Ultimate Nepal Bucket List : 101 Things to Do in Nepal

Are you a local or an international tourist planning to travel to Nepal? Are you searching for a comprehensive Nepal travel guide to add must-visit destinations to your Nepal bucket list? If so, you’ve come to the right place. I have carefully curated the top 101 travel experiences in Nepal, designed to help you immerse in and appreciate the rich cultural and natural wonders of Nepal.

Atithi Devo Bhava (Guests are God, in English) is what the people of Nepal have been taught since they were children. We are taught to be nice and respectful to guests and to welcome them with open arms. If you ask for help in Nepal, no matter how big or small, don’t be surprised if the person goes to great lengths to make sure that your request is addressed. Sometimes it might seem to you that the people are too nice to be true, but most of them genuinely are. They get as much joy from helping you as you do from getting the help you needed. Be prepared to feel a heartfelt welcome if you’re planning to visit Nepal.

Additionally, prepare yourself to discover the undisturbed natural beauties of Nepal. The highest mountains, the most beautiful lakes, charming traditional neighborhoods and ever-smiling locals; Nepal is a touristic goldmine with a lot to offer.

I have tried to compile a list of the best adventures you can embark on during your trip to Nepal. From trekking to high-altitude lakes to enjoying the beautiful Pokhara, you can find almost everything in this list. This can serve as a guide for both local and international tourists to get as much as possible from the brilliant touristic appeal of Nepal.

If you want the printable version of this list, please send me a message on my Instagram @milesofmylife, and I will send it back to you.

Nepal Bucket List : 101 Things to Do in Nepal

1. Watch Nepal’s cricket match in TU Ground, Kirtipur

Nepal’s love for their cricket team is unparalleled. Every time Nepal plays in Kirtipur, the fans swarm to the field to see their team play. The mixture of emotions, the chants, and the passions shown by the audience is a sight to experience and admire.

Check the Cricket Association of Nepal’s Instagram for the possibility of a cricket match during your visit.

2. Go rafting in Bhotekoshi

There are many resorts in Bhotekoshi that offer this activity. One common and popular amongst the youngsters is Sukute Beach Resort. The resort in itself has an abundance of activities to do for a relaxing weekend.

My experience of rafting in Bhotekoshi was fun, and thrilling. The first splashes of water might scare you, but by the third time, you’d be waiting for the waves to get bigger so you can experience the cool water in your face. There are chances that you might fall from the raft, but proper white-water floating technique will be taught to you and rescue staff are everywhere to help. In our case, the rafting guide purposefully made us fall, so you know it’s all sorted.

3. Go bungee jumping

There are two places that offer bungee jumping in Nepal.

The Last Resort has been in the business for over two decades, providing a perfect place to offer adventure activities to its visitors. The Last Resort’s bungee jump is 160m high. The resort is located around three hours’ drive from the capital city of Kathmandu.

New in the business, Kushma bungee jumping started its operations in 2020 and is now gaining quick popularity amongst the visitors. One boasting point being that it is the highest bungee jump in Nepal with 228m, and the second highest in the world. It takes around two hours’ drive from the tourist hotspot of Pokhara to reach Kushma.

4. Catch a sight of the living goddess Kumari

5. Trek the Annapurna Circuit

6. Travel to Manang and Mustang with your friends and family

7. Go jungle safari in Bardia national park

8. Watch the sunset in Sauraha, Chitwan

Sauraha is one of the most beautiful destinations in Nepal. Located in the Terai region and serving as the gateway to Chitwan National Park, Sauraha is jam packed with both domestic and international tourists.

Among the many activities in Sauraha, one of the most relaxing is to sit beside the Rapti River — while enjoying a barbecue, sipping beers, and witnessing the beautiful sunset. It is a sight to behold.

9. Visit Fikkal, Ilam and appreciate the beautiful tea gardens

Located between Birtamod and Ilam, Fikkal is a small town with beautiful markets and a perfect place to stay overnight on your trip to the Eastern region. From Fikkal, you can enter the small villages where you can see tea plantations in every corner. You could also take a hike to Kanyam, walking among the tea plantations, taking tea breaks, and capturing tons of photos along the way.

