Hidden Gems of Nepal: 3 Unique Adventures for an Authentic Experience

Discovering Nepal: A Land of Rich Culture, Majestic Mountains, and Timeless Heritage

Nepal is a place that captivates you in ways you can hardly describe until you've experienced it firsthand. The mountains—the towering, majestic Himalayas—are a constant presence, looming above the everyday life of the people who call this place home. The air is thin and crisp, filled with a quiet that contrasts sharply with the vibrant, bustling markets and the warm hum of prayer flags fluttering in the wind.

But it's not just the landscapes that leave you in awe; it's the people. There’s a kindness that permeates Nepal, woven into the fabric of daily life. When you wander through the streets of Kathmandu or the quiet villages nestled in the valleys or mountains, you’re greeted with smiles from strangers, warm, genuine, and disarmingly humble. People will go out of their way to help you. It's as though hospitality is a shared tradition, something everyone feels responsible for.

There’s a deep sense of community that runs through Nepal. People take care of one another—neighbors, friends, and even strangers. The mountains, rivers, forests, and animals are also treated with the utmost respect. And even while most of the country actually practices Hinduism, their Buddhist roots shine in their commitment to its guiding principles of living simply in order to respect all life forms as well as the balance and peace in nature.

“It is better to travel well than to arrive."

—Siddhārtha Gautama, the Buddha

Everest Base Camp

The Everest Base Camp trek is a legendary journey, hiking through the magnificent Himalayas, from little mountain village to little mountain village, all the way to the first base camp at 17,598 ft. The path is lined with temples, tea houses, yaks, cows, donkeys and the most hospitable people, who don’t hesitate to share their culture and way of life with you. And while yes, I loved the physical challenge of the trek itself, I don’t think I was prepared for the spiritual journey I was also embarking on. If you are an adventure traveler who appreciates a physical challenge, being fully immersed in a new and very different culture and the meditative properties of nature, this is an experience that you absolutely should consider while in Nepal.

 I traveled to Nepal as a solo female traveler in 2021, and I felt completely safe exploring all parts of the country by myself. While you can complete the trek without a guide on your own, I wasn’t confident enough in my navigation skills, so I found a local tour company, The Great Adventure Treks & Expedition, run by Mani, a Nepali native. I prefer to use local companies as I feel that they give you the most authentic experiences and I’d much rather support the local people - Local companies also allow you to customize your experiences more than others and as I always prefer to challenge myself and have a “do as the locals do,” kind of raw experience, I often will have them customize the experience to have the least amount of “frills and comforts” as possible.

Mani and team were fantastic and I’d highly recommend them if you are interested in adding this trek to your list of adventures while in Nepal. I did the 6 day trek, and you fly in, trek and fly out all in 6 days - this does take away from any acclimation days but I was coming from Colorado and had a limited amount of time in Nepal. I chose to go in the middle of May which is right at the tail end of the season. This is a bit cheaper than going during the high season and there are definitely less crowds during this time, but the weather going in and out of Lukla was extremely cloudy, grounding flights for days. Mani was able to get us helicoptered into Lukla to start the trek, a helicopter picked us up about half way down due to weather and our guide was able to get us on a flight out of Lukla when hundreds of people had been stuck there for days (he knew someone at the airline!). It definitely paid in this scenario to have a local team on our side.

Despite the intense schedule, the reward at the end was immense. Standing at Everest Base Camp (5,364 meters) and gazing at the world’s highest peak was a powerful experience. The journey, though physically demanding and chaotic at times, was something I could never forget. I have still never seen beauty and majesty like those mountains, a humility and calm as they towered over me - and a quiet meditation and spirituality that overcame me as I hiked.  Flying out of Lukla and back to Kathmandu, I reflected on the adventure as a whole - what an incredible once in a lifetime experience that I must do again.

Walking Tiger Safari in Bardiya National Park

The Bengal tiger, known locally as "Bengal Baagh" (बंगाल बाघ), is a national symbol of strength, power, and beauty. It represents the wild beauty of Nepal’s natural landscapes, particularly in the Terai region, which is home to dense forests, grasslands, and wetlands that provide a habitat for these majestic creatures. This area encompasses two of Nepal's most iconic national parks, including Chitwan National Park and Bardiya National Park, which provide critical habitat for these majestic predators. 

