Mistybleu

Out of town, near the airport is the East Coast Seafood Park where there are a few, well 8 restaurants specialising in seafood. Two of the island’s signature dishes are chilli crab and black pepper crab. Two of my favourites are Jumbo and Long Beach.

Heading west out of Kathmandu by completing a 6 ½ hour drive (200 km) or an hour plane ride in the Pokhara Valley is the city of Pokhara. Known as the “city of 7 lakes” it brings you even closer to the Himalayas than in Kathmandu.

Pokhara second largest city in Nepal and can be considered a ‘holiday resort’; as it is one of the main centres where people can access the mountains. Only 30km away you can start climbing the first peak. There are wonderful views of all around the city of the Annapurna ranges within a sub-tropical setting.

Sarangkot stands at only 1592 meters high and a climb up takes about 3 hours if completed from the trail near the Phewa Lake in Pokhara. It is also possible to cheat and take a taxi (for around 100 NPR) up there. From the taxi drop off point there is a lookout point so if you are really unfit this is the best place to get some really great pictures of the Annapurna Ranges. Failing that, you can continue up a mixture of concrete steps and footpaths to the top for really majestic views. It is meant to take 45 minutes and the climb is a little strenuous, but it kind of takes your breath away when you see the full glory of the Himalayas.