The Swotah Journal
Route guides, permits, packing lists and dispatches from the trail.
269 articles
Nepal AdventuresAnnapurna vs K2: Which Is More Dangerous? Deaths, Ratios and 2026 Season
Annapurna I vs K2 compared: deaths per 100 summits, first ascents, main hazards, permits and the 2026 season when nobody summited K2.
Nepal AdventuresAnnapurna Base Camp Elevation: Altitude Profile, Oxygen and Peaks
Annapurna Base Camp is 4,130 m (13,550 ft). Altitude of every stop on the trek, oxygen levels, the peaks you see, and how to avoid altitude sickness.
Nepal AdventuresBest Time to Trek Manaslu: Month-by-Month Guide (2026)
October, November and April are the best months for the Manaslu Circuit. Month ratings, temperatures by altitude, Larke La closures and 2026 festivals.
Nepal AdventuresManaslu Trek Without a Guide: Is It Allowed in 2026?
No. A licensed guide is mandatory on the Manaslu Circuit. Since March 2026 one trekker can get the permit and walk with a guide. Rules, permits and costs.
Nepal AdventuresInternet on Everest Base Camp Trek
Wi-Fi, Everest Link cards, Ncell and NTC coverage village by village on the Everest Base Camp trek, with 2026 costs, charging tips and satellite device rules.
Nepal AdventuresEverest Three Passes vs Everest Base Camp Trek: Which Should You Choose?
Everest Three Passes or Everest Base Camp? Days, distance, difficulty, the three passes compared, 2026 prices and who each trek suits, with FAQs.
Nepal AdventuresManaslu Circuit vs Annapurna Circuit: Which Trek Is Right for You? (2026)
Manaslu vs Annapurna Circuit compared: pass heights, days, permits (USD 215-260 vs 37), guide rules, lodges, crowds and cost, plus how to do both.
Nepal ExperienceTilicho Lake Trek: Complete 2026 Guide to Route, Altitude, Permits and Cost
Tilicho Lake (4,919 m) as a side trip from Manang: route via Shree Kharka, the landslide traverse, base camp lodges, permits, costs and best months.
Nepal AdventuresTaleju Bhawani and the Kumari: The Legend Behind Nepal's Living Goddess
How Taleju Bhawani, the Malla kings' royal goddess, reached Kathmandu from Simraungadh, why she lives on in the Kumari, and where to see her temples today.
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Nepal AdventuresFamily Trips to Nepal: Best Family Tours, Easy Treks and Altitude Tips for Kids
The best family trips in Nepal: Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, Bardiya, Lumbini and easy treks like Poon Hill, with altitude advice for children and best seasons.
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Nepal AdventuresBest Adventure Holiday Destinations in the World: 7 Trips Compared (2026)
The world's best adventure holidays compared: Everest Base Camp, the Annapurna Circuit, Patagonia, Queenstown, Moab, Banff and Iceland, with seasons and days.
Nepal AdventuresAnnapurna Circuit Trek Permits 2026: ACAP and TIMS Costs, Process and Tips
Annapurna Circuit permits for 2026: ACAP NPR 3,000 and TIMS NPR 2,000, the guide rule, where to buy, checkpoints, and which side trips need extra permits.