Asia · Himalaya
🇳🇵 Nepal travel guide
Himalayan trails, stupas & mountain tea houses.
- Currency
- रू NPR
- Time
- UTC +5:45
- Emergency
- 100 · 1144
Best places in Nepal
- Everest Base Camp trek. Sherpa villages and the world’s highest peak (12–14 days).
- Pokhara & Phewa Lake. Paragliding and Annapurna reflections.
- Kathmandu Durbar Squares. Temples in Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur.
- Chitwan National Park. Rhinos and jungle walks.
Hidden places
- Mardi Himal trek. Shorter, quieter trail with big views.
- Bandipur. Car-free hill town.
- Rara Lake. Remote alpine lake in the far west.
- Lumbini. Birthplace of the Buddha with monasteries from many countries.
When to go
- Best time. October–November (clearest views) and March–May (rhododendrons).
- Avoid. June–September monsoon on trails; deep winter at high passes.
- Festivals. Dashain & Tihar (Oct/Nov), Holi, Buddha Jayanti.
What you need
- Documents. Passport, visa, passport photos, trekking permits (TIMS/park fees).
- Pack. Layered warm clothes, good boots, sleeping bag, water purifier.
- Guide. A licensed guide is required in many trekking regions.
- Insurance. Must cover high-altitude trekking and helicopter rescue.
The soul of Nepal
- Start somewhere unforgettable. Kathmandu’s squares, Bhaktapur, lakeside Pokhara and Chitwan’s jungle.
- Choose your season. October–November and March–May are the main trekking seasons. Monsoon (June–September) affects trails and roads.
- Before you leave. Leave spare days for mountain weather, flight delays and rest.
Visual money
- Currency · NPR रू. Carry enough cash before trekking; mountain ATMs are rare.
- A daily budget. Illustrative, per person: budget रू3,000–5,000; comfortable रू8,000–15,000. Permits and guides are extra.
- Paying locally. Cards work in larger hotels; tea houses and markets need cash. Indian ₹500+ notes may not be accepted.
Arrival playbook
- Documents first. Many nationalities can get a visa on arrival. Check the Department of Immigration site.
- Your first ride. Use the airport prepaid taxi counter or a hotel pick-up.
- Get connected. Ncell or Nepal Telecom SIMs are sold with your passport and photo.
Street codes
- Stupas & prayer wheels. Walk around stupas clockwise and spin prayer wheels with your right hand.
- Hands & feet. Give and receive with your right hand. Don’t point feet at people or shrines.
- Temples. Some Hindu temples don’t allow non-Hindus inside; respect signs.
Beyond the postcard
- Bandipur. A car-free hill town with Newari architecture and mountain views.
- Tsum Valley. A remote Buddhist valley needing special permits and a guide.
- Panauti. One of the oldest towns in the Kathmandu Valley, quiet and authentic.
Food dossier
- A few first plates. Dal bhat (refills are normal), momo dumplings and Newari feasts.
- Eat with care. Use purified water and avoid raw salads at altitude.
- Trail fuel. Dal bhat is the trekker’s staple: “dal bhat power, 24 hour”.
Scam shield
- Unlicensed guides. Book trekking through licensed agencies; guides are required in many national parks.
- Rescue fraud. Confirm your insurance covers helicopter rescue at your planned altitude.
- Fake monks. Polite refusal is fine for donation requests in tourist areas.
Language cheat sheet
- Hello · Namaste. Thank you · Dhanyabad. Please · Kripaya.
- How much? · Kati ho?. Water · Pani. Help · Guhar! Slowly · Bistarai.
- Trail word. “Jam jam” means let’s go.
Survival essentials
- Emergency · 100. Police 100, Tourist Police 1144, ambulance 102.
- Altitude. Ascend gradually and rest. Descend if symptoms worsen.
- Power & time. 230V; sockets types C, D and M. Time zone UTC+5:45.
Your Nepal chapter
- A gentle first journey. Kathmandu → Pokhara → a short Poon Hill trek → Chitwan.
- A different pace. A guided Annapurna or Everest region trek over two weeks.
- Before confirming. This is a starter guide, not live advice. Verify visas, prices, opening times and safety conditions with official sources.