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Nepal Travel FAQs

For those avid travelers who are planning and preparing to visit Nepal, we have brought together some of the most raised Nepal Travel FAQs in one place. This section provides answers and handy tips that will assist you in planning and organizing your trip accordingly. By and large, it is always good to know a few significant things about new places with different cultures, food habits, and lifestyles.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal is a landlocked country in southern Asia. Located in the Himalayas as well as partially in the Indo-Gangetic Plain, Nepal is the 49th largest country by population. The coverage of a total of 147,181 square kilometers makes the country the 94th largest nation by area. Nepal borders China to the north and India in the south, east and west. The Tibet Autonomous Region of China bounds Nepal from China while the demarcation of the Indian boundaries from Nepal is done by the Indian states of Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. With a diverse geography counting the fertile plains and sub-alpine woody hills, Nepal has eight among the world’s 14 tallest mountains namely Mt. Everest at 8,848m (29,028 feet), which is the highest point on earth. Nepal is primarily a multi-ethnic country and the official language used in this country is Nepali.

Kathmandu is the largest city as well as the capital of Nepal. The city is more often known as the ‘city of temples’ where travelers can explore the time-honored creative beauty from the medieval age. In fact, Nepal is geographically, culturally and linguistically diverse. Nested peacefully on the lap of the Himalayas, Nepal is where the icy cold ambiance of the mountains meets the sweltering heat of the Indian plains. It is the land of yaks and yetis, Buddhist stupas and Sherpas along with some of the best trekking trails on earth. The development and urbanization of the country began in the ancient three great mini kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley namely, Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur.

Although Nepal is relatively a very small country, it has been dealing out as a spectacular host to a varied array of landscapes that rises from 200m / 656 feet in the south to the top of the world at 8,848m / 29,028 feet in the north. There are just too many reasons to justify as to why a foreign tourist should visit Nepal, the land of friendly and engaging people. Nepal is a country where divine beings unite with the mortals. Glorious temples, unruffled monasteries and historical monuments are found almost on every street on every turn. If a tourist visits Nepal for the first time for trekking in the Himalayas, the second visit would definitely be accountable to the hospitable people and their distinctive culture.

Trekking in Nepal because of the picturesque mountain scenery and great hiking trails on the Everest Base Camp Trek, Annapurna Base Camp Trek or Annapurna Circle Trek is probably the most popular reason why travelers visit Nepal. Along with trekking, it is also climbing small snow peaks such as Island Peak Climbing or Mera Peak Climbing and summiting Mt. Everest that brings visitors to Nepal.

Nepal’s startling beauty in Pokhara with its pristine air and the stunning backdrop of the snowy peaks of the Annapurna Range is another reason why you should visit Nepal. The lake city with breathtaking lakes such as Phewa Lake, Begnas Lake and Rupa Lake add to the reason. Wildlife, diverse culture, vegetation, and ecosystem are abundant in Nepal. The national parks of Chitwan and Bardia encompass lowland tropical jungles and grasslands with a rich variety of wildlife. The ancient culture and the conventional architectural beauty of Kathmandu is another good reason to travel to Nepal. Cultural tours and visit to the temples scattered around the country, wildlife safari outing, river rafting or paragliding, Nepal has so much of the adventurous activities to offer for all age groups. Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu and Maya Devi Temple in Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha are the epitomes of religious affection in Nepal.

 

The short answer – Yes! In fact, it is very safe with no religious extremists or other radical groups disrupting the calm and peaceful environment of the country. Nepal today, feels more safe than most of the other countries around the world, possibly due to the religious nature of the people here and their engagement, friendly temperament and natural kindness. Tourism being the mainstay of the country’s economy, people here are always hospitable and very welcoming. We keenly advise you to read the travel advice published by your country.

United State Of America-Travel Advice:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/nepal-travel-advisory.html

Canada-Travel Advice:

https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/nepal

United Kingdom-Travel Advice:

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/nepal

Australia-Travel Advice:
https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/nepal

Nepal has four seasons namely, autumn, winter, spring, and summer (also monsoon). The best tourist season in Nepal with summer passing and before the onset of winter is autumn. Autumn season falls during the months between September and November when the weather is highly pleasant, so are the mountain views.

