Explore Nepal

Dr. Megan Adamson Sijapati is Professor and Chair of the Religious Studies Department at Gettysburg College. She is the author of Islamic Revival in Nepal: Religion and a New Nation (Routledge, 2013) and co-editor/author of Muslim Communities and Cultures of the Himalayas (Routledge, 2020). Her work focuses on the intersections of embodiment, religion and social justice, religious revivalism, epistemology, spiritual ecology, and modernity, particularly in contemporary Islamic traditions and Sufism. She earned her Ph.D. in Religious Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She has lived, traveled, and conducted research in Nepal and South Asia off and on since 1994, including as a Fulbright Scholar and a visiting professor.

Bayan's tours are focused on providing a well-rounded experience featuring academic knowledge, historical site visits, cultural exposure, recreational activities, and ample leisure time. We typically aim for a group size of 30-35 participants.

This tour is among the more adventurous programs offered, with various activities in natural environments alongside visits to historical and cultural heritage sites. While our group will be transported from site to site in a comfortable air-conditioned tourist bus, there will be a significant amount of walking for several hours per day, including many steps and inclines. It is likely that on some days, our group will cover no less than 10,000 steps. The guides will aim to take into account the differing abilities and health conditions of group members and regulate the pace and intensity of the tour as possible.

Nepalese cuisine is diverse and influenced by Tibetan, Indian, and Chinese culinary traditions. Staple dishes include dal bhat (lentil soup with steamed rice), accompanied by vegetable curries, and dhido, a thick porridge made from buckwheat or millet. A popular street food is momo, dumplings filled with minced meat or vegetables, served with spicy dipping sauce, along with samosa (fried pastry filled with spiced potatoes and peas). Grilled meats are known as Sekuwa, and thukpa is a Tibetan-style noodle soup with vegetables or meat.

Yes, all participants who have completed their full payment will receive a detailed information packet that includes descriptions of the cities and sites to be visited, the daily schedule, currency exchange, local prayer times, electrical adapters, weather, what to pack, and more.

We encourage participants to be fully vaccinated with at least one booster shot for all who are eligible to receive these shots. We will update participants regarding PCR or antigen testing requirements of Nepal, if applicable. Given the low incidence of Covid in Nepal, we do not expect to mandate masking during the tour, but we encourage masking whenever possible and according to each individual's comfort level. General sanitary practices should be maintained at all times.

Bayan's tours are open to participants who wish to join from anywhere in the world. However, the majority of participants tend to be from the United States. US passport holders do not require a visa to enter Nepal. Non-US passport holders are encouraged to check specific requirements for their nationality and obtain a visa if required.