In this post, we cover the best Nepal travel tips with all the information you need to travel to the country.
After a whole month exploring Nepal, we have prepared a thorough guide to provide you with:
- Things to know before traveling to Nepal
- Best places to visit
- How much cost to travel in Nepal
- Where to sleep in Nepal
- A complete itinerary for planning your trip to Nepal
- And much more!
And what is even best, you can download this Nepal travel guide in pdf for free to have all the best travel tips for Nepal in your pocket! Just fill in the form in this article and download it straight away.
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- Kathmandu. For temples, shrines and the famous Durbar Square.
- Pokhara. For Phewa Lake and the Annapurna circuit.
- Annapurna Region. One of the most famous destinations for hiking.
- Chitwan National Park. For jungle and wildlife.
- Nagarkot/ Sarangkot. For amazing Himalayan views.
At a Glance | On a Budget | Where to Go | Things to Do | Where to Stay | Where to Eat
Nepal At a Glance
Best time to visit Nepal?: Between October and December is normally the best time to visit Nepal. The skies are generally clear and the views spectacular.
The weather remains dry until about April. January and February can be very cold, especially at night, but will reward you with incredible panoramas and quieter trekking trails as there are fewer visitors.
From May, heat and humidity levels build until the monsoon rains arrive in June and the clouds obscure the glorious mountain views.
Nepal celebrates festivals all year, so there is often a festival or pilgrimage taking place – ask your specialist for more details as the dates often changes from year to year.
Language: The official language is Nepali. On the most typical destinations, they will also speak a bit of English.
Currency: Nepalese Rupee. In September 2026, 1 US dollar is about 153 NPR.
Is Nepal Safe?: Nepal is generally a safe country for travellers. We were moving around for a month, outside the typical tourist areas too, and never had an issue. After the protests of September 2025 the country held elections in March 2026 and the situation is stable, but demonstrations can still happen and monsoon landslides close roads every summer. Check the latest advice on current safety in Nepal travel.
Also, for the best medical advice is worth to check Fit for Travel website.
It is important that you have good travel insurance when traveling to these countries to have all the travel essentials covered.
If you are going trekking, make sure it covers helicopter evacuation up to the altitude you plan to reach: in the Himalayas that is the claim that matters. We compare the options in our guide to backpacker travel insurance.
What to pack for Nepal: What to pack will depend on what kind of tourism you want to do in Nepal. As for any other trip, our recommendation is always to dress with layers. That is the easiest way to make sure you are comfortable either if is hot or cold by adding some more layers.
On this specific kind of trip, and for “technical trips” where you are likely to do some trekkings or any other activity, technical clothes are highly advisable. This is because they are normally lightweight, can have anti-odor technology, are more breathable and will make your trips overall more pleasant.
So if you need to do a bit of investment in getting some good clothes, we really recommend you do it.
It is true that you can also find some good deals in the local stores, but I will never rely on my shoes or my main jacket to be a low-quality one, especially if planning on going up to the mountain. For any other stuff, just give it thought and check the quality.
I am not saying all the products are bad quality at all, I bought myself some gloves and a hat. I am just saying that the stuff you are using every day or even on a daily basis, is worth the investment.
How to move around Nepal: The easiest way to move around Nepal is by bus.
Bear in mind though, that buses in Nepal are not as good in most of the rest of Asian countries. They are normally old and with no A/c.
For trips to Pokhara or Chitwan, you should be able to find tourist buses, which are the ones you should take over the local ones. These have normally A/C and takes a bit less time. In any case, if they say a journey takes x hours, always add an extra 3 hours of the time they say it will take.
Flying is the other option: Kathmandu to Pokhara takes about 25 minutes, against 8 to 10 hours by road while the Prithvi Highway is being widened. But it is expensive, flights are often delayed or cancelled by the weather, and every Nepali airline is still on the EU’s air safety list.
If you still need to fly for some reason, you can check your options in Skyscanner.
Nepal Visa: Most nationalities get a tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport: 30 USD for 15 days, 50 USD for 30 days or 125 USD for 90 days, all multiple entry. Save time by filling in the online form on the Department of Immigration website before you fly. You can see Visa requirements for Nepal here.
Nepal On a Budget
How much cost to travel to Nepal?
We spent an average of 24$ per day per person, after traveling Nepal for a total of 28 days.
It is really easy to travel Nepal on a budget. There are many budget accommodation and local food is inexpensive.
Our biggest expenses were the permits for the Annapurnas and the tickets to the different temples.
What has changed since our trip: the rupee has lost about a third of its value against the dollar, which offsets part of the local inflation, so the city budget still holds roughly. Trekking does not: since 2023, foreign trekkers must hire a licensed guide in Nepal’s national parks and conservation areas, Annapurna and Everest included. Add the guide’s daily fee and the permits (the Annapurna ACAP is 3,000 NPR; for Everest, 3,000 NPR for Sagarmatha National Park plus 3,000 NPR for the Khumbu municipality) to any trekking budget. The TIMS card is no longer required for Annapurna or Everest.
How is the average price calculated?
