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Nepal Mustang lowres

The vast peninsula separated from the Eurasian landmass by the Himalayas, is the size of Europe and home to some 1.89 billion people in six countries: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan (some add the Maldives).

Over centuries, the Mughal emperors, the Rajputs, the Muslim sultanates, the Sikh empire, the British colonialists, all left their imprints on the land and the people. The result is that modern South Asia can be a bewildering patchwork to the outsider. The variety of religions and cultures in the region is staggering. More than 450 languages are spoken in India; the mountain kingdom of Bhutan, with a population of less than a million, has some two dozen languages of its own.

If it can be bewildering, it’s also exciting. The history, the geography, the arts, the cuisine and, it must be said, the rivalries, make the region endlessly fascinating.

And it’s not all about the past. The burgeoning economies of the region fuel talk of the coming Asian Century. Bangladesh now has one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. India’s pharma and telecoms industries are world-class and it has a highly developed space programme.

Yes, there is still much poverty, and some political uncertainties, but there’s also huge optimism for the future. It’s the future that makes South Asia so exciting today.

Trekking in Nepal

Everything you need to know about Nepal trekking

The Nepal trekking industry is plagued with an oversupply problem – there seem to be more trekking operators than actual trekkers, which puts immense downward pressure on prices. This might seem like a good thing for you, but when you see a 12 day EBC trek for $800 it means corners are being cut somewhere, usually in the pay and quality (and therefore safety and wellbeing) of ground staff. Personally I always recommend booking with a Nepal based and owned operator, but do plenty of homework first...read more

16 days

Everest Base Camp

The classic route to Everest Base Camp
View itinerary
14 days

Annapurna & Poon Hill Sunrise Trek

A customisable trek to the Annapurna Sanctuary and Poon Hill
View itinerary
14 days

Forbidden Mustang & Walled City Trek

A trek through Nepal’s restricted Tibetan side
View itinerary
15 days

Manaslu Circuit Trek

A wilder, quieter and more remote trek to see Himalayan giants
View itinerary
15 days

Helambu & Langtang Trek

Crowd-free trekking on Kathmandu’s doorstep
View itinerary
8 days

Classic Golden Triangle

Explore the culture and history of northern India
View itinerary
13 days

India's Golden Triangle & tigers

Taj Mahal and Rajasthan tiger safari
View itinerary
21 days

Classic northern India

The Golden Triangle and Rajasthan by train, plane and automobile
View itinerary
  • India

    India

    A dazzling kaleidoscope of colour
    Over one billion people and 23 major languages — India is one of the world's most diverse places...
  • Delhi

    Delhi

    Start your Indian adventure in capital city Delhi...
  • Agra

    Agra

    Your arrival into Agra will give you your first glimpse of the world-famous Taj Mahal...
  • Andaman and Nicobar Islands

    ...
  • Rajasthan

    Rajasthan

    The Land of Kings
    Rajasthan is a riot of colours...
  • Jodhpur

    Jodhpur

    Known as the Blue City, Rajasthan’s second largest city is dominated by the formidable 15th century Mehrangarh Fort...
  • Jaipur

    Jaipur

    Known as the pink city, Jaipur is a Rajasthani royal city that offers spellbinding sights and sounds...
  • Ranthambore National Park

    Ranthambore National Park

    Located in the heart of Sawai Madhopur district, Ranthambore National Park is a tiger reserve and former hunting ground of maharajas...
  • Ajabgarh

    ...
  • Nagaur

    ...
  • Narlai

    ...
  • Udaipur

    Udaipur

    The City of Lakes is undoubtedly the most romantic place in Rajasthan...
  • Delwara

    ...
  • Jaisalmer

    Jaisalmer

    ...
  • Pushkar

    ...
  • Bundi

    ...
  • Kerala

    Kerala

    Exploring God’s own country
    Kerala is one of India’s most beautiful states...
  • Kochi

    Kochi

    The port city of Kochi (also known as Cochin) is Kerala's biggest conurbation, but is actually made up of a collection of tiny islands and outcrops...
  • Munnar

    Munnar

    ...
  • Eravikulam

    ...
  • Kumarakom

    Kumarakom

    Kumarakom is the perfect jumping off place for houseboat tour in Kerala...
  • Alleppey

