Trek planning
Everest Base Camp Trek for Beginners: How to Prepare
Never trekked before? What the Everest Base Camp trek is really like, how fit you need to be, a simple training plan, and how a well-paced itinerary keeps you safe.
· 7 min read
From the family
Travel guides & blog
Practical, local advice for your time in Nepal — written by the people who live here.
Trek planning
Permits, altitude, packing and choosing the right trek.
Trek planning
Trekking in Nepal with Kids: A Family Guide
Which treks work for children, how high is sensible, how to spot altitude problems in kids, and family-friendly alternatives like a Chitwan safari.
· 6 min read
Trek planning
Nepal Trekking Permits: Everest, Annapurna and Poon Hill
Which permits you need for the Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Base Camp and Poon Hill treks, what they typically cost, where they are issued, and the licensed-guide rule.
· 7 min read
Trek planning
Altitude Sickness on Nepal Treks: Prevention, Symptoms and When to Descend
How altitude sickness works, the ascent rules doctors recommend, the warning signs to watch for on the Everest and Annapurna trails, and how our itineraries build in acclimatisation.
· 7 min read
Trek planning
Everest Base Camp or Annapurna Base Camp? How to Choose
A side-by-side comparison of Nepal's two most famous base-camp treks — altitude, difficulty, days, scenery, logistics and cost — to help you pick the right one.
· 6 min read
Trek planning
Teahouse Trekking Packing List for Nepal
What to pack for the Everest, Annapurna and Poon Hill treks — clothing layers, footwear, sleeping bag, health kit and documents — and what you can rent in Kathmandu.
· 6 min read
Trek planning
How Much Does a Trek in Nepal Cost? Everest, Annapurna and Poon Hill
What the Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Base Camp and Poon Hill treks cost with us, exactly what the price includes, and the extra costs to budget for — visa, insurance, tips and teahouse extras.
· 6 min read
Nepal travel
Seasons, visas, getting around and wildlife safaris.
Nepal travel
The Best Day Trips from Kathmandu
Bhaktapur, Patan, Nagarkot, Changu Narayan, Shivapuri, Kopan and more — the easiest and most rewarding day trips from Kathmandu and Budhanilkantha.
· 6 min read
Nepal travel
3 Days in Kathmandu: A Relaxed Itinerary
A three-day Kathmandu Valley itinerary — the Sleeping Vishnu, Boudhanath, Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, Durbar Square, Patan and Bhaktapur — paced for jet lag and traffic.
· 5 min read
Nepal travel
One Week in Nepal: Two Itineraries That Work
Seven days in Nepal, two ways: Kathmandu and Pokhara for mountains and lakes, or Kathmandu and Chitwan for culture and wildlife — with realistic travel times.
· 5 min read
Nepal travel
Nepal SIM Cards and Mobile Data for Travellers
Ncell or Nepal Telecom? Where to buy a SIM at Kathmandu airport, what documents you need, coverage on trekking routes, eSIM options and staying connected.
· 4 min read
Nepal travel
Money in Nepal: Cash, ATMs, Cards and Tipping
Using money in Nepal — the Nepali rupee, ATM limits and fees for foreign cards, where cards work, card surcharges, cash on treks, and tipping.
· 5 min read
Nepal travel
Kathmandu Weather by Month
What Kathmandu's weather is like month by month — cold clear winters, a warm spring, the summer monsoon and the dry, sunny autumn — and what to pack.
· 4 min read
Nepal travel
Best Time to Visit Nepal: Seasons for Trekking, Safaris and Kathmandu
A season-by-season guide to Nepal — when the mountain views are clearest, when the rhododendrons bloom, the best months for Chitwan and Bardia, and what the monsoon really means.
· 6 min read
Nepal travel
Kathmandu to Pokhara: Bus, Flight or Private Car?
How to travel the 200 km between Kathmandu and Pokhara — tourist bus, flight or private car — with typical journey times, tips and what we arrange for our trekkers.
· 5 min read
Nepal travel
Nepal Visa on Arrival: Fees, Online Form and What to Bring
How Nepal's tourist visa on arrival works at Kathmandu airport — the online pre-arrival form, current fees for 15, 30 and 90 days, documents, extensions and limits.
· 5 min read
Nepal travel
Chitwan or Bardia? Choosing a Wildlife Safari in Nepal
Nepal's two great lowland parks compared — access, wildlife, crowds, activities and the best season — so you can choose the right safari, or combine both.
· 5 min read
Culture
Temples, stupas, meditation and the neighbourhoods of Kathmandu.
Culture
What to Eat in Nepal: A Local Food Guide
Dal bhat, momo, thukpa, Newari feasts and Bhaktapur's king curd — the dishes to try in Kathmandu and on the trail, plus a few food tips.
· 5 min read
Culture
Stupas and Temples near Budhanilkantha: A Spiritual Journey in Kathmandu
From the reclining Vishnu at Budhanilkantha to the great stupas of Boudhanath and Swayambhunath — the sacred sites within reach of the homestay, and how to visit them respectfully.