Spring is also considered a good season and falls between the months of March and May. During spring, the temperature is mildly warm in lowlands while moderate in higher altitudes with plenty of opportunities to encounter breathtaking mountain views. It is also the time for flowers to blossom and the national flower of Nepal, rhododendron sweeps the ascending altitudes with its magnanimous color and beauty.

Winter falls during the months between December and February and is relatively cold. During these months there are comparatively less tourists in Nepal. Summer (also monsoon) falls during the months between June and August when it is quite hot and humid during daytime with occasional rain showers, sometimes all through the day. Nepal has the least tourists during summer season.

If you are considering trekking, white-water rafting or climbing, then autumn and spring are the best seasons to travel.  Likewise, if you are traveling to Nepal for leisure tours, wildlife safari, culture tours, foothill trekking or hiking (below 3000m / 9,850 feet), winter as well as autumn and spring seasons are the best seasons to travel, though winter could be harsh. Summer or monsoon season can be considered for some city tours, volunteering works or culture tours. As a matter of fact, for some areas of Nepal, Tibet and India, summer months are the best times to travel because these areas are ‘rain-shadow’ areas and monsoon is much lighter here.

Nepalese people do speak English as a second language, especially those working in the hospitality and tourism sectors. Although Nepali is the native language, English is the primary language used for most businesses in Nepal. However, not all Nepalese people speak English particularly people dwelling in the rural areas. The younger generations are most likely to speak English regardless of rural or urban habitation. The most prevalent languages that is widely spoken and understood by a vast majority in Nepal are Nepali, Hindi and English. Tour guides who speak other foreign languages like Japanese, French, Italian, Chinese, Russian, and others can be found throughout Kathmandu.

Of course, everyone needs a visa to enter into Nepal except Indian nationals. Getting visa is fortunately an easy process. On arrival at Nepal’s only international airport in Kathmandu, you will find electronic kiosks that will assist your visa processing. Taking the completed form and paying the visa fee, you will stay in the immigration queue for your visa-on-arrival. However, tourists from AFG, IRQ, CMR, GHA, SOM, SWZ, PSE, ZWE, NGA, ETH and LBR are not given visa on arrival. Nepal visa information for all categories of travelers and their correspondence cost can be found at http://nepalimmigration.gov.np/

Getting Your Visa Online

Visitors can now apply for online visa within 15 days of your arrival date in Nepal. For this, you will need your Nepal hotel address and a digital passport-sized photo that needs to be uploaded in the application. After submitting the form online, you need to print out the confirmation page which has to be shown at the immigration section in Kathmandu airport along with your passport and the visa fee. To apply for your online visa, you can click HERE:

Getting Your Visa at an Embassy or Consulate of Nepal

Travelers can easily apply for Nepali visa at the local Nepali Embassy or Consulate located in your country.  Or, you may even mail your visa application to the visa office near your location, but well ahead of time for the processing time that it may require. For more information and contact details of the Nepali Embassies and Consulate around the world, you may click HERE:

Some useful Tips

  • Get ready with you some cash to pay for the visa fee. US$ is preferred but currencies like EU, CHf, GB£, AU$, CA$, HK$, SG$ and JP¥ are also acceptable.
  • Make sure that your passport has a validity of at least six months.
  • Before landing in Kathmandu, fill out the disembarkation card provided to you on the plane so that you can quickly get on the immigration queue at the arrival hall.
  • During the peak tourist seasons in the months of October, November, April and May, the airport gets flooded with foreign tourists in huge numbers. So it is advised that you complete your visa form online prior to arrival to save time standing in long queues. (While applying for a visa online, you will need your hotel address. Please ask a Himalayan Glacier consultant to assist you and he/she will happily support you).
  • Carry with you at least 4-5 recently clicked passport-sized photos for trekking permits, purchasing a SIM card.
  • Please make sure to carry extra copies of your passport with you; it is always handy during your travel in Nepal.

When arriving in Nepal either by flight or an overland journey, most of the nationalities are given a 15/30/90 day visa as per your requirement. There is no visa fee required to be paid by the passport holders of the SAARC countries for the first 30 days. Indian nationals do not need visa for entering Nepal at this time, so there is no fee at all. The general Nepal tourist visa fee on arrival is:

  • 15 days – US$ 30 for single/multiple entry
  • 30 days – US$ 50 for single/multiple entry
  • 90 days – US$ 125 for single/multiple entry

For more information on Nepal visa, you can visit our  nepal visa information page.

