Nepal Travels Blog

A few simple things that will make the travel easy for you and your children

Traveling to Nepal from North America by any measure is a long and arduous journey.  The20-30 hours “wheels up” time, multiple stops, long layovers, inevitable lines and security checks will challenge even the most experienced traveler.

These challenges become more pronounced when traveling with infants and young children.  However, with some preparation and a lot of patience, you can not only survive the trip,you can also make it somewhat enjoyable for everyone.   I’m speaking here not only as a travel agent, but also as a traveling Dad, making five trips in five years, from the U.S. to Nepal with either one or two children under the age of five.

So, here are my “top 4″ strategies for your next family trip:

1.       Minimize Total Travel Time

Getting to your destination in the quickest time is very important. My experience is that children will begin “feel and express” the adverse effects of the trip after 5-10 hrs, and thus the longer the trip the harder it is on them and the parent(s).  As the majority of time is spent in the air choosing the most direct route is advisable.

a.      From the East Coast of North America: Travel via the Middle East and India is most advisable as they offer the shortest times in the Air. Gulf Air, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, and many airlines offer 1-stop flights into Kathmandu.

b.      From the West Coast of North America: It is advisable to go through the pacific route for a shorter trip to Nepal. Cathay Pacific, Singapore Air, China Airways, Thai Airways all offer 1-stop flights into Kathmandu.

For those traveling from the middle of the continent, with the exception of Houston and Chicago, one has to take an additional flight into east and west coast.

2.      Shorten Transit Time

The ideal situation would be to have the shortest in-the-air time along with the shortest transit times (currently there are no direct flights to Nepal from North America).  While some great options are available, they usually sell out faster and are usually more expensive.

Singapore Air and Cathay Pacific flights from New York are good examples of short transit times in Singapore and Hong Kong respectively. Thai Airways from LAX is a great 1-stop short transit flight to Kathmandu. Qatar Airways offers good 1-stop 6-hour transit in Qatar flights originating in Washington DC, New York and Houston. Many flights from North America that arrive in the early morning in New Delhi are good short 1-transit options.

3.      Select Kid-Friendly Airports

If you cannot get the short transit times, it is important to consider the “child friendly value” of the airports you are transiting through.

For example:

• Does it offer an airport hotel (where everyone can nap and take a bath)? (E.g. Qatar do not, Singapore and Hong Kong do)
• Does it have an indoor play area for kids to let off steam and meet other young travelers? (E.g. London Heathrow and Frankfurt do not, Singapore and Qatar do)
• Are there multiple food options available?
• Are there family restrooms for changing diapers and clothes?

In my personal experience, Singapore Changi airport is the best to transit through with children.  Our kids look forward to seeing the koi ponds and gardens, hang out in the play areas, have a snack at Starbucks, shop for toys, ride the SkyTrain and visit the Butterfly Garden.

4.      Make the Most of In-Flight Services

The attitude and services of the in-flight staff towards infants and children makes a huge difference in the quality of your long trip to Nepal.

Most international flights provide a “goodie” bag for kids at the beginning of the flight, and only keep the kids busy for an hour or two.  There is a wide variety of in-flight entertainment.  However, you will definitely want to bring your own age-appropriate toys and DVDs for the journey.

Other things to consider:

• Will they seat you with a bassinet for sleeping infants? (Note you will need to hold the child at take-off, landing and whenever the seatbelt sign is on)
• Will they offer to re-seat other travelers so you can all travel together, or even have an extra seat for the family?
• Do they offer free milk (for baby bottles) and kid-friendly snacks and meals?
• Are kids meals brought first, and can special requests be made to accommodate allergies or preferences?

On these points, we have had very positive experiences on Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Qatar Airways.

Traveling half-way around the world to Nepal with young children is never going to be a walk in the park.  Preparing yourself and your children both mentally and physically for the trip, in addition to doing your homework on travel options, will help you make an informed decision so that you and your kids can make the most of the journey.

