Nicknamed kingdom of the gods, Nepal is a land of contrasts where mountains rub shoulders with rice fields, jungles and deserts. Its dazzling panoramas, culture and history leave their mark on every visitor. The Nepalese will welcome you, with a tea or a smile, they will tell you their art of living, rocked by religion and tradition.

Nepal is a small country 800 km long and 200 km wide. It borders China in the North and India in the South. The south is mainly composed of the Ganges plain, a little further north are the hills of Churia. The central part of the country consists of plateaus and in the north mountain ranges dominate.

A stay in Nepal is a way to recharge your batteries thanks to the great natural diversity. The changing climate offers stunning contrasts: subtropical jungles, bamboo forests, steppes, majestic mountains with eternal snows... Nepal has six national parks, three reserves and many protected areas. The territory shelters more than 6500 varieties of flowers including 100 species of orchids, 450 species of birds, monkeys, crocodiles, bears but also rhinoceroses unicorns. Near the Everest Massif, in Langfang Park, deer or snow leopards are seen.

Travelling to Nepal is therefore enjoying nature and its countless jewels. It also means discovering the history of an ancient kingdom that saw the birth of Buddha, sharing a daily rhythm of legends and divine stories. In Nepal, Buddhists and Hindus live together in peace and frequent the same sacred places. Temples dot all regions and the Kathmandu valley totals over 850. The country also shares part of the roof of the world, Everest, with Tibet. Between the Himalayan Range and Annapurna, Nepal is also a trekker's paradise.

In Nepal, each season has its particularities, however the most pleasant period is from October to April. Indeed, arriving after the monsoon (June to September) means enjoying the green landscapes and pastures, the azure sky and a pleasant climate. This period is ideal for walks and hikes. In spring, until May, flowers invade the meadows and the sun is always there. The monsoon arrives in June, the light loses intensity, the weather becomes cloudy, the mountains hide and the rains water the landscapes. A period that we suggest you avoid. Nepal, a mountainous country, has eight of the fourteen peaks exceeding 8000 metres in altitude and a hundred others rising to 7000 metres.

One third of the Himalayan range lies on its land with impressive gradients. Only a few ethnic groups manage to live there, including the sherpas, a Buddhist people of Tibetan origin. The breathtaking beauty of the roof of the world has always attracted attention. Within it, Mount Everest, more at the top of the world, peaks at 8,848 meters above sea level. Several attempts to reach the summit have taken place since 1921, when the Dalai Lama gave permission. But it was really in 1953 that Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay succeeded. Three years earlier, the French had been the first to climb a summit of more than 8000 meters, that of Annapurna. This massif has a greater variety of landscape, an incredible fauna and flora. This region is of course popular for its treks including that of Jomosom or the tour of the massif.

In a country where the highest mountains in the world dominate, forests and hills offer a breathtaking wealth, religious buildings are remarkable and people exciting.

Art and culture in Nepal
The art is remarkable, inspired by the Buddhist and Hindu religions, omnipresent in the life of Nepalese. Finding happiness is easy: silver jewellery, puppets, sculptures, traditional masks, Tibetan rugs... Yak wool clothing is also popular: fabrics, sweaters, hats or scarves are made using ancestral weaving methods. The most precious Tibetan creation remains the pashmina shawl. Taken from the necks of goats with a comb, this wool is the lightest but also the warmest in the world.

What to visit in Nepal
The Kathmandu Valley is inevitable. Its palaces, religious buildings and historic monuments reveal the region's rich cultural and artistic heritage. Not far away, Nagarkot and Dhulikhel offer a splendid view of the Himalayas, not to be missed at sunrise! In the Terai region, the city of Lumbini is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 623 BC, it saw the birth of Buddha and today, it is a very popular place of pilgrimage for Buddhists. Adventure buffs will have to go to the Annapurna and Everest Massif to see what they can do.