Nepal with locals: Himalayan heights and Buddha nights

With your backpack over your shoulders and a beaming smile, you're standing at the airport of your choosing, ready for your adventure in Nepal! Your plane takes to the evening skies, and you can hardly believe that you'll reach your dream in just about half a day. And speaking of dreams, as you fly through the night, you're already dreaming of hiking in the Himalayas, majestic temples and exciting encounters!

As you catch your first glimpse of the Himalayan mountains and Kathmandu's buildings, your heart leaps in your chest – you can hardly wait to discover this magical country! When you land in Kathmandu, your guide welcomes you with a warm 'svāgatam' and you instantly feel at home.

You're off to your hotel, where you discuss your travel itinerary with your guide. Well prepared, you now have a little time left for your first bit of exploring on Nepali soil. You take in Kathmandu with all your senses: the sounds, smells and the loads of people in the streets. You can feel the wonderfully bustling vibes everywhere, and after a short time, you're gripped by the magical, mysterious feeling of Nepal!

Nowhere else can you experience Kathmandu's cultural heritage as closely as in Durbar Square. Colourful statues of deities, finely decorated temples and a multitude of red stone pagodas crowned with golden spires – simply magical! It's no surprise that Nepal's kings have always been crowned here. After all, the square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site! But this isn't the only place where the country's spiritual side comes to life. 'Little Tibet' is ready and waiting for you! Boudhanath is home to the famous Buddha Stupa – 118 feet high and one of the most important buildings in Nepal. Especially in the morning hours and at dusk, tons of believers gather here to perform their rituals. When they come to the stupa, they circle it in a clockwise fashion with the clattering of prayer wheels and the fluttering of colourful flags accompanying the pilgrims' activities. Watch the ritual for a while and feel the special peace and power that radiate from this place and the people here. Magic isn't real? Think again!

Early in the morning, you visit a real monastery and get a unique look at the country's Buddhist traditions. As you walk through the sacred halls, goosebumps spread from head to toe – you simply can't escape the devout atmosphere. And if you're lucky, you might even see the monks during their morning ceremony as they sit in long rows, clad in the typical red robes, and read centuries-old scriptures. After your moment of spiritual escape, you can already feel the endless peaks calling, so you head out on your first hike in the Himalayas. You tighten your laces and trek with your guide through Nepal's dense forests up the small village of Nagarkot at 7,136 feet above sea level, where the first breathtaking view of this trip awaits. Mesmerised, you gaze into the distance and behold the ice-covered peaks of the mighty five-mile-high mountains. Welcome to the Himalayas!