The Longest Way Home (2024)

16/01/2024

🏞️ Embrace the upcoming trekking season in Nepal! 🏔️ It's crucial to know about mandatory vs compulsory trekking guides before you set off on your adventure. 🚶‍♂️ Dive into the details and understand the requirements for a safe and enjoyable trek. Click the link to explore more: https://www.thelongestwayhome.com/blog/nepal/mandatory-vs-compulsory-decoding-trekking-guide-requirements-in-nepal/ 🌍

Plan your Nepal trekking adventure with our comprehensive guide to compulsory and mandatory guides, short trek exceptions, and the future of the policy.

01/08/2023

📚 Exciting News! The latest digital editions of my Nepal guidebooks are now available! (August 2023)

Discover the most up-to-date information on the controversial "mandatory" trekking guide rule, fines, permits, and trustworthy sources. Learn where you can still experience the thrill of independent trekking.

🏨 Find easy-to-read hotel and restaurant reviews and comprehensive listings to make your stay unforgettable.

🏰 Plus, this guidebook is your ultimate companion, revealing all entrance prices to sights across the country (the only guidebook to Nepal to do so). Plan your journey with confidence and be ready for an incredible adventure in Nepal!

Get your copy now and embark on the journey of a lifetime! 🌏🚶‍♂️

Visiting Nepal? Get the latest & best guidebooks to Nepal available anywhere in the world. Updated, interactive for tablets, mobile or print. All budgets!

10/07/2023

The very latest information on if you need a mandatory trekking guide in Nepal this year or not?

Legally needed? Checkpoints open or closed? Here are the answers.

Here is the very latest up to date information on the mandatory trekking guide rule in Nepal. Solo trekking is now banned but can you still trek alone? Answer:

13/03/2023

Nepal bans independent trekking from 1st April 2023.

Everyone has been quite devastated by this news and we are all hoping that the international backlash towards this decision by Nepal Tourism Board and TAAN will show it is the wrong decision. A decision that can still be "ammended".

At the moment Nepal Tourism Board has said they will stop issuing FIT (solo) TIMS cards on March 27th. They've all said full guidelines will be released "soon". Meanwhile, the Solukumbu region says the ban does not apply to their region.

Yes, it's a mess. It's also a decision that will be detrimental to local businesses, hotels, restaurants, and people as Nepal loses its crown as the best independent trekking region in the world.

On April 1st 2023 all independent trekking in Nepal will be banned. Solo trekkers will have to hire a mandatory trekking guide if they want to trek. Details here

04/08/2022

My new 2022 Trekking in Nepal guidebook is now available as a full color digital/ebook or full color paperback or for those on a budget in black & white paperback! https://www.thelongestwayhome.com/guidebooks/nepal/trekking-nepal-guidebook.html

Likewise there's a new 2022 edtion of the Nepal Guidebook in digital & paperback! https://www.thelongestwayhome.com/guidebooks/nepal/nepal-guidebook.html

Plus the latest news from Nepal for the coming year is available here https://www.thelongestwayhome.com/blog/nepal/off-season-updates-from-nepal-news-information-and-more/

For trekkers in Nepal this book offers you over 28 epic treks like Everest Base Camp & Manaslu to medium treks like Annapurna Base Camp & shorter treks like P**n Hill, Khopra Danda or a short overnight treks to Panchase & Shivapuri.

20/04/2022

Don't Forget Your Guidebook: Bangkok, Kathmandu, London - Now Available!

My latest book is now available in paperpack & ebook - Join Jonny as he takes on the world in a quest to win back his girlfriend on a rip roaring travel adventure that brings new meaning to satire.

A great book before, during or after your travels ... if you like to laugh!

Available in the following stores worldwide:
Direct: https://www.thelongestwayhome.com/books/dont-forget-your-guidebook-bangkok-kathmandu-london.html

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09Y3SDGK5?tag=thlowaho-20

All others: https://books2read.com/u/bo2721

Join Jonny as he tries to win back his ex on a trip to Thailand that brings about a whole new adventure with a whole new crew in this humor travel book.