Read next: Visa Free Countries for Nepalese Passport Holders

10. Visit Janaki Mandir in Janakpurdham

11. Trek to the Everest Base Camp

12. Attend a 1 day, 3 day, or longer meditation retreat in Osho Tapoban

13. Trek to the highest altitude lake in the world, Tilicho

14. Visit the beautiful village of Ghandruk and see the mountains, Machhapuchhre and Annapurna

Ghandruk is one of the most beautiful villages in Nepal, offering amazing mountain views. Situated at an altitude of just above 2000 meters, Ghandruk provides spectacular views of the mountains, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) and Annapurna.

Especially, do not miss the sunrise. The moment when the sun’s rays fall upon the mountains is the closest real life can come to feeling like a painting.

Related post: Traveling to the Beautiful Ghandruk Village

15. Spend a day boating in the Begnas Lake

16. Go paragliding in Sarangkot

17. Take a mountain tour of Buddha Airlines to see Mt. Everest from up close

18. Take part in the annual rice plantation on Ashadh 15 and eat Dahi chiura

The entire country celebrates Ashadh 15 as the Ropain Festival (Rice Planting Day). This date is regarded as the arrival of the monsoon, so people celebrate this day by turning to their fields and planting crops.

Additionally, people also hold social gatherings and eat the special food for this day, Dahi Chiura. The food is a mix of beaten rice with yogurt, with additional fruits as people please, like mangoes and bananas. If you’re in the country on this date, don’t miss the opportunity to take part in the rice planting.

19. Get lost in the narrow streets of Asan, Kathmandu

20. Drink Juju dhau while exploring Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Juju dhau is a sweet yogurt that refreshes you on your trip to Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Available in many local shops in the streets, take a glass or more of Juju dhau as you explore the marvelous architecture of the Durbar Square.

21. Watch the sunset from a rooftop cafe in Patan Durbar Square

22. Drink tea at Mama’s chiya pasal in Basantapur Durbar Square

23. Sip your favorite drink with a view of the Bouddhanath Stupa

24. Climb the 365 steps to visit the Swayambhunath Temple

The Swayambhunath Temple, located atop a hill, offers a bird’s-eye view of the Kathmandu Valley. Getting to the viewpoint is not easy. After climbing the 365 steps while also dodging monkeys along the way, you will be rewarded with a view that puts Kathmandu into perspective.

25. Stroll an evening in Lakeside Pokhara

The lakeside of Pokhara has one of the most brilliant tourist vibes. You’ll never feel bored walking the streets, and there are tons of things to do.

You can walk along the lake and spend some relaxing time watching the lake and the changing lights. You can enter some hemp clothing shops and buy something. There are many handmade local shops as well, offering a lot of products from Nepal, and there are many bars with live music to give you a concert-like vibe. Everything is right there for you to explore.

26. Volunteer for any local organization

27. Feed the pigeons in Boudhanath Stupa

28. Visit the most beautiful Rara Lake

29. Visit the Manakamana Temple

Four hours of drive away from Kathmandu, you will reach a place named Kurintar. From there, you can take a cable car that goes up to the Manakamana Temple. You can find accommodation, restaurants and all kinds of necessities in the neighborhood of the Manakamana Temple. There are lots of resorts nearby where you can spend a wonderful weekend.

There is a belief that Goddess Manakama will fulfill the wishes of those who worship her with a pure heart.

30. Take cable car up to Chandragiri

31. Experience the evening aarti at Pashupatinath Temple

Every evening, many devotees and followers of Lord Shiva swarm to the Pashupatinath temple area to listen to the evening aarti. 

The aarti radiates an energy that is insanely relieving for many people. You can see people clapping their hands and following every word of the aarti, some people meditating, and some people just marveling at the amazing scene that’s taking place in front of their eyes. If you make it a point to visit, I’m sure you will feel much lighter after the experience.

