Nepal borders the Tibetan plateau but its climate is far gentler, and it is one of the most varied countries in the world. Within a few hundred kilometres the land rises from about 70 m in the Terai to the summit of Everest. The Kathmandu Valley sits at around 1,400 m, and Pokhara and Chitwan lower still, so visitors who fly in have no altitude problems.
- Landscapes, colours, food and music unlike anywhere else, and a calm that many visitors say they haven't felt in years.
- Eight of the world's fourteen 8,000 m peaks. On a clear day you can drink a coffee in a café and watch the snow ranges on the horizon.
- Variety: World Heritage temple squares, high mountain trails, and jungle where you may see a rhino or a tiger.
- Markets and crafts in Thamel, Bhaktapur and Pokhara, and a hundred communities each with their own handicrafts.
- The kindness of the people: simple lives, deep faith and plenty of smiles.
- The birthplace of the Buddha and a land of countless gods, where respect for people, animals and nature runs deep.
- A long tradition of hospitality, from comfortable hotels to friendly guesthouses.
- Good value for money for travellers from almost everywhere.
- Straightforward visas for most nationalities.