Plan Your Nepal Trip

Visa

Visa on arrival

Tribhuvan International Airport facilitates tourist visa on arrival for most nationalities. The Department of Immigration currently lists USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days and USD 125 for 90 days; some nationalities must arrange a visa before travel, so check the current list before booking.

Arrival process & documents

Complete the arrival card and online form or kiosk entry, keep the barcode/receipt, pay the selected fee, then present your passport at immigration. The Department of Immigration says the passport should be valid for at least six months; carry a photo and onward travel details when requested.

Special categories and extensions

Indian citizens do not need a tourist visa. Diplomatic, official, NRN and restricted-nationality cases follow different rules. Tourist stays can be extended through Immigration offices in Kathmandu or Pokhara up to the current annual limit; verify the exact fee and process before relying on it.

Permits

TIMS and guide rules

The current Nepal Tourism Board guidance lists routes where a licensed guide and agency-issued TIMS are required, including major Everest, Langtang, Manaslu, Annapurna, Upper Mustang and Kanchenjunga routes. Requirements are route-specific and can change.

Protected-area entries

National park and conservation-area entry fees are separate from TIMS and restricted-area permits. Pay at an authorised counter or entry point, keep the receipt, and use the current Nepal Tourism Board schedule rather than an old blog or printed guide.

Restricted areas

Upper Mustang, Manaslu and Kanchenjunga use restricted-area permits administered through the Department of Immigration. These routes require agency arrangements and route-specific documentation; do not assume a permit covers a neighbouring valley.

Seasons

Oct–Nov (post-monsoon)

The classic window: stable skies, dry trails, the busiest tea houses. Book Lukla flights and popular lodges ahead.

Mar–May (spring)

Rhododendrons below 3,500 m, expedition season above; hazier afternoons, warmer nights. The second-best choice for almost every route.

Jun–Sep (monsoon)

Leech season on southern slopes — but the rain-shadow routes (Upper Mustang, Dolpo) stay dry and empty. Hill highways see landslide delays.

Dec–Feb (winter)

Clear, cold, quiet: superb for the Terai parks and low-elevation culture routes; high passes close or demand expedition-grade preparation.

Practical

Money

The Nepalese rupee (NPR) is the local currency. Cards and ATMs are most useful in larger towns; remote trailheads and mountain lodges should be treated as cash economies. Exchange through licensed banks or counters and keep receipts.

Connectivity

Nepal Telecom and Ncell provide the main mobile networks. Carry an unlocked phone, use an official SIM/eSIM channel, download offline maps and expect coverage and power to become less reliable in remote valleys.

Health

Arrange travel insurance that explicitly covers trekking altitude and evacuation. Plan treated water, food hygiene, a basic personal kit and a gradual ascent; use current government or clinician guidance for vaccinations and medicines.

Etiquette

Remove shoes at temples and homes, circle shrines clockwise, ask before photographing people, dress conservatively at religious sites and never photograph cremations without explicit permission.

Money

Cash planning

Carry a reserve of NPR before leaving Kathmandu or a regional hub. On longer treks, budget for meals, lodge nights, charging, showers, Wi-Fi and transport separately; card acceptance is not universal outside cities.

Cards and exchange

Use ATMs attached to recognised banks where possible, protect your PIN, and compare the displayed exchange rate and fee before confirming. Avoid informal street exchange and keep bank or counter receipts.

Small notes help

Keep smaller notes for buses, snacks, trail permits, toilets and tips. A rate shown by an online converter is an indicative market rate, not a promise of what a bank, card network or lodge will charge.

Getting There

International arrival

Most international visitors arrive through Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Leave time for immigration, baggage, currency and a local transport connection before committing to a same-day domestic flight.

Overland entry

Nepal also receives travellers through designated land checkpoints, especially from India and Tibet/China. Entry services, hours and document requirements vary by checkpoint; confirm with the relevant official authority before travelling overland.

Domestic connections

Kathmandu is the main air hub for Pokhara, Bharatpur, Nepalgunj, Lukla and other regional airports. Weather and visibility can disrupt mountain flights, so keep buffer days for treks and fixed departures.

Connectivity

SIM and eSIM

Buy a SIM from an official operator outlet or airport counter and keep your passport available for registration. An eSIM is convenient only if your device and provider support it; do not assume a city plan will work in the high mountains.

Offline readiness

Download maps, reservations, emergency contacts and translation help before leaving reliable Wi-Fi. Lodges may offer Wi-Fi for a fee, but outages and slow service are normal outside urban areas.

Health

Insurance and evacuation

Choose insurance that names trekking, the maximum altitude of your itinerary and helicopter evacuation where relevant. Save the policy number offline and tell your guide where it is.

Water and food

Use sealed, treated or filtered water and wash hands before eating. Food risk varies by kitchen and altitude; choose busy, well-run places and avoid assuming a familiar dish is safe everywhere.

Altitude awareness

Altitude illness can affect fit travellers. Ascend gradually, avoid pushing through worsening symptoms and descend for serious or deteriorating signs; seek professional medical help rather than relying on a web checklist.

Essentials

Power and plugs

Carry a universal adaptor, power bank and charging plan. Outlets and voltage can vary by accommodation, and power cuts are possible; charge when electricity is available.

Seasons

Autumn is generally clear but busy; spring brings flowers and warmer trekking; monsoon favours rain-shadow routes but complicates roads; winter is excellent for many lowland and cultural trips while high passes can close.

Everyday practicalities

Nepal uses Nepal Time (UTC+5:45). Learn namaste, ask before photos, dress appropriately at sacred places, carry tissues and hand sanitiser, and treat tipping as a context-dependent thank-you rather than an automatic fee.

Sources

Department of Immigration — visa information

https://immigration.gov.np/visa-information

Department of Immigration — ETA and visa requirements

https://immigration.gov.np/eta-visa-nepal

Nepal Tourism Board — TIMS card

https://ntb.gov.np/en/plan-your-trip/before-you-come/tims-card

Nepal Tourism Board — trekking permits

https://ntb.gov.np/plan-your-trip/before-you-come/trekking-permit

Nepal Rastra Bank — foreign exchange information

https://www.nrb.org.np/forex

Frankfurter — live rate API documentation

https://frankfurter.dev/