The most beautiful places to visit in Nepal

From adrenaline-filled activities like mountaineering, kayaking and paragliding to serene strolls among medieval temples and hidden palaces, this country offers more memorable travel experiences than can be squeezed into a single visit. An overview of the best places to visit in Nepal.

Kathmandu

The country’s cultural capital, Kathmandu is the place where most adventures in Nepal begin, as all flights from overseas land in the city’s airport. A crowded metropolis of more than 1 million inhabitants, Kathmandu is a chaotic mix of tourist shops, trekking agencies, hotels, restaurants, religious sites and artisan workshops. The city’s famous Durbar Square is still undergoing restoration after the recent earthquakes, but there are many intact sites well worth exploring. Set atop a forested hill, the ancient Buddhist complex of Swayambhunath is a can’t-miss attraction that offers sweeping views of the Kathmandu Valley.

Annapurna Circuit

The Annapurna Circuit in Northwest Nepal offers hikers an outdoor experience nonpareil. Showcasing the varied landscapes of the Annapurna Region, the classic trek leads travelers high into the Himalayas, across plunging gorges, over desert plateaus and through lush subtropical valleys dotted by terraced farms. The trek also passes by many religious sites and quaint villages. Starting just east of Pokhara, the journey takes about three weeks to complete though many trekkers walk half of it by flying out at Jomsom Airport. There is also shorter but no less beautiful Annapurna Sanctuary Trek that takes around 8 to 12 days. It is one of the most popular treks in Nepal with lodges and tea stops at hourly intervals or less until the highest sections at least.

Bhaktapur

One of three ancient capitals in the Kathmandu Valley, beautifully preserved Bhaktapur experienced a fair share of damage during the 2015 earthquakes. Fortunately, most of the city’s temples and shrines, which are the main attractions in this place known as the City of Devotees, escaped unscathed. Less crowded and hectic than bustling Kathmandu, Bhaktapur invites leisurely walks through medieval squares, winding streets and pedestrian-only thoroughfares. The city’s Durbar Square, or “noble court,” features a must-see site known as the 55-Window Palace, a 15th-century structure that is now home to the National Art Gallery.

Pokhara

With its tranquil lakes, verdant shorelines and mountain views, Pokhara is a popular resort destination for travelers from around the world. Known as the gateway to the Annapurna region in northwest Nepal, the lakeside city offers respite to weary hikers, and provides opportunities for outdoor adventures too, ranging from leisurely paddle-boat rides to white-water rafting. The largest of Pokhara’s three lakes, Phewa Lake is lined with luxury hotels, restaurants, bars and shops. The lake also features an island with a temple dedicated to the goddess Barahi Bhagwati where ceremonies are held nearly every weekend.

Khumbu

Each year, the determination to trek to the summit of Mt. Everest brings thousands of adventurous travelers to Khumbu, the Everest Region located in northeastern Nepal. The journey begins at the Lukla airstrip where a clear two-lane trail eventually leads hikers to Everest Base Camp. Located primarily within the Sagarmatha National Park, Khumbu is home to the Sherpa village of Namche Bazaar where most expeditions to the mountainous peaks are staged. The country’s foremost Buddhist center, the Tengboche Monastery, is located in the Khumbu as well. There’s a variety of comfortable accommodations available at the monastery, many of which offer stunning views of the tallest mountain on the planet.

Nagarkot

Perfect for those who want to experience the beauty and majesty of the Himalayas without arduous physical activity, Nagarkot is best known for the views, and it offers of the mountains and the Kathmandu Valley. Perched on a high ridge to the Northeast of Bhaktapur, the village of around 4,500 inhabitants commands views of eight Himalayan ranges. In addition, there is a variety of appealing hotels in every price range in Nagarkot, many of which are located within walking distance of the Nagarkot view tower, known as the best place to visit in Nepal to view the sun rising over the Himalayas.

Read more: 7 unique souvenirs you can purchase when travelling in Nepal

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7 most stunning churches in Philippines

All around the Philippines, amazing centuries-old churches stand as silent witnesses to their town’s culture and history. Many of them have been declared national treasures, and therefore during Holy Week these places of worship will not only attract worshippers, but also visitors interested in the unique architecture and relics these churches have to offer.

Manila Cathedral

Formally known as the Kalakhang Katedral Basílika ng Maynilà, the Manila Cathedral is a Roman Catholic basilica dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. It also serves as the See of the Archbishop of Manila. Originally established in 1571, the eighth and current rendition of the cathedral was completed in 1958. It was renovated and repaired for earthquake retrofitting and subsidence prevention in 2012, and re-opened to the public after a complete renovation in 2014.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish

Barasoain Church or Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Malolos City, Bulacan is such a big part of Philippine history that it would be a shame not to visit it at least once in your lifetime. It was also dubbed the "Cradle of Democracy in the East" upon having been chosen as the site of the First Philippine Congress after the Spanish-American War.

Mt. Carmel Shrine

Mt. Carmel is the type of church you remember from childhood-quiet, intimate, and somewhat kitschy. The statue of Mary cradling Jesus as a child is the most prominent feature of the church’s façade and inside, four more sculptures of the blessed Virgin Mother beckon you to offer prayer. It has been around since 1975, witnessing countless marriages under its high ceilings.

