We have just completed our second trip to Nepal. Last year, we followed the traditional cultural circuit, but this year we wanted a deeper immersion into an authentic Nepal. We designed this journey with Jasmine from Base Camp Trek Agency, who understood exactly what we were looking for. She proposed a truly wonderful itinerary.

We began in Bungamati, a charming Newar village located about 10 km from Kathmandu. We stayed with a local family and shared Mha Puja, the Newar New Year, with them. It was an unforgettable experience with people of incredible kindness.

The following day, we flew to Bardia National Park, where we stayed for three days at Racy Shade Resort, an authentic lodge once again run by wonderful people. They introduced us to lovely Tharu villages, where we were able to witness the rice harvest and local daily life. We also went on two jeep safaris, although we did not encounter a tiger.

From there, we traveled by car via Lumbini, with its many temples built by different countries. The mountain road we took is one of the most beautiful in Nepal and led us to Pokhara via Tansen, a very interesting and little-visited town. From Pokhara, we returned to Kathmandu with a stop in the beautiful mountain village of Bandipur, set away from the main road, and another stop in Nuwakot, an extraordinary village where we were the only tourists. Unfortunately, we were unable to enjoy the Himalayan panorama due to the rain.

We can only recommend this immersion in an authentic Nepal. A big thank you to Jasmine, with whom we very easily planned both trips through many exchanges. We were delighted to meet her during both stays — a true professional and such a pleasant person.

We also greatly appreciated the support of Mahesh, our French-speaking guide, who was able to adapt certain visits to our slightly advanced age (88 and 85 years old, but still in good shape!). A heartfelt thank you to him.

Finally, congratulations to our experienced and extremely cautious driver, who accompanied us on sometimes difficult roads, always smiling and very attentive. In short, we return home with wonderful memories. A truly successful trip.

Geroges & Monique PATOUILLE