Visit Nepal 2020 is a Nepal government project to promote tourism in Nepal. Visit Nepal Year 2020 has aimed to welcome at least 2 million tourists in Nepal in 2020.
Nepal is always been on the top of the travel bucket list. The home of the Himalayas, the cultural and geographical diversities are the greater aspects of this wonderful country. Every year almost one million travelers make their trip to Nepal.
The flow of the tourist was disturbed after the 2015 earthquake, as the mainstream media has promoted the country as an unsafe destination. But the country has again come back to its feet. As a result, in 2017 the total number of tourists that visited Nepal was 940,218 (Source: Department of Immigration-DoI).
Tourism has always contributed as a major source of income for Nepal. With all the natural and cultural wonders, the country carries, it should be the major source of income. To promote and to attract more tourists on this Holy land, the Nepal government has organized Visit Nepal Years in 1998 and 2011 where the campaign was successful to bring 463,684 and 736,215 respectively. And now Nepal government is promoting 2020 as Visit Nepal Year 2020 and aiming to bring 2 million tourists.
For the overall success of this campaign, the Nepal Government separated five sectors to equally promote and develop this country that includes People & Heritage, Nature & Wildlife, Culture Cities & Leisure, Religion & Pilgrimage and Adventure & Outdoor. Construction of two international airports at Bhairahawa and Pokhara is also on the verge of completion making it more accessible for all tourists traveling across.
Nepal Travel Insights – A Lifetime Experiences Indeed!
Nepal is best known for the Himalayas, Mount Everest, and amazing treks. Eight of the world's 14 eight thousand meter peaks are located in Nepal, creating world-class mountaineering and trekking opportunities. But Nepal has much more to offer than just its mountains. If you want to immerse yourself in local culture and history, then perhaps a tour of Kathmandu, the capital is a bustling city with seven UNESCO world heritage sites including Boudhanath, the world's largest Buddhist stupa is for you. Or you could delve deeper into this nation's religious heritage and travel a few hours from Pokhara to Lumbini, a pilgrimage site known as the birthplace of Lord Buddha. Other unforgettable destinations include the jungle national parks of Chitwan and Bardia as well as the traditional indigenous village of Bandipur which is surrounded by epic views of the Himalaya.
Most people visit Nepal in spring and autumn, but in recent years winter and summer have become popular seasons as well. Trekking in the Himalaya is a life-changing experience for many travelers. Longer treks include the Everest Base Camp Trek, the Annapurna Circuit and the newly popular Manaslu Circuit while shorter treks such as the Ghorepani Trek to Poon Hill offer experiences to travelers who want to experience the mountain at lower elevations. Rafting the rivers of Nepal is also world-class and so is mountain biking on Nepal's countless trails and paragliding above the Phewa Lake in Pokhara.
Although 3-5 days is enough to explore the Kathmandu Valley, we recommend spending at least a week in Nepal where you can combine Kathmandu or Pokhara with a short (but rewarding) trek. With more time, you can tackle a longer, more challenging trek that takes you higher up into the Everest, Annapurna, or Mustang region. For any trip over 7 days, you also have enough time to visit Chitwan or Bardia, Nepal's jungle region, to catch a glimpse of wildlife.
Nepal Government is putting a special emphasis on encouraging travelers to visit Nepal in 2020, promoting it around the world as a destination of adventure, luxury and everything in between. While any year is a good year to visit Nepal, come and discover the best possibilities to explore this country making it lifetime experiences!
Consider below activities to make your trip more memorable:
The UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Nepal is home to ten UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including seven in Kathmandu Valley, Lumbini (Birthplace of Buddha), Chitwan National Park and Sagarmatha National Park. The heritage sites have been nominated based on their cultural and natural values.