I had wanted to see Tigers in their natural habitat for my entire life. When I read that there were populations of wild tigers in Nepal, I knew I had to go find them. In my research, I found that while Bardia National Park was more remote and harder to get to, it had the largest population of tigers in Nepal and it was easier to see them there. So I hopped on a plane and flew to Nepalgunj, which is 2 hours from the park. I stayed at the Bardia Homestay, a very remote village run by a Nepali man and his wife from the Netherlands. They were amazing and had many recommendations for what I could do for the 3 days I was there. I took a motorbike around the village to see what day-to-day life was like, did an evening driving safari in the park and then did a full day walking safari the next day and stayed overnight in a treehouse in the park. 

A walking safari was recommended if I wanted the best chance of seeing the tiger as they are very elusive and scared of people - any noises, even the smell of people could cause them to run and hide, so finding them on foot would give me the best chance of getting a good look at them. In the park, you aren’t able to carry any weapons with you, even for protection. So I was given a walking stick and in the event we came across a tiger and I needed to protect myself, I had only this stick to do so. It was a little intimidating, being so vulnerable in such a “wild” environment. 

We walked for hours, through tall grasses, through rivers waist high, climbed trees - came across elephants, monkeys, crocodiles, Rhinos and finally, a tiger bathing in the river. I couldn’t believe how orange he looked against the bright blue water. He was there maybe 10-20 minutes and then was gone, just like that. It was incredible, seeing that tiger in his natural habitat - seeing something for myself that is so rare to see. But I also think, once again, when I look back on it, that it was the journey that made the experience so amazing. The remote village and the culture there, the local women that stayed up late chatting with us at the homestay and the slightly terrifying hunt to find the tiger with nothing but a stick to defend myself. Once again, if you love adventure, this is something you should definitely consider when visiting Nepal.

Learning to Farm Tea in Pohkara’s Countryside

Tea in Nepal is an integral part of daily life and culture, with the country being renowned for its high-quality tea production. The cool, misty hills of the eastern region, particularly the Ilam, Dhankuta, and Jhapa districts, provide ideal conditions for growing varieties like black, green, and oolong teas. Nepali tea is often prized for its unique flavor, which combines the earthy richness of the region with a subtle, floral aroma. Tea is not just a beverage but a symbol of hospitality in Nepal, where it's commonly served to guests as a gesture of warmth and welcome.

I read that tea was an important part of the Nepali agriculture and I was curious if I might be able to find a tea farm to visit while I was in Pohkara, one of the best regions to grow tea in Nepal. I came across an opportunity that would allow me to experience a “day in the life of a Nepali tea farmer” up in the mountains about 2 hours from Pohkara. This tea farm was in a tiny mountain town named Koeli Village and as we drove up the very rough, windy roads, I saw how jaw-droppingly beautiful this part of the country was as well. Green everywhere, with houses and temples all along the mountain, with the spectacular Anapurna looking down on it all.

It turns out that the “day in the life” of a tea farmer is both simple and exhausting. The farming techniques and machinery that they use are very outdated in terms of what is used in the US. Most everything is planted by hand and takes a very long time to both plant and care for the crops and land. I had the opportunity to plant a few plots on my own and let me tell you there is a lot of love that goes into growing this tea. I had the opportunity to stay with the family, cook with the family, eat dinner with the family and drink tea with the family and they were so hospitable and amazing to get to know – even though they didn’t speak any English and I did not speak any Nepalese. This was another once in a lifetime authentic experience that gave me the opportunity to really get to know a different aspect of the Nepali culture and how they live. I would highly recommend this for a more cultural experience if you’re down to get your hands dirty!

Nepal is a land of rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes, and warm-hearted people. The Nepali people are known for their hospitality, resilience, and strong sense of community, with a blend of Hindu and Buddhist traditions shaping their daily lives. Its mountainous landscapes and nature offer a wide variety of adventure – so whether it's the thrill of mountaineering, rafting, or exploring ancient temples, Nepal offers a unique blend of cultural immersion and adventure for all who visit.