Nepal is a backpacker’s paradise, but while it’s known for its absolutely stunning scenery, it’s not known for providing solitude. Most backpackers look at the heavily-trafficked main trails as an opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. But some of us are a little more misanthropic. We prefer to walk alone.
Now, my fellow misanthropes can have their cake and eat it, too, so to speak: A relatively new loop trail, the Three Passes Trek, takes you around the Himalayas and through Everest Base Camp, while avoiding the crowds for most of the route. New York Times travel writer Alex Hutchinson recently hiked the route with his wife, and from his description it sounds just as spectacular as any trail in Nepal. Check it out:
“Behind us, looming above a turquoise glacial lake, was Mount Everest. In front of us, an immense stone staircase led down into a valley dotted with roofless stone shelters and the occasional yak — a ribbon of green hemmed in by the soaring gray and white of Himalayan rock and ice.”
Of course, there are downsides to scenery this striking: Mr. Hutchinson and his wife ended up taking a wrong turn and getting temporarily turned around. Make sure you have a map and a compass and that you know how to use them.
You’ll also need a Nepal visa, which you can either obtain at the airport when you enter Nepal or before you leave the United States. For details, see Nepal Visa Requirements for Tourists.
Also, to backpack in Nepal you need a trekking permit, which you can get from the Department of Immigration.
If you want to get your visa ahead of time, RushMyTravelVisa can help. Your visa specialist will analyze and research your itinerary to make sure you have the appropriate visas in hand, including any transit visas that may be required. Then, we’ll walk you through the paperwork and expedite your application with the Nepal embassy for the fastest processing possible.
Apply for your Nepal visa today!
Tags: backpacking, Everest, Nepal, Nepal visa, Nepali visa
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