The Swotah Journal
Route guides, permits, packing lists and dispatches from the trail.
268 articles
Nepal ExperienceA Complete Guide to Trekking in Nepal
The complete Nepal trekking guide: seasons, guide rules for 2026, permits, costs, food and water, difficulty grades, packing, and the routes worth your days.
Nepal ExperienceJungle Safari Destinations in Nepal
Nepal's best jungle safaris: Chitwan (752 rhinos), Bardia for tigers, Shuklaphanta's grasslands, and Koshi Tappu's birdlife, with the best season for each park.
Nepal ExperienceThe Unethical Side of Elephant Rides in Nepal
Why elephant-back safaris in Chitwan are fading: the training and welfare problems behind them, how Nepal's operators are changing, and the ethical alternatives.
NepalReasons to Choose Mardi Himal Trek
Why trek Mardi Himal: a quiet ridge walk to 4,500 m with Machhapuchhre filling the sky, 5-7 days from Pokhara, modest permits, and a fraction of ABC's crowds.
NepalChoosing the Best Travel Agency in Nepal
How to pick a trustworthy Nepal trekking agency: licence checks, what prices should include, safety questions to ask, group size, and the red flags to avoid.
Nepal ExperienceBird watching destinations in Nepal
Where to bird in Nepal, home to ~886 species: Phulchowki, Koshi Tappu, Chitwan, Shivapuri, Taudaha, Godavari, and the Annapurna foothills, with what to spot at each.
Nepal ExperienceEverest Base Camp Trek: A Complete Guide
The complete EBC trek guide: route and altitudes, 2026 permits, the Manthali flight switch, best seasons, difficulty, training, costs, and what to pack.
BhutanA Complete Guide to Traveling to Bhutan
Everything for a Bhutan trip in 2026: the USD 100/night SDF, USD 40 visa, booking rules, flights and overland entry, best seasons, festivals, food, and costs.
NepalResponsible Trekking in Nepal: A Complete Guide
How to trek Nepal responsibly: fair porter treatment, plastic-free water, offseason and off-trail choices, waste rules, and the ethics that keep trails worth walking.
Bhutan10 Best Things to Do in Bhutan
The 10 best things to do in Bhutan: Tiger's Nest, Punakha Dzong, tsechu festivals, Dochula Pass, black-necked cranes, archery, and hot-stone baths, plus 2026 costs.
Nepal AdventuresMountain Flight: Explore the Himalayas Without Trekking
The one-hour Everest mountain flight from Kathmandu: 2026 prices (USD 200-250), guaranteed window seats, the 20 peaks you'll see, and how to book the best slot.
Nepal AdventuresOff The Beaten Path Treks in Annapurna Region Nepal
Seven quiet Annapurna alternatives to ABC: Khopra Ridge, Mohare Danda, Nar Phu, Sikles, Panchase, the Royal Trek, and Karbakeli, with days and permits for each.