    Alleppey

    ...
  • Thekkady

    Thekkady

    ...
  • Periyar National Park

    Periyar National Park

    Found near Thekkady in the Western Ghat mountains, Periyar National Park is home to sought after populations of elephants and tigers...
  • Kottayam

    ...
  • Varkala

    ...
  • Mangalore

    ...
  • Kannur

    ...
  • Wayanad

    ...
  • Cheruthuruthy

    ...
  • Kollam

    ...
  • Kovalam

    Kovalam

    ...
  • Mararikulum

    ...
  • Trivandrum

    ...
  • Kanyakumari

    ...
  • Marari Beach

    ...
  • Mumbai

    ...
  • Goa

    ...
  • Maheshwar

    Maheshwar

    The holy town of Maheshwar sits alongside the sacred Narmada River about two hours south of Indore in Madhya Pradesh...
  • Karnataka

    ...
  • Bangalore

    ...
  • Mysore

    ...
  • Hassan

    ...
  • Chikmagalur

    ...
  • Hampi

    ...
  • Badami

    ...
  • Tamil Nadu

    ...
  • Chennai

    ...
  • Mahabalipuram

    ...
  • Pondicherry

    ...
  • Chettinad

    ...
  • Madurai

    ...
  • West Bengal

    ...
  • Kolkota

    ...
  • Amritsar

    ...
  • Dharamshala

    ...
  • Shimla

    ...
  • Chandigarh

    ...
  • Rishikesh

    ...
  • Shivamogga

    ...
  • Heranjalu

    ...
  • Varanasi

    ...
  • Barsana

    ...
  • Rishikesh

    ...
  • Nepal

    Nepal

    The country at the top of the world
    Home to Mount Everest and more than half of the planet’s other 8,000m-plus mountains, Nepal stakes a strong claim as the trekking capital of the world...
  • Kagbeni

    ...
  • Dolpo region

    Dolpo region

    A vast and little-known area of western Nepal, Dolpo is a magical region of frozen desert, piercing blue skies and unnamed peaks...
  • Lo Manthang

    ...
  • Upper Mustang

    Upper Mustang

    Nepal's cultural heartland
    North, beyond the highest Himalayan peaks, is Upper Mustang...
  • Langtang Valley

    ...
  • Annapurna Region

    Annapurna Region

    From the lakeside resort town of Pokhara, a great wall of white fills the northern horizon...
  • Dharapani

    Dharapani

    ...
  • Chame

    Chame

    ...
  • Upper Pisang

    Upper Pisang

    ...
  • Manang

    Manang

    ...
  • Yak Kharka

    Yak Kharka

    ...
  • Thorung Phedi

    Thorung Phedi

    ...
  • Thorung La

    Thorung La

    ...
  • Muktinath

    Muktinath

    ...
  • Jomsom

    Jomsom

    ...
  • Jomsom

    ...
  • Marpha

    Marpha

    ...
  • Larjung

    Larjung

    ...
  • Ghasa

    Ghasa

    ...
  • Tatopani

    Tatopani

    ...
  • Tatopani

    ...
  • Ghorepani

    Ghorepani

    ...
  • Naya Pul

    Naya Pul

    ...
  • Pokhara

    ...
  • Everest Base Camp

    Everest Base Camp

    A trek to Everest base camp is as much a pilgrimage as a straightforward trek, but there’s much more to the region than ‘just’ Mt Everest...
  • Kathmandu

    ...
  • Machha Khola

    ...
  • Phakding

    ...
  • Gokyo Lakes

    ...
  • Tengboche Monastery

    ...
  • Kala Patthar

    ...
  • Cho La Pass

    ...
  • Namche Bazaar

    ...
  • Makalu

    Makalu

    One of the great forgotten trekking routes of Nepal, the strenuous two-week march straight to the base camp of the world’s fifth-highest mountain, the daunting Mt Makalu (8,463m) will delight those who revel in tranquil mountain trails, a sense of being off the beaten path and, most importantly, awesome mountain views...
  • Chitwan National Park

    ...
  • Larkya La Pass

    ...
  • Manaslu region

    Manaslu region

    The trails around mighty Manaslu (8,156m), the world’s eighth-highest mountain, have it all...
  • Poon Hill

