Nepal Uncovered: Travel Podcast

Epizode

• Nar Phu Trek Day 1: Besisahar to Koto | Nar Phu Permit Checkpost 29.06.2026 13min

  🥾 Kickstarting the Nar Phu Valley Trek means leaving the classic Annapurna Circuit crowds behind at the Koto gateway. In this episode, we break down the reality of the grueling 11-hour local transport journey from Besisahar to Koto. 🗺️ We explain how the massive new permit regulations update finally allows solo trekkers to secure a Restricted Area Permit with a licensed guide, and detail the critical checkpost protocols where your paperwork is vetted before you cross the boundary into a world frozen in time. 🎒🏔️📸 Read the full details for [Day 1 of the Nar Phu Trek: Besisahar to Koto]Read the ⁠full trekking guide to Nar Phu⁠📖 Get the new edition of the [Trekking in Nepal Guidebook]
• The Rainy Season Secret: How to Smartly Travel Nepal During Monsoon 22.06.2026 22min

  Is traveling to Nepal during the monsoon season madness or a masterstroke? 🌧️🤔 Between June and September, the skies open up over the Himalayas, and standard tourist itineraries quickly collapse under the weight of muddy roads and canceled flights. But if you know how to navigate the weather, the rewards are spectacular. In this episode, we unpack the realistic survival guide for visiting Nepal during the rainy season. We share the hard truths about leeches, landslides, and highway construction delays, alongside the stunning upside of lush emerald valleys, uncrowded heritage sites, and the dry, high-altitude rain shadow deserts where the sun shines all summer long. ⛰️🌵Read more:Traveling Nepal during the Monsoon SeasonThe Best Time of Year to go Trekking in Nepal
• 1-week itinerary in Nepal? Yes, you can do it! 15.06.2026 20min

  Think you can’t experience the magic of the Himalayas in under a week? 🏔️⏱️ Think again! While most guidebooks try to cram a month-long trip into seven days, we are breaking down the realistic, high-impact blueprints for a short stay . With highway delays and shifting flight hubs, a bad itinerary will leave you stranded at a bus station instead of exploring ancient temples or mountain ridges. 🚌❌ In this episode, we lay out three distinct 1 week packages designed to give you culture, wildlife, or trekking without wasting a single second. 🎒📋What we cover in this episode:The Transit Trap: Why attempting the Kathmandu-Pokhara-Chitwan "Golden Triangle" by road will ruin a 7-day trip, and how to use domestic flights strategically. ✈️🛑Itinerary 1 (The Heritage Heavyweight): A 5 to 7 day deep dive into the Kathmandu Valley, including Patan, the living history of Bhaktapur, and the sacred stupas. 🏛️✨Itinerary 2 (The Short-Trek Solution): How to get panoramic Himalayan views without a 2-week commitment by trekking the Nagarkot-Dhulikhel-Balthali circuit. 🥾🌅Itinerary 3 (The Wild Terai Express): Squeezing a true jungle safari into 4 days by flying straight into Bharatpur for Chitwan National Park. 🐆🛶The "Buffer Day" Rule: Why a short trip requires strict planning around flight cancellations and municipal holidays. 🗓️⏳Read more about the best 1 week itinerary for traveling Nepal
• ABANDONED: The Six-Day Survival of Hillary Dawa Sherpa on Everest 08.06.2026 19min

