Nepal G Adventures Review: Is the 10-Day Tour Worth It? All You Need to Know

If you are a fan of stunning landscapes, ancient temples, and slightly chaotic cities, then Nepal is the destination for you. It has always been a country I had been desperate to visit, and so I decided to join a 10-day tour to ensure I saw the best this country has to offer. But what is a Nepal G Adventures tour really like? Is it worth the money? And what are your options? Read my full review to find out!

Why I chose a Nepal G Adventures Tour

Given the logistics of travelling to a country such as Nepal, which is known for its lack of public transport and difficult roads to navigate, I knew I wanted to take a group travel tour. Having travelled with G Adventures many times before (you can read my review of overlanding in Africa HERE and of the Inca Trail HERE), it was almost a given that I would book with them again. I have been a long-term fan for years, and enjoy the way they run their tours. From their approach to travel, the local CEOs (Chief Experience Officers) who run each tour, and the size of the group.

What Nepal G Adventures Tours Are There?

G Adventures offers 26 tours that travel to Nepal. These vary in length and trip style, and some also incorporate other countries such as India, China and Bhutan.

There are 8 Classic tours, which are the original small group travel. These combine seeing the local culture, experiencing the best the country has to offer, with a slightly elevated level of comfort. 3 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours, which (as the name suggests) are for the 30-and-under traveller, a little more budget-friendly, and known for being fast-paced and social.

Of course, Nepal is known for its challenging hikes, so they offer active tours to iconic destinations like Everest Base Camp and Annapurna.

Take a look at all the Nepal G Adventures tours HERE.

The Nepal G Adventures Tour I Took

When I travelled to Nepal, I chose to travel on a 10-day 18-Thirstysomethings tour. It visits Kathmandu, Panauti, Bandipur and Pokhara. It started and ended in Kathmandu, which was perfect for flying in and out of Nepal.

I decided on this specific tour, as it visits more destinations than the alternative Classic tour, which is 8 days long. It also worked better for my budget, as well as fitting with my age range. Even in my mid-to-late 30s, I still enjoy the social side of the tours and the solo-friendly group dynamic.

If you are interested in this specific tour, check it out here: Nepal: Mountains and Temples.

Where The Tour Actually Visits

Over the 10 days, the Nepal: Mountains and Temples tour visits Kathmandu, Panauti, Bandipur and Pokhara:

• Kathmandu: The tour starts and ends in Kathmandu. It includes one full day of exploring with your guide, where you will visit some of the top sights, including Swayambhunath Stupa, Kathmandu Durbar Square, and Thamel. However, I would recommend adding at least one day before or after the tour to explore a little further. There are actually three cities located in Kathmandu Valley: Kathmandu (Kantipur), Patan (Lalitpur), and Bhaktapur (Bhadgaon). The extra day gives you a chance to visit these, as well as spots not included on the tour like the Pashupatinath Temple.

Find out all the best places to visit in Kathmandu with this helpful guide:
Epic Places to Visit in Kathmandu: Breathtaking Sights & Amazing Culture

• Panauti: One of the highlights of the tour, it includes a 10KM hike to the village of Panauti, followed by a homestay in the village. The two-day stay in this village involves a walking tour of the area. As well as a bike ride in the surrounding countryside.

Discover all Panauti has to offer with this guide:
A Complete Guide to Visiting Panauti, Nepal’s Hidden Cultural Treasure

• Bandipur: This is the charming gem of a town that you might just have not heard of. Spend some time wandering around the town and take a hike to the village of Ramkot.

Everything you need to know about Bandipur can be found in this guide:
Bandipur Nepal: the beautiful, hidden gem Newari town

• Pokhara: The final destination on the tour is the lakeside town of Pokhara. Spend your time relaxing, taking a boat out on the lake and witnessing a stunning sunrise over the mountains.

