The momo shop is almost a national treasure, as they are everywhere, and everyone loves visiting one almost daily. Almost like an unwritten federal law, momo shops always offer the same fair: plates of steamed momos, a dozen to a large copper plate, with a dish of tomato achar placed in the middle of the dish.

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Like the noodle shops of Japan, where noodle making is an art form, so is momo-making. A momo is better known throughout the world as a “dumpling,” but that does little to describe the Nepali momo. The Nepali momo is a delicate flour-based pastry filled with spiced meats or vegetables. The momo wrapper is an intricately designed and wafer thin.

Momos come in several varieties: steamed or fried, or with a special version featuring an open top instead of the traditional closed and sealed design.

Momos are eaten with your right hand, and dipped in the spicy achar first. That’s twelve mouthfuls of pure heaven – all for just 50 rupees (66 US pennies or ½ of a Euro) per plate!

If you tire of momos (which of course no Nepali ever does) then there is also the staple meal of the nation: Dhal Bhat. Dhal Bhat is a bit more complex meal, but costs just pennies more then the plate of momos. Here you get a mound of fresh rice, a curry of your choosing (usually chicken or mutton), steamed spinach, spicy pickle, and the spicy achar of momo fame.

Any trip to Nepal on a shoestring budget starts in Thamel, which is akin to the popular tourist spot of Khaosan Rd, Bangkok, Thailand. Thamel lies in the heart of the country’s capital of Kathmandu, and is within walking and rickshaw distance to many UNESCO World Heritage Sites that are important in both the Hindu and Buddhist religions. Thamel offers food, lodging, and entertainment priced for the budget backpacker, as well as offering numerous 5-star locations for higher-end fun. But just a few nights in the bustle of Kathmandu will convince you to get out of town and see the countryside.

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Once outside of the city, several low-cost “Nepal on a shoestring budget” opportunities are presented: a trip to the birthplace of Buddha is a nice three or four day trip by tourist bus to Lumbini on the southern border of Nepal (where Nepal meets India). Transportation by local bus or tourist coach is relatively inexpensive wherever you go in the country, and there is such competition by tour operators that package deals abound in the hundred’s of dollars for full accommodations, food, and transportation – for weeks on end.

One of the best overall bargains in Nepal is Trekking, where for a few hundred dollars you can get away from it all and walk into the Himalayans without a worry in the world, complete with porter and guide you can explore caves, waterfalls, village life, and watch for any of Nepal’s 600 species of bird. Treks run from 1 day to 30 days, depending on far you want to walk and how strenuous you want the hike to be; there is a walk for everyone in Nepal, from the youngest to the oldest of hikers.

One of the most popular tourist destinations is the lakeside town of Pokhara, about 200 km from Kathmandu, and you can get there by ground transportation, or for about $100, you can catch a quick 1-hour mountain flight. Pokhara is where you can book your trek into the Annapurnas, or just kick back and relax by Fewa Lake. Fewa Lake offers paddle boating and canoeing and even has a popular Hindu temple stationed on a small island in the middle of the lake. There is also the famous Peace Pagoda, one of the most famous of Stupas in the area that sits atop a small mountain overlooking the lake and is just a short day hike from town.

All in all, visiting Nepal on a shoestring budget is sure to get you much more then you bargained for, as far as finding spectacular historical sites, with friendlily village life rich in culture and traditions, and pleasant weather surrounding many natural wonders.

Backpacking in Nepal is simple and stress-free, as not only do you carry very little on a trek yourself, you are provided a porter that carries the bags as well as arranges all meals and lodging along the way. If a suitable guesthouse is not to be found, then the porter will pitch a tent, start a fire, and cook all your meals.

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But for the most part, lodging and meals are found in abundance along the way, and family-run guesthouses offer traditional Nepali cuisine and lodging (bunk beds, cotton mattress, and a candle in a cosy room). Meals along the way consist of locally grown produce with little meat content but high in carbs; Dal Bhat is the local favourite served at every stop. Lentils, rice, spinach, and lots of spicy sauces will keep your energy level high and your tongues stimulated.

The actual walking part of any trek is strenuous, and starts early in the morning and goes on till dusk. However, a trekking trail can be found for every level of backpacker, from easy walking to hard hiking and rock climbing. The most popular treks are found in the Annapurna region and the Mt. Everest regions of northern Nepal, and the best time of year to go for a trek is September or October, when the weather is dry and the air is still warm at the higher elevations.

Easy-to-moderate trekking is best done in the Annapurnas (8,000+ metre peaks), where the typical trek starts by relaxing lakeside in the tourist town of Pokhara, about 200 km from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal and the international entry point by flight. This is where you can book your tour guide and porters, and stock up on hiking equipment (rain gear, water bottles, walking sticks and the like) before you head on out into the Himals. Pokhara is easily accessible by car, tourist bus, or plane.

Once out of Pokhara, it is just about an hour or so until you reach the trailheads. You can trek for just a few short days say to Phoon Hill, or do the whole circuit up and back to Jomsom / Muktinath in about 20 days. Or you can ask your tour guide to do anything in-between. Trekking in Nepal is very laid back, and you can go as fast or slow as you want, or as short or far as you wish. Along the way you will see amazing waterfalls, cross rope bridges, take dips in steamy hot springs, and view snow-capped mountains as varied as the local villagers that you will meet, all of whom make up dozens of distinct and colourful cultures that flourish all along the terraced hills of Nepal.