Welcome to Nepal: a land of remarkable contrasts. This landlocked Himalayan country has been continuously inhabited for thousands of years, and its beautiful and unforgiving mountain landscapes have given birth to an astonishing variety of different cultures. Nowhere is this more evident than in the country’s capital city: Kathmandu. Just beneath the hustle and bustle of Nepal’s biggest metropolitan hub beats our country’s vibrant cultural heart. This is a place where Hindu and Buddhist faithful come together in temples, monasteries, and courtyards that have stood for centuries beneath the watchful eye of the tallest mountains in the world. It’s a place where diverse cultures and traditions interact harmoniously.
Of course, the Himalayas themselves represent our country’s primary geological feature and its most important tourist destination. These mighty mountains reach across the entirety of Nepal, offering countless opportunities for high-altitude trekking. Some of the best hikes in the world can be accomplished in these mountains, like the Everest Base Camp Trek and the Langtang Valley Trek. But the Himalayas aren’t a single monolith. You’ll find a surprising diversity of mountain landscapes—and the people who live there—across the Himalayan range, and trekking isn’t the only thing you can do here.
First, consider the rocky, treeless expanse of the Khumbu. This is the most famous region in Nepal, home to the Sherpa people and the gargantuan Mount Everest, or Sagarmatha. This stark and beautiful mountain territory represents everything that’s so alluring about the Himalayas—but other parts of this mountain range look quite different. For example, the remote Upper and Lower Dolpo regions comprise a desert-like, Trans-Himalayan environment that’s often been compared to a lunar moonscape. This little-visited corner of Nepal will bring travelers face-to-face with customs and traditions that have stood unchanged for centuries—and they’re entirely distinct from the Sherpa culture of the Khumbu.
The Annapurna region is another of Nepal’s most popular Himalayan destinations. With superb trails like the Annapurna Base Camp (or Annapurna Sanctuary Trek), Annapurna Circuit, and Mardi Himal Trek, this region boasts world-class trekking opportunities around every corner. Treks here typically begin from the second-biggest city in Nepal: the lakeside gem that is Pokhara. This is an adventure lover’s paradise, and thrillseekers can paraglide, microlight, and even bungee jump in dramatic mountain settings of incredible beauty. The city also supports a vibrant community, and there are no shortage of monasteries, temples, and accessible viewpoints for non-trekkers to enjoy.
But while most visitors head straight for the highlands of the Himalayan mountains, there’s much more to discover here in Nepal. Far from the high-altitude terrain of the Khumbu and the Annapurnas, visitors will discover the steamy tropical lowlands of the Terai. It’s here that you’ll find Chitwan National Park: the best place in Nepal for wildlife enthusiasts, and a natural reserve fit to rival anything in the African safari parks. The reserve’s broadleaf forests, savanna grasslands, and stands of fragrant pine offer important refuge to a startling number of species: Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, sloth bear, leopard, striped hyena, and greater one-horned rhinoceros. These are just a few of the larger-than-life animals you’ll find here in Chitwan. Of course, keen-eyed visitors will also be able to spot civets, martens, mongooses, and more than 500 species of birds.
Nepal is a vast cultural mosaic of more than 100 ethnic groups, where the landscape shifts as dramatically as the traditions. From the Buddhist monasteries of the high Himalayas to the vibrant, sun-drenched plains of the Terai, every valley reveals a distinct language, architecture, and way of life. To travel through Nepal is to move between worlds, where crossing a single ridge can bring you face-to-face with a culture entirely different from the one you left behind.
Whether you’re ready to go on an adventure in the Himalayas, safari in the jungles of Chitwan, or immerse yourself in our country’s fascinating culture and heritage, you’re sure to find your next obsession here in Nepal.
