1. Do I need a visa for traveling to Nepal?

Yes, the Nepal visa is a must for traveling in Nepal. You can apply for a Nepali Visa on your arrival at Kathmandu Tribhuvan Airport or land borders. You need to fill out your application form, provide a passport photograph, and pay the fee.

>> Learn more about how to get Nepal Visa in 2023/2024

2. Can I visit Nepal alone? Is it safe for solo travelers?

Yes, you can visit Nepal alone, and it is safe for solo travelers. But it is still important to buy travel insurance before you visit Nepal, especially when you are going to trek or have some other outdoor adventures in Nepal. Booking safe and trusted hotels and dining at a safe and clean restaurant instead of street food is also important for you to keep safe in Nepal.

Last but not the least, taking necessary preventive measures against COVID-19, like wearing a mask in public, is a must.

3. When is the best time to visit Nepal? What is the weather like in Nepal?

The best time to visit Nepal is from October to November, while the best time to trek in Nepal is from February and April.

The climate of Nepal is heavily influenced by the monsoon because of the distinct topography and dramatic altitude change from south to north. One can experience the subtropical area in the south, temperate and mild weather in central Nepal, and the alpine Frigid Zone in the Himalayan region up in the north.

So when you arrange your trip to Nepal, please check the local weather in advance.

4. How many days are required to visit Nepal?

It is recommended to visit Kathmandu for at least 4 days. That's enough to explore the capital of Nepal. However, it is not long enough to experience real Nepal.

One week is long enough for a trip to Nagarkot and Pokhara to enjoy a light trek, like a Nagarkot trek or the famous Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek.

If you want to explore all the best of Nepal, you need about 10 to 14 days to extend your travel to Chitwan and Lumbini.

For adventurous trekking in Nepal, you may need 16 to over 20 days. The exact time required will depend on your trekking route.

5. What are the must-visit places of Nepal?

In Kathmandu Valley, must-see attractions are Durbar Square, Boudhanath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple, Royal Palace and Swayambhunath, Patan City, and Bhaktapur.

Other trekking and mountaineering attractions involve Pokhara, Nagarkot, the Everest Base Camp in Nepal, and the Annapurna mountain range.

Chitwan National Park and Lumbini are also worth a visit for Jungle safari and Buddhist culture experience.

Moreover, there are plenty of outdoor activities to experience in Nepal, such as paragliding, white-water rafting, bungle-jumping, etc.

6. Is there any interesting festival and event in Nepal?

Nepal is never short of festivals and wild national celebrations. Big and small, altogether there are up to 300 festivals in Nepal each year. One thing for sure is that most of the festivals have much to do with Hinduism.

Some widely-celebrated Nepal festivals are known as Dashain, the grandest and longest annual festival in Nepal; Holi, the most colorful and exciting festival, Buddha Jayanti, the celebration for the birth of Lord Buddha, Ghode Jatra, the horse parade festival; Tihar, the worship for the Goddess of Wealth, and Teej, the Nepali women’s festival.

7. What kind of money is used in Nepal? Can I use my credit card when visiting Nepal?

Nepalese Rupee, US dollar, and Euro are widely accepted in Nepal. You can use your credit card but only limited to Kathmandu, Pokhara, and other high-end shopping malls. In most cases, cash is needed when traveling in a bazaar.

8. What is the Tipping custom in Nepal?

In big restaurants, 5%-10% of the bill is accepted. In big hotels, 10% of the bill or around 20 Nepali Rupees for the porter would be fine.

Normally, the tipping for your guide during a trekking or mountaineering tour is around 10 USD per day. Taxi drivers and hair dress normally do not expect a tip.

9. How about the accommodation in Nepal?

Kathmandu offers a great variety of hotels for worldwide tourists, ranging from luxury international hotels to budget hostels. Most of the backpackers or western tourists prefer to find accommodation in Thamel, where they can have many choices and easy to find travel companions for trekking.

If you need quiet, you can stay in a traditional hotel around Durbar Square. If you go trekking, you can easily find a suitable teahouse lodge along the trekking route.

10. How about the food and drinks in Nepal?

Nepali cuisines are heavily influenced by neighboring India and Tibet. Rice is the staple food for Nepalis.

In Kathmandu, you can enjoy traditional Nepali food, like Dal-bhat (lentils and rice), Momo (dumpling), Thali, Dhindo, Rotis (pancake bread), etc. Nepal is also a paradise for dessert lovers. The popular Nepali desserts include Rasbari (milk balls), Juju Dhau (yogurt), Kheer (rice pudding), Burfi, etc. Popular drinks in Nepal are Raksi and Jaand. Masala tea is also worth a try.

Nepalis don’t eat beef for cattle which is considered sacred in Nepal.

11. Is Wifi available in the hotels, restaurants, and public areas of Nepal?

Most hotels and restaurants in Kathmandu and Pokhara provide WiFi. If you need WiFi as you travel, you may have it in the nearby café or tea house guesthouse.

12. What are the toilets like in Nepal?

Most tourist areas in Kathmandu and Pokhara have western toilets. Outside these two regions, squat toilet is the most common one, and in most cases, there is no toilet paper. If you trek to the Himalayan region, be prepared to use a nasty pit toilet and do take your toilet papers.