    ...
  • Machhapuchhare Base Camp

    ...
  • Thasang

    ...
  • Galeshwor

    ...
  • Chisapani

    ...
  • Gul Bhanjyang

    ...
  • Magingoth

    ...
  • Tharepati

    ...
  • Surche Phedi

    ...
  • Lauribina

    ...
  • Thulo Syabru

    ...
  • Lama Hotel

    ...
  • Kanchenjunga

    Kanchenjunga

    Way out in the east of Nepal a wall of rock and ice rises up over eight and half kilometres into the sky...
  • Langtang region

    Langtang region

    Often visible from Kathmandu city centre, the Langtang range offers the most accessible trekking in Nepal...
  • Kyanjin Gompa

    ...
  • Lobuche

    ...
  • Far West Nepal

    Far West Nepal

    Remote, unspoiled and little-visited
    In terms of development, the far west of Nepal comes at the bottom of almost every list, but for adventure and wonder, the region is near the top of the class...
  • Dingboche

    ...
  • Syabru Besi

    ...
  • Pheriche

    ...
  • Monjo

    ...
  • Ghorepani

    ...
  • Lukla

    ...
  • Chhomrong

    ...
  • Sinuwa Hill

    ...
  • Deurali

    ...
  • Dovan

    ...
  • Annapurna Sanctuary

    ...
  • Soti Khola

    ...
  • Philim

    ...
  • Machhapucchare Base Camp

    ...
  • Samdo

    ...
  • Namrung

    ...
  • Lho

    ...
  • Deng

    ...
  • Phortse

    ...
  • Ghilin

    ...
  • Samar

    ...
  • Larkya Glacier

    ...
  • Chhusang

    ...
  • Tange

    ...
  • Yara

    ...
  • Lumbini

    ...
  • Pashupatinath

    ...
  • Mount Dhaulagiri

    ...
  • Limi Valley

    ...
  • Khumbu (Everest) Region

    ...
  • Sri Lanka

    Sri Lanka

    Ancient civilisation and endless beaches
    From ancient ruins to a vibrant and welcoming contemporary culture; from lazy afternoons on glorious beaches to hikes through the rolling hills of tea country and wild elephant spotting in untouched national parks; this is a destination that truly has it all...
  • Tangalle

    Tangalle

    Laidback Tangalle in Sri Lanka’s south is one of the region’s more relaxed beach destinations, combining simple guesthouses and some upmarket hotels...
  • Yala National Park

    Yala National Park

    Southeast Sri Lanka’s Yala National Park is the country’s most visited wilderness reserve...
  • Polonnaruwa

    Polonnaruwa

    Polonnaruwa was the medieval capital of Sri Lanka, a thriving centre of commerce and religion...
  • Udawalawe

    Udawalawe

    Sri Lanka’s finest national park is home to herds of elephants, wild buffalo, crocodiles and leopards...
  • Colombo

    Colombo

    Cosmopolitan Colombo is more than just the gateway to Sri Lanka...
  • Haputale

    Haputale

    The hillside town of Haputale is a little-visited stop on the train route into tea country from Kandy to Ella...
  • Knuckles Mountain Range

    Knuckles Mountain Range

    The Knuckles Mountain Range – also known as the Dumbara Mountain Range – is home to 34 peaks and offers plenty of treks for hikers to explore, with waterfalls, tiny villages and elusive mountain animals part of the experience...
  • Galle

    Galle

    The historic fort town of Galle is best explored on foot, allowing you to take in its grandiose colonial buildings, ancient temples and mosques and many quirky side streets...
  • Kandy

    Kandy

    Central Kandy is one of Sri Lanka’s most significant religious sites, being home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic – a tooth from Buddha himself...
  • Gal Oya National Park

    Gal Oya National Park

    Gal Oya is the most untouched of all of Sri Lanka’s national parks and is the only one where you can take a boat safari...
  • Wilpattu National Park

    Wilpattu National Park

    Wilpattu translates as ‘natural lakes’ in Sinhala and ‘10 lakes’ in Tamil, so it’s no surprise what the main attraction is in this national park...
  • Trincomalee

    Trincomalee

    The port city of Trincomalee is best-known as a gateway to the beaches and resorts on Sri Lanka’s east coast...
  • Batticaloa

