I've planned a trip to Asia for next year, which will include 2 weeks in Nepal. I've never been there before and am not sure how to maximize my time there in only 2 weeks. I'd like to combine culture and city-sightseeing with some nature and trekking. Suggestions welcome!

You could easily spend 2-3 days sighseeing around KTD and the KTD Valley, and then doing a 7-8 day trek.
Around KTD you would see fascinating sites like KTD Durbar Square, Swayambunath, Boudanath, Passupatinath, Baktapur, Patan, and spend half a day going to Dakshin Kali.

For treks you could choose between Annapurna Sanctuary, going stright to Ghandruk, Chomrong, Dovan, Machapuchare BC, and finally the amazing sight of Annapurna Base Camp. Or perhaps flying to Lukla and spending 7-8 days in the Khumbu region, seeing Namche Bazaar, Kumjung, Tengpoche Monastery, Thami perhaps.

You would need to organise your logistics well, or get a good local trekking agency in Nepal to do it for you. Many of them have web-sites and emails these days. A cheaper alternative would be to get an independent guide.
Please email me if you want some specific names & details on these alternatives.daniel.ionita@compaq.com

Thank you so much for these great suggestions and the advice... I will look into all the things you've suggested!

Jen

can't miss Chitwan nature reserve in the south of the country - you're sure to see rhino, and it's all v affordable, plenty of cheap huts etc.

I fully agree with Iain, Chitwan is a fantastic place. I am just thinking that if you have just two weeks, and you spend two days on the bus to Chitwan and back.... Well, I suppose what kind of trek you want to do. If you just to the Poon Hill (Ghorepani) and Ghandruk trek (about 4 days or so), and take a bus from Pokhara to Chitwan, you might be able to do one of those two night packages in Sauraha. The only problem is that with those, you only psend one full day in Chitwan. The other two days are spent travelling to and from the park. Still, I did enjoy Chitwan a lot, might be worth considering.

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