KATHMANDU: There’s an enthusiasm in the air as Nepal, the land of high Himalayas, is observing Visit Nepal Year 2020 – an ambitious campaign to attract over 2 million tourists.

With eight of the world’s highest mountains in Nepal, the country has been dubbed as a mountaineer’s paradise.

Nepal offers mountaineers an opportunity throwing endless thrills and challenges to the climbers.

Besides Mt Everest (8,848 m), Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Makalu (8,463 m), Cho Oyu (8,201m), Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), Manaslu (8,163 m) and Annapurna (8,091 m), around 326 other peaks below 8,000 m wait for climbers in different seasons, mainly in spring and autumn.

Most importantly, Nepal’s Everest region is more than just climbing or trekking as it proves to be a life-changing experience as the region boasts of icefalls, glaciers, deep valleys, mountains, settlements, green forests, monasteries, pastures, and many more.

When we talk about mountains, Sherpas cannot be forgotten as most of the expeditions would not be successful without these loyal and reliable people.

Meanwhile, Nepal’s inner Himalayan valley (above 3,600 m) such as Dolpo and Mustang are labeled as ‘cold deserts’ that share topographical characteristics with the Tibetan plateau.

If one has the urge to discover Nepal’s terrain, and understand the country’s ecology or learn about its geography, trekking would be the best way to do it.

Nepal, unquestionably, has remained an exciting playground for adventure tourists or trekkers since this country offers an assortment of exhilarating opportunities combined with the camaraderie of the Nepali people adding flavor to a trekker’s fervor.

It should not be forgotten that this country has attracted trekkers from around the world since the 1960s when Col Jimmy Robert first organized the commercial trek.

The Everest and Annapurna are the most popular treks while the most challenging trek is the Great Himalayan Trails from Humla and Darchula in the west to Kanchenjunga in the east.

In fact, Nepal’s trekking trails also boast of diversity as such trails cannot be found anywhere in the world.

And there are serene lakes including the pristine Rara (2,990m), Nepal’s deepest lake, surrounded by green hills and covered in juniper trees.

Passing through this region, especially in the Rara National Park, is to explore over 20 species of mammals and 214 species of birds, and not to forget over 500 different kinds of flowers.

The VNY 2020 has just begun with Nepal’s mountains, deep valleys, serene lakes, flora and fauna, wildlife waiting for tourists from different parts of the world to relish every bit.

Not to forget the sculptors of Yeti, the official mascot of the Visit Nepal Year 2020, which have been displayed in every entry point to welcome the tourists!