The Dwarika’s Hotel in Kathmandu is not simply a place to stay; it’s an immersion into Nepal’s cultural heritage. The hotel began as a passion project by the late Dwarika Das Shrestha who, one morning in 1952, came across a torn-down old building in Kathmandu Durbar Square, the intricately carved wooden pillars being carted away for firewood. This incident sparked a lifelong mission to preserve the artefacts of Nepal’s ancient culture, and the brick building that housed Dwarika’s personal collection would eventually become Dwarika’s Hotel in 1977. This way, the conservation of Nepal’s preciou ..read more

Many people like the idea of trekking in the Himalayas (whether that’s Nepal, Ladakh, or Bhutan) but don’t know whether it would be too far out of their physical comfort zone. There’s also a lot of confusion between mountain climbing and mountain trekking. Yes, thousands of people flock to Nepal each year to trek to Everest, but only a fraction of these actually attempt to climb the mountain! You don’t need to be a uber-fit superhero to enjoy trekking in the Himalayas. Like many things in life, trekking in the Himalayas is easier and more enjoyable if you have a reasonable level of fitness. If ..read more

While Nepal is an appealing travel destination throughout the year, there are some sights and activities that are simply better in some seasons. If you want to trek in the Himalaya—and many visitors do—then Nepal in spring is an ideal time. Here are a few reasons why you should visit Nepal in spring. The Weather Popular cities like Kathmandu and Pokhara never get really cold in the winter (compared to North American or European winters, that is!), but they are a bit nippy. Plus, the higher in altitude you go, the colder the temperatures and the greater the chance of snow. If you want to trek a ..read more

Planning a trip to Bhutan? One question on your mind (other than the obvious one of when will it be safe to travel there post COVID-19) might be ‘What is the food like in Bhutan? ’. Despite its close proximity to India and Nepal, Bhutanese cuisine is little heard of and completely different to that of its neighbours. The first thing I heard about food in Bhutan was ‘It’s really spicy and everything has chillies in it.’ Whilst in some ways that is true and the national dish ema datshi is certainly very spicy, there are lots of other dishes that are gentler on the palate. A great place to introd ..read more

Where are the best places to visit in the Himalaya? The Beyond The Clouds team are passionate travellers, and experts on the Himalaya. Between us we have decades of knowledge and experience travelling around and organising tours in the region. We have lived in and explored Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet and Ladakh, so you can trust our in-depth understanding of the destinations we send our customers to. We hand-pick all of our accommodation and restaurants, and many of the itineraries are ones we’ve travelled ourselves. We only plan trips that we would love to do ourselves! Our director, Fionna has put ..read more

Happy Valentine’s Day! We hope you get to enjoy some romantic time today with your partner or love interest, wherever you are in the world. While it’s too late to whisk your loved one off to the Himalaya for Valentine’s Day 2020, the romantic holiday comes around once a year! With a whole year to plan, you can create a perfect Valentine’s Day 2021 surprise. Or, consider a romantic trip to Nepal, Bhutan, Ladakh, or Tibet at any other time of year or to celebrate a special occasion.  While the Himalaya may not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking about romantic holidays or h ..read more

October and November are peak tourism season in Nepal, and as with most places that are popular at a particular time of year, this is for several very good reasons. The weather tends to be optimal at this time, the mountain views are good, conditions on trekking trails are comfortable, plus there are a couple of huge festivals (and some smaller ones, too) that make these months exciting times to visit. While October tends to be busier with tourists than November, in our opinion, November is actually the better month of the two. The weather is crisper in November, and as anyone who has spent m ..read more

One of the most unique and fascinating places in the world, there simply is no other destination like Bhutan. Blending extraordinary natural beauty, rich cultural heritage and plenty of surprising quirks, Bhutan is rightfully placed at the top of many keen travellers’ bucket lists. To maintain a low volume, sustainable model of tourism, the Bhutanese government charges a daily fee to tourists, making Bhutan appear to be one of the pricier Asian destinations. But did you know that for 2023 and beyond, travel to this Himalayan kingdom just got a whole lot less expensive? Often referred to as t ..read more

Trekking in Nepal’s spectacular mountain regions is truly a must-do experience. But what should you expect on your trek. Accommodation: Typical accommodation on Nepali trekking routes are trekking lodges often referred to as tea houses. Our guides will always try to book the best lodges in a particular village, but do be warned some (especially along more popular treks) may be full. Staying at a tea house is an authentic experience, as these family-owned businesses offer genuine hospitality and good food. Although they range in quality, most tea houses offer basic accommodation that is a welco ..read more

While there are good reasons to visit Bhutan at any time of year, in our experience, October is the best time to visit Bhutan. Want to find out why? Read on. October is autumn in Bhutan. While early autumn (September) can still be wet after the monsoon, by October the skies have generally cleared. That means you’ll be treated to beautiful Himalayan views. October is peak season in Bhutan, so that does mean many popular tourist attractions will be at their busiest. But, we’re hardly talking Roman summer levels of busy-ness, here. Remember that travel to Bhutan is still quite restricted by the ..read more