What to See in Nepal

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Nepal has 4 sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

Lumbini ★★ (1997)
This small town near the Indian border is considered the birthplace of Buddha. It has become a pilgrimage site with various temples and stupas. The location has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.

Chitwan National Park ★★★ (1984)
The country's oldest park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Together with the adjacent Parsa Reserve, it is home to numerous elephants, as well as rhinoceroses, tigers, crocodiles, snakes, birds, and more, which can be discovered on safari, including elephant-back safaris. As it is not far from Kathmandu, the area is quite popular.

Sagarmatha National Park ★★★★ (1979)
Located in the Khumbu region on the border with Tibet, this park contains the southern part of Everest. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a popular area for trekkers, with stunning Himalayan landscapes and remote mountain villages.

Kathmandu Valley ★★★★ (1979)
This mid-mountain valley surrounding the capital is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Beyond Kathmandu, you can explore several fascinating towns (Bhaktapur, Patan, etc.) with rich heritage, as well as discover small villages that have preserved their traditions.

Terai

Lumbini ★★
This small town near the Indian border is considered the birthplace of Buddha. It has become a pilgrimage site with various temples and stupas. The location has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.

Janakpur ★★
The city is a major pilgrimage center with several temples, the main one being the imposing five-century-old Janaki Mandir.

Kapilvastu ★
Several small archaeological sites can be seen in the vicinity of this town, which is very close to India.

Sauraha ★
This village at the entrance to Chitwan National Park has transformed over time, becoming a base for exploring the park and its surroundings with adequate services and facilities.

Natural Heritage

Chitwan National Park ★★★
The country's oldest park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Together with the adjacent Parsa Reserve, it is home to numerous elephants, as well as rhinoceroses, tigers, crocodiles, snakes, birds, and more, which can be discovered on safari, including elephant-back safaris. As it is not far from Kathmandu, the area is quite popular.

Kathmandu and the "Buffer Zone"

Bhaktapur ★★★
About fifteen kilometres southeast of Kathmandu, this "religious" city (also known as Bhadgaon) and former capital has preserved its architecture and atmosphere, though affected by the 2015 earthquake.

Boudhanath ★★★
One of the world's largest stupas, located just outside Kathmandu, and one of Nepal's main Buddhist sanctuaries. Several monasteries in the surrounding area.

Gorkha ★
A small royal palace and a few temples are the main attractions of this city in the land of the Gurkhas.

Helambu ★★
This small region near Kathmandu, with many monasteries, is also a trekking area that offers shorter and less challenging hikes than other parts of the country if you prefer.

Kathmandu ★★★
At the heart of its UNESCO-listed valley, the "mythical" Nepali capital draws thousands of travellers and pilgrims every year. As well as helping you organise a trip or trek elsewhere in the country, the city—badly hit by the 2015 earthquake—also boasts numerous buildings, monuments, and neighbourhoods worth visiting.

Pashupatinath ★★★
A major Hindu pilgrimage site in Nepal dedicated to the god Shiva and bordered by the Bagmati River, featuring several temples, including the main Pashupatinath Temple.

Patan ★★★
This former royal city lies on the outskirts of Kathmandu and has even been absorbed by it. It is home to numerous temples, palaces, and one of the most interesting museums.

Pokhara ★★
200 km from Kathmandu, Pokhara is Nepal’s third-largest city and a popular destination thanks to its location and stunning surroundings. It’s an excellent starting point for trekking in the Annapurna region, as well as rafting, boating on the many lakes, or exploring the nearby caves.

Swayambhunath ★★★
This stupa is the second most important after the one at Boudhanath. It sits on a hill near Kathmandu, offering views of the city and the valley.

Kathmandu Valley ★★★★
This mid-mountain valley surrounding the capital is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Beyond Kathmandu, you can explore several fascinating towns (Bhaktapur, Patan, etc.) with rich heritage, as well as discover small villages that have preserved their traditions.

Natural Heritage

Himalayas

Annapurna Region and Surroundings

Annapurna ★★★★
In the central-western part of Nepal, bordering Tibet, this is a stunning region that has become a must-visit for trekking enthusiasts (the "Annapurna Circuit") and mountaineers (several peaks over 7,000 m).

Dolpo ★★★★
This is an arid, hard-to-reach area with a predominantly Tibetan population, located west of the Annapurna. You can trek here to discover traditional villages and monasteries set against stunning landscapes.

Jomsom ★
This large town in Mustang, at the foot of the Annapurna range, has a small airport used by many travellers looking to trek in the region or simply fly over the Himalayas.

Manaslu ★★★
This high Himalayan peak (8,163 m) has become a classic for mountaineering as well as trekking, with nearly 200 kilometres of circuit around the massif.

Mustang ★★★★
This former autonomous kingdom (until 2008) was long off-limits to foreigners. Today, access remains regulated—or rather, taxed. It’s a premier trekking destination, with traditions and culture still very much alive.

Everest Region and Surroundings

Everest Base Camp ★★★★
A classic Himalayan trek that takes you to the base camp of the world's highest peak at 5,340 m. While it marks the endpoint for trekkers, it’s just the first step for climbers aiming to tackle Everest.

Khumbu ★★★
The Sherpa region at the heart of the Himalayas and at the foot of Everest. It includes Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is a favorite among trekkers for its stunning Himalayan landscapes and remote mountain villages.

Lukla ★
Like Jomsom for the Annapurna, Lukla is the small town in the Everest region with an airport for those who want to trek in the area or simply fly over the Himalayan range.

Namche Bazaar ★
"Capital" of the Khumbu and the Sherpa region, it's the last major settlement for trekkers and mountaineers on their way to Everest.

Natural Heritage

Langtang National Park ★★★
Between Kathmandu and China, along the Tibetan border. This was the first protected Himalayan area in the 1970s. It’s also a trekking region.

Sagarmatha National Park ★★★★
Located in the Khumbu region on the border with Tibet, this park contains the southern part of Everest. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a popular area for trekkers, with stunning Himalayan landscapes and remote mountain villages.

Shey Phoksundo National Park ★★★
This is a stunning park located partly in Dolpo, featuring lakes (including Phoksundo), waterfalls, and glaciers, as well as some of the world’s highest villages. Trekking is possible here.