Situated in the Himalayan Mountains between China and India, Nepal offers its visitors the opportunity to experience some of the world’s best trekking, as well as white water rafting, mountain biking and kayaking. You can even visit the base camp at Mount Everest!
Nepal might be one of the world’s poorest countries but it’s landscape is rich and diverse and there is a rich cultural heritage and history evident in the many of the charming towns and cities.
The Nepali people are also very friendly and welcoming to visitors and it is very cheap to travel around, making it a great backpacking destination.
Many who visit Nepal begin planning their next trip before they have even left! There is so much to see and do in this beautiful country that one trip is often not enough. Start planning your dream trip to Nepal with my guide.
Getting to Nepal
By Air:
Nepal has only one international airport which is in Kathmandu. So all international flights and the majority of domestic flight start or terminate here.
Although a number of major airlines sell flights to Nepal, most of these do not operate direct flight themselves so most people will arrive via flight from Dubai, Baharain, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Qatar or the India. Among the airlines that fly direct to Nepal are Thai Airways, Qatar Airways, Gulf Air, Austrian Airways, Korean airlines, Korean airlines and Indian Airlines as well as a number of smaller Indian airways. I recommend searching flights on Skyscanner.
Tribhuvan airport is located about 20 minutes from the center of Kathmandu. Internally, Nepal Airways operate flights to a number or locations although they do not have the best reputation for reliability.
Overland:
Some travellers occasionally arrive in Nepal overland after traveling in either India or Tibet. It’s possible to arrive in Kathmandu by bus, or sometimes a combination of bus and train from Delhi, Varanasi, Kolkata and Darjeeling among other places in India and also from Tibet. The majority of buses arrive at the city bus station in Kathmandu although arrival times can obviously vary dramatically so we will arrange arrival information with you once you have booked.
Explore Kathmandu
Most travellers spend time in the Nepali capital city of Kathmandu, and there are lots of sights and local attractions to check out. Top places see see include Swayambu and Durbar Square. Some temples may insist that you remove all leather before entering, so if you have a non leather belt and bag that may be useful. Many places in Kathmandu are so used to tourists that they may not say anything, but out in the regions this may happen more often.
Tours and Trekking
One of the best and easiest ways to discover the highlights of Nepal is on a small group tour. International companies like G Adventures offer trips all year round, for both sightseeing, culture and adventure.
Nepal is home to some of the most incredible mountain ranges and trekking destinations on the planet and thousands of travellers from around the world visit Nepal every year for this reason alone. There are beginners, and also some epic advanced routes for the pros.
The world famous Annapurna is home to some of the most incredible scenery in Nepal and offers exhilarating treks. Whether you wish to trek the whole circuit or just dip your toes into the scenery of the foothills of Annapurna, the landscape is amazing. Dramatic mountains, crystal lakes and lush forest, you will leave feeling exhilarated and fresh faced.
For the adventure of a lifetime you might want to consider a trip to Everest Base Camp.
Trekking in Nepal is physically demanding and requires a good level of fitness. Some trekking experience is recommended. Acclimatisation days are used and the pace is steady, but you need to be aware of the effects of altitude sickness as your body needs time to adapt to the high altitudes encountered in Nepal. Be sure to buy a good travel insurance policy.
For trekking adventures, most tour operators provide all travellers with a kit bag to keep their gear in, this is carried by porters. They also supply quality down sleeping bags and jackets which are essential for trekking at high altitudes.
Nepal Travel Tips
Tourist Visa:
A tourist visa is valid for up to 150 days of a year from the date of issue. For more information about visas, search online or contact your local Nepali embassy.
Cost:
• 15 days Multiple entry – US$25
• 30 days visa fees Multiple entry – US$40
• 100 days Muntiple entry – US$100
The government has also revised fee required to extend days of stay and visa renewal. As per the revise fee structure, Tourist Visa can be extended by paying US$ 2 or equivalent Nepalese currency per day.
Likewise, Multiple Entry facility can be obtained only for the extension period by additional US$20 and visa fee for the extended period. Similarly, tourists can renew their visa by paying Nepalese currency equivalent to US$ 3 on the regular visa extension fee.
Money:
Nepali rupees are the local currency. There are about 62 rupees to US$1, approximately 97 rupees to 1 Euro and 125 rupees to a Pound Sterling. There are bank ATM facilities in Kathmandu and Pokhara; US traveler’s cheques can be easily changed. Credit cards, though accepted at most places, usually incur 3-4% additional tax. Generally, US$12-18 per day is sufficient for food and accommodation in a budget hotel/lodge. Nepali rupees can be obtained on arrival at Kathmandu airport.
Food and Drink:
The local staple meal is dal bhat (rice with lentil soup, vegetables, and pickle). On trekking routes and in tourist areas, a variety of western dishes are also served. Drinking tap water is not recommended unless it has been treated with chlorine or iodine tablets which are readily available. Otherwise you can get the water boiled or buy bottled mineral water.
