Nepal

Nepal is renowned for its mountains, eight of the world’s ten highest peaks sit within its borders, including Everest, but the country holds considerably more than its Himalayan skyline suggests. The Kathmandu Valley contains seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a dense concentration of Hindu and Buddhist temples and palaces that reflects a civilisation of extraordinary depth. In the south, the flat, fertile Terai lowlands border India and support a quite different ecosystem of sal forest, grassland, and subtropical jungle, home to wild tiger, one-horned rhino, and gharial crocodile.

Kathmandu itself is chaotic but fascinating. Explore the medieval streets of Durbar Square, watch cremations on the ghats of Pashupatinath, and circle the vast white dome of Boudhanath with Buddhist pilgrims. Pokhara sits on a lake with direct views of the Annapurna range and serves as the gateway to some of the world’s most celebrated trekking routes. The food reflects the country’s position between India and Tibet — dal bhat, the national dish of lentils and rice, is eaten twice daily by most Nepalis, while momos, the delicious Tibetan-influenced steamed dumplings, are found on every street corner. The Annapurna Circuit and the trek to Everest Base Camp draw trekkers through rhododendron forest, glacial rivers, and Sherpa villages whose hospitality is legendary. For something less travelled, the remote valleys of Mustang and Dolpo offer a different Himalayan experience with fewer people on the trail. Chitwan and Bardia National Parks offer rhino and tiger safaris by jeep and on foot, and Bardia sees few enough visitors to feel genuinely wild.