Visit the official website of Nepal Tourism Board
https://www.welcomenepal.com/places-to-see/unesco-world-heritage-sites.html
The Festival
Where each day is a celebration of life, there are numerous festivals throughout the year. The sounds of drums, the flute players, the masked dancers and the quiet hum of sacred chants and parades that celebrate the culture and heritage of the nations. Nepal is home to the Living Goddess, the Kumari – a manifestation of female divinity, who is venerated and worshiped by devotees across the country.
If you stick around in Nepal long enough you will definitely find a festival to join in with and the locals always welcome travelers.
Enjoy the Homestays
Nepal has a variety of tastes to explore homestay tours. It is far apart from the urban areas and offers visitors close proximity to the local lifestyle. It gives a lot of opportunities to experience the real-life of local people, culture, social community, history and how people are able to manage their livelihood and the society around them. Most of the accommodation stay is at the home of local people commonly known as Home-Stay.
Experience an epic Nature & Wildlife Safari
Nepal is home to some of the richest and most diverse nature and wildlife in Asia. Heaven for Bengal tiger, rare one-horned rhinos and a vast array of birdlife, its national parks can provide some spectacular wildlife encounters. This unforgettable journey takes you into the most prized sanctuaries in Nepal. There is a heap of safari options available but we would recommend either jeep safari or jungle walk with an expert guide.
Explore the Culture Cities
No visit to Kathmandu would be complete without visiting the incredible UNESCO World Heritage-listed Durbar squares of Kathmandu. Going back in history, Nepal was actually split into three main Kingdoms – Bansantapur (Kathmandu), Bhaktapur and Patan, each of which had a royal palace and surrounding Durbar squares located in the Kathmandu valley. In the unified Nepal of today, each Durbar Square is made up of temples, idols, statues, open courts and fountains along with other structures. They are the perfect place to admire ancient Nepali architecture, Newari wood carvings, and historic traditions.
Wander in the Backpacker District of Thamel
Most travelers spend most of their time in Thamel. Right in the heart of the city with all the major attractions and transport routes close by, it's colorful and a busy street. With the narrow streets and alleyways, it has everything a traveler needs; hotels and guesthouses, restaurants, bars, top quality bakeries, supermarkets, book stores, pirated DVDs, trekking gears and everything in between. You could spend hours exploring the streets and meeting all the smiling locals.
Experience Nepal's best Treks amongst the Glorious Himalayan Mountains
Whether you're a novice or an experienced trekker, Nepal is the land of trekking and climbing, offering some of the best trekking routes in the world. There's something about walking in Nepal that puts the mind and body at ease. Trekking along the mountain trails of Nepal is a special experience. It may be the sense of scale and perspective that only the Himalayan can give. The vastness of the Himalayan mountains, the amazing different viewpoint, the friendly people and the slower pace of life when movement happens on foot all contribute to the fact that many travelers who come to Nepal for the first time describe their experience as life-changing.
The magnificent Sunrises & Sunsets
Viewing sunrise and sunset is one of the best things you can do on vacation. Seeing the sun rising and lighting helps you to feel relax. And the act becomes more rewarding in the Himalayas. Just imagine the world's highest snow-capped peaks turn into celestial gold in front of your eyes! Popular places to see the sun at either end of the day include Nagarkot and Namo Buddha from Kathmandu, or Sarangkot and World Peace Stupa from Pokhara. If you are trekking in the mountains, it is highly recommended that you wake up early to see the sunrise.
Discovering Bandipur Village
The Newari town of Bandipur is one of central Nepal's hidden gems. It combines traditional village architecture, epic Himalayan views, lovely countryside walks, local adventure sports, and excellent accommodation. It is also an ideal place to break up the drive between Pokhara and Kathmandu while getting a relaxing taste of rural Nepal in the process.
More than anything, Bandipur is an ideal town to explore at your own pace. Visit the temples, stroll the charming backstreet and generally enjoy a leisurely pace of life. The village's main street is lined with coffee shops and balcony tables where you can relax in the afternoon sun with a book and free Wi-Fi.