  Imagine being left behind at 24,600 feet on the final day of Mount Everest’s busiest climbing season. Your headlamp is dead. You have no food, no water, and no supplemental oxygen.And then, the safety infrastructure beneath you vanishes.In this gripping episode, we deconstruct one of the most miraculous self-rescues in mountaineering history: and the shocking systemic collapse that allowed it to happen.Inside this episode:🛑 The Agonizing Choice: Why a British Royal Marine and YouTuber made the harrowing decision to descend, leaving his guide behind in the "death zone."📉 The Corporate Ghost Town: How a bureaucratic "permit-sharing" loop and an insurance standoff left Hillary Dawa Sherpa completely off the rescue radar.❌ Pulled From Beneath Him: Why logistics teams dismantled the critical ladders crossing the treacherous Khumbu Icefall, completely unaware Dawa was still up there.👋 The Invisible Signal: The heartbreaking moment Dawa waved his hands at a search helicopter... only for the crew to miss him entirely.👋 The Self-Rescue: How a 52-year-old guide defied absolute medical impossibility, crawling and sliding down the mountain for six agonizing days.This isn’t just a survival story: it’s an investigation into corporate negligence, a broken communication system, and the indomitable human will to live. 🎧👉 Subscribe/Follow so you never miss an episode of deep-dive investigative storytelling.Get the best guidebooks to Nepal#Everest #Mountaineering #SurvivalStory #DawaSherpa #Podcast #AdventureTravel
• The Death of the Modern Guidebook and its Rebirth: Why I Completely Rewrote The Nepal Guidebook 01.06.2026 18min

  The traditional travel guidebook is officially dead. 📉💀 Slashed budgets from massive corporate publishers have turned legendary guidebooks into soul-less, ad-filled brochures packed with generic stock photography and stripped of real editorial depth. Even worse, Amazon is being flooded by "ghost guides" written by people who have never set foot in Kathmandu, relying entirely on outdated scraped data. ❌🤖 In this raw, behind-the-scenes episode, David Ways shares the ultimate story of guidebook rebirth. After three failed compact drafts and years of navigating a pandemic, shifting trekking mandates, wars, economic upheaval, and a Gen Z political revolution, David details the obsessive process of completely rewriting his bestseller from page one. ✍️🔥 Discover how a massive 654-page monolith was dismantled and reborn as a sleek, full-color, future-proofed companion designed specifically for independent travelers in 2026. 🎒✨What we cover in this episode:The Corporate Decline: Why major guidebook brands read like superficial Instagram feeds and how "ghost guides" actively put travelers at risk on the trail. 🕵️‍♂️📚The Messy Reality of a Rewrite: A look at the grueling, iterative process of tearing apart a book, moving text, and obsessing over pixel-level details. 💻📊The Heads-Up Display: How the new 2026 chapter headers instantly deliver crowd density patterns, optimal times, and upfront costs before you read a single paragraph. ⏱️💵Uncovered Corners: The new philosophy replacing the outdated "off the beaten path" label, mapping out vibrant local heritage sites that still feel completely real. 🗺️🏔️The QR Code Safety Net: How live digital integration allows readers to scan the physical page to instantly verify fluctuating trekking permit fees in real-time. 📲🎫Bypassing the Shipping Crisis: How the collapse of Nepal's bookpost led to a revolutionary B-Corp regional printing network that cuts delivery times and saves the planet. 🌍🌱Nepal: The Essential Travel Guide (paperback)Nepal Guidebook (Digital)All Nepal Guidebooks
• Where to Buy the Best Tea Leaves in Nepal with the Tea Connoisseur of Kathmandu 25.05.2026 21min

