Though a small nation, Nepal is blessed with extreme natural beauty. It has everything from low terrain lands and lush green hills to high mountain ranges. Most of the major travel destinations in Nepal consist of fast-flowing rivers, dense forests, deep valleys, and the scenic beauty of the landscapes and the peaks.
Hence, if you consider living and traveling greener within Nepal, you must search for the best sustainable tourist destinations. Not long ago, Nepal commenced working towards sustainability and applied similar tactics when it came to tourism.
Eco-tourism is a term used to describe environment-friendly travel best while protecting nature and its habitat. So, how do you start with this sort of traveling plan? You will initially want to look for the best tourist destinations in Nepal where you can reduce your carbon footprint.
The Top 10 Best Eco-tourism Destination In Nepal
Besides the diversity Nepal has to offer in its nature, it also features the vibrant culture and lifestyle of the locals. If you plan to travel green with Nepal, you can visit multiple places without hurting the environment.
Some of the top eco-tourism destinations in Nepal are mentioned below.
Kathmandu Valley
The capital city of Nepal, the Kathmandu Valley, offers numerous natural and cultural places to explore. Lying adjacent to Lalitpur and Bhaktapur, this valley is illustrated by seven groups of monuments and buildings.
If you are looking for a cultural retreat, the valley provides some popular destinations that are a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. This list includes the Durbar Squares of Hanuman Dhoka (Kathmandu), Patan, and Bhaktapur, the Buddhist stupas of Swayambhu and Bauddhanath, and the Hindu temples of Pashupati and Changu Narayan.
Kathmandu Valley (Source – Wikimedia Commons)
Likewise, this valley also portrays multiple natural locations to venture upon. Here, you will get mesmerizing sunrise and sunset views from Nagarkot. Indeed, this hilltop also gives a panoramic view of Mt Everest and the Langtang range.
Moving on, you can explore the Shivapuri National Park, where you will get diverse flora and fauna. Similarly, you can also visit the botanical garden in Godavari.
Below are some of the hikes inside the Kathmandu Valley that you can jump for.
• Kakani Hike
• Phulchowki Hike
• Amitabha Monastery Hike
• Namobudhha Hike
• Chisapani Hike
Pokhara
Lying in central Nepal, Pokhara is an excellent destination for the holiday gateway. Not to mention, it is also the starting point of multiple trekking trails in Nepal. Apart from that, this city is known for Phewa Lake, one of the boating destinations.
This city also portrays several other beautiful lakes, such as Rupa and Begnas. One o the main attraction of this city is also the majestic mountain views of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, and Manaslu.
Likewise, while in Pokhara, you must visit the Mahendra cave, Gupateshwor cave, and Bat cave. In addition, this city also includes the famous villages Sarangkot and Ghandruk, also known as sunrise points.
Below are some of the hikes inside Pokhara city that you can jump for.
• Mardi Himal Trek
• Annapurna Base Camp Trek
• Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek
• Dhampus Village Trek
• Naudanda Day Hike
• Sarangkot Day Hike
Chitwan
Famous for its lush forests in the Chitwan National Park, this city has a warm temperature. Often people call this area the jewel of Nepal, which is also listed in the UNESCO world heritage sites.
Additionally, this national park is a popular eco-friendly tourist destination for any vacation and relaxing tour. This park is known for its rich biodiversity, which allows visitors and travelers to experience nature in the vicinity of wild animals.
Elephant Safari in Chitwan (Source – RawPixel)
It depicts grassy lands and dense forests home to rare animals and birds. While here, you can take this journey in a jeep or on the back of an elephant. If you choose for jeep, you might encounter fewer animals on your trip.
However, if you are lucky, you can see giant hornbills, spiny babblers, kingfishers, one-horned rhinos, musk deer, wild buffaloes, crocodiles, and Bengal tigers. In the meantime, you can also enjoy other activities such as annoying, jungle safari, jungle walking, etc.
Apart from the national park trip, you can also enjoy the new hiking trail in Chitwan: the Chepang Hill Trek. This trek is a nine-day journey, during which you can explore the settlement of the Chepang people and their nomadic lifestyle.
Everest Region
Undoubtedly, the Everest region is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. As a fun fact, this region singlehandedly has 99 named mountains, including the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest (8848 meters).
Apart from it, some other famous mountain peaks in this region include Mt Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Mt Nuptse, and many others. Indeed, this whole region is filled with high snow-clad mountain ranges, crystal glacial lakes, rugged terrains, and so on.
At the same time, this region consists of the beautiful city of Namche Bazaar. This particular city is vibrant with natural beauty and delightful facilities. In addition to it, this region also has a UNESCO world heritage site, the Sagarmatha National Park.