32. Walk along the Gorkha Durbar where Prithvi Narayan Shah once ruled

33. Trek to Tsergo Ri in Langtang

Trekking is one of the biggest assets of Nepali tourism. There are hundreds of trekking routes that travelers can venture into to experience the much-talked-about landscapes and mountains of Nepal. Trekking all the beautiful routes of Nepal should be its own bucket list that you can follow.

One of them is a trek to Langtang. You walk through the forest, the small neighborhoods, the waterfalls, and then you reach the valley of Langtang at an elevation of 3500m. Then, a half day’s hike to Kyanjin Gompa will leave you gasping as you see the mountains on every side you look. If you are feeling adventurous and comfortable, you can also choose to trek all the way to Kyanjin Ri and Tsergo Ri to see the panoramic views of the mountains just in front of you.

34. Visit Kuri village Kalinchowk during snowfall

35. Hike in the Shivapuri National Park

36. Have Aloo chana tarkari and anda for breakfast

This is probably the most popular breakfast in Nepal, especially among hikers and travelers. Chana aloo tarkari is a mix of fried chickpeas and potatoes served along with a bowl of soup curry of green peas and vegetables. And, anda refers to boiled eggs.

37. Spend a weekend in the calming nature of Chitlang

38. Watch sunrise from Nagarkot

39. Have fresh fishes from Dolalghat

40. Throw a coin for a wish in Koshi Barrage

Since I lived in Kathmandu and my parents lived in Biratnagar, I had to take long-route buses for many years while going to and from my home. The bus went through the river of Koshi.

It is believed that if you throw a coin into the river, your wish will come true. I always carried coins with me so that when the bus was passing the bridge, I’d open the window, toss the coin into the river, and make my wish. And I’d always see many passengers doing it.

41. Do a cleanup hike in Kathmandu

It would be a nice way to give back to the community and nature by doing a cleanup hike on any hillsides around Kathmandu. More than the waste you carry on the hiking day, it’s more important to see the impact of a cleanup hike on the people who see it and get inspired to dispose of their waste properly.

42. Watch a Tharu dance show in Sauraha

43. Spend a day learning how to make clay pots in Bhaktapur Durbar Square

44. Watch a live play in one of the theaters in Kathmandu

45. Visit Rani Mahal in Palpa

46. Visit the medieval village of Panauti

47. Buy fresh produces from local farmers’ market in any city or town

The farmers’ market (or hat-bazaar, in Nepali) is an integral part of the Nepali lifestyle, especially in smaller towns and villages. In many places, farmers’ markets occur at least once a week, where people from the neighborhood come to shop for fresh produce such as vegetables, fruits, herbs, and much more. Inquiring with the locals is the best way to find out how you can visit one of them.

48. Hike to the Upper Mustang Valley and visit Lo Manthang

49. Go cycling in Lakeside Pokhara

50. Explore the medieval village of Tansen in Palpa

51. Experience Indra Jatra in Kathmandu

52. Experience rath yatra in Biratnagar

Rath Yatra (The Cart Journey) is celebrated on the auspicious day of Krishna Ashtami in Biratnagar. It is celebrated with the belief that the cart is driven by Lord Krishna, which is why a young child is placed in the cart, symbolizing Lord Krishna.

The celebration is not for the faint-hearted, as the crowd is very large. Most people watch the cart being pulled from the comfortable balconies of their homes, while some forcefully make their way through the swarming crowd to pull the cart, even if it’s just for a split second. It is said that anyone who touches the rope of the cart is blessed.

53. Have local chhyang and feast on Newari foods in Sa:sa twa Kirtipur

Located in the beautiful neighborhood of Kirtipur, Sa:sa twa is a traditional Newari restaurant that is famous for its chhyang (fermented rice drink) and Newari food. You can spend a quality day at this place, just drinking chhyang and feasting on the variety of Newari foods.

