Important Things to Know Before Visiting Nepal

October 29, 2021

by Beata Vasvary

5 minutes read

Colourful prayer flags, lush forests, dramatic peaks, soulful food, snow capped mountains and charismatic people, yes, this is Nepal. This country is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating places on Earth and there are countless stunning places you must visit. But, in today’s article we focus on the things you need to know before visiting Nepal. Our tips are not in order, all of them can be equally important, so make sure to read the article till the end!

1. Visas

You can a get a visa upon arrival when landing at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport, which is the easiest way. You also have the possibility to apply for your visa online, but make sure to use the official government site (click here for the official site), since other websites might charge you an extra fee.

Visa fees range from US$30 to US$125 depending on the length of your stay:

Nepal single-entry visa:
15 days – US$30
30 days – US$50
90 days – US$125

Also notice that you must pay in cash upon arrival, they do not accept credit cards, but there is an ATM machine available for you.

2. Currency: the Nepalese Rupee

This brings us on to our next point, which is the currency of Nepal. It’s the best to use the national currency during your stay. Except for the bigger city areas like, Kathmandu or Pokhara, you won’t really find any ATMs, especially not in the rural areas. They only accept paper Rupees on public transportation, in shops, restaurants and cafes. Therefore, you need to think ahead and take all the cash you need!

3. Where to eat

Unfortunately, we have to say that you should avoid eating street food in Nepal. Due to poor refrigeration, always eat in a well-maintained restaurant to avoid the possibility of having stomach issues.

Since we are talking about food, we have to mention an absolute must-try treat in Nepal, the momo. Momos are like dumplings with curry spices, filled with ground meat, vegetable or cheese. Their tastiness is out of this world. You should absolutely order momos whilst in Nepal, you won’t regret it!

4. Don’t drink the tap water

Tap water is not filtered or purified in Nepal. In many hotels, one bottle of water is provided upon arrival, but obviously it’s not enough. Apart from drinking, you also have to wash you face, brush your teeth and maybe clean the dishes. You can bring a boiling pan with you, but it’s much easier to stick to bottled water.
Also make sure to avoid any fruit or vegetable washed in tap water and do not drink soft drinks with ice cubes either!

5. Wear a sanitary mask

Unfortunately the air quality in the urban areas of Nepal is some of the worst in the world. Despite the beautiful mountain ranges and untouched landscapes, you’ll see Nepalese people wearing face masks while they are on the roads.

Due to the abundance of cars, the lack of emission control policies and the amount of dust along the roads, the air in the big cities is hardly breathable. We highly recommend taking a face mask to the country, especially if you have respiratory disease (like asthma), a good sanitary mask should be a must item in your bag.

6. Power outage is normal

Power outages are completely normal in Nepal. They occur almost on a daily basis but there is nothing to worry about. Most bigger hotels and restaurants are equipped with a back-up generator. Just make sure to charge you devices (phone and your camera) whenever you can! You can consider taking a small flashlight or a solar-powered charger with you, just in case.

7. You need a trekking permit

Mountain climbing and trekking is one of the best things to do in Nepal, so there’s a big chance that once you are there, you’re going to do some trekking. But, before embark on an adventure, you have to make certain preparations.

For safety reasons you must obtain the TIMS Card (Trekkers’ Information Management Systems Card) for all treks in Nepal. You can apply for the permit in Kathmandu, at the Nepal Tourism Board office. Here you can request several permits, like the ACAP permit, the Everest Base Camp Trek permit or the Annapurna Sanctuary permit.

Good news is that if you’re planning a group trek, your guide will arrange everything for you. As for that, we recommend always trekking with a guide or a group. Not only is it easier getting the permits, but the mountains of Nepal can be really dangerous and you also have to be very careful regarding the altitude sickness.

8. How to be respectful

Nepal has a very a spiritual, religious and respect-based culture, therefore you should keep in mind some of the customs to show respect:

– Always cover your knees and shoulders when entering a temple or a shine. Maybe the easiest way is to keep a long scarf in your bag and use it whenever you stop by a temple.
– It is really important to take off your shoes when entering a temple or a home.
– Don’t point with your finger.
– Never touch people on the head. The head is a sacred part of the body.
– Don’t use your left hand whilst eating or handling food.
– Be courteous and friendly! If you want to respectfully greet a person or a group, press the palms of your hands together in front of the chest and say ‘Namaste’.