Health and Vaccinations for Nepal Travel

This is intended as a general guide, but we highly recommend that you go to a qualified Doctor before your trip to Nepal to check exactly what immunisations you will need.

But as a general overview you will need immunisations although none of these are necessary to enter the country.

• Diphtheria & Tetnus
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B 
• Typhoid
• Rabies (optional)
• Japanese Encephalitis (optional) 

Malaria:

You only need to be concerned about Malaria if you are traveling to the flat plains of the Terai. If you are sticking to Kathmandu, Pokhara and the trekking routes then malaria is not an issue. There is no vaccines for malaria, only preventative measures, for example taking malarone, one of the better drugs.

To protect yourself against malaria try and avoid mosquito bites, wear long clothing especially around dusk when they like to feed, sleep under a mosquito net and use bug repellant such as deet.

What to pack in your first aid kit

Paracetamol

Throat sweets

Antibiotics - See your doctor

Ibuprofen

Diarrhoea medicins

Rehydration Salts

Nausea/vomiting medicines

Insect Repellent

Suncream

Eye drops

Aftersun

Antiseptic

Water purification

Plasters, wound dressing, bangages etc

Tweezers,

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Basic Nepali Language for Travelers

There are over 120 languages spoken in Nepal, but the most widely spoken is Nepali (Gorkhali). Although English is widely spoken in the touristy areas in Nepal, it's nice if you can have a few words up your sleeve and get the most our of your travels.

Basic phrases for travel in Nepal:

Hello                                          Namaste

Thank you                                  Dhanybhat

What is your name?                      Tapaiko naam ke ho?

My name is.....                            Mero naam.... ho

Yes                                           Hajur

No                                             Hoina

How are you?                              Tapailai kasto cha?

I'm fine, and you?                        Malai ramro chha, tapailai ni?

Good                                         Raamro

Bad                                           Naraamro

Do you speak English?                   Tapaai Angreji bolnuhuncha?

I don't understand                        Maile buhjina

Please speak slowly                      Bistaari bolnuhos

Where are you from?                    Tapai kaha bata hunuhuncha?

I'm from ......                              Ma ..... bata ho.

Where do you live?                       Tapai kaha basnu huncha?

I live in ......                               Ma .... ma buschu

Where is the ......?                       ......kaha cha?

How do I get to.....?                     ..... kasari Janne?

How much is that?                       Yas ko kati parchha?

Nepal is a beautiful country            Nepal ati sundar  desh ho

Where are you going?                   Kahaa Janne?

I'm going to .....                          ..... ma

May I take a photo?                     Ke ma tasbeer khichna sakchhu?

Come in                                      Bitra aaunus

Good night                                  Subaratri

See you again                             Pheri Betaula

Have a good trip                          Suba Yatra

Food                                          Kanna

Water                                        Pani             

Tea                                           Chiya

Excuse me, sorry                         Maaph garnus

It was nice meeting you                Tapai sanga betera khushi laagyo

Want to learn more?

You can download a Nepali Language guide from World Nomads on iTunes  or for more in depth language you can download a guide from Box

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What to do in Kathmandu...?

Many people land in Kathmandu, spend one night and then get out of the city as soon as possible. I can understand that, when's there's so many incredible mountains and riverswaiting for you out there...why would you waste your time on a busy, crazy city. But there's more to Kathmandu than you might have thought. 

For first timers to the city it can appear overwhelming. Crowds, heat, dust, traffic, noise...they weren't lying when they described it as a sensory overload. But get stuck in and enjoy the chaos, there's magic to this city you won't find anywhere else.

These are my top ten things to do in Kathmandu.

1. Visit the Monkey Temple, also known as Swayambbhunath. One of the top attractions in Kathmandu, once you manage to get up the 365 stone steps you will be greeted by an incredible view of the city and one of the best, most beautiful temples in the world. Sit and watch the world go by, just keep an eye on those cheeky monkeys!

2. Get foodie! One of the best things about staying in Kathmandu is to try out all the different restaurants. From local momo's to French cuisine, Mexican to Indian and some of the best pizza ever. You won't go hungry in this city!

See our full guide on where to eat in Kathmandu.

