Lumley's absolutely fabulous visit to Nepal

Actress Joanna Lumley, who recently spearheaded a highly publicised and successful campaign to secure the rights of the British Army’s Gurkha officers to settle in the UK, has returned from her celebratory trip to Nepal.

The actress, who first found fame as Purdy in The Avengers, became the public face of the campaign to give all Gurkha veterans, who served in the British Army before 1997, the right to make Britain their home.

Thanks to her efforts to bring the issue to the public eye, the government announced in May that all retired Gurkha soldiers with at least four years' service in the British Army, are now entitled stay in the UK.

The former Absolutely Fabulous star was overwhelmed by the response she received by the people of Nepal, who came out in force to give her a hero's welcome.

Adorned with garlands of flowers, colourful gifts and posters, the actress said she was made to feel like a "goddess." Her week-long tour of the tiny Himalayan state of Nepal, a land of beautiful scenery, majestic temples and some of the greatest hiking trails in the world, included a visit to the city of Pokhara, where it was announced that local beauty spot Mattikhan Hill would be renamed Mattikhan Lumley View.

Ms. Lumley met with both the President and Prime Minister of Nepal, and also visited several key historic and spiritual places in Nepal, including remote Gurkha communities, Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, and the country’s bustling city of Kathmandu. She said she was "humbled" by the visit.

If you've been inspired by the news footage of Joanna Lumley's tour, the good news is that travel to Nepal is not exclusive to campaigners and celebrities.

The Adventure Company offers a choice of unforgettable walking and cultural trips to this intriguing destination, all of which offer you the chance to mingle with local people. What’s more, the best time to go is from early October, post monsoon, when the air is clear and clean and the foothills and bright with colour.

For walkers, Himalaya Trekking tours are enduringly popular, offering travellers the chance to explore some of the world’s most beautiful mountain scenery and challenging terrains. Head east from Kathmandu and you’ll enter the Kumba Valley, which you follow to Everest Base Camp or head west and you’ll enter the beautiful Annapurna region, where you can join the famous Circuit trek or head to Annapurna Base Camp in a hidden valley, within the Annapurna Sanctuary.

Alternatively, follow in Ms Lumley's footsteps on a Delhi to Kathmandu trip, which includes tours of Lumbini and Pokhara, plus a visit to Chitwan National Park for a chance to see amazing wildlife. Here you’ll enjoy an elephant-back safari in search of rhino and tigers.

Full list of Nepal itineraries, log on to adventurecompany.co.uk.