NEPAL
NEPAL
Famous for its access to Mount Everest and the mighty Himalayas, the country was paralysed by a massive earthquake in 2015. And now, more than ever it needs the financial support that tourism provides.
We travelled there just 12 months after the earthquake struck and found a country still trying to come to terms with the disaster.
Eight days of physically challenging trekking. An alternative that’s as good as the Annapurna Base Camp trek – but without the crowds
KATHMANDU
Tibet Peace Inn
Nights
1
Cost
3000 Rs
What that included
Bed & breakfast, air-con, wifi, airport pick up
Rating **1/2
Friendliness 3 Cleanliness 3 Location 3 Comfort 3 Facilities 2 Food 3 Value for money 2
What we thought
Expensive for what we got, although the rate did include airport pick up. Unfortunately, the road outside had been dug up to replace underground piping which meant that dust was swirling around everywhere. Pleasant enough service.
POKHARA
North Star Guest House
North Star Guest House
Nights
6
Cost
1280 rupees per night
What that included
Bed & breakfast, fan, wifi
Rating ***1/2
Friendliness 3 Cleanliness 4 Location 3 Comfort 4 Facilities 3 Food 3 Value for money 4
What we thought
Good value, clean room, comfortable bed and (usually) reliable wifi made this a good base before and after our eight-day trek. Set back in a small community away from the main road we were kept awake at times by one particularly persistent dog.
GHANDRUK
Hotel Asish Aana
Hotel Asish Aana
Nights
1
Cost
200 rupees per night
What that included
Room only
Rating ****1/2
Friendliness 5 Cleanliness 5 Location 4 Comfort 3 Facilities n/a Food 4 Value for money 5
What we thought
Rustic, spotlessly clean guest house on the Annapurna Base Camp trek route. The breakfast of millet/corn/wheat “Gurung” bread and lentil curry/soup was sublime. It was by some distance the nicest and friendliest place we stayed at during our eight-day Himalayan trek. Recommended.
TADAPANI
Hotel Magnificent
Hotel Magnificent
Nights
1
Cost
400 rupees per night
What that included
Room only
Rating ***
Friendliness 3 Cleanliness 3 Location 3 Comfort 2 Facilities n/a Food 3 Value for money 3
What we thought
Extremely basic tea-house accommodation – bare timber floor and walls. Decent food.
DOBATO
Hotel Mount Lucky
Hotel Mount Lucky
Nights
1
Cost
300 rupees per night
What that included
Room only
Rating **1/2
Friendliness 3 Cleanliness 3 Location 4 Comfort 1 Facilities n/a Food 3 Value for money 2
What we thought
Extremely basic tea-house accommodation. Decent food. Very cold at night although a wood-stove gives off some warmth in the restaurant.
KHOPRA DANDA
Khopra Danda Community Lodge
Khopra Danda Community Lodge
Nights
2
Cost
400 rupees per night
What that included
Room only
Rating **1/2
Friendliness 3 Cleanliness 1 Location 5 Comfort 2 Facilities n/a Food 2 Value for money 2
What we thought
At 3660 metres and sat on top of a ridge, this place can get seriously cold at night. But in the right weather, it provides an unbeatable 180-degree view of the Himalayas. As with most tea-house accommodation the rooms are extremely basic.
CITRE
New Annapurna View Guest House
New Annapurna View Guest House
Nights
1
Cost
200 rupees per night
What that included
Room only
Rating ****
Friendliness 3 Cleanliness 4 Location 5 Comfort 4 Facilities n/a Food 4 Value for money 4
What we thought
Great views from the bedroom window looking back towards Khopra Danda and the Annapurnas. Pretty good food, too along with better-than-average accommodation. And it even had an en-suite bathroom – all for just over £1.
TIKHEDUNGA
Tikhedunga Guest House
Tikhedunga Guest House
Nights
1
Cost
400 rupees per night
What that included
Room only
Rating ***
Friendliness 4 Cleanliness 3 Location 4 Comfort 2 Facilities n/a Food 2 Value for money 3
What we thought
Nicely situated beside a waterfall this was a decent place to stay for one night, although there are gaps between the walls of the bedrooms which made for quite a bit of noise from our neighbours. Nice outdoor seating area, too.
KATHMANDU
Hotel Happy Home
Nights
1
Cost
1500 rupees per night
What that included
Bed & breakfast, air-con, wifi
Rating ****
Friendliness 4 Cleanliness 4 Location 4 Comfort 5 Facilities 3 Food 2 Value for money 5
What we thought
We were upgraded to this hotel after our original guest house told us they’d double-booked. Ultimately it proved great value although the normal cost of our room would have been nearly twice as much. Large room, comfortable bed, good wifi and one of the best night’s sleep we had in Nepal.
BHAKTAPUR
Peacock Guest House
Peacock Guest House
Nights
4
Cost
3680 rupees per night
What that included
Bed & breakfast, wifi
Rating ***1/2
Friendliness 4 Cleanliness 4 Location 5 Comfort 3 Facilities 3 Food 4 Value for money 3
What we thought
Set in a lovely classic Newari building right on historic Dattatraya Square, our room was large, characterful and comfortable. The food was European cafe-style – sandwiches, muffins, Illy coffee etc. The only downside was the noise from the cafe and the large family living next door. Otherwise recommended.
BOUDHANATH
Rokpa Guest House
Rokpa Guest House
Nights
2
Cost
3815 rupees per night
What that included
Bed & breakfast, wifi
Rating ***1/2
Friendliness 3 Cleanliness 4 Location 3 Comfort 4 Facilities 3 Food 4 Value for money 3
What we thought
Situated away from the hustle-bustle of the town, this would have been an oasis of calm had it not been for the inevitable building work in the close vicinity. Nice garden area for breakfast and dinner and the Daal Makhani with roti was a great lunch choice.
