After living and working in Nepal for 7 months, I got an in-depth look at the best offbeat places in Nepal. Here is all my insider knowledge on the most unique things to do in Nepal – for those looking for more authentic travel.
Most travellers to Nepal stick to the same sights and destinations: Everest Base Camp, Bodhnath Stupa in Kathmandu, or Ghorepani Poonhill.
These places are still 100% worth a visit, but if you are looking to dive further into a more authentic side of Nepal, this guide has you covered.
You’ll find the best offbeat places in Nepal like Namobuddha or homestays in Panauti, as well as unique things to do in Nepal’s popular cities like Chandrigiri Cable Car in Kathmandu or hot air balloon-ing over Pokhara.
The TOP 11 Unique Things to Do in Nepal to Take You off the Beaten Path
1. View the Mountains Above Kathmandu at the Chandragiri Cable Cars
Kathmandu is on everyone’s Nepal itinerary to some extent.
It took me living in Kathmandu for 3 months to discover the Chandragiri Cable Cars. It ended up being one of my favourite experiences in Kathmandu and the first place I brought my family to when they came to visit.
Chandragiri is the name of one of the 4 giant foothills that surrounds Kathmandu. It has a cable car that stretches 2.4 km long and takes about 10 minutes to ride to the top.
From Chandragiri’s lookout points, you can see views over the entire city. On a clear day, it is the best viewpoint to see the Himalayan Mountains in Kathmandu.
There are signs to inform you which mountains you are looking at, a temple to explore, and restaurant patios to enjoy a drink and snack with the view.
Details on the Chandragiri Cable Car in Nepal:
How to Get to the Chandragiri Cable Car: Most taxi drivers will know where to take you if you say Chandragiri Cable Car Station.
We paid about 3000 NPR (roughly 25 USD) for the driver to take us there from Lalitpur, wait as long as we wanted to explore, then drive us back. The drive takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour each way, depending on your departure point and traffic.
Cost | USD $23 roundtrip for the cable car.
Opening Hours | Sunday – Thursday 9 am to 6 pm. Friday – Saturday 9 am to 9 pm.
2. Experience Tranquility at the Namobuddha Resort
A sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site in Nepal, Namobuddha is located about 40 km outside of Kathmandu. Namobuddha is not only stunning but has a fascinating origin story and spiritual energy that reflects it.
The Story of Namobuddha:
The Buddhist story claims that long ago, the youngest of a king’s three sons discovered a starving mother tiger with her cubs. The young man was caught with a dilemma: choose to take another’s life to feed and save the tigress and her cubs or to sit idly by and let them starve.
In the end, following his Buddhist principles, the man decided to sacrifice his own life to save the family, not having to inflict harm on another being.
Today a Buddhist monastery and school sits on the site where this story is said to have occurred.
The highlight of this area is the Namobuddha Resort – which is less resort and more quaint oasis in the mountains.
The cabins are beautifully crafted with a blend of traditional Nepali architecture and more modern comfort. The property is a gorgeous garden paradise with views over the mountains and foothills below.
Namobuddha Resort grows all its food organically on the property and these meals are included with your stay. The food is delicious and gourmet, they have complimentary tea at all times of the day, there are campfires burning each night to socialize with other guests, and you’ll enjoy breakfast with the sunrise shining over the mountains.
⭐️ IMPORTANT TIP: Explore the Namo Buddha Monastery a walk away from the resort.
Details on the Namo Buddha Resort in Nepal:
How to Get to Namobuddha: There are three options – taxi, bus, or a bus-hike combo.
- A taxi will take about 2 hours each way and cost roughly 2000-3000 NPR ($16 – $25)
- You can catch a local bus which requires 1 bus transfer. Catch the first bus from Ratna bus park to either Banepa or Dhulikhel. From there, catch the next bus to Namobuddha. This is the most complicated option but doable if you are up for adventure. You’ll only spend a few dollars each way.