  Did you know that some of the world’s most prized "Ilam" tea comes Nepal? 🍃🤫 In this episode, we sit down with a true Tea Connoisseur of Kathmandu to unravel the incredible, hidden world of Himalayan Orthodox tea.For generations, Nepal's premium high-altitude leaves were quietly bought cheap, crossed the border to India, and got rebranded under famous luxury labels like Darjeeling. 🌍📈 We are blowing the lid off this identity crisis and exploring the passionate movement putting names like Ilam with Silver Tips, and Golden Tips directly onto global luxury menus. From the delicate floral notes of a spring First Flush to the complex depth of hand-rolled white pearls, this is your ultimate sensory guide to the Himalayan leaf. 🏔️✨What we cover in this episode:The Border Rebranding Secret: How Nepal’s premium loose-leaf tea historically lost its identity across the border, and why the official "Nepal Tea" trademark is fighting back. 🗺️🛑High-Altitude Terroir: Why tea grown at extreme elevations (up to 7,300 feet) produces a naturally sweeter, smoother cup with zero bitterness. 🏔️🌤️The Connoisseur's Breakdown: Discover the difference between the crush-tear-curl industrial black tea used for sweet street-side Chiya and delicate specialty white, green, and silver tips teas. ☕️🍂Mastering the Flushes: A seasonal guide explaining why a spring First Flush tastes like a completely different beverage compared to a bold autumn harvest. 🌸🍂The Buyer's Shield: The exact tasting tips our Kathmandu connoisseur uses to spot overpriced, stale leaves in tourist shops so you always buy genuine quality. 🕵️‍♂️🛍️Discover more with where to find the best tea in Nepal
• MissingTrekker.com: Inside the Internet's First Database for Missing Trekkers 18.05.2026 20min

  What happens when a traveler stops responding to messages from the mountains of Nepal? 🏔️📱 For decades, the terrifying truth was that no central authority kept a public record of missing tourists. Enter MissingTrekker.com, a completely free, privately run portal that acts as a digital notice board and safety lifeline for desperate families worldwide. 🌍📋 In this episode, we look at the origin of the site, how it actually functions, and why it has become the most vital safety net in the Himalayas. We explain how community crowd-sourcing cracked open recent high-profile cases and provide the exact step-by-step blueprint on how to use the site if a loved one goes off the grid. 🗺️🔍 What we cover in this episode:The Origin Story: Why David Ways launched the platform in 2016 after discovering a complete lack of public records for missing international hikers. 💻🏛️How the Portal Works: Understanding the platform as a central notice board for maps, photos, and last-known locations rather than a physical search group. 🗺️👁️The Power of the Crowd: How tracking recent 2025 and 2026 cases showed that it can locate trekkers lost on high passes. 👥⚡The "How-To" Protocol: The critical checklist families must gather before posting, from insurance policy details to local rescue services. 📋🕵️‍♂️Dismantling the Fake Reports: How the site filters out fake submissions tied to the $21 million helicopter rescue scams targeting insurers. 🚁💸The Ultimate Safety Precaution: Why registering your trail itinerary with an independent source before you lace up your boots can save your life. 🥾🛡️Your visit to MissingTrekker.com: can save your life, or help you save someone's life. Visit MissingTrekker.com
• Giants of the Jungle: The Ethics of Elephant Tourism in Chitwan 11.05.2026 20min

  To ride or not to ride? 🐘🤔 In this episode, we step into the tall grass of Chitwan National Park to tackle the elephant in the room. As travelers in 2026 become more conscious of animal welfare, the traditional safari is being challenged by new, ethical alternatives. We look at the pros and cons of elephant tourism, from the vital role these animals play in anti-poaching patrols to the controversial training methods used behind the scenes. 🌿🐅 Whether you are looking for a photo-op or a way to support conservation, we help you navigate the 2026 reality of elephant encounters in Nepal. 🇳🇵✨What we cover in this episode:The Anti-Poaching Paradox: Why captive elephants are actually a "necessary evil" for protecting tigers and rhinos in terrain that vehicles cannot reach.🐆 🦏🛡️The "Elephant Forest Walk" Shift: Why the new 2026 model of walking beside an elephant is replacing the traditional back-ride but is just the same? 🚶‍♂️🐘The Economic Backbone: How elephant tourism provides the funding for local community forests and keeps dozens of villages out of poverty. 💰🏠Learn more about Elephant breeding and training in NepalHow to take an Elephant Safari in ChitwanFull guide to Chitwan National Park in Nepal
• Everest Climbing Season 2026 News 04.05.2026 17min

