Nepal with friends: Himalayan heights and Buddha nights

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!

One hundred and eighteen feet – that's the height of the most important building in Boudnhanath: the stupa. It's the reason why many Buddhist pilgrims come here. Especially in the morning hours and at dusk, tons of believers gather here to perform their rituals and circle the stupa in a clockwise fashion, accompanied by the clattering of prayer wheels and the fluttering of colourful flags. It's a truly magical moment!

Early in the morning, you visit a real monastery together 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 together on your first hike in the Himalayas. You tighten your laces and trek 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 all gaze into the distance and behold the ice-covered peaks of the mighty five-mile-high mountains. Welcome to the Himalayas!