Preparing to go to nepal

Essential Things to Know Before Traveling to Nepal

 

CAPITAL

Kathmandu.

LANGUAGE

Nepali is the official language of Nepal.

RELIGION

Approximately 85% of the population is Hindu, 10% are Buddhist, and approximately 3% are Muslim.

LOCAL TIME

Nepal Standard Time (NPT) is 5 hours & 45 minutes ahead of GMT.

ELECTRICITY

220 Volts – sockets are of the European two pronged round pin variety. Please bear in mind supply is erratic and power cuts are common, even in the cities.

 

 

PASSPORT & VISA

Visas are required by all nationalities (except Indian nationals).

 

A Visa can be obtained on arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, at border entry points in Kakadvitta, Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, Gaddachowki on the Nepal-India border and Kodari on the Nepal-China border.

 

A Visa can also be obtained at the nearest Nepal Embassy or Diplomatic Mission.

 

A valid passport and one passport size photo with a light background is required. The Immigration Department has not specified the size of the passport size photo.

 

A Visa can be obtained only through payment of cash in the following currencies: Euro, Swiss Franc, Pound Sterling, US Dollar, Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Hong Kong Dollar, Singapore Dollar and Japanese Yen.

 

Please note: Credit cards, Indian currency and Nepali currency are not accepted as payment for visas.

 

Visa Facility        Duration Fee

Multiple entry      15 days US$ 30

Multiple entry      30 days US$ 50

Multiple entry      90 days US$ 125

 

Visa regulations are subject to change without notice so please ensure you check the current advice with your local embassy or consulate before you travel to Nepal.

 

LOCAL CURRENCY

The monetary unit in Nepal is the Nepali Rupee (NPR).

 

XE.com is a useful site for currency conversion.

 

MONEY EXCHANGE, CREDIT CARD & ATM

Changing money is a quick and simple process in the major tourist centers (Kathmandu or Pokhara) where there are many banks, exchange offices and hotels. Most major currencies can be changed into Nepali Rupees in Kathmandu. ATM's can also be found in Kathmandu and Pokhara and credit cards are usually accepted in larger shops and more expensive hotels and restaurants. Left over Nepal Rupees can be exchanged back on production of your original encashment receipt. It is not possible to change back more than is shown on your encashment receipt.

 

CLOTHING

As a general guideline, clothing should be lightweight, loose fitting, hard-wearing and easily washed. In the hotter summer months, cotton clothing is much more comfortable than man-made materials like nylon. In the winter months (Dec-Feb) Nepal can get extremely cold (particularly in the mountains) so you should bring plenty of warm clothing. Make sure you allow for climate changes (even in the lowlands) and remember that even when day-time temperatures are quite high, night-time and early morning temperatures can be extremely cold. You will generally find it is better to have several thin layers rather than one thick layer as it gives you more flexibility and warmth. A fleece can be invaluable. You should also bear in mind that Nepal has conservative attitudes towards dress, particularly in remote and mountain areas. Women, and also to a certain extent men, will find that the way they dress will often determine the degree of respect they receive from both men and women. Make sure you bring lots of clothing that covers shoulders and knees and more than one outfit which covers your legs to ankles and your arms past the elbows. A sarong is an invaluable item to carry as it can be used to instantly cover any exposed areas (i.e. head, legs).

 

COMMUNICATION & EMAILS

Email
Internet cafes can now be found in most cities and sizable towns. Connection times can be slow although this does vary from place to place. The average cost for an hour varies between $US 0.30 (Kathmandu) and $US 1 (elsewhere).

Phone
The Nepali phone system is fairly good. Look out for shops/booths labelled with a yellow "PCO-STD-ISD" sign which can be found almost everywhere (except in remote areas). A 3 minute call (to the USA) will cost approx. $US 10 from a hotel and approx. $US 5 from a shop/booth. There is no such thing as international or pre-paid phone cards in Nepal.

Post
The postal service is fairly good, and stamps are available everywhere. An overseas stamp will cost approx. $US 0.25.

 

WEATHER & CLIMATE

Nepal is located in the northern hemisphere on the same latitude as Egypt and Florida. Consequently, in the lower altitudes, temperatures can reach over 30 (Celsius). In the higher altitudes, winter temperatures can plummet to -25 (Celsius). The seasons are fairly distinct in Nepal as outlined, but variations can occur. Mid-September to the end of November is autumn and is usually associated with clear skies and little precipitation and therefore this is the most popular time for trekking. During winter (December to February) it is generally very dry with clear skies, but the temperature is at its lowest. In the lower altitudes the cool temperatures are perfect for trekking but in the higher altitudes’ nighttime temperatures can be extremely cold. March to May is spring which is the season for flowers, particularly rhododendron. Temperatures rise from March onwards. In April and May, you may expect heavy showers late in the afternoon, with hazy skies. At lower altitudes temperatures can be very warm, while at higher altitudes they can still fall well below zero at night therefore it is also a popular time for trekking. During June to August it is very wet and often raining and is not conducive to trekking in Nepal.

 

Kathmandu: (approx)

 

MEALS

Approximate costs for meals and snacks not included are shown below:

• Simple snack - $US 1-2
• Light meal - $US 2-5
• Fancy restaurant - $US 7-10

 

DRINKS

Approximate costs for drinks bought in a shop in the street are shown below. Note: Prices in restaurants and hotels can be as much as double as those specified.

• 1l of water - $US 0.5
• 30cl bottle of soft drink - $US 0.5
• 65cl bottle of beer - $US 3.00

 

It is not recommended that you drink the local tap water in Nepal however bottled water, carbonated soft drinks and fruit juices are widely available throughout the country.

 

FOOD
Nepali food is simple but wholesome and quite similar to Indian cuisine but without the amazing variety. The national dish is dal bhat. Dal is a lentil sauce, bhat is rice. The dish is in fact rarely as simple as this however it invariably comes with a number of different side dishes such as achar (pickle), curd (yoghurt), and usually vegetable curries. Another common dish found on many menus is momos – Tibetan dumplings made with vegetables or meat (usually chicken). Nepalese cooks can prepare virtually any sort of food on demand and you will be astonished by the huge variety of international dishes (such as Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Mexican and Italian) available in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Tea is available everywhere. Traditionally this is black tea served with sugar. Hotels usually serve tea western style, i.e. with milk and sugar separately. Street stalls usually prepare it Indian style, i.e. with plenty of milk and sugar already added. Major international brands of soft drinks are readily available, as well as local brands and fresh fruit juice. A local drink found on every menu is Lassi - this is yoghurt based and can be salted, sweetened or flavoured with a variety of fruits. Alcohol is widely available. Locally brewed beers are good, and many international brands (e.g. Carlsberg, Tuborg) are brewed in Nepal too. Local spirits are also available and some of them are very good. Imported wines are available but can be expensive.

 

SUGGESTED TIPPING SCALE:

Tipping is a way of showing your appreciation and will be welcomed by the recipient, although if you decide not to tip in a particular circumstance, this doesn’t mean you’ll receive a lower level of service. Ultimately, tipping is discretionary and should be done at a level that feels comfortable.

 

Here are some guidelines that you may find helpful:

 

 

HEALTH & MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES

As a general recommendation, it is advisable to check with your family doctor or travel clinic for latest health information.

 

TRAVEL INSURANCE

It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance from your travel agent. Health plans only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Your travel agent can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance; however, they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased.

Most insurance companies do have exclusions in their coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are not insurable. High risk activities such as skydiving, parachuting, and bunji jumping are also not covered by insurance. Understand the complete insurance coverage you have before travelling out of the country.