54. Stay in any mountain view resort

55. Have a plate of mo:mo and then, a lot more

Google defines mo:mo as a steamed dumpling filled with meat or vegetables. It comes with a special mo:mo achar into which we can dip the mo:mos and eat. There are different types of mo:mo, such as steam mo:mo, fried mo:mo, jhol mo:mo (soup mo:mo), C mo:mo, and much more.

Having only a plate of mo:mo is a crime; you should have lots and lots of it, especially at the streetside shops rather than the fancy restaurants.

For the people of Nepal, mo:mo is love. Mo:mo is what we need on a bad day to warm our souls. Mo:mo is pizza times 10, a burger times 100, sausage times 1000. Mo:mo is always the answer, especially when the waiter comes back for the second time asking what we want. ; )

56. Learn how to make a mo:mo

Learning to make mo:mo is a great way to take this desirable Nepali food back home with you. While the process might seem long, it is not that hard to learn.

I learned how to make mo:mo when I came to Germany. It became a nice way to get together with friends and enjoy this food that brought back nostalgic memories of home.

57. Have laphing and keema noodles at Boudhanath Stupa

Laphing and Keema noodles are two of the most popular foods from Boudhanath Stupa. These foods are found in many small restaurants in Boudha. Spend a day wandering around the streets of Boudha and savor these amazing tastes that are rarely found anywhere else in the world.

58. Feast on sukutis and sekuwas

59. Have a Nepali Thali for lunch or dinner

The Nepali Thali is probably the most fitting epitome of Nepali culinary culture. The Thali comes with a variety of components served on a plate, along with a number of bowls, each containing different foods. A typical Nepali Thali includes rice (bhat), lentils (dal), curried vegetables (tarkari), pickle (achar), meat (masu), along with a portion of greens (saag). There are a variety of Thalis catering to different people’s needs. This combination is also known to have a good nutritional balance.

60. Stroll around Durbarmarg

61. Visit the vintage pubs of Thamel

62. Party hard in Purple Haze Rock Bar in Thamel

63. Celebrate holi in the streets of Kathmandu

64. Experience Chhath Festival in any city in Terai region

The Chhath Puja is a significant festival that is celebrated mostly in the Terai region of Nepal. Through this festival, people thank the Sun God, Surya, and his sister Chhathi Maiya for sustaining life on Earth and ensuring the well-being of their families.

The people who perform Chhath Puja engage in rituals such as fasting, holy bathing, standing in the river for long periods, and offering prayers and prasad (offerings) to the setting and rising sun. Experiencing this festival is an experience you ought to have when exploring Nepal. Janakpur is one of the main cities you can visit for Chhath Puja.

65. Shop in the historical market of Asan

66. Take a Rickshaw ride in Basantapur Durbar Square

67. Trek to Gosaikunda

68. Visit the Narayanhiti Museum to see where the Kings of Nepal resided

69. Cross the highest jhulunge pool (hanging bridge) in Kushma Parbat

70. Visit the 3000 years old Changunarayan Temple

71. Trek to Shey Phoksundo Lake

72. Trek to the beautiful landscape of Badimalika in Bajura

73. Visit the Nuwakot Palace

74. Explore Lumbini – the birthplace of Gautam Buddha

75. Take a refreshing shower in the majestic waterfalls of Nepal

76. Go for a picnic in Kakani

77. Volunteer to teach for at least 2 weeks in a rural public school in Nepal

This is an experience like no other and I request you to jump on this opportunity if you have the chance.

I had this opportunity to teach in Shree Fikkal Secondary School in Fikkal and it was an experience that I will never forget. To be amongst the students and understand their day to day lifestyle, to not know what to say in response to their witty statements, to listen to their dreams and admire their unmatched energies. I will forever be grateful for this experience. This is not any regular teaching job, there is a greater chance you will come back inspired by those lovely students you will meet. And who knows, maybe you will inspire someone too.

78. Stay overnight in a homestay in Ghalegaun

79. Explore the beautiful Gurung village of Gilung

80. Spend a day in the beautiful village of Sankhu

Located just about an hour’s drive from Kathmandu, you will discover a beautiful hidden gem. I have a friend from Sankhu, and the multiple times I’ve visited the place and its surroundings have led me to appreciate the village even more.

