When people think of Nepal, they usually picture Everest, yaks, and prayer flags flapping in the wind. Great — but that's just one chapter of the story. The real Nepal is a wild, layered, beautifully chaotic adventure full of unexpected turns.
This isn’t one of those polished, copy-pasted travel guides. This is the good stuff. The kind of experiences that stick with you, long after your boots are back in storage.
So whether you're planning your first trip or your fifth, here's our handpicked list of what to actually do in Nepal — straight from the people who live it, breathe it, and can’t wait to share it.
1. Trek the Trails, but Don’t Just Chase the Summits
Yes, Everest Base Camp is a thing. Annapurna too. But in Nepal, trekking isn’t about “conquering” peaks — it’s about slowing down and seeing what most travelers fly right over. Try the quiet beauty of Langtang, where herders still live in yak-stone villages. Or the raw wilderness of Manaslu, with its gorges, monasteries, and barely any tourists. Or just spend a week on a lesser-known trail, drinking sweet tea with locals and listening to the wind bounce off the cliffs. You’ll leave the mountains different than you came in.
2. Walk Through Living History in Kathmandu Valley
This isn’t just sightseeing. It’s time travel — and it smells like incense and street food. The ancient city-states of Bhaktapur, Patan, and Kathmandu Durbar Square are still alive with festivals, artisans, and bustling street life. You’ll see 12th-century temples beside motorbikes, and kids playing soccer next to carved palace courtyards. At Swayambhunath (a.k.a. Monkey Temple), you’ll stand among monks and monkeys at sunset, watching the valley light up. At Pashupatinath, you’ll witness cremation ceremonies that are intense, sacred, and unforgettable. This is spirituality in motion, not behind glass.
3. Go on a Real Jungle Safari (Yes, Nepal Has One)
Surprise: Nepal isn’t just mountains. Head south to Chitwan or Bardia, and you’ll swap snow for tigers, rhinos, and elephants — all in their natural habitat. You’ll drift silently through misty rivers in dugout canoes, walk through tall elephant grass with expert guides, and maybe (just maybe) lock eyes with a Bengal tiger from the safety of a jeep. Stay in a jungle lodge. Eat over open fires. Wake up to the sounds of the forest. It’s not a zoo — it’s the wild.
4. See Everest Without Climbing It: Take a Helicopter to the Himalayas
Trekking not your vibe? No problem. A helicopter tour gets you nose-to-nose with the tallest mountains on Earth — including Everest — without breaking a sweat. You’ll fly over Sherpa villages, hanging glaciers, and impossibly blue lakes, and land near base camp for a coffee break in the clouds. It’s equal parts luxury and “holy sh*t, look where I am.”
5. Launch Off a Cliff and Paraglide Over Pokhara
It sounds terrifying. Then it feels like flying. Then it feels like nothing else matters. Pokhara is one of the top spots in the world for paragliding, and for good reason. Below you: lakes, rice paddies, rooftops. Behind you: the Annapurna range, looming like a movie set. Around you: just wind and silence. It’s the kind of experience that changes your pulse rate — and perspective.
6. Take a Nepali Cooking Class — With Someone’s Grandma
Forget hotel buffets. If you want to understand Nepal, get into someone’s kitchen. A good home-style cooking class doesn’t just teach you how to fold momos or stir dal. It introduces you to the rhythm of a Nepali home: chatting over spice mixes, laughing over cooking fails, hearing family stories while stirring the curry. And yes — you’ll leave full. Of food and heart.
7. Spin a Pot, Paint a Thangka, or Carve Like a Newar Artist
Art in Nepal isn’t in galleries — it’s on doors, in temples, in alleyways. And you can learn it straight from the source. Head to Bhaktapur and try your hand at pottery in the open-air square. Or take a workshop in Thangka painting, a meticulous Tibetan art form passed down for generations. Want to get really niche? Wood carving classes with Newar artists will leave you marveling at every window you see afterward. It’s meditative, messy, and unforgettable.
8. Go Off the Map on a Regulated Hunting Expedition
Most travelers have never heard of this — but Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve offers controlled, ethical hunting experiences in the highlands of western Nepal. Only specific permits are granted, targeting overpopulated species, and all activities are government-monitored. Whether you’re into it or not, it’s a fascinating look into a part of Nepal that’s deeply remote and rarely seen, where conservation and ancient traditions meet.
9. Unplug at a Yoga or Meditation Retreat
If the chaos of the world’s getting too loud, Nepal’s got the volume knob. You’ll find silent retreats tucked into the hills of Pokhara, rooftop yoga sessions in Kathmandu, and rustic jungle ashrams that serve as the perfect detox from modern life. Add in some Ayurvedic massage, and you’ve got yourself a full reset button — Himalayan style.
10. Time Your Trip with a Festival — Then Dance in the Streets
Nepal’s calendar is stacked with vibrant, wild, soulful festivals, and if you’re lucky enough to catch one, you’ll never forget it.
- Dashain: Family gatherings, tika blessings, and goats. Lots of goats.
- Tihar: Dogs, cows, and crows get their own days. Also known as Nepal’s Festival of Lights.
- Bisket Jatra (Bhaktapur): Think tug-of-war with massive chariots and confetti storms.
- Holi: Prepare to be covered in color, water, and laughter for hours. No spectators here — if you’re in town, you’re in the party.
Final Thoughts: Travel Nepal, But Really Experience It
Nepal’s not just a destination. It’s a mood, a rhythm, a collection of moments that don’t make sense on an itinerary but stay with you long after you’re gone.
At RM Treks, we don’t just take you places — we help you feel them. Whether you want to hike remote trails, take a pottery class, or sip raksi in a village homestay, we’ll make it happen.