It is the total of all our expenses in Nepal divided by 28 days, which is the time we spent there. That is taking into account:
- What kind of accommodation? We mainly stayed at guesthouses
- How did you move around? We only used buses to move around
- What kind of food did you have? We had 90% of the time local food. Which is really cheap
- What do you consider entertainment? Alcohol, tickets for attractions and temples and permits for the Annapurna.
You can also check how much we spent daily, during the 13 days trekking in Nepal.
Travel Cost Summary (price per day)
On a Budget 16$
This would be staying mainly in guesthouses and hostels, eating local food and a few tickets entrances
Mid-Range 32$
Staying in 3 stars hotels, mixing local food with western food and visiting some more attractions
Luxury 70$
Staying in 4 or 5-star hotels, having pretty much any kind of food and more attractions to visit.
Free
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Where to Go in Nepal
Kathmandu
Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal filled with many stunning temples. With a vibrant city life and rich in culture, Kathmandu’s touristic offer goes beyond normal. From unique places like Pashupatinath Temple to the most amazing treks to the roof of the world.
Pokhara
Pokhara, the door to some of the most incredible treks in the world. Pokhara offers spectacular scenery, countless adventure activities, and accommodation and food choices galore. The lakeside really makes a great spot to chill and enjoy the live music that many bars offer.
Chitwan
Chitwan national park is truly a hidden gem. In this park, you can see a great variety of wildlife. From rhinos to tigers, wild elephants, and much more. It is one of the few places where you can actually do a walking safari, always with licensed guides. Would you do it? ;)
Nepal Itinerary
If you ask for our top Nepal travel tips we can say these would be mainly 2. Check the options you have on each place to choose according to your preferences, and do not rush it!
Seriously, we stayed for 28 days and only visiting 3 cities, and we would have stayed much longer.
The way we did our Nepal itinerary, in my opinion, was a good choice. That’s why we are going to tell you what we recommend and then you can decide it if you like it or not.
First of all, the most likely is that you are flying to Kathmandu. This will make a great opportunity to visit Kathmandu and surrounding areas.
Kathmandu has plenty to see and do. That is why you should not aim for less than 3 days at least to make the most of it.
Then from Kathmandu, you can easily take a tourist bus to Chitwan national park. Expect 6 to 7 hours, regardless of what they tell you.
If you like nature and wildlife, you are really going to love Chitwan national park. This place is not only a quiet small village, but it is also a great place to see come rhinos, tigers, crocodiles and more. Sometimes you can even see them just walking in the streets of the village!
We would recommend at the very least a couple of days in Chitwan. It is a quiet and interesting place.
Finally, take a bus Chitwan to Pokhara, which takes 5 to 8 hours depending on the road works and the weather
Pokhara is a place that worth at the very least 3 days. The reason behind this is because not only Pokhara itself is gorgeous, but you have many amazing trekking opportunities from here. For all levels and durations, you can find any kind of trekking in Pokhara.
Once you have visited all these amazing places, you can simply take a bus back to Kathmandu.
The total duration we would recommend for this itinerary would be at least 10 days. So you have time enough to see and explore properly without rushing. Take into account that each bus journeys will take you roughly half a day.
Of course, is not the only one or the best one, but in our personal opinion, we think it covers all the best.
You can take a look in detail if you click in this Nepal infographic.
Click the map to open it as a PDF
Things to do in Nepal
Nepal offers some amazing outdoor activities for adventurers.
Trekking in Nepal is with no doubt one of the highlights and something we encourage to do.
Although the most famous is the trekking to the Everest base camp there is much more. Remember that on the big routes (Annapurna, Everest, Langtang, Manaslu) you now need a licensed guide.
But if you travel to Nepal, you should take advantage of other many things like: rafting, paragliding, mountain biking, etc.
Visit the historic Durbar Square. Declared a Unesco World Heritage site, is the core of Kathmandu. Although you can see the impact of the earthquake, it is such a lively place and there is always a lot going on. Note that there is a high fee to get it for tourist of approx 10$
Visit
Wander around Thamel area. This area is where most of the backpackers are hosted. There are many little shops where to find good deals if you are planning to go on a trek. There are also some of the best restaurants in Kathmandu in this area, so worth checking.
Visit Bouddhanath Stupa. Probably the most liked sightseeing place in Kathmandu. It is a very famous and holy place, especially of Buddhists People. It is one of the most popular world heritage sites of Nepal.
Go up to Swayambhunath for the sunset. This is a really curious temple at the top of a hill overlooking Kathmandu. The views are amazing and the temple is full of monkeys, which can be good fun but also stay alert with your belongings!
Discover the mysterious Pashupatinath. This one is a unique experience. Is a famous and sacred Hindu temple complex that is located on the banks of the Bagmati River. There are daily rituals here. It is also a cremation site where the last rites of Hindus are performed. The site and events at cremation are not for the faint-hearted; still, this was one of our favorites since is something new and interesting.
Choose a trekking. There are many good trekkings you can do leaving from Kathmandu. Simply take a look and find one which adapts to your time and fitness level, and book it with a licensed guide.