Nuestra Señora de la Porteria Church

In the 1720s, Cagsawa, then a sitio of Albay, began to progress, but its 4,000 inhabitants still saw its location at the foot of Mayon Volcano as a threat to its livelihood. So they asked that their town and church be transferred to Daraga, a village farther south of Cagsawa. The structure atop a hill and overlooking the majestic Mayon was then consecrated in 1854 as Nuestra Señora de la Porteria Church. Now, Daraga Church is famous for its mixture of Renaissance Gothic and Mexican Baroque, according to historian Alicia M. L. Coseteng in her book Spanish Churches in the Philippines. It is the only surviving church in the country that has adapted the salomonica columns (the four spiral columns in its façade).

Santuario Del Sto Cristo Church

Originally constructed sometime between 1602 and 1604, the structure was damaged by a fire, and was restored in 1641. Another fire consumed the church in 1763, but the parish persevered. The current sanctuary has been standing proud since 1774. May they never feel the urge to paint over its beautiful stone façade, which transitions to a marble altar inside. The church has a strange trapezoidal arch, but the wooden panels make it easy on the eyes.

Miag-ao Church

Also known as the Santo Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church, Miag-ao Church was also called the Miag-ao Fortress Church as its two uneven bell towers served as a tactical location for the town’s defense against Muslim raids. It is one of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, and contains the limestone image of the Birhen ng Barangay, traditional Filipino clothing recovered from the 1982 excavations, and the original late 1790s images of Saint Thomas of Villanova.

Church of the Angry Christ

St. Joseph the Worker Church was later known as Church of the Angry Christ because of its famous (and controversial) mural titled “The Last Judgment” by Filipino-American artist Alfonso Ossorio. There are also mosaics all over the structure, from its façade to the walls by the entrance, made by Belgian artist Ade de Bethune. The church itself was designed by Czech architect Antonín Raymond, who employed a modern design when it was built in 1949.

Read more: Great things to discover in Manila

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5 unique Japanese islands you have to visit

If you are planning to visit Japan but unsure where to go, how about some hidden gems of Japan's islands? Here are 5 of our favorite unique islands in Japan.

1. Level up from visiting cat cafes to entire cat islands

If you’re a cat lover, then you must visit Japan! This country loves its cats so much that it has not one, not two, but 11 islands overrun with these felines! For many of these islands, cats were introduced as people took to dumping their pet cats in the wild rather than in shelters. Instead of succumbing to nature, these hardy animals instead started to thrive and while they may have been abandoned at the beginning, they now receive a lot of love from tourists and are even protected – no dogs or other potential predators are allowed on these cat islands.

How to get there: Spread throughout Japan, the easiest cat islands to visit are Enoshima (Kanagawa prefecture, closest to Tokyo) and Ainoshima (Fukuoka Prefecture) which are close to major cities.

2. An island for architecture and contemporary art lovers

Naoshima is a small island in the central Seto Inland Sea area that has found fame as a contemporary art destination. Home to several museums and structures built by famed architect Tadao Ando including a really fancy art hotel, spend a nice weekend wandering around taking in the art and make sure to see the famously spotted pumpkins by Yayoi Kusama – the red one is right at the port and the yellow one is close to the art hotel Benesse House. You can see the art all year round, but this Japanese island is especially popular during the Setouchi Triennale which is an art festival with various installations held on this cluster of islands in the Seto Inland sea area every 3 years.

How to get to Naoshima: The easiest way to get there is to take a train from Osaka westwards to Uno, and then take a short ferry ride to Naoshima. Alternatively, you can fly to Takamatsu in Shikoku which requires a bus transfer to the port, and then take a slightly longer ferry journey from there.

3. An island for the adventurous James Bond fan

‘Gunkanjima’ or ‘battleship island’ is officially known as Hashima and gained fame as the inspiration for the abandoned island in the James Bond movie Skyfall. Once a coal mining area, the island was closed to the public in the 70s as demand for coal declined, and all that is left on the island are empty concrete buildings. Hashima was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2015 as an example of Japan’s Meiji Era Industrial Revolution and now, tourists are allowed to visit the island on special tours packages.

How to get to Hashima: Hashima is located close to Nagasaki in the southern Kyushu region. You can only visit the island via ferry on a tour, which is dependent on weather as the sea around the island is susceptible to bad weather, which can lead to tour cancellation or an extremely choppy and uncomfortable boat ride.

4. Check out the island with the lethal combination of kawaii bunnies and poison gas

Bunny lovers around Hiroshima should head to nearby Okunoshima to get their fill of fluffy rabbits who roam the Japanese island unfettered. No one is quite sure how the rabbits came to be exactly – speculation is that the rabbits were either descended from some rabbits released by school children, or a darker possibility is that these are descendants of the test subjects in the island’s now-abandoned World War II Poison Gas factory. Now, the rabbits are the stars on their own island that you can feed when you visit.

How to get to Okunoshima: Take a ferry from Tadanoumi which is a short train ride from Hiroshima, or take a ferry from Omishima in Ehime.

5. Explore an island with a mysterious pyramid

The Okinawa islands are famous diving spots for the rich marine wildlife that passes through their waters, but Yonaguni of the Yaeyama Islands stands out as a dive spot for its unusual underwater features. The Yonaguni monolith was initially thought to be natural, but research has found that it is actually a manmade pyramid-like structure with steps cut into its smooth surfaces. Besides diving to see this underwater monument, Yonaguni is also very popular for hammerhead shark sightings.

How to get to Yonaguni: Yonaguni is the westernmost island of Japan and is actually closer to Taiwan than mainland Japan. There aren’t direct flights from Taiwan though – you’ll need to find your way to either Okinawa’s main island Naha or another small island close by called Ishigaki.

Source skyscanner