The Swotah Journal
Route guides, permits, packing lists and dispatches from the trail.
268 articles
BhutanDiscovering the Tiger's Nest monastery in Bhutan
Visiting Paro Taktsang (Tiger's Nest): the legend, the 2-3 hour hike, entry fees, opening times, and the tips that make Bhutan's iconic monastery visit work.
Nepal Adventures8 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Makalu Barun National Park
Makalu Barun National Park explained: the 8,000m elevation span, the Arun valley, wildlife from red pandas to snow leopards, entry fees, and how to trek it.
Bhutan10 Surprising facts about Bhutan you may not know!
Bhutan facts that surprise: Gross National Happiness, carbon-negative forests, no traffic lights, the world's highest unclimbed peak, and a tobacco-sales ban.
Nepal ExperienceWhere to Have Dinner with Traditional Dances in Kathmandu
Where to combine good food with live cultural shows in Kathmandu: Nepali Chulo, Bhojan Griha, Krishnarpan at Dwarika's, and the Newari restaurants locals pick.
Nepal AdventuresAnnapurna Base Camp or Everest Base Camp? Where to trek first?
The Annapurna Base Camp trek is shorter and less challenging, while the Everest Base Camp trek is longer, more demanding, and more expensive.
Nepal AdventuresKanchenjunga Trek: Complete Guide
The complete Kanchenjunga trek guide: north vs south base camp routes, the 2026 solo-permit change, costs, seasons, food, and what to pack for the far east.
Nepal Adventures7 Easiest Trekking Peaks in the Himalayas for New Climbers
The seven best trekking peaks for first-time climbers: Island, Mera, Lobuche, Yala, Pisang, Chulu, and Pokalde, with heights, skills needed, and packing notes.
Nepal ExperienceWhy One Must Travel Nepal Before it Explodes with Tourists?
Nepal still sees barely a million visitors a year across eight 8,000m peaks. Why the quiet window is real, where it is widest, and how to use it before it closes.
Nepal ExperienceThe Living Goddess of Nepal
Nepal's living goddess explained: how the Kumari is chosen, her life inside Kumari Ghar, what happens when she retires, and how to see her in Kathmandu.
Nepal AdventuresIs Luxury Tourism Available in Nepal?
Luxury travel in Nepal, honestly assessed: which hotels deliver, where five-star claims thin out, heli access, service culture, and what is genuinely worth it.
Nepal ExperienceSix of the Most Popular Festivals in Nepal
Nepal's six biggest festivals explained: Dashain, Tihar, Holi, Maha Shivaratri, Teej, and Gai Jatra, what each celebrates and what visitors actually see.
Nepal AdventuresNepal Visa & Entry Requirements: What Every Traveller Needs to Know
Nepal visa guide: visa on arrival fees, the e-visa system, extensions, land border crossings, and what documents to carry when you land in Kathmandu.