Note: This article first appeared on the April Issue of Namaste Nepal, Nepal Travels’ monthly newsletter.

I recently visited the Patan Durbar Square on a weekday after getting tired of staring at the computer screen for too long. And I must say it was better than I had remembered it. There are many things of interest at the square: the temples, the museum, the people, and the overall ambience.

Photo Courtesy: Mr. Om Yadav

As soon as I walked in to the premises of the Patan Durbar Square, I was fascinated by the temples. Considering the fact that I was born in Kathmandu, and have been living here for the past one and a half years, I thought I had become immune to seeing the beauty in the temples, mountains, and stupas that fascinate the world. But I was wrong, these temples stunned me!

The Patan museum was also very fascinating. I quietly sat by one of the many windows in the museum area looking out at the courtyard for an hour. While I gazed at the

children playing, tourists taking pictures, and older people just enjoying the sun, I tried to visualize what happened in the same courtyard decades (actually quite a few decades) back when the Patan Durbar Square was a royal palace. Who roamed these streets, what did it look like with no modern influence; what was the scene like when the king went to meet the people, and how did people worship then. What had changed and what had remained the same?

Before I knew it I had spent over two hours just silently looking and enjoying the ambience of the Patan Durbar Square.

I recommend everyone to visit the Patan Durbar Square!

Are you planning on traveling to Nepal this summer? If you are here is what will save you some of your hard earned money!

a.      Plan to travel before June 14, 2011. Traveling after June 14 will most likely increase your Nepal ticket cost by as much as $200.

b.      As soon as you know a tentative date for travel, call your travel agent and book you trip. I know you must be tired of hearing this over and over again. But this is the best way to ensure that you get a good deal on your tickets, hotels, and other travel needs.

c.       Be aware that 2011 is Nepal Tourism Year! Nepal is targeting to bring in a record 1 million foreign visitors in 2011. What this means for a traveler is less seat availability on flights and packed hotels. The airline network that connects Nepal, although slightly increased, has not dramatically changed. A combination of more travelers and almost the same number of seats on airlines means more competition for the lower priced seats and all seats in general. Hence, the above travel advice of booking as soon as you know your tentative dates becomes even more important. So we reiterate travel advice (b)—call your travel agent and confirm your travel plans as soon as you have a tentative date for travel.

d.      Other than dates and booking early, you can save if you can keep in mind three additional and simple points in mind:

-Avoid Weekends: If possible don’t travel on weekends. Many airlines have a weekend surcharge ranging from $50-$100.

-Try Different Routes & Airlines: As we like to say here at Nepal Travels, all routes are not created equal. Some routes and airlines, subject to their respective seasons are cheaper than others. Discuss alternative options and routes with you travel provider, you might be surprised by the difference in fares.

-Flexibility: The last but definitely not the least is flexibility. When you inform your travel provider the dates for travel, try to be flexible by a few days before and after. This is especially important for busy seasons when seat availability is not abundant. Flexibility in travel can save you a fortune sometime, and will at least save you something most of the times.

If you keep the above mentioned points in mind, you are sure to save on your summer travel this summer.

Note: This article is taken from the first issue of our Newsletter “Namaste Nepal!”

The harsh Nepali winter is all but gone, giving way to the spring, summer, and then the monsoon in a few months. I personally like the first month or so of the monsoon season. Rain, after a while, is not just needed for farming and hydro-electric generation, but also makes me feel at ease and comfort. However, the monsoon after the first few showers does become a nuisance and can slow things down. But monsoon won’t be here for approximately another 3 months.

From now until the monsoon we have the spring. March to May is one of the best times to visit Nepal, and is also when Nepal receive the second-most number of guests after the September-January period. With near-perfect views of the Himalayas, moderate temperatures in the Terai region (where Chitwan National Park and Bardia National Park are located), and overall excellent weather conditions spring-time in Nepal is beautiful.

Let’s welcome the spring and with it the regeneration, rejuvenation, and energy it bestows upon all of us. Happy travelling this Spring/Summer!

