Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu & Thamel Nightlife
โ๏ธ Arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu
It was a cold noon when we landed at Kathmandu Airport (Tribhuvan International Airport). Nepal Travel Diary: Thamel to Kalinchowk Journey started when Immigration was smooth, but the first hiccup came right after:
๐ฑ SIM Card Struggle โ The first SIM shop had a long line and accepted cash only. We had to withdraw money from the nearby ATM, which took almost an hour. Ironically, just around the corner was another authorized SIM shop with no queue at all โ a lesson learned!
๐จ Hotel in Thamel โ Roadhouse Experience
We booked our hotel in Thamel through Agoda โ Roadhouse Hotel & Restaurant. The package included oneโway airport transfer, and thankfully, the driver patiently waited for us. -Nepal Travel Diary: Thamel to Kalinchowk Journey
๐ฟ Room & Facilities: Spacious toilet, comfortable room, though a pillar in the middle of the floor felt awkward
๐ Transfer Time: About 40 minutes from the airport to Thamel.
๐ฝ๏ธ Restaurant: The hotel doubles as a restaurant. Breakfast was good, though the cold weather made us crave warmth.
๐ฅ Furnace Comfort: At night, the temperature dropped to 7โ8ยฐC, but the furnace inside the restaurant kept us cozy.
๐ Woodโfired Pizza: Delicious, though slightly lacking in cheese toppings.
๐ Planning the Trip to Kalinchowk & Kuri Village
After breakfast, we explored travel agencies in Kathmandu to book a car for our next adventure to Kalinchowk and Kuri Village.
๐ณ Payment Issue: Again, cash was required โ another ATM run
โ๏ธ Snowfall Chance: Kalinchowk is high in the mountains, famous for its cable car and snowy landscapes.
๐ฐ Cost: Around 25,000 Nepali Rupees for a round trip, with dropโoff at Nagarkot.
๐ก Resort Booking: The agency also helped us book a room at Tripura Resort in Kuri Village, Kalinchowk.
๐ Exploring Thamel Nightlife
In the evening, we stepped out to experience Thamel nightlife. -Nepal Travel Diary: Thamel to Kalinchowk Journey
๐ฝ๏ธ Dinner at Roadhouse: Back at the hotel, we enjoyed pizza by the furnace, ending the day on a warm note.
๐ถ Vibrant Clubs: Music poured out of clubs, with crowds rushing in โ it reminded me of Bangkokโs nightlife.
๐๏ธ Shopping: Local shops offered souvenirs and essentials.
๐ Key Highlights of Day 1
Nightlife exploration in Thamel, Kathmandu
Arrival at Kathmandu Airport (Tribhuvan International Airport)
SIM card & cash withdrawal challenges
Stay at Roadhouse Hotel in Thamel
Booking trip to Kalinchowk cablecar & Kuri Village resorts
Nepal Travel Diary: Thamel to Kalinchowk Journey
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๐๏ธ Nepal Travel Diary โ Day 2: Journey to Kalinchowk & Kuri Village
๐ Early Morning in Kathmandu
We started the day early at our hotel in Thamel, Kathmandu. After a warm breakfast at the restaurant, we waited in the lobby for our travel agency contact. Soon, he arrived with a Mahindra SUV parked outside โ our ride to the mountains. Nepal Travel Diary: Thamel to Kalinchowk Journey.
- ๐ Vehicle: Mahindra SUV, looked fine at first glance.
- ๐ Planned Duration: Google Maps showed 5 hours, but the actual journey stretched to 6 hours due to road conditions.
๐ฃ๏ธ Road Journey to Kalinchowk
The drive from Kathmandu to Kalinchowk was both scenic and challenging.
๐๏ธ First Glimpse of Mountains: After several hours, the white Himalayan peaks appeared in the distance โ surreal and breathtaking.
๐ค๏ธ Road Conditions: Some stretches were smooth, but many were broken or under construction.