💡 Important Tip for Catching Buses: There is no real schedule for the bus route. You will show up on a crowded bus platform and wait until you hear the name of your destination shouted from the bus and then run to catch it. Our taxi driver asked where we were going and helped us find the right bus.
- I opted for the bus-hike combo. We took a bus to Dhulikhel, where we got out and hiked for 3 hours to Namo Buddha. The hike brings you through more populated areas where you can visit temples on the way. You’ll hike through the countryside where you’ll get a glimpse into Nepali farm life and up roads where all you have to do is look to the left to see the mountains. You can google maps the route quite easily.
Cost | $69 – $153 /night depending on the size of the cottage and if you want the B&B option or both breakfast and dinner.
Book Your Stay | Namo Buddha Resort
3. Party with Locals at Purple Haze Rock Bar in Thamel
Nepali people LOVE live music. You can find live music in Thamel every night of the week.
Thamel is far from considered an offbeat place in Nepal, but if you want to party where the locals do, Purple Haze is where you want to be.
Purple Haze is set up like a concert venue. It’s where the best bands in Nepal play covers of worldwide rock music sensations.
Sit down and enjoy an ‘Everest’ Beer while watching the band or party hard on the dance floor and make local friends. This is the place to experience how the locals party on a Friday night.
💡 BONUS Tip: Check out Sam’s bar and add your stamp to this chill environment to hang with friends.
Details on the Purple Haze Nightlife in Nepal:
How to Get to Purple Haze | Purple Haze is located in the main part of Thamel, Kathmandu. You can easily find it on Google Maps or ask any local in Thamel.
Cost | Free!
Most of the time entrance is free for foreigners. Occasionally there will be cover if there is a popular band playing, and of course you’ll have to pay for any drinks you might want.
Peak Hours | Friday nights after 11 pm.
💡 Important Tip: Nepal has a one day weekend on Saturdays, so Friday nights are the nights to go. Nepali’s party hard, so the bar usually doesn’t start to get busy until at least 11pm, where people will hang for a couple hours before making their way to the clubs at 1am.
4. Try Nepali Milk Tea at the Local Spots in Patan Durbar Square
Patan Durbar square is not an off the beaten track Nepal destination, but there is a hidden gem experience you can inside it.
After visiting the square numerous times, my local friend brought me to a quaint local tea spot that gave me a completely new point of view. Just to the right side of the square, there is a cluster of tiny tea stands that become popular after dark.
This cluster is popular amongst locals to sit, have tea, and socialize. Tea is very popular in Nepal and a huge part of their daily routine. By sitting and enjoying tea here, I saw a completely new side to Patan Durbar Square. It felt like an authentic cultural moment.
Details on Enjoying Local Tea in Patan Durbar Square:
How to Get There | All taxi drivers will know how to get to the square. Walk into the main square and on the right side (facing away from the main taxi pick-up spot), you’ll find a cluster of tea stands and people sitting on low benches.
Cost | There is an entrance fee for Patan Durbar Square of 1500 NPR ($13), however if you go really early in the morning right at sunrise or after dark, you will likely be able to avoid this cost. The cost of tea is about 20 NPR which is under 20 cents USD.
When to Go | In my opinion, the best time to go for tea is at night, where the temples are all lit up against the dark outdoors. This is when people typically meet.
5. Take a Cooking Class Hosted by a Local Family
Another unique thing to do in Nepal is taking a cooking class specifically with a local family.
Food is a huge part of Nepali culture, with Dal Bhat making up the majority of the local diet. Spend some time with a local family, shopping for ingredients at the chaotic local markets, and making traditional meals in their homes.
Details on Backstreet Academy Experiences in Nepal:
Cost | $35 USD
Book Your Experience | Nepali Cooking Class with Local Family
6. View the Himalayan Mountains from a Hot Air Balloon in Pokhara
Most travellers that visit Pokhara, a quaint Nepali city with beach town vibes, have heard of the famous paragliding experiences there. However, one experience that is not as well advertised is a hot air balloon ride that brings you up for a unique view of the mountains.