Although immunizations are not required while traveling to Nepal, we would like to suggest certain vaccinations or medications as preventive measures, depending on what time of the year you will be traveling. If you are traveling to Nepal from a country infected with Yellow Fever, it is required that you have a certificate of fitness. We encourage travelers to stay updated on the routine immunizations before entering Nepal. We recommend the Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Rabies, Cholera, Malaria, Dengue and Japanese Encephalitis vaccine. Although Kathmandu and other high altitude locations in Nepal are very high for the species of mosquito transmitting malaria, it is always good to take the preventive action against the disease, at least while traveling to the lowlands and the tropical forested areas. For full details on the medication or vaccination requirements, we suggest that you consult with your doctor. Also visit the following sites for detailed information:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/nepal/

https://www.passporthealthusa.com/destination-advice/nepal/

Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) is the only international airport in Nepal and Nepal Airlines is the only national flag carrier of the country with flights operating between Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Bangkok, Doha, and Hong Kong. There are other international carriers arriving in Kathmandu such as Air Arabia (Sharjah), Druk Air (Paro), Qatar Airways (Doha), Flydubai (Dubai), Air China (Lhasa, Chengdu), Silk Air (Singapore), Thai Airways (Bangkok), Air Asia (Kuala Lumpur), Dragon Air (Hong Kong), Jet Airways (Delhi & Mumbai), Pakistan International Airlines (Karachi & Islamabad), United Airways (Dhaka),  Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi), Indigo Airlines (Delhi), Korean Air (Seoul), Indian Airlines (Delhi, Kolkata & Varanasi), Turkish Airlines (Turkey), China Southern Airlines (Guangzhou) and many more.

ATMs are available throughout Nepal and their accessibility has been expanding gradually even in rural areas. There are numerous ATM kiosks in Pokhara and Kathmandu that have regularly working machines and accepts majority of the international cards. In the present day, most of the cities and some places in the trekking trails of Everest Base Camp trek have ATM facilities. By and large, the best places to hunt down ATMs are around Thamel in Kathmandu and Lakeside in Pokhara.

Nepal is best known for being the land of the highest peak in the world, Mt. Everest as well as the birth place of Lord Buddha, the pioneer of Buddhist religion. Eight among the world’s 14 tallest mountain peaks are located in this naturally beautiful country. With the identification of more than one thousand peaks above 6000 meters/19,685 feet, Nepal has been the focus of outstanding achievements in the world of peak climbing expeditions and incredible trekking journeys. Trekking in Nepal Himalayas offers astounding mountain views and an opportunity to take a glimpse into the life and culture of mountainous people. By and large, Nepal is known for adventurous journeys such as Everest Base Camp trek, Annapurna Base Camp trek, Island Peak climbing, Mera Peak climbing, and Mt. Everest expedition. Wildlife safari, white-water rafting, cultural tours, and pilgrimage tours like Kailash Mansarovar Yatra are other attractions in Nepal.

Nepal is a very safe destination for traveling. It is considered as one of the most peaceful countries in the world. The chances are it’s probably safer here than your home country. One can freely walk at night. There’s a very low rate of serious crime in Nepal. Tourist police are appointed to support and take care of tourist safety and security. Moreover, when you are on one of our trips, we take personal responsibility for your well-being, a responsibility we commit very seriously.

Trekking in Nepal is not just limited to Everest Base Camp trek or Annapurna Base Camp trek as the country is a land of trekking and has unlimited options. Based on difficulty, treks can be graded into four types, namely easy, moderate, difficult and strenuous – the challenge in terms of both technicality and geographical setting. Easy treks are suitable for all while strenuous and difficult treks are meant only for those who have certain experience and capability. In terms of the trekking duration, it may vary from 5-day short trekking to 3-month long trek on the great Himalayan trail.

Easy Treks:
No previous experience or physical preparation required. The duration varies from a 2-day hike to 5 days of trekking on well maintained paths up to an altitude of 3000 m and walking up to 5 hours a day.

