In January, Will & Ellie (AKA Tapp & Bear) joined us on a spectacular journey travelling in Nepal. We caught up with them to seek out out what their favorite components of the tour had been – and what they learnt concerning the wonderful Nepal alongside the best way.
Why did you select to go to Nepal?
Nepal has all the time been firmly set on our bucket checklist! After seeing the surroundings in a number of mountaineering movies we’ve been determined to go to the nation and see the mighty Himalayas for ourselves. Little did we all know that Nepal was a lot extra than simply the gateway to the tallest peaks on earth. Throughout our tour, we fell in love with the bustling cities, tranquil monasteries, idyllic mountain villages, unbelievable folks and the whole lot in between (though we gained’t miss the roads)!
What was your favorite factor that you simply realized about Nepal throughout your journey?
All through our travels in Nepal we realized a lot concerning the folks and tradition from our native guides and the wonderful folks we met. Because the birthplace of the Buddhist faith, Nepal has this infectious non secular environment to it, which you’ll’t assist however change into swept up in. The principle takeaway from our time in Nepal was that the Nepalese individuals are a few of the kindest and most beneficiant folks we’ve met, all the time prepared to assist or chat with you about their life and tradition.
What was the perfect expertise you had whereas touring?
That’s a tough one as we had so many nice experiences throughout our tour of Nepal!
It’s received to be a toss-up between seeing wild rhinos stroll proper throughout our path throughout our jeep safari within the lovely Chitwan Nationwide Park, or watching the dawn over Annapurna’s 8,091m excessive peak from the summit of Poon Hill. Each of those experiences will stick with us eternally and had been undoubtedly pinch-me moments! We really noticed a complete of 5 better one-horned rhinos throughout our safari in Chitwan, in addition to numerous crocodiles and a great deal of different wonderful wildlife. The three days we spent trekking within the Annapurna area had been a few of our favourites of our time in Nepal. Being surrounded by nature with the unbelievable backdrop of the Himalayas for days on finish is fairly exhausting to high!
The place was your favorite place to go to?
After a reasonably gruelling mini-bus journey, we arrived in what was our favorite city in Nepal, Pokhara. This charming lake-side city had such a beautiful environment with quaint little retailers and wonderful cafes with views of Phewa Lake. Earlier than our Poon Hill trek, we spent the day in Pokhara boating on the lake and stress-free within the solar at one of many many yummy cafes with the fascinating skyline of mountain peaks surrounding us. It was the right place to calm down earlier than embarking on our multi-day hike.
What was the perfect meals you ate?
There was just one meal that would give us the power to maintain up with the busy itinerary of our tour – DAL BHAT POWER, 24 HOUR! Nepals’ favorite dish, so well-known it has its personal slogan, Dal Bhat is a mix of small dishes often together with rice, lentil dal, veg curry, pickle and curd in addition to any variety of different accompaniments (relying on the place you’re).
After sampling quite a few Dal Bhat’s from everywhere in the nation, we will safely say that no two are served alike, however each single one is scrumptious! Oh, and ensure you go away room for seconds since you’ll be getting them whether or not you’ve got room or not! Freed from cost, after all, the Nepalese all the time need to ensure you are full to the brim after each meal.
Do you’ve got any high suggestions for travelling in Nepal?
- A couple of packets of journey illness tablets shall be a lifesaver because the roads all through Nepal are the worst we’ve ever skilled in a number of years of travelling in Asia. Suppose car-sized pot-holes, rocky dust tracks, winding mountain roads and loopy drivers – we even noticed a goat strapped to the highest of a bus!
- Pack some heat garments and a good pair of footwear and head to the mountains. There are a whole bunch of various treks to do in Nepal, all of which provide magnificent views – irrespective of which you select, you may’t go incorrect!
- We all know it may be painful, nevertheless it’s actually price setting the alarm for dawn throughout your time in Nepal, particularly when up within the Himalayas – belief us you gained’t remorse it.
And at last, the place’s subsequent in your journey bucket checklist?
We’re now exploring India and the subsequent nation we’ve our sights set on after that is Sri Lanka! We’re trying ahead to some severe beaching, browsing and exploring – to not point out Sri Lankan curry. That being stated, Nepal isn’t off the checklist fairly but! The Dragon Journey tour was the right introduction to the nation and we received to tick off a great deal of the highlights, however we will’t wait to return and actually get caught into the unbelievable treks it has to supply – and naturally, eat extra Dal Bhat!
You’ll find Will & Ellie on Instagram at @tappandbeartravel.