23/02/2022

Updates from Nepal:

Nepal now has visas on arrival with no quarantine restrictions for fully vaccinated tourists. Bargains can be had at the moment like never before.

Yeti & Buddha domestic airlines are both offering reduced fares for tourists in line with Nepali fares. Nepal Airlines do the same. A postive move after many years of discriminatory pricing.

The hotel association of Nepal has said there's a 20% discount to all tourists coming ... I don't qutie believe this, as previously they put the price up before the discount ... but anyway.

Tourist season is nearly underway in Nepal albeit quieter than usual. It means there's an old school quality about Nepal that we've not seen for many years.

I've also just published a Trekking & Hiking Journal so you can log all your treks! It's got an easy quick fill section, and a full diary page.

https://www.thelongestwayhome.com/guidebooks/trekking-hiking-journal.html

A pocket sized trekking or hiking journal that can record up to 52 days. Includes a quick fill page, and a full page for diary filling.

07/10/2021

The latest October 2021 editions of my Nepal guidebooks are now available!

The main Nepal guidebook includes the most up to date entry requirements while all books have up to date hotel reviews, restaurants, where to go and how to get there.

These are the only 2021 guidebooks to Nepal on the planet 🇳🇵🌎💪🙏

https://www.thelongestwayhome.com/nepal-guidebook-shop.html

Visiting Nepal? Get the latest & best guidebooks to Nepal available anywhere in the world. Updated, interactive for tablets, mobile or print. All budgets!

27/09/2021

Nepal starts visa on arrival again for fully vaccinated tourists with no quarantine!

It's world tourism day, and Nepal slowly begins its recovery.

All international borders including land and airports are offering visas on arrival - the primary being Kathmandu Airport - with no quarantine needed for fully vaccinated tourists.

Tourists must be able to produce proof of vaccination and they must have been vaccinated at least 14 days prior to arrival

Tourists must show proof of a hotel booking

A negative PCR test 72 hours or less before your first flight (try to have your photo on the test)

A completed CCMC online form with a print out of the barcode

Complete a negative antigen test at the airport or if not available there at your hotel

Full details here > https://www.thelongestwayhome.com/blog/nepal/nepal-restarts-visa-on-arrival-for-vaccinated-tourists-no-quarantine-needed/

Full Nepal visa information here > https://www.thelongestwayhome.com/travel-guides/nepal/nepal-visa-information.html

Nepal official reinstates visas on arrival if tourists are fully vaccinated. Full details on the September 2021 changes here.

03/05/2021

Kathmandu: Signs From The Past - coffee table book published

I wasn't expecting to publish this book so quickly, but times have changed and Nepal is in trouble due to a second COVID-19 wave similar to the one that's devastated India. Last week the largest bookshop in Thamel was also forced to close due to rising rents, no customers and a landlord who's accepting triple rates from a Chinese business owner. Times are getting tougher.

This book was a personal project of mine over the past ten years. Photographing the hand painted street and shop signs around Kathmandu. The iconic little signs that fills everyone with the memories of the hustle and bustle that is Kathmandu when they go home. Now you can own those memories.

This book contains 131 full glossy color landscape pages of these iconic signs. From trekking stores to dentists to oddities to humorous quotes to old favourites. The book makes a wonderful gift for anyone who loves Nepal or to catch the eye of anyone passing your bookshelf or coffee table.

For these new international printed books I've been working hard at coming up with a 10 trees planted for every book sold initiative. It's underway!

However with the second wave of COVID-19 now rampaging into Nepal I had to kick things up a notch and publish this book with proceeds going to help people stay employed in Nepal. This book will also be published in Nepal once international post resumes. For now, it's being used to help people stay employed when tourism is at a standstill, when a government is at a standstill, when people cannot feed themselves.

There's also a 15% discount on this book from the printing press until May 7th 2021. Check out the page below for more details and the voucher plus any future offers.

It's a crazy world out there at the moment, just trying to do our best 📖🆘😷🇳🇵.