Explore Pokhara: Awesome places to visit in Pokhara, Nepal

Logistics of a Nepal G Adventures Tour

One of the biggest advantages of taking a group travel tour is that the logistics are all taken care of. And this is particularly relevant when visiting a country where transport is more logistically challenging. For me, this was one of the reasons I decided to take a Nepal G Adventures tour. But, how did the tour actually run? And what did this mean for my time in Nepal?

Group Size, CEOs, and Tour Pace

Nepal G Adventures tours are generally classed as ‘small group’. This means generally a max group size of 18, and an average of 15. On the tour I did, there were actually only 5 of us. Despite it being a small group, it was actually perfect, and luckily we all got along very well!

On every tour, you have a guide, known as a CEO. They act as lead guides, political advisors, knowledge gurus, entertainment, and, most importantly, friends throughout. Their dedication to the tour and the patience they show throughout are remarkable. Quite simply, G tours wouldn’t be G tours without them. They are always local, and this means access to experiences you wouldn’t get on your own. Ours took us to his daughter’s school dance, which was fascinating to see!

Some tours I have been on are very fast-paced, only spending a night in each destination. But with the Nepal: Mountains and Temples tour, this was not the case. There was a two-night stay at each of the destinations we visited, which made it feel really relaxed. The travel days are often long, meaning the second night in each stop was needed.

Accommodation and Food on the Tour

All of the accommodation was clean, comfortable and much less budget than I thought it would be! All tours operate on a twin-share basis, so you will be sharing with someone else from the tour (unless you choose to upgrade to a single room). When in Panauti, you will be staying in the community homestay, where the rooms might be a little more basic. For us, we had twin beds, and while the room was cold, they gave us plenty of blankets; it was so cosy! For this part of the tour, dinner is cooked and eaten with the family, which is an incredible experience.

WHERE WE STAYED:

KATHMANDU: Traditional Stay Boutique Hotel (Patan) – Traditional comfy rooms and only a 4-minute walk from Patan Durbar Square.
PANAUTI: Panauti Community Homestay – A women-led initiative that started in 2012, and it connects travellers with local families and is one of the best ways to support the community.
BANDIPUR: Bandipur Cchen – Rooms with a balcony, and full of Newari charm.
POKHARA: Batika Classic Hotel – This hotel is good value for money, with friendly staff and within walking distance from the Lake.

Breakfast is included every day, and was mainly buffet style in the hotels. The rest of the meals are purchased at your own cost. Your CEO will recommend and take you to some of the most delicious restaurants, and help you order local cuisine. Expect to eat a lot of momos and thali – I loved them both! I also got incredibly addicted to the masala chai, which is absolutely delicious.

Transport Between Destinations

All transport on the tour is private minibus. This is by far the easiest, and sometimes only, way to travel between the destinations. Buses and cars use the same roads. These are poorly maintained, full of potholes, dusty and muddy. As well as being subject to random traffic jams. Patience and a sense of adventure are key. Sometimes even a short distance can take hours or even all day.

A Typical Day on the Tour

This does vary depending on whether it is a travel day or if you are having a full day exploring a destination. But regardless, every day involves experiencing local food and culture.

On travel days, the norm is to get up early to try and reach your destination in good time. Lunch, snack and toilet breaks will be factored into the day. Most of the time you arrive at your next destination in time to do an activity in the afternoon.

For the rest of the time, there is either an included activity (such as the hike to Ramkot) or an optional activity. These included things such as a flight past Mount Everest, or watching the sunrise over the Annapunra range. My personal approach to these tours is to sign up for all the activities; I never want to miss out! In every stop, there is also always some downtime. I spent these eating local sweet treats, getting a masala chai and getting a massage!

How Much Does A Nepal G Adventures Tour Cost?

The cost of a Nepal G Adventures tour mainly depends on which travel style you go for. The Classic Tours start from £679, and the 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours from £447. G Adventures often have really good sales, so do look out for dates when the tour might be reduced.