  The deadlock on Everest is over, but at a heartbreaking cost. 🏔️💔 After two weeks of being stalled by a "skyscraper-sized" ice block hanging over the Khumbu Icefall, the route to Camp 1 has finally been opened. 🧗‍♂️🚧 In this urgent update, we look at the reality of the 2026 climbing season and the high-altitude workers who risked and lost their lives to clear the path for commercial expeditions. 🕯️🇳🇵 We discuss the "Icefall Doctors" who navigated the unstable serac, the controversial decision to push forward despite the danger, and what this delay means for the 425 permit holders now facing a dangerously short summit window. ⏳🚁 This is the story of the sacrifice made behind the scenes of the world’s highest peak. 🏔️✨What we cover in this episode:The Serac Standoff: A look at the massive ice block that brought the 2026 spring season to a two week standstill. 🧊🛑Tragedy in the Icefall: Honoring the Sherpas who lost their lives while fixing ropes and ladders in the most dangerous section of the mountain. 🕯️🏔️The Summit Compression: Why a late start in May creates a "Deadly Bottleneck" in the Death Zone and how expedition leaders are preparing. 📉⚠️Helicopter Logistics: The unprecedented use of helicopters to shuttle gear to Camp 1 to save time and reduce Sherpa exposure. 🚁📦Ethics of the 2026 Season: A hard look at the "Profit vs. Safety" debate as Nepal nears a record year for Everest revenue. 💸🏛️Read more on the best travel guides to NepalGet the best guidebooks to Nepal
• Kathmandu’s Best Lunch: Momos, noodles, and the "Secret" Spots 27.04.2026 14min

  Finding a great lunch in Kathmandu is harder than it looks. Between the 11 AM local rush and with so many tourists out and about many travelers settle for mediocre food. In this episode, we use 18 years of "boots on the ground" research to identify the best lunch spots in Thamel, Paknajol, and beyond for the best places to find lunch in Kathmandu.Best places for lunch in Kathmandu🌐The Budget Eater’s Guide to Thamel and Paknajol 💰Paknajol & Kaldera Chowk: The New Backpacker Hub 🎒
• Patan Durbar Square: A Masterpiece in Brick and Stone 20.04.2026 21min

  Patan is more than just a collection of temples; it is a vibrant, breathing community. We take you through the narrow alleys and hidden courtyards of the square to find the authentic pulse of the city. Join us for a journey of the senses as we explore the "Golden City." 🇳🇵Highlights of this episode:Royal Baths & Hidden Buildings: The incredible Tusha Hiti in Sundari Chowk, where Malla kings once performed their ritual baths. 💧Where to stay? A look at accommodation around Patan Durbar Square. ☸️Check out the full Patan Durbar Square Travel Guide
• The Dirty Truth Tackling Nepal’s Mountain Waste Crisis 13.04.2026 20min

  What happens when thousands of people relieve themselves in a landscape where nothing decomposes? In this episode, we tackle the "grossest" secret in the Himalayas: the human waste crisis. For decades, the solution was to "dig a hole and forget it," but in 2026, the melting glaciers are revealing the consequences. We discuss the biological reality of trekking at 5,000 meters.While mountaineers often get much of the grim light around this story. The mountain villages trekkers go through are also feeling the stink.What we cover in this episode:The Stink: Why local municipalities are stuck on how to proceed.The Wag Bag Revolution: A practical guide to biodegradable bags. How do they work? Where do you get them? Are they even practical?The Biogas Hope: An update on the Biogas Project and how engineers want to try and turn waste into renewable energy for local villages.Read more on the Nepal Travel Guides
• Coffee Countdown: Nepal’s Top 5 Roasters and beans! 06.04.2026 23min