Weather and Best Time to Visit
The width of Nepal is only about 200 km on average, but within this short distance the altitude of the land rises from a lowly 60 meters to all the way up to above 8,848meter high. Hence the weather depends upon the altitude of the place you are in Nepal. However, in general Nepal has four climatic seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.
• Spring starts from March to May. The temperature of this season fluctuates between 20 °C to 30 °C (68 °F to 86°F).
• Summer starts from June to August. These are also the pre-monsoon months with occasional evening-thunderstorms and hot temperature.
• Autumn starts from September and ends by November. During this period, the climate is dry and mild with temperature fluctuating between 20 °C to 30 °C (68 °F to 86 °F).
• Winter starts from December to February. The morning and evening are very cold while the afternoon is pretty sunny. The temperature during these months rises from 15 °C to 20 °C (59 °F to 68 °F).
People and Culture:
Staring at things and people in Nepal is a national pastime, and is something you will have to adjust to. One of most problematic things that you will encounter is the fact that the concept of personal privacy does not exist in Nepal.
Shopping:
When you first get here it’s tempting to go out and buy yourself a whole new wardrobe simply because it’s so cheap. DON’T. It’s amazing how many backpackers lose or gain weight during their visit, so wait until you’re ready to leave before buying clothes.
As per clothes, when you first get here it’s tempting to buy lots of things due to their low prices. Again, DONT. Once you’ve spent some time in Nepal and seen the prices outside of Kathmandu, you have a better idea of the kind of prices that you should be paying for thing. In addition, once you speak Nepali it’s amazing how much easier it is to get a discount. Wait until the end of your trip when you have a clear idea of what money you have left, and you know what kinds of things you really want to buy.
You might want to buy things such as Pashminas or Thangkas as they can help you find better quality items. yak wool scarves/shawls, incense, jewellery and material. Pashmina, cashmere and Thangkas are more expensive but are still far cheaper than at home. And tailor made clothes are a fantastic bargain in Nepal – perfectly fitting trousers in your favourite material for a few dollars.
If you want to read anything whilst in Nepal, you can buy books from several second hand stores in the Thamel area. All of these stores will then buy the book back at 50% of what you paid, and they will also buy books that you brought with you and no longer need.
Do I need to Tip?
In Nepal, tips are not expected but they are seen as a reward for good work. We recommend always tipping as the money will really help local people.
Haggling:
Everywhere you go in Nepal you will find yourself haggling, especially once you speak a little Nepali. Practice haggling from day one and always offer less than what the shopkeeper asks.
Laundry:
There are plenty of places to get your clothes washed in Kathmandu. Most places charge by the wait.
Internet:
Kathmandu has plenty of accommodation and cafes with WiFi. When you first arrive in Kathmandu, you’ll probably be shocked at the slowness of the internet here. Get used to it. Once you leave Kathmandu things get slower and slower and taking an hour to open your inbox will become a regular occurrence. That’s before you think about things such as electricity cuts and telephone line failures.
By the time you return to Kathmandu, you’ll be amazed at the speed of the internet there and when you return home you won’t quite believe how fast you can send e-mails! Whilst in Kathmandu take advantage of the better internet to tell people that you may not be able to read emails or reply to emails for weeks at a time and that they shouldn’t worry.
Health:
Several vaccinations are required prior to coming to Nepal, some need a course of treatment before you leave. Visit your nearest traveler’s medical centre to discuss your needs. Ensure you have adequate travel insurance. The vaccinations you may need include:
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio, Hepatitis A & B
• Typhoid
• Yellow fever
• Rabies
• Tuberculosis
• Malaria
Please consult a doctor before traveling. More information is available from the WHO’s (World Health Organization) Travelers health information.
Useful Nepali Phrases
Learning a few of the basic local phrases is recommended in Nepal. Even just knowing a little of the language will help you to get around, to meet people and to really deepen your experience of a culture. It shows the locals that you want to learn about them and care about their country and culture. So start with these important words and phrases to learn.
Basic Greetings and Pleasantries
• Namaste – Hello, Greetings, I bless the divine in you
• Namaskar – The more respectful version of Namaste
• Hajur – All purpose term meaning yes? Pardon,
• (Tapaiilai) Kasto Cha? – Excuse me?
• Ke Cha? – How are you?
• (Malai) Thik Cha – I am fine
• Khana khannu bhaiyo? – Have you eaten? (used often as informal greeting)
• Dhanybhad – Thank you
• Tapaiiko naam ke ho? – What is you name?
• Mero naam Gabi ho – My name is Gabi
• Maaph garnuhos – Excuse me/ pardon me/ sorry
• Maile bhujhina – I don’t understand
• Maile bhujhe – I understand
Addressing People/Things
• Monika-ji – A formal way to address someone using their name
• Aama / Buwa – Mother / Father, but also friendly term men/women roughly in your parents generation
• Didi / Bahini – Older / Younger sister, but also friendly term used to refer to other women roughly in your generation
• Dhai / Bhai – Older / Younger brother, same as above
• Nanu / Babu – Young girl / boy child
• Ma / Hami – I / We
View more recommendations on my Asia travel guide.