There is only one company that runs hot air balloon rides in Pokhara. You may see various tourism agencies offering hot air balloon rides, for slightly varying prices, but they are all using this one company. It is called Balloon Nepal.
When I went, they had a pilot that had been flying for many years and had all the impressive qualifications, so I felt safe!
💡 BONUS TIP: Book the shorter flight. The actual flight time is the same for both the long and short flight options in most cases, because they jumble all the people together.
Details on Seeing the Himalayan Mountains from a Hot Air Balloon in Nepal:
How to Get There | I arranged a meeting spot near my hostel with the tourism agency I booked with. They had my phone number to call me in the morning to update me on what time they were coming.
Cost | 9000 NPR ($120 US)
Book Your Flight | https://balloonnepal.com/
7. Experience the Excitement at one of Nepal’s Many Festivals in Kathmandu
Nepal is known for having many many holidays and festivals all year round.
Between Hindu and Buddhist traditions (the two major religions in the country), there is no shortage of holidays to celebrate. There was at least one holiday a month when I lived there.
Some of these holidays also include elaborate festivals that are both exciting to be a part of and provide a great look into Nepal’s many fascinating traditions.
Here are two notable festivals to attend:
- Holi Festival of Colours in February | Often known as the colour festival, thousands of people make their way into the streets and main squares to throw colourful powders at each other. People wear all white and get dyed in a variety of exciting colours. There are also gatherings in Nepali homes for special feasts. If you are lucky to get to know a local family, you may even have the chance to partake.
- Deshain and Tihar in October | Celebrated over the course of 15 days, Deshain is known as one of the largest festivals in Nepal. If you are travelling to Nepal at the time of this festival, you’ll get to experience the spectacles that take place in their durbar squares. You’ll also have to be strategic because many businesses will be closed for specific days of this festival.
Details on Experiencing Nepali Festivals in Kathmandu:
Getting There | To see the best of Nepal’s festivals, head to either Kathmandu Durbar Square or Patan Durbar Square. These squares are typically the hub for the celebration and will offer a multitude of fascinating cultural experiences to witness and be a part of.
Cost | Free
8. Get to Know the Rural Side of Life in Nepal on a Local Home Stay
My absolute favourite experience, and by far the best-hidden gem for experiencing Nepal in the most authentic way possible, is participating in a homestay with a local family.
When I lived in Nepal, I was working for a local NGO that brought me along on several “field visits” where I got to stay in a local home. These homes were located in remote and rural parts of Nepal.
Everyone in the communities I visited was excited to have me there and went out of their way to make me feel welcome. One of the men I met added french fries to my dal bhat meal, and when he found out I really enjoyed this he made sure to add them for every meal.
One of the most popular places to do these home-stays in Nepal is in Panauti.
Panauti is a farming community not too far from Kathmandu, so you will likely get the opportunity to help out with farming duties, hiking, and household cooking. It offers a great opportunity to learn more about Nepali culture, while helping add to the livelihood of the women and families in the community.
Details on Local Homestay’s in Nepal:
Cost | Starting at $31 USD/night, not including add on experiences
Getting There | Panauti is roughly 30 kms outside of Kathmandu and takes just under 1.5 hours to drive there. If you are going with a tour, they will handle the transportation for you. However, if you have to arrange your own transport you can take a taxi and arrange for the driver to pick you back up on the day you are done. Make sure to grab their phone number if you can. If you are down for a little more adventure, you can also take a direct bus to Panauti from the Ratna bus park for about 80 Nepali Rupees.
Book Your Home Stay | You can book your choice of nights through Community Homestay or if you want to dive deeper into local life join G Adventures 7 day local living tour in Nepal.