  Why does a cup of of Nepali Arabica sell for a premium in a "Reserve" shop in Tokyo, yet taste like burnt rubber in a Thamel cafe? ☕️🤔 In this episode, we solve the great Nepali Coffee Paradox via a 10 year coffee research project by Nepal guidebook author David Ways. We explore the "Dirty Truth" behind why the best beans are often exported immediately, leaving locals and tourists with "Grade C" leftovers. 📉✈️ We also dive into the technical side: how high-altitude beans (grown up to 1,600+m) are being are being held back by poor roasting. 🧪✨ Finally, we count down the Top 5 Roasters in Nepal who are finally keeping the "good stuff" in the country! 🇳🇵🏆What we cover in this episode:The Export Drain: Why the top 1.3 percent of Nepal’s specialty crop is whisked away to international luxury markets, leaving a "Specialty Vacuum" in Kathmandu. 🌍💸The "Bitter" Complaint: Why traditional dark roasting is used to hide poor sorting and how "The New Wave" of roasters is shifting to medium-light profiles. ☕️🔥Top 5 Roaster Countdown: Our definitive 2026 rankings of the shops doing it right, from the "Institutional" giants to the tiny "Nano-Roasters." 🏅🔥Links to explore more!☕️ The best coffee beans and roasters in Nepal📖 Paperback travel guide to Nepal📲Digital Guidebook to Nepal to download now
• Solo Trekkers Finally Allowed in Restricted Areas! 30.03.2026 35min

  In a historic shift, Nepal has officially revised its trekking permit policy for restricted areas. As of March 2026, the long-standing requirement for a "minimum of two" foreigners has been abolished (though not implemented yet!). This episode breaks down what this means for solo adventurers wanting to explore Upper Mustang, Manaslu, and Dolpa, and the specific 2026 conditions that still apply. 🇳🇵✨What we cover in this episode:01 | The No Mandatory Guide Problem: Even though you can now get a permit as a solo traveler, a licensed guide is still strictly compulsory in all restricted zones. We explain why "solo" doesn't mean "unaccompanied." 👤🤝02 | Online Hype & Bad Advice: We address the confusion circulating online that "solo" means you can now apply for these permits yourself at the immigration office (You can't). 📱🚫03 | Getting a Real Guide: With solo trekking now legal in restricted areas, the demand for high-quality guides has spiked. We discuss how to find a guide who is authorized to handle the new "Single-Trekker" liability paperwork. 🪪✅04 | No more ghost permits needed: Solo trekkers no longer have to apply for ghost permits to trek in restricted areas - phantom Phil is on his own too! Better again, solo trekkers no longer need to seek out unvetted trekking partners online 🤢📈05 | Special Considerations: Why the new "Guide-to-Trekker" ratio (max 1:7) is the only downside to all this - but National Parks may yet enforce the 1:5 ratio. 👥📉6 | Frequently Asked Questions: Can I trek solo in Upper Mustang now? (Yes!) Can I trek without an agency? (No!). We clear up the biggest 2026 permit myths. 🙋‍♀️💬Links mentioned in this episode:New 2026 Restricted Area Permit Rules (The Official Breakdown) 🌐How to Hire a Licensed Guide in Nepal: 2026 Update 🤝The 2026 Guidebook to Nepal 📖The 2026 Trekking in Nepal Guidebook 🏔️
• Everest Trekking Safety: Avoiding Bad Advice & Real Risks 🏔️⚠️ 23.03.2026 15min