Moderate Treks:
Requires 6 to 7 hours walking everyday crossing 4000 m high altitude passes. Physical and mental fitness, positive attitude, interest and previous hiking or camping experience is required.

Difficult Treks:
Previous trekking experience, technical knowledge, positive attitude and perseverance are required. It requires 6 to 7 hours of walking everyday through rough trails and possibly crossing high passes as high as 5000 m.

Strenuous Treks:
It involves long days, long hours of challenging walks on high altitude passes above 5000 m, difficult terrains and glacier & snow walking. One needs to have rock and ice climbing experience with knowledge of using ice-axe and crampons. Physical and mental fitness with excellent health condition, positive attitude and perseverance is also required.

It is a universal truth that Nepal has diverse trekking options which is not found anywhere else in the world. Top of the world, Mt. Everest and other Himalayan peaks offer some of the best trekking, hiking and climbing opportunities to an avid adventurer. Besides, the other reasons to go trekking in Nepal are the luscious greenery and flora, unique and rare collection of the endangered species, and the amazing viewpoints on the trekking trails. The culture and traditions of the indigenous people are matchless and certainly worth understanding. The local food of the country is something to look for while in Nepal, be delighted and rejoice forever.

The terms hiking, trekking and mountain climbing are all similar in the sense that you go out and walk in nature. But, there are certain significant dissimilarities between them. The easiest amongst them is hiking which means walking on well-marked trails of easy to moderate difficulty. The duration of hiking usually ranges from half-day, full-day up to two days. Hiking does not require climbing skills or any specific equipment.

Likewise, trekking is a multi-day hike with long hours of walking up and down in the high mountains above 3000 m with difficulty level somewhere between hiking and mountaineering. Trekking also does not require technical skills and deep knowledge.

Mountain climbing or mountaineering is a technical adventure requiring high technical skills, climbing gears and a good fitness level. Among the three, mountaineering is by far the most challenging as it involves walking on steep sides of the rock, snow, and icy mountain terrains. It requires having an experience of high altitude walk, rock climbing, technical skills of handling gears such as crampons, ice-axe and pinpoint navigations. Mountaineering is a more technical variation of trekking that takes climbers to higher peaks that are over 5000 m.

For being able to experience the best trekking holiday in Nepal, Himalayan Glacier recommends you Annapurna Base Camp – 11 Days or Everest Base Camp Trek – 14 Days. Although it is possible to spend several weeks exploring the scenic Himalayan nation, it is also possible to enjoy some of Nepal’s highlights in as little as three days without trekking or hiking. However, on an average 2 weeks of time should suffice for trekking to the most charming destinations in Nepal.  For any shorter or longer trekking duration, travelers are always welcome to contact us and one of our travel consultants will get back to you with various options that might just be right for you.

Undoubtedly Everest and Annapurna regions are the two world-class trekking areas in Nepal. Apart from these, there are numerous trekking options in Nepal depending on various factors such as number of trekking days, grade of trekking, popularity, wilderness or remote-area trekking and so on. For example, if you are considering avoiding crowded trails, we highly recommend beautiful wilderness treks such as Manaslu Trek, Khopra Ridge Community Trek, Mardi Himal Trek, Tsum Valley Trek or Nar Phu Valley Trek. For detailed information, you may read more about the best trekking destinations in Nepal.

Nepal has four distinct seasons namely spring, summer (monsoon), autumn and winter. Spring lasts from March to mid-May where days are quite warm and late spring may experience some rain showers. Temperatures during spring hover around 22-24°C.

The summer or monsoon season sets in from late May until August or first week of September. The hills turn lush and green during this season while the temperature gets warmer, somewhere up to 30°C or sometimes more during heat waves. Trekking in Nepal is extremely unfavorable during summer as the trails become wet, muddy and slippery.

Autumn starts from September and goes until November. It gets cool with clear skies making it the most popular season for trekking in Nepal. During this season, the temperatures are just perfect with a maximum of 25°C during day and a minimum of 10°C in the cool nights. Normally, Nepal does not receive more than 2 to 3 days of rain during the whole autumn and winter months.

Winter in Nepal begins from December and goes until February. Nights get very cold with temperatures sometimes even below zero. The maximum temperature in winter during the day however, can go up to 20°C. During the winter season, the mountains get enveloped with snow offering breathtaking views of the towering Himalayan peaks.