P.S: The first issue of our Newsletter “Namaste Nepal!” will be out on March 1, 2011 at 10:00 AM EST. You can read it on our website.

As you might have heard or read somewhere, Nepal is an adventure seeker’s paradise. But with all the choices, what exactly should you do! Here is a short adventure trip you could consider fitting in your itinerary while in Nepal. A trip that will take 2-3 days depending on the pace you prefer.

During Sunrise from Sarangkot, Pokhara

Drive out of Kathmandu early in the morning and head to one of the starting points for rafting on the way to Kuringtar. Go rafting in the mighty Trisuli River; after rafting drive towards the Riverside Spring Resort in

Kuringtar. Kuringtar is approximately 100 kilometers from Kathmandu. It takes around 3-4 hours to get there, under normal road conditions. You could consider stopping

for the night at the Riverside Spring Resort in Kuringtar, or drive straight to Pokhara where there are plenty of choices for accommodation, shopping, and dining.

In Pokhara, wake up at 5AM and head towards Sarangkot. Hike up to the viewing tower (1-1.5 hour walk uphill, depends on how fast you walk), and enjoy the sunrise. The sight of the sunrise and the mountains up-close will undoubtedly stun you. After lunch, if you are leaving Pokhara the next day, book your paragliding trip. If you want to stay one more day in Pokhara, the paragliding trip can be scheduled for the next day.

There are many other things to do in Pokhara. You could simple relax at the lakeside area, go boating in Lake Fewa or do some souvenir shopping. Also, you could hike up to the Peace Pagoda, go to Devi’s fall, enter fascinating caves, or go bar-hopping.

Here you go—simply adventure trip filled with fun and excitement.

We have a lot of information to share with you if you are planning to travel to Nepal. But let’s start with the first question that comes to the minds of many travelers, especially from places like the United States and Canada that are thousands of miles apart.

A visitor to Nepal once told me that her family back home mentioned that Nepal is the farthest away one can travel from America, if you go any further you would actually be closer. It took me a while to figure out what that meant. I finally realized that it actually made some sense. When I looked at the world map I realized that if you traveled any further you would be heading closer to the North American continent by taking a big circle; the first half of which you already cover when you travel to Nepal.

So all that being said, the question still remains: how do you get to Nepal? Getting to Nepal is rather convenient with the introduction of many flights to Nepal.

If you are in the East Coast or the West Coast of America, getting to Nepal only requires one stop. There are also numerous flight options that have 2 connections, but are not very inconvenient. For those of you in the mid-west and the south, an easy connection to one of the major cities in the coasts, or cities like Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, or Dallas will do the trick. However, one thing is for sure—you do need to fly quite a bit!

We have detailed flight information and an interactive map that will show you the most popular options from the major destinations in the United States and Canada.

Please visit (www.nepaltravelsonline.com/maps.php) to view the interactive map!

As you can see on the map, there are many options for traveling to Nepal. You can travel to Nepal via the pacific transiting in Seoul (South Korea), Singapore, or Hong Kong, and also through Delhi (India), and Doha (Qatar).

Are you planning to travel this summer? Do you think the airfares are too high? If you answered yes to these two questions then here are few important things you could do to make travel less expensive.

1. Book Early:

Booking early is probably the biggest factor in getting cheap tickets. Book your tickets as soon as you know when you can travel. The sooner the better! Tickets booked in advance are almost always cheaper than those books just a few days or weeks before the days of travel because the cheaper seats are sold out very quickly.

2. Flexibility:

As much as possible try to be flexible by a few days; cheaper seats may not be available on a certain day. If you could provide flexible travel dates (+/- few days) you will increase your chances of getting a cheaper ticket.

3. Avoid Weekends:

Weekend travel on most airlines is slightly more expensive. Typically weekend travel will cost $50-$100 more. The best time to travel is in the middle of the week.

4. High Season:

Almost all airlines have a high season and low season, and prices vary significantly during holiday seasons and normal months.

5. Leave the Rest to us:

Relax & Be Assured!

