The Swotah Journal
Route guides, permits, packing lists and dispatches from the trail.
268 articles
Nepal AdventuresOvercrowding on Everest: The Real Price of 5 Minutes on Top of the World
Why Everest gets deadly traffic jams: weather windows, record permits, price wars, and what Nepal changed since 2019 - the USD 15,000 royalty, tracking, new rules.
NepalSurviving Your First Arrival at Tribhuvan Airport
Step-by-step first arrival at Kathmandu airport: visa on arrival, immigration queues, baggage, money exchange, SIM cards, and taxi fares to Thamel.
NepalNepal Visa on Arrival and Visa Extension: Complete 2026 Guide
Nepal visa on arrival in 3 steps at Kathmandu airport, plus visa extension fees (USD 45 for 15 days, USD 3/day), the online form, and overstay penalties.
NepalAll You Need to Know About Nepal Tourist Visa 2026
Nepal tourist visa fees (USD 30/50/125), visa on arrival at airports and land borders, the online form, free visas for SAARC and Chinese citizens, and extensions.
NepalTrekking Permits in Nepal: A Complete 2026 Guide
Every Nepal trekking permit for 2026: TIMS card (NPR 2,000), conservation and national park fees, restricted area permit costs, and the new solo trekker rule.
Nepal AdventuresOffseason Trekking in Nepal: Monsoon and Winter Guide
Why trek Nepal in monsoon (June-Sept) or winter (Dec-Feb): quiet trails, lower prices, rain-shadow treks in Upper Mustang and Dolpo, and winter-friendly routes.
NepalTravelling to Nepal from India: Routes, Borders, and Documents
How to travel from India to Nepal by flight, bus, or train. Documents for Indian citizens, visa on arrival for foreigners, and all six major border crossings.
Nepal ExperienceVipassana Meditation: A Technique to Unwind
A first-person account of a 10-day Vipassana meditation course in Nepal. What to expect, daily schedule, rules, and how to register at Dhamma Shringa, Kathmandu.
Nepal AdventuresMagnificent Mustang: The Forbidden Kingdom Beyond the Himalayas
Discover Mustang - Nepal's ancient forbidden kingdom. High-desert landscapes, cave monasteries, the walled city of Lo-Manthang, Tiji Festival, and Muktinath Temple.
Photography50 Best Inspiring Travel Quotes to Fuel Your Wanderlust
The most inspiring travel quotes from explorers, writers, and mountaineers. 50 quotes on freedom, adventure, the mountains, Nepal, and slow travel.
Nepal ExperienceMy Bittersweet Experience in Nepal
A personal story of trekking the Poon Hill circuit in Nepal - endless stairs, mountain butterflies, a bracelet lost to Annapurna, and everything in between.
NepalWho are Sherpas? Get to Know the Sherpas of Nepal
Who are the Sherpas of Nepal? Their altitude physiology, weekday names, Kami Rita's record 32 Everest summits, and why Sherpa is a people, not a profession.