Why? Shivling is just over 6,000m high, and it is a beautiful mountain. It took us five days to reach the summit, with some hard, interesting climbing along the way.

My ideal day: Bliss for me is climbing in warm weather on sun-warmed rock in incredible circumstances.

Getting there: Shivling mountain is two days' drive by bus from Delhi. Virgin Atlantic (01293 450150, virgin-atlantic.com) flies to Delhi from £533 return.

Where was your best holiday? La Scala, Spain. By day Wendy, my wife, played golf and I went climbing.

What is the best hotel you have stayed in? Sharrow Bay Country House Hotel in, Cumbria (017684 86301, sharrow-bay.com, from £105 per room per night).

Where do you want to go next? Morocco. I don't climb as hard now as I did 10 years ago but I love being in the mountains and just make shorter climbs.

What do you never travel without? My laptop and a copy of Civilization - a brilliant, clever computer game.

· Chris Bonington's Everest is published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson at £20.