10 Essential Nepal Travel Tips
Things to Know Before Travelling to Nepal
If you’ve made up your mind about planning to travel to Nepal, then chances are you’re probably confused. And why wouldn’t you be? Nepal is nature’s treasure. So, stepping into this fascinating land might fill you with excitement and dilemma.
While you might be all excited about tapping into the land of mountains, you might also find yourself anxious about exploring this wonderland. So, it’s best to know some Nepal travel tips before having rich cultural immersion and meaningful experiences.
These tips will not only prepare you to travel to Nepal easily but also will help you navigate Nepal better. After all, the only way to encounter limitations and risks is by preparing well, right?
10 Nepal Travel Tips To Enrich Your Nepal Travel Experience
For those of you who truly want to get the best Nepal travel experience, be mindful of these 10 Nepal travel tips and get the best out of this land.
Visa and entry requirements for Nepal
Your travel to Nepal doesn’t kickstart without a visa and an understanding of entry requirements. You can access a tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport and the official overland entry point.
If you’re pretty excited, you can also apply for a visa up to 15 days till your arrival. You can find the required instructions on Nepal’s government official site. You’ll have to pay the following amounts for a different duration.
- A 15-day visa:: $30
- A 30-day visa:: $50
- A 90-day visa:: $125
Nepal has its way to tempt adventure seekers. So, if you feel like extending your stay, you have the option to do that as well.
You can extend your tourist visa for 150 days in a calendar year. You just need to fill out the form on the Nepal immigration website.
Money
Nepalese deal in Nrs(Nepali Rupees). And you can exchange them in banks and money exchange counters. Kathmandu has many places that exchange foreign currencies.
The Tribhuvan International Airport also lets you exchange money upon your arrival. There are 2 money exchange centres inside the airport at the arrival lounge. However, it is best to avoid exchanging your currency at the airport as they offer the lowest exchange rate.
Instead, you can go to various forex centres and banks. Normally, bank transactions take longer due to paperwork. So, you’ll have it much easier with Forex centres.
Nepal is quite affordable. So, even a little money can go a long way and you can travel to Nepal on a budget.
Avoid Trekking Solo
A trip to Nepal doesn’t get complete without trekking. So, the thought of exploring Nepal and its hidden gems on your own sounds liberating and full of adventure.
But the reality is it’s best to avoid trekking solo. This is because there has been a tremendous increase in the missing cases of solo travellers. Let’s be real. Something that’s supposed to be fun shouldn’t turn out to be such a terrifying issue.
Make sure you’re accompanied by travellers or guides or within a group when going for a trek. You can also find various online platforms to connect with fellow trekkers when preparing to trek in Nepal even if you’re travelling alone.
Travelling with a guide also makes your overall travel itinerary in Nepal a smooth process. They can easily help with you registering your permits, navigating the places, and acclimatising.
The best part about travelling in a group is you’ll have a lot of fun that’ll forever stay in your memory lane.
Travel Insurance
It’s pretty obvious. Travelling with travel insurance is a game changer. Specifically, the 2015 earthquake and Avalanche are a gentle reminder that unexpected occurrences can happen. That’s why, it’s best to get yourself covered to combat such moments of uncertainty.
A general travel policy covers necessities like the loss of baggage, and tickets, and include a refund or up to a certain limit – cash, in terms of cancellation or curtailment of your trip.
Some of the policies even cover extreme sports when you pay an extra premium. This can be helpful when you’re travelling to Nepal for whitewater rafting, trekking (especially above 4000m), and climbing.
When choosing your insurance with medical coverage, make sure to know whether benefits will be provided as treatment proceeds or only after returning to your country.
Expect Power Outages
Nepal has a long history of power outages. Keep that in mind as you prepare to travel to Nepal. Luckily, things have been better now. Power cutoff isn’t a major issue in big cities like Kathmandu, and Pokhara as it used to be before.
However, you might experience a shortage of power in remote areas. So, your experience while travelling to Nepal will be filled with constantly charging your electronic devices every time you get the opportunity. Invest in good power banks.
One of the smart travel tips to Nepal is to carry a universal adapter and a solar power charger. A flashlight is equally handy as you’ll be experiencing blackouts or exploring various places with limited light.
More Than Himalayas
Nepal has gained notoriety for its spectacular Himalayas. Don’t get us wrong. It has abundant Himalayas to leave you stunned. But it has a diverse topography and historic landmarks that equally deserve your attention.
Don’t limit your Nepal travel experience only to exploring the Mountains. Try giving various things a shot. You can go hiking or cycling across the hills. If you’re really in need of that serotonin, you can even go mountain biking and paragliding.
The sky’s the limit. Then there are stunning glaciers, deep valleys, and diverse ecosystems. And the rich historical architecture has an interesting story of its own. So, widen your exploration while visiting Nepal.
Prepare for Air Quality
Be prepared for bad air quality when planning a trip to Nepal. Recently, the air quality of Kathmandu has degraded a lot, making its way to one of the most polluted cities in the world.
And you’d be spending quite some time in places of Kathmandu. For individuals allergic to irritants in the air, this could spoil the overall travelling experience in Nepal. Always use a mask and carry extra medicines just in case.
As soon as you move far from Kathmandu, the air gets better as you move to the mountains.
Altitude Sickness is real
Don’t get taken away by the breathtaking view of snowcapped mountains. Altitude sickness will likely accompany you as you explore trekking routes in Nepal. Altitude sickness can occur at heights above 2,500m.
Even physically fit people have trouble with it. A good idea is to ensure that your travel insurance covers medical evacuation from altitude. Getting yourself checked with a doctor before the trip is helpful.
While exploring the mountains, drink water and eat even if you don’t have any appetite as you need a lot of strength.
Water Safety
The water quality in Nepal is not the greatest. Your body can have some difficulty adjusting to it. It’s best to avoid tap water. Carry some water purification materials and a filtration bottle while visiting Nepal.
The big restaurants and hotels have a good water system. However, that’s not the case with the local places.
Trekking Permit
You are required to have a trekking permit to trek in Nepal. You’ll need a TIMS card(Trekkers Information Management System) card to get into some of the popular trek routes like the Annapurna 7 passes trek and Everest Base Camp treks.
You can obtain a TIMS card from the tourist service centre in Kathmandu. You should submit a copy of your passport and 2 passport-style photos. If you want to save yourself from all the mess of acquiring permits, a tour operator and agencies can help you.
They’ll organise all permits on your behalf. This is included in their trekking package fee. You can get in-depth information about trekking permits here.
Best Time to Visit Nepal
The best time to set foot in Nepal is between October and December. You’ll be treated with clear skies and a favourable temperature. Hikers and climbers tend to visit Nepal throughout fall, autumn, and spring.
For trekkers, late September to late November offers a great experience as the weather is clear and you get the best view of the mountains.
Avoid monsoons if you can. It gets pretty messy. So, make sure you’re not visiting Nepal from late May to early September as the road is drenched with muddy water.
If exploring Nepal’s ecosystem and biodiversity is on your list, then Spring is a good time.
Conclusion
These Nepal travel tips might come across as simple. But they really help in making your overall travelling experience a delight and contentful. After all, a delightful travelling experience is what makes you enjoy the process and feel alive. Consider these mentioned things while preparing to travel to Nepal and you’ve embarked on a journey that’s worth celebrating for a lifetime.