Nepal is one of the world's great adventure tourism destinations – a country where the geographical extremes that define adventure (the world's highest peaks, the deepest river gorges, vast wilderness areas and the cultural depth of living Himalayan civilisations) are compressed into a compact and reasonably accessible travel destination.
Trekking: Nepal is the world's premier trekking destination. Everest Base Camp, the Annapurna Circuit, Langtang and dozens of other routes provide Himalayan walking experiences for all levels. See Getaway Nepal's complete trekking guide for routes, seasons and costs. White-water rafting: Seven major raftable rivers provide conditions from family-friendly grade II–III floats to world-class grade V wilderness expeditions. Nepal's rivers are among the finest in Asia for multi-day rafting. Peak climbing: Nepal's 33 designated trekking peaks (5,500–6,500m) are accessible for guided climbing expeditions. Island Peak (6,189m) and Mera Peak (6,476m) are the most popular for first-time high-altitude climbers. Other adventure activities: Paragliding from Sarangkot above Pokhara (one of the world's top tandem paragliding sites), bungee jumping at Bhote Koshi gorge (160m), zip flying in Pokhara (world's steepest zip line), white-water canyoning near Kathmandu, mountain biking across the Annapurna Circuit and skydiving over Pokhara. Nepal's adventure portfolio is one of Asia's richest.
The Himalayas are some of the world's most spectacular mountains, including eight of the world's tallest peaks. It is a challenging, yet exhilarating experience to conquer one of these giants, and many expeditions take place every year. Permits from the Ministry of Tourism & Civil Aviation are required for climbing the 135 tallest peaks, and the Nepal Mountaineering Association (nepalmountaineering.org) is responsible for issuing permits for the 18 "expedition" peaks.
Nepal's prolific trekking routes are one of the main tourist attractions, offering breathtaking scenery and exotic wildlife. Hire a Sherpa guide and go exploring independently, either camping or staying in mountain lodges en route; or join an organized expedition with a travel company. Treks of varying lengths and difficulty are available, with professional guides and porters. Easy treks include the Pokhara and Kathmandu Valleys; the Chola Pass and Tilicho Pass are only for experts.
Rafting offers the ultimate thrill ride and is a great way of experiencing Nepal's countryside and wildlife. Trisuli, in the Royal Chitwan National Park, is one of the most accessible rivers and is suitable for all ability levels. Sunkoshi River offers the most challenging ride, with wild, turbulent rapids and giant boulders. Trips last one to nine days, and are graded from gentle floats with mild rapids to extreme white water. Tours can be combined with trekking or a jungle safari.
Nepal's kayaking season lasts from November through May, until the monsoon season begins. Many rivers are suitable for kayaking, but the best are Seti and Trisuli. There are many companies operates a kayaking school for beginners and also organizes group trips of varying lengths and difficulty for experienced kayakers. All equipment, including camping gear, is provided, along with an experienced guide and a raft to carry the gear.
Paragliding has only recently been introduced into Nepal. You can fly between October and March, depending on the weather, and the main location is in the Pokhara Valley, near the Annapurna range. Learn to fly, or take a tandem flight with an experienced pilot, after being released from a helicopter. Enjoy some of the greatest views on Earth, and bring home some wonderful photographs.
"Bungy Bridge" is a steel suspension bridge over Bhote Kosi Gorge, with a drop of 544 feet. It is Nepal's only privately owned bridge and has been specially adapted for bungee-jumping. Take a three-hour bus ride from Kathmandu, or book a four-day adventure package with us, which includes travel, accommodation, a bungee jump, trekking and white-water rafting.
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