Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# DILEMMA Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Vanuatu
jonkye85 00:20 UTC 25 Feb 2009 | Hi from jack, Reading, UK I have quite a dilemma, I have designed a fair amount of travelling from June to October, my uncertainty would involve the last part: The plan as yet would be 14 days in Fiji, 9 days in Vanuatu and 19 days in Nepal on my way back to London. My original plan was to climb mount everest and see a bit of nepal in the remaining time, but I have recently been thinking that maybe 19 days would not be enough and also I do not trust too much my right leg although it could improve by then. I then thought about a plan B but I do not know what to do, basically I thought if I eliminate Nepal from my itinerary I could extend Vanuatu to 14 days and add Tonga for another 14, and spend a total of 6 weeks in the Pacific. My dilemma would be.. . .is it worthy for me, as a lone traveller to stay a whole 6 weeks in the pacific and miss Nepal? I have never been in either region, I don't know whether after a bit I would possibly get slightly bored of being in the islands especially after 4 weeks diving and hiking in the jungles. Or does anyone think instead that 19 days would not be enough to do everest base camp and nepal and I would be better off having a more robust pacific experience? Basically would Nepal be worth swapping for 4 extra days in Vanuatu and 2 weeks in Tonga? Please I'm very lost i need some advice :'( Thanks thanks thanks Jack |
oldpro 06:39 UTC 26 Feb 2009 | EBC trek is simply impractical for 19 days. Considering you have to get to Nepal, organize, climatize, etc. For something like that, take the time and do it right. This doesn't mean you can't go to Nepal. On the other hand, people who I know who HAVE been to Nepal do not appear to have acquired anything special or peculiar as a result. The bottom line is that they had a choice to make and they chose to go there. I haven't bothered yet. That's all there is. It has nothing to do with "missing an essential experience" or whether it is worth it or not. I spent 2 months in Fiji alone. I can see no problem in principle in spending only 6 weeks on three different island groups. So, take away the practical issue of the trek, and you still have a decision to make. It's your trip, your decision. | 1
Laszlo 07:25 UTC 26 Feb 2009 | I would suggest extending your stay in Vanuatu and Fiji - 9 days for Vanuatu are way too short! Don't add Tonga, you might end up getting stuck just on the main island in each country. Alternatively, I'd say Nepal is well worth visiting just to see the Kathmandu Valley, but that may not be what you are interested in. | 2
eddyv 06:30 UTC 01 Mar 2009 | I spent 6 weeks in Vanuatu and it wasn't nearly enough! Personally if I have 6 weeks I prefer to devote it to really getting to know one place rather than seeing a little bit of several places. | 3
eddyv 06:31 UTC 01 Mar 2009 | although obviously that depends on the size of the place and variety of things to do there! | 4
misspindi 02:09 UTC 10 Mar 2009 | Hi Jack Please go to Nepal!!!!! I did two treks there (Langtang and Annapurna) many, MANY moons ago and haven't had the time or money to go back and still can't wait to - what an incredible place - maybe just do the easier/shorter Langtang trek? - but you must go!!! Since being in Nepal I have been to Vanuatu as I live in Oz it's very close and cheap airfares - you must go to Vanuatu also!!! Cut down on Fiji time and take more Vanuatu time - Port Vila is ok (check out seachange lodge..if you can afford the place with it's own pier for a treat it's stunning..good deals via those last minute internet booking places)...and make sure you go north and spend some real island time on Nguna...a few days at least - great snorkelling up there right off your own (pretty much private) stunning beach (if you stay with Joseph in his bungalows), after going there last year I'm hooked on Vanuatu and am counting the days to get back there this Easter - going to Espiritu Santo this time, it looks stunning and MUCH more beachy than Port Vila - which isn't very beachy at all strangely enough - do some internet research, there's plenty info out there,I would say MUCH less time Port Vila and MUCH more time Santo or other more remote places - the Tanna volcano experience looks incredible and that will be on one of my future trips for sure - unless you're a resort type person, but since you're planning a trip to Vanuatu and Nepal sounds to me like you're into more interesting things than just a resort style holiday....check out the positive earth vanuatu website - don't worry about your leg - do some chilling and swimming in Vanuatu to build up your reserves - then you can walk slowly easy does it in Nepal - it's not as gunho as you might think - very pleasant mostly - no need to rush and plenty of opportunites to stop refresh and enjoy the best views in the world along the way - although I wonder if you will be able to get very high at that time of year? - I can't remember, maybe it's a good time, doesn't matter - go to Nepal - it's incredible!!! We just walked, no guide or help carrying, just took off - but that's being 21 for you - I bet it has changed a lot since the late eighties - my guess is it will be even more populated and even easier to just head off own your own, there will be people and drink stops everywhere..I was amazed rounding a corner in what I thought was the middle of nowhere (plus some!) only to find a local selling bottles of cola!?! You were never more than 2 or 3 easy hours walk from some kind of village of rest place. My guess is they will be every 30 minutes walk time by now! I would be so sad to think you missed your chance at Nepal when you are so close! Yes, there is only so much island time you can take, I can't believe it but i started to get a little bored after 3 weeks of it - but we were being very lazy!! - so go with your original plan of some island time and then Nepal time - what a dream holiday experience - I'm soooo jealous! I agree adding Tonga would be too much, a smidge Fiji, a smidge more Vanuatu (so many islands to see in Vanuatu) then an amazing Nepalese experience to round out your amazing adventure - Namaste - and Tankyu Tumas! Or as we say in Oz, Go for it mate! | 5