Visit Bhaktapur. Situated in Kathmandu Valley, Bhaktapur might be the best-maintained site for temples.
Go for a Safari. This is with no doubt one of the most exciting things you can do in Nepal.
In Chitwan, you can find an amazing array of wildlife. But that is not all. It is also one of the few places in the world where you can do a walking safari!
This means that, with two licensed guides (and nothing but a stick), you walk into the jungle looking for rhinos and, with some luck, a tiger. Entry to the park is 2,000 NPR per day for foreigners, and you are not allowed into the core area without guides.
Of course, there is also the option to do the safari on a jeep, which is what most of the people do.
Although the walking safari can be risky, we did that and the experience was amazing. Is only that noise makes you feel nervous at the beginning since you don’t know what is about to show! is it a deer? or maybe a rhino or a tiger? :D
If you are in doubt, I encourage you to try this one, most of the times is ok
Explore around. You do not need to go inside the park to see the wildlife. Sometimes you can even see rhinos walking down the street, or even the crocodiles just by the river.
It is such an interesting and relaxing place for a pure nature connection.
Go for a trekking. Most of the people use Pokhara as the getaway for amazing trekkings. One of the best ones, the Annapurna circuit! Check this one out and the other endless possibilities!
Watch the sunrise from Sarangkot. This is personally of my favourites. The views are unbelievable. From here you can not only see the whole valley, but also some of the tallest peaks in the world!
Explore Pokhara by bike. Renting a bicycle and explore the area is one of our top Nepal travel tips we can give you. You’ll get to see stunning locations with not tourist!
Take a boat in Phewa Lake. This is cheap and a good way to see Pokhara from a different angle
Go up to the peace stupa. If you are lucky, you can also see an impressive view from the mountains from here.
If you are planning on going on high season, you should definitively check Get Your Guide for a complete list with top things to do.
The advantage of doing this is that you can book any tour in advance. If you have limited time, it might be a good idea to take a look, at least to have an idea of the options.
Where to Stay in Nepal
Nepal has a wide range of accommodation, being really easy to find good budget accommodation.
If you prefer something more according to your style and budget, you can always check your options in Booking.
Where to Eat in Nepal
Momo dishes | Photo by Abhishek Sanwa Limbu on Unsplash
Nepal may not have a big variety of dishes, but what they have, is pretty good to us. The most famous dish is the Dal Bhat. This is composed normally by a lentil soup with rice and either a steamed seasonal vegetable or vegetable curry. Sometimes it comes together with pickles, curries, meat, yogurt ( curd), chutney, and fish.
Another popular dish is momos. Usually filled with steamed vegetables or meat and encased in a flour-based dough that is then steamed or fried
Thamel Donner Kebab. If you want something good, fast and inexpensive, look no more.
OR2K. This one would be my choice to go for local good. Although is a touristic place, the food quality is very good.
Gaia Restaurant & Coffee Shop. Specialized in Eurasian cuisine, they have a massive menu and all we tried was delicious. Prices are a bit high in my opinion though.
Since there is not much in Chitwan, probably your best option is to eat at your hotel.
Otherwise, some places we can recommend you are:
KC’s Restaurant. Typical Nepalese Cuisine but a place for tourists so is the price. It has a nice garden and they offer a great service together with quality food
Friends Cafe. There is nothing really exceptional with this one but is the typical place you know you cannot fail with the food.
Mo2’s Delights (now called MoM’s Café & Bar). If there is a place I have to choose, this would be the one. They have a great selection of momos and all the menu is so good. I came here every day for a full week, I think that is something.
Krazy Gecko Bar. This one is pricy and touristic. But, the location and the vibes are completely stunning. Even if you come just for a coffee or a drink, is a nice place to visit.
Moondance Restaurant. This a very good lakeside restaurant. They buy from local farmers, and the menu goes from BBQ spare ribs and sizzlers to pizzas and vegetarian dishes. Leave room for the lemon meringue pie.
Potala Tibetan restaurant. There is nothing fancy about this one, they just have really good Tibetan food at good prices. The momos here are also worth trying
The One Thing You Need
If there is a thing you need, to make the most of these Nepal travel tips, that would be proper Goretex shoes.
Regardless of what your plan is in Nepal, a good pair of Goretex shoes has proven to be the most useful thing we can think about. Not only for the intermittent and constant rains you can have in Nepal at any point, but also any small or big trekking or any other adventure.
Plus, this is going to be the best investment ever for your trips.
If you want a safe bet, then these Salomon are still our safe bet.
If you are not sure and want some more options, here you can find a list with best-reviewed ones
We are sure this is not only improving your experience in Nepal but on the rest of your trips.
Nepal Travel Tips Conclusion.
With these travel tips for Nepal, you should be able to move around the country with no issue.
Nepal is a great place to go if you like adventures and of course, one of the best places in the world for hiking.
Culture-wise, Kathmandu really offers unique and different places from what you can find in any other place in the world
That is why a visit to Nepal can be an amazing and complete travel experience
Let us know if you have any question in the comments below
