500 Adrenaline Adventures (Frommer's) - Lois Friedland [8]
Most trips to Nepal begin in Kathmandu, the country’s capital and largest (and noisiest) city. Heli-cycling programs organized by qualified tour operators who know the terrain are definitely the way to experience this activity; some operators have relatively short 1-day packages, while others offer longer excursions of several days. Thrill-seekers opting for longer tours are able to stop in remote teahouses for breaks, and stay overnight in lodges nestled in isolated villages.
If what you seek is adventure on the road less traveled, you’ll find it here. Many of the spots visited by heli-cyclers are tiny hamlets, difficult to reach even by four-wheel-drive vehicles. The landscape is rich and varied: Icy, snow-capped mountain ranges give way to dense alpine forests, semi-arid steppes, surging rivers, lush farmland, and golden rice paddies. And for sheer death-defying thrills, try crossing a swinging suspension bridge on a windy day with a full pack and a mountain bike—not for the faint of heart.
Cycling through mountainous Nepal.
It’s not all hard work and sweat, however. Bikers make frequent stops to sample local foods and teas, including the region’s apple ciders and brandies. In addition, there are hot spring pools along some routes that allow bone-weary riders a chance to soothe their aching bodies. And at the end of your journey, the sights and sounds of Kathmandu are yours to explore. —ML
Tours: Black Tomato ( 877/815-1497;www.blacktomato.co.uk). Himalayan Mountain Bike Adventures ( 977/1/421-2860;www.hmbadventures.com).
When to Go: Oct–Nov.
Kathmandu.
$$ Kantipur Temple House, Chusyabahal, Jyatha Tol, Thamel, Kathmandu ( 977/1/425-0129;www.kantipurtemplehouse.com). $$ Hotel Courtyard, 67/27, Z-St., Thamel, Kathmandu ( 977/1/470-0648;www.hotelcourtyard.com).
6
Fly over Water & onto Ice
Helicopter Flight-Seeing in the Southern Alps
Milford Sound, New Zealand
Standing on an ancient glacier, thousands of meters above the earth’s surface, is an exceptionally rare experience—typically reserved for expert mountaineers or intrepid heli-skiers. But adventurers up for the flight of their life can have the same thrill in New Zealand by riding high in a chopper as it gracefully slips between some of the earth’s most remote and jagged peaks. When you finally land on a massive block of ice nearly touching the clouds, the mind-boggling views, not to mention the dizzying sensation that you’re about to slide right off the mountaintop, is sure to get your adrenaline pumping. Flying over Milford Sound, once described by Rudyard Kipling as the eighth wonder of the world, before landing on a nearby beach isn’t half bad either.
The Southern Alps in Fiordland, covering the southwestern corner of New Zealand’s South Island, are just 35 minutes by plane or about 5 hours by car from Queenstown. There are more than 27 peaks reaching over 2,743m (9,000 ft.) and about 60 glaciers in this mountain range, melting into rivers and lakes of dazzling blue-green hues. The entire Fiordland National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is full of nature’s best: mountains, virgin forests, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, and, of course, fiords (long narrow estuaries with steep sides, carved by glacial activity). The main attraction is Milford Sound, which is actually a fiord, bordered by sheer granite mountaintops including the oft-photographed Mitre Peak. Its waters and the surrounding land have been relatively untouched, and feel almost primeval. Rain or shine, the area is magical. Perhaps that’s why Peter Jackson filmed so much of The Lord of the Rings nearby.
While cruises and hiking are increasingly popular ways to explore the region, a helicopter ride offers the most exhilarating way to see more arduous sights. For one of the most thrilling overviews,