Sankhu’s religious significance stems from the presence of Salinadi, where thousands of devotees gather for the Swasthani Brata Katha during the Nepali month of Magh (approximately January to February).

81. Trek to Pathibhara Devi Temple

82. Enjoy a picnic in the touristic Kanyam

83. Discover the beautiful town of Dhankuta

84. Admire the brilliant city of Itahari

85. Visit Dharan and experience the vibrant city life

86. Drink Tongba while admiring the beauty of Bhedetar

87. Immerse into the architectural beauty of Shashwat Dham

88. Spot one-horned rhinos while doing jungle safari in Sauraha

Chitwan National Park is famous for its one-horned rhinos. The majority of rhinos in Nepal are currently found in Chitwan National Park, and you can spot some of them on your jungle safari.

Sauraha acts as a gateway to Chitwan National Park and offers many jungle safari options for visitors. You can choose a safari to your liking and explore the beautiful wildlife of Chitwan.

89. Take a hot air balloon ride in Pokhara

90. Go sky cycling in Kushma Parbat

91. Go water cycling in Na Pu Khu Pokhari, Bhaktapur

Recently opened at Na Pu Khu Pokhari near Bhaktapur Durbar Square, water cycling is becoming increasingly popular with tourists in Kathmandu. At a rate of only NPR 200, tourists can experience water cycling for 15 minutes. This new activity has also significantly improved the Pokhari’s significance among travelers, which was previously neglected.

92. Visit the brilliant art galleries in Nepal and admire what you see

93. Visit the Barahsinghe beer garden in Kurintar and enjoy a fresh draft beer

94. Have a relaxing day at the Gardens of Dream in Kathmandu

The Garden of Dreams is an elegant park in Kathmandu that provides a nice space for people to relax. Located at the gateway to Thamel, it’s a perfect place to visit to wind down after a tiring day of sightseeing.

Also, the Garden of Dreams is a popular destination among young couples who visit to spend quality time with their partners, providing them a safer space than the public places to express their affection towards each other.

95. Watch the delightful game of Elephant Polo in Sauraha, Chitwan

96. Explore the Europe-like town of Bandipur

About three hours of drive from Pokhara lies this beautiful town of Bandipur. Bandipur is mostly famous for its charming Europe-like streets and preserved cultural atmosphere. I have been to this place twice, and both the times I was charmed by the atmospheric beauty of Bandipur.

Additionally, people also visit Bandipur to enter the Siddha-Gufa (Siddha cave). The Gufa is said to be the largest in Nepal.

97. Go zip-lining in Dhulikhel

98. Experience Shivaratri in Pashupatinath temple, Kathmandu

Shivaratri, or the “Night of Lord Shiva,” is the time when the entire city comes alive with devotion. Experiencing Shivaratri at the Pashupatinath Temple adds a spiritual dimension to your visit to Kathmandu.

Thousands of devotees from across Nepal and India flock to the Pashupatinath Temple on this auspicious occasion. Vehicle traffic around the Gaushala area transforms into human traffic, the pollution in the air is swept away by the scent of incense, and the sounds of horns turn into the sounds of chanting, creating an atmosphere of utmost devotion and harmony.

99. Explore the city of Butwal

100. Explore Jiri

101. Drink from a Dhunge Dhara in Kathmandu

When to Visit Nepal?

The ideal time to visit Nepal would be during the spring (mid-February to mid-May) and the autumn months (mid-September to mid-November). Since Nepal is mostly known for its trekking, these times are the best for trekking in the Himalayas, as the weather is favorable. However, cities in the Terai region, like Biratnagar, Janakpur, Chitwan, Bardia, etc., can also be visited in the winter season. 

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While I tried my best to compile a list of 101 things that appeal to all kinds of travelers, I’m sure I missed many things. If you know of such experiences that could be interesting for travelers, please add them to the comment section so that people reading this blog can also refer to other great experiences in Nepal.