  What we cover in this episode:01 | Common Risks in the Everest Region: We identify the 2026 trail hazards, including shifting terrain near Everest Base Camp and the specific dangers of the Cho La Pass. 🧊📉02 | The No Mandatory Guide Problem: A breakdown of the current local vs. national regulations. We explain the legal grey areas for solo trekkers in the Khumbu and why "mandatory" doesn't always mean what you think. 📜🤔03 | Online Hype & Bad Advice: We debunk the dangerous advice currently circulating on social media and explain why "aesthetic" trekking videos often ignore critical safety steps. 📱❌04 | Getting a Real Guide: How to verify credentials in 2026. We discuss how to find a guide who actually knows high-altitude medicine rather than just the route to a tea house. 🤝✅05 | Altitude Sickness & the Everest Treks: The 2026 protocols for AMS. We discuss why the rapid ascent to Namche Bazaar remains the biggest "trip-killer" and how to properly acclimatize. 🤢🏔️06 | Preparation: Before You Leave Home: The essential pre-trip checklist, including physical conditioning and the specific gear you cannot find in Kathmandu. 🎒🏋️‍♂️07 | Emergency Protocols: When Things Go Wrong: What to do when disaster strikes. We outline the communication steps and how to trigger a legitimate evacuation without falling for insurance fraud. 🚨🚁08 | Special Considerations: Weather patterns for the season and how the "Ghost Season" affects safety and resource availability on the trail. ❄️🌬️09 | Everest Region Safety Checklist: A quick-fire summary of the daily checks every trekker must perform before leaving their lodge each morning. 📋✔10 | Frequently Asked Questions: We answer your most pressing questions about solo trekking, costs, and current trail conditions. 🙋‍♂️💬Links mentioned in this episode:Safety when trekking in the Everest Region ⚠️Everest Base Camp Trekking Guide 🏔️Nepal Trekking Fitness & Preparation Guide 💪
• Complete Everest Base Camp Trekking guide🏔️ 16.03.2026 40min

  The . Standing at the foot of the world’s highest peak is still the ultimate Himalayan dream, but in 2026, the way you get there has changed! 🏔️🥾 From the 2:00 AM drives to Ramechhap to the new "Guide Mandatory" enforcement that doesn't exist, the Everest Base Camp (EBC) trek requires a new level of planning. 🗺️🚁 In this comprehensive guide, we strip away the outdated advice and give you the 2026 reality. 🎒📋 We cover the updated costs, the hidden permit fees, and why your "12 day" itinerary needs at least two buffer days to survive the unpredictable weather. 🌨️⏳ Whether you are a solo trekker or in a group, this is your blueprint for a successful journey to 5,364 meters! 🇳🇵💪What we cover in this episode:The Ramechhap Reality: Why your Lukla flight no longer leaves from Kathmandu and how to handle that 5 hour pre-dawn drive to Manthali Airport. 🚗💤The 2026 Cost Breakdown: We tally the total spend, the $1,200 to $1,800 standard trekking packages or going it alone. 💸📈The Permit Puzzle: A guide to the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit and the Sagarmatha National Park entry fees (and why you don't need a TIMS card here). 🎫📍The "Mandatory Guide" Rule: How the 2026 safety mandates are NOT being enforced in the Khumbu and what to look for. 🥾👮‍♂️The Safety Protocal: Why we recommend you understand that there's a lot of misinformation out there. 🧘‍♂️🏔️Packing for 2026: The essential gear list, including why a -15°C sleeping bag is non-negotiable and the rise of "Luxury Teahouses" with Wi-Fi and hot showers. 🛌🚿Complete Everest Base Camp Trekking GuideTrekking guidebook to Everest and more treks in Nepal
• 🏔️ Nepal Election Results 2026: The Balen Landslide & A Tourism Revolution 09.03.2026 41min

  The "Ghanti" (Bell) has rung, and Nepal’s political landscape has been permanently altered. In this episode, we break down the historic 2026 General Election results, where Balen Shah’s RSP secured a historic majority, effectively ending the decades-long dominance of the "Old Guard."But beyond the politics, we’re asking the big question: What does this mean for the future of Nepal travel? ---🗳️ The Landslide Breakdown: How Balen Shah defeated former PM KP Sharma Oli in Jhapa-5 by over 49,000 votes.🔔 The "Bacha Patra" Deep Dive: A realistic look at the RSP’s ambitious tourism manifesto.💻 The Digital Revolution: Will the "One-Door" digital permit system finally end the paperwork nightmare for trekkers?🌍 Digital Nomad Visas: How the new 1-year nomad visa could change the game for remote workers in Kathmandu and Pokhara.✈️ The EU Air Safety Ban: The government’s plan to get Nepal’s airlines back in European skies by 2027.🦅 The "Black Swan" Warning: How the ongoing Iran conflict might impact 2026 flight routes and arrival numbers.You can also read David Ways candid breakdown on the election and tourism's future in Nepal.
• The Night Bus Tragedy, Fake News & Election Rumor Mills: An Important Nepal Safety Briefing for Tourists 02.03.2026 18min