3. Watch the sun go down over Bodhnath Stupa. Bodhnath is the biggest Stupa in Asia and as such extremely popular with local Buddhists. The best time to go is around 5pm when all the locals are saying their mantras as they spin around the temple clockwise three times. Head up to one of the rooftop restaurants to see the sun dip down behind the temple - a truly magnificent sight.

4. Shop until you drop. Maybe not up everyone's street, but there are some great treasures to be found in Kathmandu. A favourite of mine is the Farmers Market that happens every Saturday at 1905, where they sell some scrummy food but also ethical clothing, jewellery and handicrafts.

5. Nightlife! A stay in Kathmandu wouldn't be complete with a trip to Tom and Jerries. Whether you like chilled out acoustic live music or heavy rock, there are bars and clubs to suit everyone's taste in Kathmandu. Just beware there is a curfew so when they say it's home time, they really mean it!

6. Get lost in Ashan Tol. The local market. Here you can find everything from fruits, kitchen ware, clothes, fresh fish and more! Get stuck in at this market and have a wander around the small backstreets of Kathmandu. But just one tip from you to me, keep a few rupees in your pocket in case you happen to get lost so you can make it back to the safety of your hotel!

7. Spend an afternoon in the Garden of Dreams. If your looking for a bit of peace then you found it. A small hidden garden on the outskirts of Thamel. It's worth the entrance fee of around 150 rupees just to sit in the garden to read your book and forget about the hustle and bustle going on outside the walls.

8. Take a mountain flight. If you don't have the time to trek to Everest, then taking a one hour flight around the mountains is the next best thing, Get up close and personal, the pilot will even let you in the cockpit to take photos.

9. Go Rock Climbing. Looking for a bit more adventure? Just a 20 minute drive from the center of Kathmandu is a great little rock climbing spot, called Nagarjun. For around $60 per day you can climb.

10. Spend a day wandering around Bhaktapur. Probably the most famous and most impressive of the three Durbar Squares (Patan and Kathmandu being the other two), it is worth the 30 minute drive to the ancient town of Bhaktapur. Whilst there make sure you try out the traditional curd and view their pottery.

If you would like more information on any of these ideas, then please feel free to email us info@grgadventurekayaking.com

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The Tamur - Trekking and Whitewater at it's very best.

For us, the Tamur is a classic river trip. It combines world class whitewater with a stunning trek though the Himalayan foothills. Seriously, what more could you ask for in a holiday?! The ultimate adventure. 

This is a more technical river than the likes of the Karnali or Sun Kosi and has more continuous rapids, but is fairly similar to rivers such as the Bhote Kosi and Marysandi. For whitewater kayakers this means a whole lot of fun eddy hopping and for rafters it means one action packed holiday.

Located in the remote East of Nepal, the journey there is half the fun, either a 15 hour bumpy bus journey or a quick 45 minute flight followed by a shorter bus ride. Once you leave the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu, you won't see another tourist until your return. You'll drive through many villages giving you a real taste of Nepali life before we then start our three day hike at Basantapur; which has often been described as the most scenic trek in Nepal. Accompanied by local porters (you can breathe a sigh of relief that they will carry the boats for us!), the trek provides us with outstanding views of Everest, Makalu and Kanchenjunga which means 'five treasure houses of snow' giving you some idea what you can expect to see. A highlight of the trek is getting over the 10,000ft pass above the sacred lake whilst surrounded by the Rhododendron forests. And then we reach Dobhan and are greeted by the mighty Tamur River. 

Get ready for an epic whitewater rollercoaster ride.

131km with 120 rapids....

The rapids are powerful and continuous Class IV- V. But don't worry there are nice eddies the whole way down to catch your breath.

At night you'll be treated to 5 million star accommodation on secluded, remote white sandy beaches. Enjoy our famous rum punch around the camp fire and you'll have to wait just a few minutes before locals from the village come down when inevitably the singing and dancing around the campfire begins.

We'll also rustle you up a feast in the evenings around the campfire with some scrummy food such as rice, lentils, buffalo steaks, french fries, chicken curries and more. And if your lucky we'll source the locals favourite brew - Thungba - fermented Millet with hot water, trust me when I say it's much better than it sounds

Imagine waking up every morning to fresh Himalayan coffee, the mist slowly rising off the river to show you a sneak peak of the gorges above, your Nepali guides singing folk songs as they prepare eggs, pancakes, toast and fruit for breakfast before you set off down for another adventure.