There are so many interesting things to do in Nepal for travelers from all walks of life. As Nepal is known popularly as the land of trekking, Trekking in Nepal is on the top of the list of to-do things in Nepal. The most popular trekking in Nepal are Everest Base Camp trek, Annapurna Base Camp trek, Langtang Valley trek, Poon Hill Trek, Upper Mustang trek, Gokyo Lakes and Gokyo Ri trek and many more. Then, there is experiencing heli tours on panoramic flights over the snowy Himalayas. Nature and wildlife tour is another must-do activity to grab a chance to explore a typical Tharu village. Some other things to do in Nepal are private Kathmandu World Heritage Sites tour, Cycling and Mountain biking tour, and many other adventure sports. You can visit our things to do in Nepal page for more information.

There is a dedicated department of tourist police, a special unit of Nepal Police that works under the department of tourism. The main office is located near the office of Nepal Tourism Development Board at Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu. They work day and night for the safety and security ensuring a pleasant stay for tourists. There are several complaint counters at the Tribhuvan International Airport and Kathmandu Durbar Square surroundings. The tourist police are specially trained in English and have detailed local knowledge to assist the tourists. They regularly patrol the touristic areas in Kathmandu and take quick actions or investigate when there is any complaint from the tourists. For security and travel related assistance, you can reach any of the officers by dialing 1144 or 01-4247041.

On arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, a representative of Himalayan Glacier will meet you outside the arrival hall once your immigration formalities are complete, based on the flight arrival details that you have provided to our consultant. Our representative will be holding a placard bearing your name so that it is easy for you to recognize him. We encourage you to inform us about any change in your flight timings before you depart from your home country with the expected arrival time in Kathmandu.

Himalayan Glacier is one of the most popular tour operators and personalizing a trip with the flexibility of the number of travelers, date of travel, and the programs is our unique style. So, basically we operate all trips including customized and flexible tours whether it is just one person or any number of persons in a group. Even if there is just a single person in a group, we will run your trip without any additional charge. Remember that we do not cancel any guaranteed departure trips. It means that once you book your trip with us, they will run 100% except due to reasons such as political instabilities, epidemics in the traveling destination or any other reasons beyond our control.

Teahouse trekking is a popular method of trekking in Nepal that has almost replaced camping trips. Most of the renowned treks in Nepal are teahouse treks meaning that each night a trekker ends up sleeping at a simple guest house or a lodge with basic rooms and a meal. Mostly, the teahouses are operated by locals with the most basic amenities. In several occasions, the teahouses may also provide you with internet and hot shower facilities although it could incur you an extra cost. There are several aspects of teahouse of trekking in Nepal that is unknown to many travelers in Nepal. If teahouse trekking is what you are looking for, don’t hesitate to count on us for life’s most memorable experiences.

Nepalese people are generally very welcoming and curious as well. They are considered one of the most hospitable people in the world. Atithi Devo Bhava meaning “guests are God” is the main motto of tourism for the Nepalese people.  They enjoy speaking with foreigners on topics about family members, work, music, movies, hobbies and everything else and expect the same from you.  Always make sure to say “Namaste” when you meet people in Nepal – it gives them a sense of respect, trust and harmony. Also, be prepared to talk to them about yourself.

The most challenging part of trekking in Nepal is the altitude, which is not something that we can really be prepared for. For a short trek like Annapurna Sunrise Trek, it does not require a previous hiking experience. However, if planning to do longer duration trekking above 3000 m / 9843 feet like Everest Base Camp trek or Annapurna Base Camp trek, it is required that you are in good physical and mental state of fitness. If you can walk about 10-12 km (6-8 mi) per day without any trouble, then probably you are fit enough. For novice climbers, a pre-training course is required before the start of the trip. For preparing yourself for the climb, we recommend regular exercise at least 2 months before your arrival in Nepal. You may begin jogging or cycling, stretching and toning exercises, walking up and down the stairs or even walking few hours in a day.

Yes, most of the teahouse trekking trails in Nepal have great cell phone connectivity although it may weaken at certain areas briefly disrupting data usage. Some lodges offer Wi-Fi facilities at an additional charge that you may avail if you feel that your mobile phone coverage has grown weaker or fails to work. Most of the places get cell phone coverage either by NCell or NTC networks, the only two service providers in the country.

