Nepal

Action-packed Nepal is home to some of the world’s highest and most spectacular mountains. The cloud-topping peaks of the Himalayas (‘home of snow’ in Sanskrit) are the kingdom’s crowning glory, and hordes of intrepid walkers come to discover their majesty on foot each year.

There’s a wide array of easy and difficult routes to choose from, as well as mountain trips by less-tiring means such as light aircraft and 4x4s. There are still more splendours in the valleys and lowlands of Nepal, however.

The extraordinary capital of Kathmandu is a vibrant metropolis, with cosmopolitan restaurants, hectic traffic and ornately carved temples. Meanwhile, the famous Chitwan National Park is rich in subtropical wildlife, from tigers to rhino.