The river continues, gaining power and we go down. Exhilarating rapids flowing through a narrow jungle gorge. And this trip isn't just about the whitewater (although believe me when I tell you that's pretty spectacular in itself). The scenery is just as incredible as the river.  For those wildlife lovers among you, you'll be able to see Monkeys, bird life including Himalayn Eagles, deer and if your really lucky Leopards and Tigers. We'll also paddle through a few remote villages where we'll be greeted by fisherman trying to catch dinner for their families, and children running through the rice paddies on their way to school. You'll get a glimpse into Nepali culture that you wouldn't see sticking to the tourist trails in Pokhara and Kathmandu.

The best section of this river is towards the end when the river turns West, creating Ocean sized waves like you've never seen before. On the last day of the river the Tamur joins the Sun Kosi where the river peters out and we have about a 30 minute flat paddle until we reach Chatra, our take out. After one last Dal bhat at our friends house, where we can also grab our first shower in over a week, it's back on the bus for our drive/flight back home

If this sounds like an adventure you would like to join, we have a guaranteed departure on the Tamur River headed out of Kathmandu on the 4th November 2014. Email us for more information.

What else do you need to know?

When to go rafting the Tamur - April- May is good as is the end of October - November after the river has fallen a bit after the monsoon. This is one to avoid during the monsoon months.

How to get there - All our trips depart from Thamel, Kathmandu. You have two options 1- Fly from Kathmandu to Biratnagar where we will collect you at the airport of 2 - Join the staff on the bus for the 15 hour drive.  

 

How much experience do I need? Kayakers should be solid Grade III- IV, but we can take beginner rafters who will be in the care of our expert rafting guides. If you are concerned about your paddling ability, email us and we can discuss further with you.

 

How do I book? Email us!!! info@grgadventurekayaking.com

 

Top 10 Places to Eat in Kathmandu

Kathmandu is a food lovers heaven. You are treated to literally any variety of food you can imagine. Half the fun of staying in Thamel is to try out all the different restaurants and bars. To make navigating this town a little easier for you, I've listed our Top 10 favourite spots to for eating and drinking in Kathmandu.

• Electric Pagoda - The best burger in town. That's all you really need to know about this place! It has a lovely garden with a variety of seating options, great cocktails and plenty to choose from the menu. Nice for lunch or a chilled out evening.
• La Dolce Vita - Life is sweet. An Italian restaurant serving pizzas and pastas. The rooftop is one of the best places to spend a summers evening in Kathmandu. They also have a great wine list (which is rare for Nepal). This is the place we like to go to treat ourselves!
• New Orleans - A funky blues restaurant right in the center of Thamel in a quiet garden. Their food is great (steaks, salads, burgers and more) and have quite an extensive drinks menu. Check out their schedule to see when they have a live blues band in the evenings. It's also a nice spot for an afternoon coffee (and ice cream!)
• Northfields - My personal favourite breakfast spot. They have a variety of food on offer, Mexican, Nepali, Continental the list goes on. I like that they offer half or full sized portions on their breakfast menu, and the music from a traditional Nepali band in the evening sets a really great atmosphere. Coffee is refillable which is also great for breakfasts!
• Road House - Pizza, pizza, pizza!! Beautifully cooked in a real stone oven in front of you, this is the best pizza place in town. The garden out the back is great for the hot evenings and in the winter they have patio heaters. A lovely place for a romantic meal or group dinner. And make sure you try their sizzling brownie at the end!
• Muktinath Thakali Kitchen - Or as we like to call it 'Sunny Dal Bhat' as it's the only place in winter you can find sun in the city! This is a favourite amongst local business men who have their lunch time Dal Bhat here. There are other things on the menu, but their Dal Bhat is really something, and I have to be honest, I've never tried anything else!
• Everest Momo - Hands down the best momo's in town, and our all time favourite lunch spot. There's no menu, you simply walk in, sit down and someone will bring you a plate of 10 buff momo's with a very tasty soup. The only choice you get is coke or fanta. You eat, you pay and you go. No hanging around. It's Nepal's equivalent of fast food, but so much better!
• Yanling - If your looking for a cheaper place, Yanling serves nice momo's and Thupka (noodle soup) as well as fried rice and chowmein. It's not the fanciest place in town, but the food is good and service is quick.
• Places - A vegetarian restaurant with a cool vibe. Ground seating, these guys have really worked out a unique and tasty menu. Their salads are the best in town. Another great lunch time spot or a very chilled out evening.