Trekking in Nepal is possible with your family as well as your kids. The country offers quite a good number of remarkable treks that are kid-friendly such as Annapurna Poon Hill Trek, Everest View Trek, The Royal Trek, or short one-day hikes in Kathmandu. Before deciding on the trek that you wish to do along with your family or with your children, please contact us for any professional advice especially if you wish to do a rather demanding Everest Base Camp Trek.

The standard voltage of electricity in Nepal is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. If the standard voltage in your country is in between 220 & 240 V, as it would be in the UK, Europe, Australia, and most of Asia and Africa, you can use your electric or electronic appliances in Nepal without a converter. However, if the standard voltage in your country is n between 100 & 127 V, as it would be in the US, Canada and most South American countries, then you will need a voltage converter before using your appliances. If you are not sure about the voltage thing, you can check on your appliance where you will find a label. If the label states something like “INPUT: 100-240V, 50/60 Hz, your appliance can be used in any of the countries in the world.

The power plugs and sockets used in Nepal are of type C, D and M, usually with three round pins with either small or large pin sizes. Type C is known as the standard Euro plug which also works with plug E and plug F. Type D sockets are mainly used in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and many African countries and it works only with plug D. Type M is same as type D but has larger pins and it works only with plug M.

Nepal is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating countries in the world that is jam-packed with mesmerizing Himalayan landscapes, cities filled with ancient temples, quaint far-flung village lifestyle and steamy jungles. Deciding on what to pack on your Nepal trip is however quite confusing because of the unpredictable weather. With diverse climatic variations, Nepal is one such country that allows you to experience different weather conditions depending on the season and the region that you will be traveling. From the scorching heat at the lowlands to snowstorms in the mountainous areas or incessant rain showers during the summer, Nepal has it all.

Packing will really become a baffling task especially for first time Nepal travelers. Over packing tends to slow you down if you consider visiting Nepal for trekking. Domestic flights won’t allow overweight packages and also your porter can carry only up to a certain weight limit.  On the other hand, if you miss out on some essential articles, your trip may turn out into some kind of a nightmare. We recommend visiting this Proper Packing List Section for all our culture tours or trekking and climbing trips. You will get a clear picture as to what you really need to pack for your Nepal travel trip.

Firstly, Nepal has a diverse weather and climatic variation, thus both light and warm clothing in casual and comfortable styles are recommended. Nepalese people dwelling in the urban areas are reasonably liberal and open-minded in comparison to the conservative portion of the population about the dressing code of the tourists. If you are here for village tours or mountain treks, it actually pays off carrying clothing that are not too concealing and mostly covers the arms, shoulders, abdomen and areas of thighs and down below. Visiting holy places such as temples, monasteries or other religious sites looks decent and well-appreciated by the locals when you are adequately dressed. Fleece and rain-jackets are highly appropriate in the mountain areas. A down-jacket, warm gloves and warm hats are mandatory during winter season or at places that are at altitudes over 4500 m / 14,765 feet.

Travelers who consider taking up sporting activities such as white-water rafting, canyoning, kayaking or simply swimming at your hotel pool are advised to carry a swimming costume and a comfortable pair of sandals. Although shoes and clothes are very cheaply available in Kathmandu, we do not recommend buying your pair of shoes here. For trekking tours, you ought to bring comfortable hiking boots or shoes that have previously been broken, to avoid blisters on your foot. Other essentials to pack for Nepal treks include a good quality lip-balm, a wide-edged hat, and polarized sunglasses for the eyes. Consider wearing a face mask while you are in Kathmandu to combat the city’s high pollution rate. Going out without a face mask in the city is extremely perilous to your health especially if cycling or mountain-biking is what you have on your mind.

Since Nepal is a country with a reserved sense of dressing, we highly suggest you to wear something modest and regular while traveling to Nepal. Here, the term modest for clothing signifies something that is not too revealing, especially for women, and covers your upper arms, shoulders, chest, abdomen and upper leg areas.