If you have done all or most of the above things then you can relax and fill out our booking form online at (www.tickets2Nepal.com) and be assured that we will get you a fare that will make you want to travel to Nepal very frequently. Imagine how cool that would be!

Please let us know if you have any questions about travelling to Nepal, and we will respond within 24 hours.

Happy Travelling!

Getting to Dingla was not easy! It involved our first flight returning back to Kathmandu from half way, me getting on-board an aircraft that resembled a toy plane, clutching my seat during the entire flight, and finally landing on an unpaved (grass and red mud) runway. But it was all worth it at the end. Ever since I landed in Tumlingtar (the regional airport that serves Dingla), I was awed by what Nepal looks beyond Kathmandu. Thoughts about nature, rural life, under-development, and peace never left me.

Far away from my urban lifestyle and even farther away from technology, I felt very uncomfortable at first. As time went by I started to adapt to my surrounding, I felt a peace of mind that is elusive in most modern urban societies. I felt at peace and my mind was not restless—I felt like I was in Shangri-la.

People say travelling is a great experience and a great way of learning. And travelling to Dingla for me was indeed a great experience. After coming back to Kathmandu I miss Dingla sometimes. I miss sleeping on the floor of a hut, listening to the birds sing, waking up at 4AM to get water, bathing in the spring, and walking up and down the hill for almost everything.  Everyone should visit places like this once in their lifetime, experiencing such a place is transforming and eye-opening. Imagine going back in time to a place untouched by modernization. Dingla is one such place where time has stood still for decades; a place where your soul will be touched and mind rejuvenated to return to life in the metropolis.

Note: This article was submitted to us by Dilasha Basnet, who recently traveled to Dingla with her family. It is also the article for our debut June newsletter.

So you want to travel in Nepal huh ?

Nepal is a country that will stun you on many levels. Its variety of landscapes, cultures and people, offer a wide variety of activities for travelers to get engaged in. In many travel reviews, Nepal regularly comes in the top 10 places to visit before you die !

Here are some general ideas on what to do in Nepal, if you are clueless (I doubt you will be if you are in Nepal)

• Trekkinghills in Dolpo
• Mountaineering
• Sightseeing
• Adventure travel
• Cultural
• Recreational Activities
• Religious tourism
• Gambling
• Others

Read the rest of this entry »

Here is a rough guide of best times for tourists /travelers to visit in nepal. Nepal usually has beautiful weather all around and has primarily 5 seasons. Winter , spring, summer, monsoon (rainy), autumn (fall).

Summer (June to September)

Also the torrential monsoon rainy season. Usually people go to rain safe areas like Mustang and Dolpa for trekking. The greenery of the hills and the plains make it an unique time to appreciate the beauty of nature. An interesting event is held throughout the country near the end of June to mark the importance of farming in Nepal where travelers can experience the sowing of paddy samplings, mixed with the fun of mud throwing at each other and enjoying Dahi Chiura -Â yogurt and beaten rice.

Rhododendron

Rhododendron

Sightseeing the temples, stupas and architectural heritages of the Kathmandu valley, namely the Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur Durbar Squares.

Bungee Jumping takes place every Wednesday and Saturday.

Festivals like Gai Jatra, Nag Panchami, Krishnastami are held during this time.

Autumn (October to November)

Most popular tourist season and arguably the best all around weather in Nepal. Major festivals like dasain, tihar, chhath and Eid are held during this time. A good time to go for allaround cultural and nature experience.

Ideal for for trekking to all the routes available in Nepal like the Everest Base Camp Trek, Annapurna Circuit Trek.

This season is also ideal for rafting and kayaking, mountain flights, paragliding, parahawking, ultra light flight, mountain biking, bungee jumping, Â jungle safari in the Chitwan National Park and Bardia National Park.

Mountaineering expeditions are also launched during this time but the season is not as popular as the spring.

Sightseeing the cultural and religious heritages of the Kathmandu valley can be organized.

Read the rest of this entry »