    Batticaloa

    Batticaloa has only recently started to attract tourists again with the colonial buildings, Old Dutch Fort and the vibrant blue and white St Mary’s Cathedral...
  • Jaffna

    Jaffna

    Jaffna, in Sri Lanka’s far north, offers an insight into the country’s Tamil culture...
  • Anuradhapura

    Anuradhapura

    One of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura is a world heritage site with historical highlights including the Anuradhapura Maha Viharaya, the Jetavanaramaya stupa and the Abhayagiri Vihāra...
  • Mihintale

    ...
  • Paramakanda Rock temple

    ...
  • Ella

    ...
  • Dambulla

    ...
  • Minneriya National Park

    ...
  • Horton Plains National Park

    Horton Plains National Park

    Primarily made up of cloud forest and montane grassland, Horton Plains National Park is in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, accessible from Nuwara Eliya...
  • Bundala National Park

    ...
  • Mirissa

    ...
  • Negombo

    Negombo

    ...
  • Bentota

    ...
  • Sigiriya

    Sigiriya

    Sigiriya is one of Sri Lanka’s main attractions, a natural rock formation that erupts from the surrounding forest and topped with an ancient fortress...
  • Pigeon Island National Park

    Pigeon Island National Park

    Named after the rock pigeon that can be found on Pigeon Island, the national park is one of the two marine national parks in Sri Lanka...
  • Kalpitiya

    Kalpitiya

    More recently developing a tourism industry, Kalpitiya is made up of fourteen islands mostly populated by fishermen...
  • Arugam Bay

    Arugam Bay

    Tucked away on the eastern edge of Sri Lanka and with only a handful of local hotels and guesthouses, Arugam Bay is regarded as one of the top surfing destinations in the world...
  • Nuwara Eliya

    Nuwara Eliya

    Capital of its namesake district, Nuwara Eliya, sometimes referred to as ‘Little England’, is one of the key tea making cities in Sri Lanka...
  • Unawatuna

    ...
  • Bhutan

    Bhutan

    The Himalaya's last Hermit Kingdom
    Bhutan offers the kind of Himalayan trekking that few know about...
  • Thimpu

    ...
  • Punakha

    ...
  • Paro

    ...
  • Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest)

    ...
  • Trongsa

    ...
  • Bumthang

    ...
  • Punakha

    ...
  • Maldives

    Maldives

    Perfect beaches and the best diving in the world
    Made up of more than 1,100 individual islands, the Maldives is home to arguably the world’s finest beaches...
  • North Male Atoll

    ...
  • Pakistan

    ...
  • Karakoram

    ...
  • K2

    ...

Places to go in South Asia

South Asia Tours

Kathmandu, Phakding, Kala Patthar (and 2 more)

Everest Base Camp Trek

The classic route to Everest Base Camp

16 daysFrom $1,625
Kathmandu, Poon Hill, Machhapuchhare Base Camp

Annapurna & Poon Hill Sunrise Trek

A customisable trek to the Annapurna Sanctuary and Poon Hill

14 daysFrom $1,350
Annapurna Region, Thasang, Galeshwor

Mustang Multisport Adventure

Epic bike, hike and rafting adventure

12 daysFrom $2,890
Lo Manthang, Upper Mustang

Forbidden Mustang

A trek through Nepal’s restricted Tibetan side

14 daysFrom $2,235
Nepal

Manaslu Circuit Trek

A wilder, quieter and more remote trek to see Himalayan giants

15 daysFrom $1,750
Gul Bhanjyang, Langtang region

Helambu & Langtang Trek

Crowd-free trekking on Kathmandu’s doorstep

15 daysFrom $1,355

South Asia Travel Companies

South Asia, Southeast Asia

Yonder

Tailor-made luxury holidays to Asia
Nepal

Snow Cat Travel

Group & private tours to Nepal
Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia

Experience Travel Group

Immersive Holidays That Give Back
Maldives

Secret Paradise Maldives

Maldives local island experts since 2012
Central America, South America, Africa (and 8 more)

Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris

In-depth nature & wildlife tours in outstanding destinations
South Asia

Third Rock Adventures

Private and tailor-made holidays in the Himalayas
Europe, South Asia

Compass Holidays

Self-guided walking & cycling tours
India

Active India

Tailor-made luxury, cultural and active tours of India

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Expert itineraries

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