Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla, the gateway to Everest, will greet us with a tiny runway. It was here, in 1953, that Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and New Zealander Edmund Hillary first began their conquest of the world’s summit, opening a new era in the history of mountaineering.

We will move to Phakding, a village hidden among the mountains through the Sagarmatha National Park. In the park, under the shade of centuries-old pine trees, you can hear the whisper of the wind, telling legends about the Yeti, the mysterious snow man who lives in these parts.

Namche Bazaar, the bustling Sherpa capital where prayer flags flutter in the wind, is our next stop. Here, in the heart of the Himalayas, is the highest monastery in the world, where monks guard ancient manuscripts and relics like keys to the secrets of the universe. Next we head to Deboche, where the Thyangboche monastery holds ancient knowledge. It is said to be home to the spirit of the great teacher Padmasambhava, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, who left his mark on the rock.