Mix culture with skiing and guided walking holidays in Nepal

Skiing
Skiing is growing in popularity in Nepal, especially as part of a mountaineering or mountain trekking expedition. You can go cross-country skiing in the shadow of the highest mountains in the world and across fresh, powdered snow. The Everest region in the north east of the country is one of the most popular trekking destinations in Nepal and has increasingly become a skiing centre.

Most of the ski locations are above 4,000 metres in elevation. For the ultimate excitement try heli skiing. You jump from a hired helicopter on to the top of a peak and ski downhill. The chances are that you will never ski down the same piste twice. Most of Nepal's valleys have steep slopes that are ideal for downhill skiing but there are opportunities for cross country skiing holidays. Try the region around Rara Lake in western Nepal, the country's largest lake. Another cross country location could be the Upper Langtang Valley just north of Kathmandu.

Trekking
Your guided walking holidays in Nepal could also start from the Langtang Valley. This is the catchment area of the Trishuli and Koshi Rivers where elevations range between 1,500 and over 7,000 metres. Walk through dense forest of oak, rhododendron, maple and alder where you can see Himalayan black bears, leopards and wild boars. The lower part of the valley has musk deer, snow leopards and snow partridges.

The Solukhumbu district trek takes around the Everest region and the traditional Sherpa homeland in the north east of the country. The elevations here range between 2,000 and 4,000 metres. Walk through the Sherpa villages, trek north to the Dudh Kund Lake that is a pilgrimage site, or visit the Buddhist monasteries. Some higher altitude treks can take you to Lungden at over 5,000 metres where you can see yaks feeding on the high Himalayan plateaux close to the old Silk Road route from China to India.

Culture
Start your cultural tour in Kathmandu and explore its unique mixture of temples. There are traditional pagoda temples around Durbar Square. Head for the Swayambhunath Buddhist Temple, also known as the "Monkey Temple" on a hill outside the city and Nepal's second largest Hindu temple, Pashupatinath, just a short drive away.

Nagarkot, a hill station just 32 kilometres east of Kathmandu, gives the most stunning views of both the Kathmandu Valley and the Himalayas. Enjoy the flowers in Nagarkot before you set off for a 200 kilometre journey to Pokhara, one of Nepal's most famous and beautiful cities. It is located close to a Phewa Tal, the second largest lake in Nepal and overlooked by the Annapurna range of the Himalayas. The population of Pokhara is a rich mixture of languages, castes, tribes and religions.

Visit some of the many monasteries, such as the Karma Dubgyu Chokhorling Monastery just outside the city, or museums like the Ghurkha Museum inside it. Guspeshvor Mahadevnis is a shrine in caves outside the city near the Devi Falls. Other caves are famous for their bats as well as rock formations.

Tashi Palkhel is one of the largest Tibetan settlements in the region. Buddhist monks hold masked dances here during the January/February period to celebrate the Tibetan New Year.

Conclusion
Travel through Nepal's stunning scenery and cultural treasures at a gentle pace or as part of an adventure holiday. A visit here leaves the traveller with enduring memories.

AUTHOR BIO:
Anne Davis writes regularly on guided walking holidays and cross country skiing holidays in Nepal for a range of websites and blogs. She can arrange bespoke excursions.