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Cultural Do's and Dont's when traveling to Nepal

Even if you have the best of intentions, when travelling to a new country is it often easy to offend people without even realising it. So here's my list of Nepali do's and don'ts I have learnt over the years of being in Nepal so you can learn a few of the local customs before you arrive here... Some are obvious and common sense, but a few are a little bit stranger!!

·         Always say 'Namaste' - the most common greeting in Nepal. Make sure you put your hands together in the prayer position when you say it.

·         Do not pat people on the top of their heads as this is seen as the most sacred part of the body.

·         Take your shoes off before entering a temple or some bodies home. When you do take your shoes off make sure they are facing the right way up (Nepali superstition!).

·         Don't touch food with your left hand. This is considered your dirty hand. Most Nepali people eat with their hands rather than cutlery.

·         Along the same lines...only pass money, and shake hands with you right hand. You shouldn't touch people with your left hand

·         When sharing a water bottle, you shouldn't let it touch your lips, but rather pour from above (this takes quite a bit of skill and practise but is a much more hygienic way of sharing water.

·         Do not point at a person (or statue) with a finger or foot.

·         Be careful with your feet! You shouldn't sit with your soles pointing at anyone, or step over someone seated on the floor.

·         Foreigners are often not allowed inside many Hindu temples, so make sure you ask permission before you entering.

·         It is common for Nepali's to slurp their tea. It is also common for them the spit and make a hacking noise from the back of their throats. Not something I have ever gotten used to , but it isn't considered rude.

·         Car horns are normal and actually make driving safer in Nepal. If you hear a horn, don't jump or do anything erratic, the driver is simply telling you that he is there and about to over take you.

·         Do not eat from another persons plate, it is considered rude.

·         If you visit a family home for dinner, it is normal for the mother to serve every one (several times!) and she will eat last when everyone else has finished.

·         People do not commonly use their names here, but rather there relationship to each other. For example you wouldn't call out 'Tom' but rather 'Brother' (Dai in Nepali)

·         Cover up. Make sure you dress appropriately, especially in places of worship. Even if it's hot, men should not walk around bare chested.

·         When women are menstruating they eat and sleep alone. They are not allowed to enter the kitchen or temples.

·         Haggling is common practice in many shops (although not for water, or in supermarkets etc). Be polite and enjoy it!

·         Be aware of 'Nepali time'! Things in Nepal move very slowly and it is not uncommon for people to be 30 minutes late. Relax, be flexible and enjoy the pace of life here.

·         No displays of public affection please between same sexes please! Although it is no problem for men to walk around holding hands.

·         Being called fat is not an insult. And you will hear it a lot, even if you are not fat. In Nepal, it is a compliment! (The word for fat is 'Motti' or 'Motto')

·         You will find it hard to get beef in Nepal (only in tourist restaurants in Pokhara and Kathmandu it is served) but the local alternative is Water Buffalo.

·         You will notice many people will answer a question with a 'head bobble', basically wobbling their head from side to side, this means they are in agreement with you.

·         Do not be offended if a gist you are given is left unopened. It is seen as impolite to open a gift in from of the person who gave it.

·         When visiting temples make sure you go around them in a clockwise direction.

·         Once you venture out of the main cities, you will most likely get a lot of stares. They are not being rude, they are just interested, so smile and be polite.

·         Any finally - Nepalese have many superstitions, try to follow them where you can; if you drop rice, do not walk on it, it is considered rude to the Hindu Gods. The number 3 is considered unlucky.  If going on a long journey your family will usually give you a blessing first and only travel on certain days. Many homes and shops will have dangling chillies and lemons to protect from bad spirits. You shouldn't cut your toenails at night.

If you think I've missed anything, feel free to email me on info@grgadventurekayaking.com and I can add them in! For more tips on what to do before you travel to Nepal have a look at our website. 

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