โ Tea Break: After a couple of hours, we stopped at a serene lake with a hanging bridge. We enjoyed tea, took photos, and soaked in the peaceful surroundings.
๐ Checkposts: Along the way, administrative checkposts stopped every vehicle for inspection.
โฐ๏ธ The Terrifying Final Climb
The last stretch to Kuri Village, Kalinchowk was the most difficult.
- ๐ ๏ธ Road Under Construction: Broken paths made the climb dangerous.
- ๐ Nonโ4WD Vehicles Stranded: Many cars without fourโwheel drive had to stop, unable to continue uphill.
- โ ๏ธ Car Trouble: At one point, our SUV stopped after a heavy jerk. Thankfully, with the help of another driver, it started again.
๐ก Arrival at Tripura Resort, Kuri Village
At long last, we reached Tripura Resort in Kuri Village, Kalinchowk. The altitude was over 3,000 meters, and the cold was biting.
- ๐๏ธ Room: We were given a deluxe room, separated from the main twoโstoried building. It looked nice outside, but the heater was insufficient.
- ๐จ Altitude Effect: Walking even a few minutes left us breathless. We had to sit and rest often.
- ๐ Scenery: The views were surreal โ like the calendar pictures we admired as children. Snowโcovered peaks surrounded us, creating postcardโperfect landscapes.
๐ฅ Night at Kuri Village
There wasnโt much to do at night in Kuri Village, but the resort arranged a campfire under a tent.
๐ฟ Room Issues: Unfortunately, the deluxe room lacked hot water, toilet paper, and the heater wasnโt strong enough. Comfort was limited, but the mountain experience made up for it.
๐ฅ Campfire Warmth: Sitting by the fire felt heavenly in the freezing cold.
๐ฝ๏ธ Dinner: We had a simple meal before returning to our room.
๐ Key Highlights of Day 2
Challenges with room facilities despite โdeluxeโ label
Journey from Kathmandu to Kalinchowk in a Mahindra SUV
Tea break at a lake with a hanging bridge
Checkposts and first glimpse of snowy Himalayan peaks
Terrifying final climb on broken mountain roads
Arrival at Tripura Resort, Kuri Village
Campfire warmth in freezing temperatures
๐๏ธ Nepal Travel Diary โ Day 3: Kalinchowk Cablecar, Everest View & Journey to Nagarkot
๐ Early Morning Struggles at Kuri Village
Day 3 began with a challenge. I woke up around 3 AM at Tripura Resort, Kuri Village, Kalinchowk with a severe headache โ most likely due to the high altitude and lack of oxygen. Nepal Travel Diary: Thamel to Kalinchowk Journey.
๐๏ธ Altitude Reminder: At over 3,000 meters, even short walks felt exhausting
๐ฃ Altitude Effect: Difficulty sleeping, breathlessness, and headache.
โ Breakfast & Medicine: Tried coffee and medicine, but relief came only after using my companionโs inhaler.
๐ถ Hiking to Kalinchowk Cablecar Station
By 7 AM, we began hiking from Tripura Resort to the Kalinchowk cablecar station.
- ๐ถ Trail: A short uphill walk through the cold morning air.
- ๐ฅ Crowds: Many people were already in line, while others chose to hike all the way to the mountain top.
- ๐ก Cablecar Ride: We boarded the cablecar, climbing steadily toward the summit.
๐ Temple at the Summit & Everest View
The top of Kalinchowk was surreal.
- ๐ Kalinchowk Bhagwati Temple: A sacred site where many visitors gathered for prayers.
- ๐ฌ๏ธ Weather: Cold winds swept across the hill, but the rising sun provided warmth.
- ๐๏ธ Everest View: From the summit, we could clearly see Mount Everest โ a magnificent, onceโinโaโlifetime sight.
- ๐ธ Exploration: We spent about an hour exploring the hill, soaking in the Himalayan scenery.
๐ฝ๏ธ Return to Tripura Resort
After descending via the cablecar, we hiked back to Tripura Resort.
- ๐ณ Breakfast: A simple but satisfying meal before checkout.