· 6 min read
Culture
Meditation and Spiritual Centres near Budhanilkantha
Vipassana retreats, Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and Hare Krishna chanting — where to practise in the northern Kathmandu Valley, and how to prepare.
· 6 min read
Culture
Exploring Thamel from Budhanilkantha
How to get to Thamel from the homestay, what to do when you're there, and how to get back to a quiet night's sleep.
· 4 min read
Local guides
Hiking, food and getting around from Budhanilkantha.
Travel
Things to Do in Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu
The Sleeping Vishnu temple, Shivapuri hikes to Nagi Gompa and Baghdwar, meditation retreats, monasteries and easy day trips — the best of Kathmandu's quiet northern edge.
· 6 min read
Travel
Hiking from Budhanilkantha: Shivapuri National Park Trails
Shivapuri Peak, Nagi Gompa and Baghdwar — the best day hikes that start practically at our door, with tips on fees, timing and what to bring.
· 6 min read
Travel
Eating Out near Budhanilkantha: Cafés, Nepali Food and Relaxed Evenings
Quiet doesn't mean far from food. What to eat, where to find coffee and how to spend a relaxed evening within walking distance of the homestay.
· 4 min read
Travel
Location & Accessibility: Getting To and Around Sacred Trails
Distances and travel times to the airport, Thamel and Kathmandu's main sights, plus buses, taxis and the transport we can arrange for you.
· 4 min read
Where to stay
Which kind of stay suits your trip — families, solo travellers, budget and long stays, early flights.
Stay guides
King, Twin or Family Apartment? Choosing Your Room at Sacred Trails
A side-by-side look at our three room types — beds, views, breakfast and price — so you can pick the right one for couples, friends, trekkers, families and long stays.
· 5 min read
Stay guides
Before and After Your Trek: Sacred Trails as Your Kathmandu Base
How we help trekkers at the homestay — airport pickup, permits, gear checks, early transfers for Lukla and Pokhara flights, luggage storage and a hot shower when you return.
· 6 min read
Stay guides
Long Stays and Remote Work at Sacred Trails Kathmandu Homestay
Staying for weeks or months? Long-stay discounts, a desk and fast Wi-Fi in every room, a kitchen in the family apartment, laundry, and help with visas, SIM cards and buses.
· 5 min read
Stay guides
How to Book Sacred Trails Kathmandu Homestay Direct
Booking with the family step by step — how to request a room, payment on arrival, free cancellation, check-in times, airport pickup and the discounts you get for booking direct.
· 4 min read
Stay guides
Travelling as a Group: Rooms, Treks and Tours with Sacred Trails
Friends, trekking groups and family groups — how to book several rooms, use the apartment as your common room, and trek or tour together from our homestay in Kathmandu.
· 5 min read
Stay guides
Students in Kathmandu: Affordable Rooms, Treks and Tours at Sacred Trails
Studying, researching or travelling on a student budget? Shared twin rooms with breakfast, long-stay rates, a desk and Wi-Fi in every room, and our most affordable trek and tour.
· 5 min read
Stay guides
Volunteering in Nepal? Your Kathmandu Home at Sacred Trails
A calm family base before, between and after your placement — monthly rates, a kitchen apartment, airport pickup, luggage storage and treks or tours for your days off.
· 5 min read
Stay guides
For Couples: A Quiet Kathmandu Stay, Treks and Tours at Sacred Trails
A King room with a forest-view balcony, sunsets and city lights from the rooftop, and trips made for two — from lakeside Pokhara to the Annapurna Sanctuary.
· 5 min read
Stay guides
Homestay in Kathmandu: What to Expect and How to Choose
Thinking of a homestay instead of a hotel in Kathmandu? What's usually included, how homestays differ from hotels and guesthouses, which neighbourhood to choose, and a few house customs.
· 7 min read
Stay guides
Kathmandu with Kids: A Family Homestay Guide
Space to spread out, breakfast cooked by a local family, and gentle adventures nearby — how to plan a family stay in Kathmandu.
· 6 min read
Stay guides
Solo in Kathmandu: A Rooftop View and a Family to Come Home To
Travelling alone in Nepal? Why a family homestay with a rooftop over the valley makes a reassuring, sociable base — plus safety tips and solo-friendly trips.
· 5 min read
Stay guides
Budget Stays near Thamel: Is a Homestay Better Value?
An honest look at what a budget room in Kathmandu really costs — and when a family homestay a short ride from Thamel works out cheaper than staying in the middle of it.
· 5 min read
Stay guides
Arriving in Kathmandu: From the Airport to a Quiet Homestay
A practical arrival guide — what to do at Tribhuvan International Airport, how to get to Budhanilkantha, late arrivals, early departures and domestic flights.
· 6 min read
Stay guides
Staying in Budhanilkantha: A Neighbourhood Guide
Why travellers choose Kathmandu's quiet northern edge — the Sleeping Vishnu, Shivapuri forest trails and clean air — and how it compares with staying in Thamel.
· 6 min read