Aside from the upgraded accommodation, the other difference between the two styles is how much is included. With a Classic Tour, more activities will be included; for example, the Highlights of Nepal includes a Chitwan National Park 4×4 safari. Both tour styles do have optional activities which you can purchase, for example an Everest flight and boat trip on the lake in Pokhara.

Top Tip: If you want to book an Everest Flight independently, take a look at options HERE.

Other costs you need to factor in include flights, visas, transfers from the airport (which you can book through G Adventures), tip for your guide; as a guide, factor in $8-10 USD per person, per day.

Pros and Cons of A Nepal G Adventures Tour

When deciding whether you want to travel on a Nepal G Adventures tour, it is good to weigh up the pros vs the cons.

Pros

• Itinerary: Joining a group travel tour means the itinerary is designed to see the best of a country. The G Adventures tours offer well-paced itineraries that fit in the key spots without feeling rushed. Perfect if you are short on time.
• Logistics: One of the most challenging things about travelling to Nepal is how to get from A to B. Tourists aren’t allowed to drive in Nepal, and buses are old and unreliable. A tour navigates this by including a private minivan.
• CEO: I loved having all the local knowledge that my CEO had. He was so friendly, patient, and truly made the trip what it was.
• Budgeting: While a group travel tour can be more expensive than independent travel, booking on a tour means a large amount of the costs are paid upfront. And your guide can help you find the cheap-but-best places to eat!
• Social: Travelling on a Nepal G Adventures tour meant I was with a group of like-minded people, and I had such a good time experiencing the activities with them.

Cons

• No visit to Chitwan National Park: The biggest con for me was that the tour I went on didn’t include a visit to Chitwan National Park. If you did want to visit, the Classic Highlights of Nepal tour does include this.
• Itinerary flexibility: This is the biggest con of joining a group travel tour in that you don’t have control over the itinerary. Meaning you can’t stay longer if you love a place, or add new destinations on.
• Cost: Like any group travel tour, it is going to cost more than travelling independently. However, travelling independently is often going to take longer, once you have factored in logistics. So expect to pay more in accommodation costs.

Nepal G Adventures FAQs

Is this tour good for solo and solo female travellers?

Incredible! G Adventures don’t add any single supplement cost, so it is designed for solos. The group dynamic was great, even with a mix of solo and friends travelling together. It really is the best way to meet people. I felt very safe travelling as a solo female, even when I was exploring the cities alone.

Is 10 days enough in Nepal?

While you could easily spend more than 10 days in Nepal, this itinerary will give you a taste of everything and a chance to see the highlights. If you plan to do any of the big hikes, such as EBC and Annapurna, you’ll absolutely need more time. Chitwan National Park is also somewhere I would add if you have more time.

What’s the WiFi/connectivity like?

Surprisingly good! I had planned on being mainly offline, but there was good WiFi at all of the hotels we stayed at. The only place where it was limited was the homestay.

How physically demanding is the tour?

Not very! Nepal is known for its hikes, but this tour is a great alternative if you want to see the country in a more relaxed manner. There is one hike included in the tour – to Ramkot. This was a 10KM there and back, and did involve some uphill. However, with an average level of fitness, it is easily doable!

Final Verdict: Is It Worth It?

I am so pleased that I travelled to this country on a Nepal G Adventures tour. It was a safe, easy and incredibly friendly way to explore this stunning country, which fast became one of my favourite countries ever!

The tour was well-paced; it never felt too rushed, and I was also really happy with the destinations it covered. I found it really good value, and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the accommodation. 10/10 would recommend!

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Visiting Nepal? These guides will help you plan your visit:

• 10 Days in Nepal: Exploring mountains and hidden gems
• Epic Places to Visit in Kathmandu: Breathtaking Sights & Amazing Culture
• Bandipur Nepal: the beautiful, hidden gem Newari town
• Awesome places to visit in Pokhara, Nepal
• A Complete Guide to Visiting Panauti, Nepal’s Hidden Cultural Treasure

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