Nepal: Very High Adventure

If they haven't already been, then it's a fair bet that all adventure travelers plan to visit Nepal at some point in their lives. If they have been, then it's 10-to-1 odds they're already scheming a return visit.
Mystical, magical, vertical Nepal enchants with a one-two punch of scenic and cultural wonders. Neck-craning, mind-blowing views of the Himalayas soften you up for the far subtler charms of Nepalese life, which seep in during the course of a visit anywhere in the country outside of Kathmandu. In no time you'll think it's perfectly natural for everyone to walk with towering loads on their backs and every passerby to extend a friendly greeting.
How long would it take to get to know Nepal? In fairness, you could spend a lifetime, but if you can devote a month, then we know of a tour that captures the essence of the place. Beginning with a two-day exploration of Kathmandu, Sherpa Travel's"Best of Nepal" trip embarks on a 10-day trek in the Annapurna region, then down to low-lying Chitwan Royal Park to catch your breath and search for elusive rhino and Bengal tigers from atop elephants.

That leaves plenty of time for a raft trip down the rambunctious Class IV rapids of the Trishuli River before flying off to the Sherpa village of Lukla for yet another trek, this one a weeklong sojourn into the stronghold of the fascinating Sherpa people. The highlight of this portion of the trek: the staggering view from high ground above Thyangboche that encompasses Lhotse, Amadablam, Everest, and a slew of other of the world's very highest peaks.