Book launch and vouncher >> https://www.thelongestwayhome.com/blog/nepal/kathmandu-signs-from-the-past-my-coffee-table-book-published/

Full book details >> https://www.thelongestwayhome.com/guidebooks/nepal/kathmandu-signs-from-the-past-book.html

A stunning collection of Nepal's unique store & shop signs. 131 full color pages of traditional hand-painted signs now available in this great coffee table book

31/03/2021

I'm delighted to announce the 2021 Paperback Edition of my Nepal Guidebook is now available worldwide!

Earlier this month the exact same book in digital format was published, now it's time to be the only guidebook to published in print in 2021!

Nepal is still open to tourists and has been since October. In February 2021 they eased the regulations and they did the same again in March.

At the moment you need to apply to an embassy in your home country (or nearby) or have an invitation letter for a visa on arrival, get a negative PCR test before travel etc. But, there's no more quarantine!

This is the 3rd edition of the print guidebook to Nepal and it includes the latest updates, including new entrance fees, changing businesses, COVID updates, restaurant reviews, hotel reviews, transport updates, places to visit, in depth maps, the best treks and so much more. In total there's over 100 pages of additional new places to explore compared to the previous edition for a total of 654 pages!

It is without doubt not only the most up-to-date guidebook to Nepal in the world but also the best guidebook you can own.

https://www.thelongestwayhome.com/guidebooks/nepal/nepal-guidebook-print-edition.html

The best paperback guidebook to Nepal. From exploring the Kathmandu Valley to trekking the Himalayas it's all available here. The most up-to-date print book!

03/03/2021

I'm happy to announce the 2021 Edition of my Nepal Guidebook is now out in digital format!

Much like during the 2015 earthquake, this is the only guidebook in the world to Nepal to be updated throughout the pandemic in 2020 and now in 2021.

Nepal is still open to tourists and has been since October. In February 2021 they eased the regulations a little and we fully expect even more easing in the weeks to come. At the moment you need to apply to an embassy in your home country (or nearby) or have an invitation letter for a visa on arrival, get a negative PCR test before travel etc. More details on my website.

Meanwhile, the latest edition of the guidebook includes the latest updates, including new entrance fees, changing businesses, COVID updates, restaurant reviews, hotel reviews, transport updates, places to visit, in depth maps, the best treks and so much more that makes this without doubt not only the most up to date guidebook but the best guidebook you can own.

https://www.thelongestwayhome.com/guidebooks/nepal/nepal-guidebook.html

Going to Nepal? Get the best guidebook to Nepal. From the Kathmandu Valley to Trekking the Himalayas. The most up-to-date guidebook in the world today.

16/10/2020

It's official: Nepal reopens to trekkers & mountaineers tomorrow (October 17th).

There's a host of requirements needed including PCR tests, 7 days quarantine etc. You can find all this information here https://www.thelongestwayhome.com/blog/nepal/nepal-reopens-for-mountaineering-trekking-here-are-the-requirements/

Rumor has it that all tourists will be allowed to enter by mid-November without some of these requirements - including no quarantine.

This post is not about "should you go". It's about, "these are the requirements". It's early days to be honest and I would expect changes along the way. It is however, an update.

During these extremely challenging times such official confirmation also gives hope to those struggling with negative news and to be frank, dark days.

In light of the positive side of things the above facts have instilled a feeling of hope that if the top of the world is now accessible, maybe it won't be long before we can all venture there again.

Stay safe everyone & stay positive!

On October 17th 2020 Nepal reopens to mountaineers and trekkers. Here's a list of requirements you'll need to enter Nepal.

17/03/2020

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to take a moment to let you know the situation in Nepal. I've written a full update in the link below. Here's a summary.

Currently, Nepal has suspended all tourist on arrival visas. Meaning the only way you can enter is by going to your home country embassy with a certificate saying you are COVID-19 free, getting to Nepal and then spending 14 days in home quarantine - it's not a very feasible nor enjoyable procedure!

Furthermore, Nepal has also suspended restricted area trekking permits.

There are many tourists in Nepal at the moment. Some by choice, some can't get flights out or can't enter other countries due to restrictions. I'm currently trying to find out how long they can extend their visas. Nepal has a 5-month visa allowance, so for most, they should be ok!