Normal shirts, jeans, long skirts, jackets, and cotton pants are the best you could wear while traveling to Nepal. While covering the arms and shoulder area can be achieved by blouses and button-up shirts, it is best to wear loose-fitting attire like short-sleeved shirts or T-shirts and long pants or even three-quarter length pants. Tight clothing is generally frowned upon by conservative portion of the society and is not as comfortable during warm weather. Women wearing leggings should wear them under a skirt, even if the skirt is short and a decent top with it. Forget wearing singlet or a spaghetti-strap top, and short shorts while traveling to Nepal and when you are in a public place.

Your guide in Nepal will be a local Nepalese, but a fluent English speaker who knows a lot about the culture, wildlife, mountains, trekking, climbing, flora and fauna of the country. On demand, we do provide guides who can speak French, Spanish, Japanese, German, Italian or other foreign languages as you desire.

Our guides are very knowledgeable about the local experience and will show you places where an independent tourist fails to explore on his own. Most of our guides belong to the mountainous regions of Nepal that are located above 3000 m / 9842 feet. We carefully select and appoint them on the basis of their appropriate experience, leadership skills and personal aptitude.

With an objective of sustainable tourism in the local communities, Himalayan Glacier employs staffs from the different groups of Nepal’s diverse ethnic communities. Your Nepal guides have gone through special training package programs like Intensive Wilderness First Aid, Trekking Guide Training, Eco Trekking Workshop & Adventure Meet, Rock Climbing, Ice Climbing and Mountaineering that are certified and approved by the government of Nepal. Are you excited to meet your Nepal guides?

Yes, absolutely. It is, in fact, a condition of joining any of our trips so that you are protected against comprehensive expenses potential to incur due to trip cancelation, flight delays, epidemic, pandemic or other medical issues and accidents. If you are planning for trekking, then it is best if you include high-altitude medical insurance that covers air ambulance, helicopter rescue, and treatment costs. Note that in the event of any sickness or injury or any of the above stated cases, the cost of emergency treatment, evacuation and rescue is incredibly shocking. Therefore, we strongly recommend travel insurance for each individual that signs up with Himalayan Glacier. We do not arrange or sell insurance to our clients, so we advise you to do it on your own at your native country. There are many reliable insurance companies around the world from whom you can manage your travel insurance.

Water is definitely one of the most indispensable human requirements. Sadly, a large fraction of the Nepalese populace is deprived of safe and adequate drinking water. Water available in the taps and river water is totally detrimental and unfit for drinking purpose. According to the department of water supply and sewerage in Nepal, it is claimed that an estimated 80% people get drinking water at their homes, but fatefully the water is noxious.

Travelers are bound to pick the best choice for drinking water, whether it is bottled water, boiled water or purified water by adding purification tablets. If, in any case, you choose to drink boiled water, make sure that the water is boiled for a longer time at higher altitudes. It takes a longer time to boil water at high elevations than at the sea levels. If you wish to buy bottled water, double check that the seal is intact and the top of the bottle has not been manipulated. It is very likely that some water sellers offering a low price for bottled water may have filled up the empty bottles with tap water. By and large, it is very significant to drink adequate quantity of water in Nepal to avoid any threats associated with dehydration.

Visiting Nepal has its own contentment owing to the countless fascinations that it has to offer its visitors. However, your trip in Nepal could be a very bad experience mainly by simply disregarding your health. Few factors that travelers should be attentive when traveling in Nepal are food, drinking water, sanitation, pollution, and altitude sickness (if trekking in the mountains).

Drinking tap water in Nepal is a big NO for all travelers as it is contaminated and harmful for consumption. To travel healthy in Nepal, you need to maintain basic hygiene to avoid Giardiasis, a diarrheal disease caused by a microscopic parasite mostly found in contaminated water. Do not touch street animals like cows and dogs – rabies is common in Nepal. We recommend you getting a rabies vaccine before traveling to Nepal.

Mosquitoes are rampant in the lowlands of Nepal. If you are considering visiting the lowlands, bring along with you anti-malarial tablets, sleeved shirt and long trousers and an insect repellant. To avoid the polluted air of Kathmandu, consider wearing a face mask at all time while roaming around to avoid getting infected with respiratory diseases.