Some other delights in this region are the Tengboche monastery, the Khumbu glaciers, the Gokyo lake, and so on.
Below are some of the hikes inside the Everest region that you can jump for.
• Everest Base Camp Trek
• Everest Three High Passes Trek
• The Everest View Trek
• Gokyo Lakes Trek
• Gokyo Ri Trek
• Everest Circuit Trek
Ilam
The tea garden of Nepal, Ilam, is the producer of tea all over Nepal. This district is full of greenery in the hilly Mahabharata range of Eastern Nepal.
Indeed, this region is one of the major tourist attractions with its horticultural crop production. Many tourists can visit this area, wear traditional dress, and create memories in the tea garden.
Kanyam Tea Garden, Illam (Source – Wikimedia Commons)
Besides the tea garden, Ilam is famous for its mountain streams, dense natural forests, holy sites, and unique culture. One exciting gateway in this municipality is the view tower, which is just a few hours drive from Mai Pokhari.
Likewise, some of the other famous items in this area are Aalaichi (cardamom), Amriso (a particular plant used to make broom), Akabare (a special chili), Aduwaa (ginger), Pahade Aalu (hill Potato), and Chhurpi (a particular preserved cheese product).
Below are some of the hikes inside Ilam that you can jump for.
• Mai Pokhari Hike
• Shree Antu Danda Hike
• Siddhi Thumka Hike
• Kanyam Tea State and Fikkal Bazar
• Chhintapu Hike
Mustang
The remote village surrounded by mystical mountains, the Mustang is the so-called dessert in Nepal. Well, it is also known as the forbidden kingdom, one of the famous travel destinations for both domestic and international tourists.
Due to the lack of urbanization and modern technology, this district has unspoiled natural beauty, ancient culture, and history. Furthermore, this area is known for its wall caves and uniquely built layered houses.
Not to mention, Mustang is an arid valley and has a barren appearance with eroded canyons. Also, this isolated valley is influenced by Tibetan culture, traditions, customs, and lifestyle.
This valley is famous for the Muktinath temple, hot springs, Marpha Monastery, Ghar Gompa, Kaligandaki river, and many more.
Below are some of the hikes inside Mustang that you can jump for.
• Upper Mustang Trek
• Lower Mustang Trek
• Annapurna Circuit Trek
• Rara Lake To Jomsom Trek
Lumbini
World-renowned as the birthplace of the Lord Buddha, Lumbini is one of the popular destinations for holy travelers. Indeed, this region is a Buddhist pilgrimage site; hence, thousands of travelers visit this place every year for peace and tranquility.
Mayadevi Temple, Lumbini (Source – Wikimedia Commons)
Lumbini is also the place of liberation and offers several monasteries and temples with high cultural value. For visitors, Lumbini is a highly spiritual place with a sacred garden, the central Mayadevi Temple, and multiple other stupas, monasteries, and sanctuaries.
Many pilgrims travel to this place from afar for meditation and hold deep historical values and meanings.
Taplejung
One of the remotely located areas with majestic Himalayas, Taplejung attracts both spiritual and adventure-seeking travelers alike. This district is also home to one of the major attractions, Pathibhara Devi Temple, a journey known for spiritual fulfillment and blessings.
Not to mention, this beautiful city portrays stunning views of the high mountain peaks over 7000 meters. Likewise, Taplejung is also famous for the Kanchenjunga National Park and the world’s third-highest peak Mt Kanchenjunga.
Inside this district, you will enjoy the astounding beauty of rhododendron forests, Panchthar Siddha-Devi, Timbung Pokhari, Buddhist Gompas, the Tamur river, and so on.
Below are some of the hikes inside Taplejung that you can jump for.
• Kanchanjunga Circuit Trek
• Lumba Sumba Pass Trek
• Pathivara Devi Darshan Trek
• Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek
• Timbung Pokhari Trek
Switch To Green Eco-Tourism Treks
Nepal is one of the most beautiful places in the world to travel and explore nature. If you think of sustainable traveling, it also has several popular destinations to offer.
Also, with multiple green activities to pursue here, Nepal is a worthy trip you make during the vacation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is eco-tourism important?
Eco-tourism is important because businesses and individuals who adhere to the guiding ideals and prioritize ecology and education in their travel choices contribute to improving the lives of residents and the global community.
What is the status of eco-tourism in Nepal?
Nepal’s eco-tourism industry is expanding and thriving. Nepal is one of those places where you can find genuine eco-tourism endeavors that are in line with sustainable tourism development concepts and challenges, yet there is always the risk of greenwashing in any destination.