Each of us, no matter where we are will be going through different difficulties, situations and solutions.

Nepal is preparing isolation wards in Kathmandu and Pokhara. So far, it seems like there is no viral community outbreak in Nepal. However, there are also very few testing kits.

In light of this, I would recommend if you are in Nepal, to act responsibly. Up in the mountains, there are few to no medical facilities. People are vulnerable. Personally, I would not go trekking at this time to protect villagers and local people from a virus they have little treatment for - even paracetamol is difficult to get in many places.

Let's just view the mountains from a distance, for now.

Now, on to the future! There is one. We will get through this. The news and media are negative and everything seems like despair at the moment.

In my life, I've come up against, malaria, dengue, H1N1, Swine flu, colon disease, riots, border closures, terrorism, kidnapping attempts, shootings, bombs, car crashes, bus crashes, a plane's engine breaking down mid-flight, emergency rule and indeed viral outbreaks! That's off the top of my head .... it's a long list. And, I'm still here. We have nothing to fear, but fear itself seems quite prevalent at the moment. A level head will help us all through this.

I'm looking at the news in South Korea and Singapore rather than China or Europe or the USA. South Korea was hit badly, and the infection numbers over the past two days have been improving. Singapore, had been doing very well. This is good news. Looking to the future I have a calculated mindset that things will clear up and get better.

I know places like Facebook or other social media sites are filled with "experts", gossip and rumors. I find it addictive too. But I am forcing myself not to look these posts. I want calculable facts rather than rumor. Facts make me feel reassured and in the know. Seeing South Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore dealing with things does make me feel better and hopeful for the future.

In light of this, and the many people stuck in isolation I want to bring you a glimpse of what you can look forward to. Plan ahead. See other parts of the planet, learn about others, explore the world through your screens for now. It's out there still. We are out there in it. Soon we will all be able to visit it again together.

I plan to publish more of my journey and guides. I'll also publish past daily journals that you can read along with as a form of escapism from the four walls you are looking at these days! Not to mention, there'll be no mention of any pandemics or the like. If you'd like to skip ahead, try day zero on my blog page.

Meanwhile, stay safe, protect others by staying safe and be prepared for a bright future!

https://www.thelongestwayhome.com/blog/nepal/coronavirus-in-nepal-covid-19-updates/

Traveling to Nepal? Get the latest information about the Coronavirus NOVID-19. Is Nepal safe to travel, what preventative measures do you need to take and more

05/03/2020

If you think the Langtang Vally trek might be too easy, or you're up for a high pass challenge - The G***a La Pass Trek might be for you!

It covers all of the Langtang Valley, but you leave the valley by camping and trekking over the 5122m G***a La Pass!

https://www.thelongestwayhome.com/travel-resources/trekking/ganja-la-pass-trek.html

Want to go on the G***a La Pass trek? This is a full guide on the trek itinerary, what to expect, camping, tea houses, map & photographs

13/02/2020

Want an Everest Trek without the crowds? Try the Gokyo Ri trek!

Get to see Everest from a different viewpoint, plus climb Gokyo Ri, see the spectacular high altitude Gokyo Lake all without the tour groups associated with the EBC trek!

Plus, it's one day shorter on average!

https://www.thelongestwayhome.com/travel-resources/trekking/gokyo-ri-trek.html

The Gokyo Ri trek covers Everest, Gokyo lakes & is a great alternative to the EBC trek. This is a fully independent hiking guide with itinerary, tea houses, maps & photographs

21/01/2020

Of all the squares in all Nepal Bhaktapur Durbar Square deserves credit for nearly complete reconstruction of all temples!

Between March 17-21st 2020 they will be having a special festival which is open to all visitors.

Traditional arts, pottery, painting, dances, singing, parades, folklore, temple tours, food and open plays will highlight.

If you are in Nepal in March then it will be well worth visiting Bhaktapur!

https://www.thelongestwayhome.com/travel-guides/nepal/bhaktapur/guide-to-bhaktapur-durbar-square.html

Great FREE travel guide to Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Find out entrance fees, directions, must see highlights, accommodation and more ...

The Longest Way Home