning mountain panoramas tower over terraced foothills, delightful villages hide within beautiful forests, crystal clear rivers carve their way from the glaciers of the high Himalayas to the plains below. Couple this with the vast wealth, colour, culture and ancient architecture along with the most friendly people you are ever likely to meet. It is not surprising, that for many, one visit to Nepal in a lifetime would never be enough. The Kingdom is neatly sandwiched between India to the south and Tibet to the north on a fault line where two distinct geographical regions interlock and overlap. The outcome is a very unique and compelling setting. Nepal lies almost at sea level in steamy sub tropical jungles on its southern border with India. Within a distance of less than 200kms, the terrain rises rapidly through the middle hills on to high alpine valleys towards arid plateaus and glacier moraine to reach over 8000 mtrs and eight of the ten highest mountains on earth. The Nepalese are exotic,extremely friendly, naturally accepting and diverse in nature, very much shaped by the weather and the environment. More than thirty distinct ethnic groups live here with over seventy different languages and dialects spoken. Skin tones range from fair Mongoloid tribes originating from Tibet and beyond to dark skinned races who migrated from the Indian plains many centuries ago. There are a large range of shades to be found in between. It is said festivals in Nepal outnumber the days in a year; hardly one goes by without a particular ethnic group or other having a reason to celebrate life. Major holiday Seasons: The country is governed by the Southerly monsoon that brings heavy rains during certain months. Essentially there are two main seasons, dry and wet. The best time to visit for mountain scenery is between late September and early June, from the middle of June the rains arrive that continue to mid September. The monsoon provides moody skies, it is also a busy time in the fields that are at their most colourful. On the other hand if you are trekking to more remote regions that lie within the rain shadow, the monsoon months provide the best time to visit.

Defined Regions. The Terrai Region; southern Nepal (alt 60mtrs to 300mtrs.) The terrai lies on an alluvial plain that is watered by the mountain 'run off', it occupies around 17% of Nepal’s landmass. Known as the breadbasket, it is a mixture of very healthy farmland and sub tropical jungle. The rich soil of the region provides ideal growing conditions for a large variety of crops, rice and wheat in particular. More than half of Nepal’s population of 26 million lives here. The region contains a large variety of wildlife and bird life along with a number of endangered animals including the Royal Bengal Tiger and the One Horned Rhinoceros. Overseas visitors generally visit for jungle safaris or bird watching, accommodation is provided at one of the national parks or bird reserves. Tharus, the main ethnic groups residing in the Terrai are a dark skinned very colourful race that originally lived on the northern Indian plains. Tha Tharu culture and practice differs greatly from other areas of Nepal, many Tharus still practice a form of Animism (the worship of animal spirits.) Most work on the land and may supplement their income with fishing. The Middle Hills; (alt; 500mtrs to 3000mtrs) Are exactly that, they spread over 68% of the Kingdom; Kathmandu and Pokhara are situated here along with many of the lower altitude treks. The region throughout has a rich heritage that has evolved over many centuries and remains very much in evidence today. Kathmandu and the Kathmandu valley have a wealth culture and history to be discovered, it is also an ideal base for organising tours. Pokhara by the shores of Lake Phewa provides peace and tranquility along with fantastic mountain views. Wildlife in the region includes leopard, barking deer and the Himalayan black bear. Newars who are a mixed race mainly of Mongal descent are the oldest community residing in the Kathmandu valley. They are fine artisans and many still follow devout daily lives of ritual and celebration from sunrise to sunset. Life for them is “a steady journey” where each stage is marked with tradition and ceremony. The Nepal Himalaya; (alt; 3000mtrs to 8848mtrs) Accounts for the remaining 15% of Nepal, it is a hugely impressive cold, gritty and desolate place with little vegetation growing above 4500mtrs. Some of Nepal’s most interesting animals and plants are found here including the elusive Snow Leopard. A region made famous by its people; Sherpa's migrated south from eastern Tibet over five hundred years ago, they are well aclimatised to the harsh realities of high mountain life. There are no equals where endurance is concerned which make them the driving force essential for all mountain expeditions. Keen traders, some still maintain a nomadic lifestyle moving up and down the mountain depending on the season in search of new pastures to graze Yak. The milk of the Yak produces splendid cheese, high in fat and ideal for the harsh climate. It is said there would be no Sherpa's without a Yak; along with dairy products it is also provides transport,is a very good source of protein, gives oil for lanterns and clothes/rugs which are either weaved from its hair or used as hide after death. Sherpas often trade over the Tibetan border where Yaks transpo