Nepal

Nepal is the trip Indians postpone precisely because it is easy — no visa, no currency exchange, flights from Delhi in under two hours — and that postponement is a mistake. This is the densest concentration of high mountains on the planet, wrapped around medieval city squares, a lake town of real charm, and a trekking culture that accommodates everyone from gap-year backpackers to families who prefer their mountains viewed from a café.

The shape of the trip

The classic (7 nights): Kathmandu's Durbar Squares, Boudhanath and Pashupatinath (3 nights), then Pokhara for the lakeside, Sarangkot sunrise and day-hikes (3–4 nights). Trekkers add the Ghorepani–Poon Hill circuit — four to five days, teahouse-to-teahouse, and the finest reward-to-effort ratio in the Himalaya. The one-hour Everest scenic flight from Kathmandu (₹16,000–18,000) is the honest shortcut for those who want the mountain without the fortnight.

The money

The Nepali rupee trades at 1.6 to the Indian, and Indian currency is accepted almost everywhere — carry small notes, as ₹500 and ₹2,000 notes face restrictions. Good tourist-district hotels cost ₹1,500–3,500; a dal bhat that refills until you surrender, ₹250–400; the tourist bus between Kathmandu and Pokhara, ₹800–1,500. Trekking teahouses charge ₹500–1,000 a night with dinner.

The practicalities

Fly rather than drive the Kathmandu–Pokhara leg if your budget allows (₹3,500–5,000; 25 minutes versus 7–9 hours). For any trek, hire a licensed guide — mandatory on most routes since 2023, and worth it regardless. Altitude deserves respect above 3,000 metres: ascend slowly, and buy travel insurance that covers trekking.