- ๐งณ Departure: Packed up and prepared for the next leg of our journey โ from Kuri Village to Nagarkot.
๐ Long Journey to Nagarkot
The drive from Kuri Village to Nagarkot was long and tiring.
- ๐ฃ๏ธ Road Conditions: Similar to previous days โ mixed, with some smooth stretches and many rough patches.
- โ Break: Stopped midway for tea and rest.
- ๐ Duration: Another exhausting 6โhour journey.
๐จ Arrival at Hotel Himalaya Villa, Nagarkot
By afternoon, we finally reached Hotel Himalaya Villa in Nagarkot.
๐ Evening: Spent time on the terrace until dinner. The night lights added charm, washing away the exhaustion of two consecutive long journeys.
๐๏ธ Checkโin: Smooth process, with clean rooms and good service.
๐ฝ๏ธ Lunch: After resting, we had lunch and were stunned by the view from the terrace.
๐ Terrace View: Outโofโthisโworld scenery โ rolling hills, Himalayan peaks, and a peaceful atmosphere.
๐ Key Highlights of Day 3
Arrival at Hotel Himalaya Villa Nagarkot with stunning terrace views
Altitude headache at Tripura Resort, Kuri Village
Hiking to Kalinchowk cablecar station
Surreal views from the summit, including Mount Everest
Return to Tripura Resort for breakfast and checkout
Long drive from Kuri Village to Nagarkot
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๐ Nepal Travel Diary โ Final Day: Nagarkot Suspension Bridge, Waterfall & Departure
๐ Noon Checkout & Road Trip Plan
On our last day in Nepal, we checked out of Hotel Himalaya Villa, Nagarkot around noon. We had arranged a car to drop us at Kathmandu Airport, with planned stops at two attractions:
๐ง Nagarkot Waterfal
๐ Bageshwori Nagarkot Suspension Bridge
๐ Bageshwori Nagarkot Suspension Bridge
The first stop was the Nagarkot Suspension Bridge, a highlight of the day.
- ๐ถ Downhill Walk: We climbed down from the road to reach the bridge.
- ๐ Scenic View: The sight was breathtaking โ hills, valleys, and the suspension bridge stretching across.
- ๐ด Local Snack: At the far end, a small shop sold singara, a local Nepali snack. Crispy, warm, and delicious โ a perfect treat during the journey.
- ๐ Crossing Back: After enjoying the view and snack, we crossed the bridge again to continue our adventure.
๐ง Hiking to Nagarkot Waterfall
From the bridge, we began another descent toward the Nagarkot Waterfall.
- ๐ Duration: About 30 minutes of hiking.
- ๐ฅ Crowd: Few visitors, likely because the trail was adventurous and challenging.
- ๐ก๏ธ Weather: By then, the cold had faded. I even removed my warmer clothes to enjoy the hike comfortably.
- ๐ Experience: The waterfall was peaceful, surrounded by nature โ a hidden gem worth the effort
โฐ๏ธ The Exhausting Climb Back
After enjoying the waterfall, it was time to climb back up to the road.
- ๐ช Challenge: The uphill trek was tiring, and we had to support each other to reach the top.
- ๐ง Rest: Once back at the car, we drank water and took a short break before continuing.
โ๏ธ Journey to Kathmandu Airport
The car ride to Kathmandu Airport began after our Nagarkot adventure.
- ๐ Arrival: We reached the airport, only to find our flight delayed by 2 hours.
- ๐ Checkโin Wait: The counters hadnโt opened yet, so we waited patiently.
- ๐ด Limited Food Options: Inside immigration, only one shop sold snacks. We grabbed something light and waited for boarding.
๐ Key Highlights of Final Day
Flight delay at Kathmandu Airport with limited food options
Checkout from Hotel Himalaya Villa, Nagarkot
Scenic walk to Bageshwori Nagarkot Suspension Bridge
Local snack (singara) by the bridge
Adventurous hike to Nagarkot Waterfall
Exhausting climb back uphill