  Happy Holi!! They tried to ban the Holi festival today, but, everyone went out and celebrated! We focus on avoiding fake news about Nepal, and where to pay attention this week. However, first we focus on February 23, 2026, when a night bus plunged into the Trishuli River bank on the Pokhara to Kathmandu route, claiming 19 lives, including tourists, and reminding the world of the "Dirty Truth" of Nepal’s highways. But as the March 5th General Election approaches, a second danger is rising: the election rumor mill. From fake social media groups about total border closures to false claims of a "tourist lockdown," misinformation is spreading faster than the truth. In this briefing, we break down the facts of the night bus tragedy and fact-check the viral rumors that are making travelers nervous. We give you the "No-Nonsense" reality of what is actually closed, what is safe, and how to navigate your trip this week.As of right now, everything is going smoothly, aside from fake online posters, infographics, and posts telling tourists they can't go anywhere in Nepal - it's all rubbish and fake. Registered tourist vehicles are running, the airport is open, and the three day public holiday does not mean everything is closed . P.S you'll be able to have a drink too. Unscruulous travel companies are posting offical looking messages to presuade tourists to take private tours ... that's what's happening and they are getting away with it as everyone is busy with the election. PLEASE get your your information from verified trusted sources. Read more about the election week in NepalMeanwhile guidebook author David Ways will be posting any important and verified updates on X and Bluesky
• The Holi Festival and the 2026 Election Next Week in Nepal 23.02.2026 18min

  Get ready for some of the most intense seven days in recent Nepali history. Between the explosion of color for Holi on March 2nd and the high-stakes General Election on March 5th, travelers in Nepal are facing a week of extreme contrasts. In this episode, we provide the ultimate tactical guide enjoying Holi and avoiding the election!What we cover in this episode:Holi Strategy (March 2): How to join the celebrations in Basantapur and Thamel safely. We cover "dye-proofing" your gear and why you should finish your street festivities by noon.The Election (March 5): The reality. We break down what to do, and what not to do during the electionThe "Silence Period": Understanding the 48 hour waiting period for the results ... if they comeQuick overview of the Holi festival and what to expectIn-depth look at the Holi festivalA full article on the Holi festival in 2026 and Nepal's election!
• Escape Thamel: The Best Day Trips from Kathmandu 16.02.2026 17min

  Is the "electric energy" of Kathmandu starting to wear you down? Before you flee to the mountains, there is a hidden side of the valley that most travelers miss. In this episode, we break down the best day trips from Kathmandu. We move beyond the standard "seven UNESCO sites" to show you how to find genuine peace in ancient Newari townships and quiet riverside temples. Whether you want an Everest glimpse from Nagarkot or a quiet stroll through the pottery squares of Thimi, we give you the exact routes to do it yourself.What we cover in this episode:The "Middle Place": Why Thimi is the best-kept secret for culture seekers and how to visit in under two hours.The Saturday Strategy: Why Saturday is the "golden day" for visiting Kathmandu Durbar Square and how to time your trip to avoid the traffic.Hilltop Escapes: Comparing the sunrise at Nagarkot with the quiet heritage of Dhulikhel and Kirtipur.The Riverside Retreat: Exploring the ancient shrines of Gokarna where the Bagmati River is actually clean.The Budget Blueprint: How to combine multiple sites into one seamless day trip.Read more: The best day trips from Kathmandu