Nepal's appeal is straightforward: extraordinary mountains, ancient cities, and a culture that has absorbed both Hindu and Buddhist influences into something entirely its own.
Kathmandu Valley is the obvious starting point. The three ancient cities — Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Patan (Lalitpur) — are UNESCO World Heritage Sites with medieval squares, pagodas, and living traditions that have survived earthquakes and modernisation alike. Boudhanath stupa is one of the largest in the world and the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism outside Tibet. Pashupatinath, on the banks of the Bagmati river, is the most sacred Hindu site in Nepal — the ghats where cremations take place are sobering but important to see.
Trekking is what many visitors come for, and the range is vast. The Annapurna Circuit and the Everest Base Camp trek are the two classics — both well-organised, with established teahouse networks, but also crowded during peak season. Shorter options like the Annapurna Sanctuary (10–12 days from Pokhara) or the Langtang Valley trek (north of Kathmandu) offer high-altitude scenery without the same commitment. The Everest Region — Khumbu — remains one of the most dramatic landscapes on earth even if you never get close to the mountain itself.
Pokhara is Nepal's second city and the most pleasant place to spend time that isn't a trek. Fewa Lake, the Annapurna panorama on a clear morning, and a genuinely laid-back café culture make it an easy place to arrive in and stay longer than you planned.
Chitwan National Park (Royal Chitwan) in the Terai is a different Nepal entirely — flat, green, and home to one-horned rhinos, Bengal tigers, and gharial crocodiles. Jeep safaris and canoe trips on the Rapti River are the standard approach. Bardia National Park, further west and less visited, offers better wildlife sightings with fewer crowds.
Lumbini, in the western Terai near the Indian border, is the birthplace of the Buddha. The UNESCO-listed sacred garden with Ashoka's pillar and the Mayadevi Temple make it a worthwhile detour if you're heading that direction.