Nepal's historic towns and cities are atmospheric bases for tea-house treks amongst the snow-capped Himalayas: add lowland jungle wildlife and you have it all
Travel in Nepal: vital stats
Capital of Nepal: Kathmandu
Population of Nepal: 29.5 million
Languages in Nepal: Nepali and tribal languages. English is widely spoken
Time in Nepal: GMT+5.75
International dialling code for Nepal: +977
Voltage in Nepal: 220V 50Hz AC
Visas for Nepal: Nepal visas
Money in Nepal: Nepali rupee (Rs). Major credit cards are widely accepted in the main tourist centres. In smaller towns it is still rare to be able to pay with credit cards. There is more limited acceptance of travellers’ cheques. US dollars are useful. Taxi drivers don’t expect a tip, but tipping in restaurants is increasingly commonplace. It is customary to tip guides and porters at the end of a trek; hand over tips directly rather than leaving trek organisers to distribute the money.
Nepal travel advice: Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Nepal tourist board: Nepal Tourism Board
When to go to Nepal
Rains lash Nepal from June to September, washing away roads and obscuring mountain views. The best months for trekking are October and November. Two major festivals, Dasain and Tihaar, also fall during this period. The downside is that because so many people chose to visit Nepal at this time, it can be hard to find a decent room if you don’t book in advance, and prices rise. Temperatures drop dramatically between December and February and many lodges in trekking areas close but this is a good time to visit the low-lying jungle regions on the border with India, including Chitwan National Park. April to early June sees warmer weather and rhododendrons coming into bloom. This is the best time to view wildlife. A haze can obscure views of the mountain areas but you can normally trek above it. This is the second most popular period to visit Nepal.
International airports
Kathmandu Airport (KTM) is 6.5km from the city.
Getting around in Nepal
Nepal has an extensive domestic air network served by several airlines. Routes often used by travellers include those between Kathmandu and Pokhara, Meghauli (for Chitwan) and Lukla. Flights are reasonably priced. Hour-long ‘Mountain Flights’ – a scenic loop out of Kathmandu, with fantastic views of Everest – are extremely popular and not much more expensive than a normal flight. Nepal has one of the least-developed road networks in the world; each year the monsoon season takes its toll. Public buses serve every paved road; these are cheap but slow and often very uncomfortable. Regularly scheduled, ‘luxury’ tourist buses can be booked through travel agents. Bicycle rental shops can be found in Kathmandu: elsewhere they're rare.
Nepal accommodation
Outside the October to December high season prices can drop by 50%. In Kathmandu and Pokhara accommodation ranges from rock-bottom budget guesthouses to 5* hotels costing £150 per night. In other major tourist destinations you will find a good range of well-run, friendly guesthouses; teahouses and other accommodation options dot most of the major trekking trails. On the quieter trails accommodation can be spartan, but popular regions such as Annapurna and Everest have hotels with hot water, electricity and sometimes Western menus. Village homestays are also becoming increasing popular.
Nepal food & drink
Nepali food is generally less spicy than across the rest of the subcontinent. Nepal’s national dish is daal bhaat – rice, lentils and lightly curried vegetables. Vegetarians are well served here as most Hindu Nepalis don’t eat meat. In contrast, the Newars indigenous to the Kathmandu Valley are big meat- eaters, with water buffalo, goat and wild boar all on the menu. In Kathmandu you’ll also find many restaurants serving Tibetan and Indian cuisine.
Local liquors include chang (a barley beer), arak (a spirit brewed from potatoes) and, for the brave, rakshi (a knock-out distilled rice wine). If you’re after something non-alcoholic, coconut water and lassi (a sweet yoghurt drink) are great refreshers. Don’t leave Nepal without trying a cup of chiya – sugary, milky, black tea infused with cinnamon, cardamom and cloves.
Health & safety in Nepal
Consult your GP or travel health clinic well before departure to check on recommended vaccinations, which may include typhoid and hepatitis A, plus meningitis if trekking to outlying areas. Malaria is present below 1,200m; consider taking antimalarials. In town, stick to bottled water. Take water-purifying tablets with you if you’re trekking or heading off the beaten track.
If trekking at high altitude take precautions to avoid AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). Make sure you are physically fit, acclimatise to the altitude slowly, eat high-carb meals and drink plenty of water. Wear sunscreen in the mountains, even when it’s cloudy. Robbery can be a problem in some areas; trek in a group to reduce the risk and keep an eye on the local press to find out about disturbances and impending demonstrations.
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