Explore Mustang and Upper Mustang
If you speak to any local Nepali, they say Mustang is their favorite hiking area. Bordering Tibet, Mustang's desert-like terrain reminds of Mars, with high altitude desserts and eroded badlands forming the area. It is a mystical and culturally rich region less frequented by tourists but hiking here is well worth the effort.
Indulge in Yoga & Wellness Retreat
The recent trend nowadays people are looking for while on vacation is Yoga & Meditation. Nepal is an ideal location for spiritual enlightening with the vast number of yoga resorts dotting the place. And there is a lot of yoga resort in Nepal. Yoga is a means of optimal health and wellness that keeps illness at a safe distance from the practitioner. It also helps to curb various bodily aches and pains. If you love yoga and are in need of a break but are not looking for a strict retreat, then Nepal is the perfect holiday destination for you.
Extra Activities
While there are too many great things to do in Nepal to list, we have narrowed down a few optional activities that Nepal is best known for, and some that are newly emerging.
Get the glimpse of Mountain Flight
For once in a lifetime views, hop aboard an early morning scenic flight to Mount Everest. This one hour flight takes off from Kathmandu's domestic airport provided the weather is clear.
Alternatively, the more expensive option is to take a helicopter from Kathmandu or Lukla where you can fly lower in the valley and get up close and personal to the majestic peaks.
Go Rafting, Paragliding or Bungee Jumping
A great option for adventure lovers is to go on an overnight river rafting trip. There are numerous rivers in Nepal which offer excellent rafting or canoeing experience. You can glide on calm jade waters with magnificent scenery all about or rush through roaring white rapids, in the care expert river-men employed by government authorized agencies.
Few people know that Nepal is also a world-class paragliding destination. Head to Pokhara situated on Phewa Lake with Machhapurchhre as its backdrop, to catch the steady thermals up over the lake with amazing views of the entire Annapurna range. Rest assured, you will be safely attached to your pilot.
Finally, if you are looking for that last bit of adrenaline, there are some great bungee jumps to be given the steep terrain in Nepal. To quote 'The Last Resort'- imagine a bridge over a 160m high tropical gorge, with one of Nepal's wildest rivers raging below.
Hit the Trails Running or Mountain Biking
Nepal offers a challenging and pleasant scenic mountain bike ride from the tropical plains of Terai, mid-hills, mountainous terrain and its lush valleys to the arctic climate of the high alpine area. The great way to discover these hidden treasures by only possible to explore areas through mountain biking tours in Nepal. Mountain biking is especially recommended if you wish to explore urban centers of Nepal such as Pokhara and Kathmandu as well as the countryside. Adventurous souls may plan extended trips to such exotic locales as Namche Bazar and western Nepal.
Nepal is also a great trail running destination with a growing number of internationally recognized races. The best thing about trail running in Nepal is that you will establish trails around the famous mountains, breathtaking views to distract you from the fatigue and local accommodation and food awaiting you each night in the tea houses.
Join an authentic cooking class
We always say that to truly experience a destination, you have to understand its food culture too. So most places in Nepal, you can take a traditional cooking class. Many Nepali dishes are derived from the great culinary tradition of the indigenous Newari culture, native to the Kathmandu Valley.
The Nepali cuisine is known as 'Dal' (lentil soup) 'Bhat'(steam rice) supplemented by some vegetable and meat preparation bears its uniqueness by incorporating the two great culinary traditions of the region, Indian and Tibetan which reflects the geographic and demographic diversity of the Himalayas.
Embrace the Traditional Pottery Making Culture
Apart from all challenging trek and adventure in the natural world of Nepal, there is another beautiful world of culture and traditions – the 
Traditional Pottery Making Culture in Bhaktapur. Pottery is the art of shaping the clay into various things. Be it local or foreign travelers, anyone can join this pottery making class and take your own made pottery with you as a part of souvenir.
The whole pottery square area is filled with beautiful and colorful pots during a sunny day. Younger men/women are often engaged in carrying heavy heaps of pots from one place of the square to the other.