There are not many operators that provide full-board services when you book a holiday tour with them. Himalayan Glacier is one of the best tailor-made tour companies renowned for their personalized services. Although we offer fixed dates and prices, we are always more than happy to plan your trip based on your interest, traveling date, number of days and budget. We are a full-board service company offering airport arrival and departure services, private transportation, local guide and crew members, 3 meals per day, quality accommodation, and required legal paperwork to make your holiday a completely hassle-free trip. Once you book a trip with us, all you need to do is provide us the necessary travel documents and sit back and relax while we will complete all the basic formalities.

Each morning of a trekking day begins with an early morning tea or coffee as early as 5 or 5.30am in your bed. The teahouse will provide you hot water for washing and freshening up and after breakfast you will pack your belongings.

Generally, you will start trekking at around 7 or 7.30 am, but on certain days and areas, you may have to begin trekking bit earlier. One of the main reasons to begin trekking early in the morning is to avoid too much activity in the mid-day heat, reach your next destination early and get ample rest for next day’s trek. Also, in the morning time you will be able to catch up with clear weather and best views of the surroundings. You will stop for tea after a couple of hours of trekking and then again stop for lunch at a teahouse en route at around 12 noon or 1 pm depending on the pace of your hiking ability.

Mountain-wind in the afternoon may make you feel cold during cloudy weather. So, during lunch don’t forget to take out your windproof jacket and warm hat from the luggage. The porter may not always walk along with you; he may be much ahead towards the next destination. After walking for 5 to 6 or 7 hours, you will reach the next stoppage to rest for the night.

You will have plenty of time to explore the local surroundings or lie back at your room at the teahouse and read books or play card games with your guides and porters, or even sing and dance to the local tune with other trekkers and their group. However, if you want to just relax, you may get connected with your friends, share photos on Facebook or Instagram or update your travel diaries.  Dinner will be ready between 6 and 7 pm and you will eat in the heated communal room that is warm enough. There is nothing else to do for long after dinner as it gets colder. So before retiring, your trek leader or guide will brief you about the next day’s wake up time and hiking program.

Weather in the mountains is notoriously difficult to predict. Although the days are warm, nights can get very cold.  Autumn or fall, which falls during the months of October and November, is the peak trekking season in Nepal. During these months, temperatures are pleasant, the weather is relatively constant and the mountain views are breathtaking. The high mountains get colder and the lowlands are comparatively warmer, but hiking during daytime is pleasurable.

The next popular trekking season in Nepal is spring, which falls during the months of March through May. Temperatures in this season are similar to the fall season and the trekking trails are relatively less crowded, but the fog and precipitation could be slightly more during spring. It is a clear indication that for experiencing clear mountain views during spring, you need to climb higher elevations of 10,000 feet or more. The level of precipitation gradually increases as spring further advances.

Winters (Jan-Feb) are bit colder but daytime can be quite beautiful if the sun is out. Snowfall is a common site during the months between December and February. It is important to make sure that you stay warm and dry in just about any conditions. So, expect the unexpected.

Himalayan Glacier is a tailor-made travel company specialized to run personalized small group as well as customized trips for all age groups. Although we have fixed dates and prices, we also operate any number of travelers from a solo traveler or a family trip or a group tour of any size. We do not cancel any of our trips if the number of persons does not fill up in any of your group departures. Even if there is a single person in a group, we will run the trip.

Generally, Nepal is considered a safe country for solo women travelers as compared with many other countries around the world. Trekking with Himalayan Glacier, it is 100% safe for a solo woman on any of our trips. The best advice that we offer to solo women travelers is never trek alone with a local male guide.

Some travelers have been lured by the cheap operators offering cheap options – it is risky to book with unreliable agencies. Himalayan Glacier is an adventure and travel company with a strong operation base in Kathmandu. We have trained and educated all our trekking guides and staff about the etiquettes in dealing with solo women travelers. They know very well the evil effects of sexual harassment or abusive demeanors towards women and how to behave with them. All our guides are certified and registered with the government of Nepal and have been working with us since few decades. More than a hundred of our past clients have written strong recommendations about our guides on TripAdvisor and Feefo.

We do hope that the above information is sufficient to answer most of your queries regarding Nepal travel.  If you wish to know further detailed information about Nepal traveling, feel free to email us at mail@himalayanglacier.com

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