9. Bungee Jump or Go Canyoning at the Last Resort
If you are looking for adventure activities in Nepal then the Last Resort is the place for you. Not only will you get an awesome extreme adventure, you’ll also get a good glimpse into driving through the crazy country-side roads of Nepal.
If you think the roads in Kathmandu are crazy, just wait! Wild roads aside, you’ll also get a good view of the beauty of Nepal’s countryside with beautiful lush green rolling hills.
The Last Resort has options for canyoning (rappelling down waterfalls), white water rafting, canyon swings, and their most popular extreme activity, bungee jumping from 160m high into a tropical gorge. You can also spend the night in their resort to do multiple of the activities over the course of several days.
Details on Adventuring at the Last Resort in Nepal:
Cost | Each activity is priced differently. Bungee jumping for example costs 8,000 Nepali Rupees ($70 ish USD).
Getting There | The Last Resort headquarters is located right in the tourist hub of Thamel. They handle all other transportation to and from the resort. The bus ride takes about 3 hours each way.
Book Your Last Resort Experience | The Last Resort
10. Experience Nepali Traffic like the Locals on a Motorcycle… if You Dare
Kathmandu is infamous for its crazy traffic. Horns blaring, motorcycles weaving in and out of traffic, and the occasional cow wandering amongst it all. And what better way to immerse yourself in Nepali culture, than by getting on the back of one of those motorcycles?
One of my favourite things to do when I lived in Nepal, was a ride on the back of my friend’s motorcycle around the city.
You don’t need to know a local to go for a joy ride. There is a service in Kathmandu that resembles Uber’s services, but with the option to ride on the back of a motorcycle. Hop on and enjoy the ride to one of your destinations in the city.
Details on Riding a Motorcycle in Nepal:
Cost | Depends on the distance
How to Book | You can book your ride through their app called Pathao (you can download this through the app store). It works very similarly to Uber.
11. Trek Ghorepani Poon Hill in the Winter Off-Season
Now trekking Ghorepani Poon Hill is not a hidden gem in itself, however, trekking in the winter for this route will really feel off the beaten path.
During the winter, there are wayyyy fewer tourists out trekking and at the lookout spots, which can make a big difference in how you enjoy yourself on the trek. In addition, the tea houses become cozier rather than crowded. You’ll experience a smaller more tight-knit group of tourists and tea house owners hanging out around a fire.
The snow also makes this trek a winter paradise. Grab some crampons and trekking poles and enjoy the extra fun and challenge of hiking in the snowy mountains.
Ghorepani Poon Hill is also a relatively safe hike to do in the winter, as there is no real threat of avalanches and the winter conditions do not get too frigid. I did this hike without a guide in the winter and it was the best experience I had during my entire 7 months in Nepal.
Read Related Post: Can You Trek in Nepal’s Winter? The BEST and WORST Reasons to Trek in Off Season
Details on Trekking Ghorepani Poon Hill in Nepal’s Winter:
Cost | Ranging from $100 USD for 3 days with no guide – $300 USD with a tour per person
Getting There | For the start of this trek, you will need to make your way to Pokhara. Also known as the gateway to trekking in the popular Annapurna Conservation Area, Pokhara is where you will arrange your transportation to the trek. For more specific details on transportation to and from the trek, read here.
Final Thoughts on the Best Hidden Gem Things to Do in Nepal
As someone who lived in Kathmandu, Nepal for 7 months, I got an in-depth exploration of the country. Nepal’s highlights are mind-blowing and definitely still worth visiting, but these 11 amazing adventures will take you off the beaten path and show you more of what Nepal has to offer.
If you have anything else to add or any questions, feel free to comment down below! Also, subscribe to my newsletter for more adventure travel content by me.
Happy adventuring!
Need Help Planning Your Next Adventure?
Subscribe to get exclusive access to your FREE downloadable trip planner and more awesome adventure travel content!
No spam and you can unsubscribe any time
Read More About Adventure Travel in Nepal