Nepal Travel Guide

 If you are planning to spend your next holiday in Nepal then it is better to get informed about the travel related guidelines accompanied by travel related raised question. There are some important guidelines to travel Nepal that are listed below. We have listed important frequently asked question with answers to kill your curiosity about Nepal travel information.

Our Nepal Travel FAQS, FAQS on Nepal Vacation, Nepal Holiday FAQS or Nepal Travel Guidelines address many queries of people who are planning and preparing to visit Nepal. The below listed questions are the general guideline to assist your holiday plan in Nepal. The relevant answers help you to organize and manage the perfect holiday plan before you set your journey. These are the rough guides to make your travel easy and comfortable.  You will find many outstanding travel books anywhere in the world for detail information- just grab and go through it. If you can’t – don’t worry, you can easily find it in Nepal.

01. Where is Nepal?

Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India. Nepal has the people from different ethnic groups and different geographical location with different spoken dialects. This makes a country rich in cultural diversity. The Himalayas on the north and probably the best trekking trails around these mountains lures the travelers from all around the world.  Kathmandu which is also popular as “city of temples” is the capital city on Nepal. The capital city is the best place to explore the historically and culturally important monuments since centuries back. Moreover, Nepal is a land of snow peaks and Sherpas, yaks and yetis, monasteries and mantras with some of the best trekking trails on the earth.

02. Why is Nepal popular destination?

Nepal is popular because of the Himalayas on the northern sides which contain eight of the world's ten tallest mountains, including the highest peak of the Earth, Mount Everest, called Sagarmatha in the Nepali Language. More than 240 peaks over 20,000 ft (6,096 m) above sea level are located in Nepal. Probably the most beautiful and the scenic hiking trails around these mountains are the best destination for Himalayas trekking. Some of the most popular and adventurous activities done by the tourist are like climbing over 8000m, crossing over different highest passes of the world, mountain biking, paragliding with the stunning views of Himalayas, mountain flight around the highest peak of the world Mt. Everest, religious and cultural tour in some of the sacred lands including the birth place of Lord Buddha. Besides of adventurous travelers, Nepal is well known for luxury based of cultural, religious and historical places. The land of Living Goddesses – Kumari, the incredible historical monuments and the treasurer One – Horned Rhinoceros are other main highlights of Nepal. 

03. Is Nepal politically safe destination to travel?

Nepal is one of the new democratic-republican- country. It has multi –party democratic political system with many active political parties, ideas, ideologies and leaders. The disagreement and dissatisfaction on political issues can cause demonstrations in some of the part of country. But the other part remains untouched with these activities specially tourist and tourism activities because Nepali people follow the ideology of “Athiti Devo Bhawa” means Guests are God. So no need to worry about political environment to travel Nepal as it is always safe destination even for solo woman traveler.

04. How to enter Nepal?

Nepal is a landlocked country and provides with easy access through land and air. You can travel to Nepal easily via air ways and land ways.

Airways: The one and only international airport Tribhuwan International Airport lies in Kathmandu- the capital city of Nepal. The major airlines like Nepal Airlines, Biman Bangladesh, China South West Airlines, Druk Air, Gulf Air, Air India, Thai Airways, Qatar Airways, Pakistan Air, Jet Air, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Malaysian Airlines and Korean Airlines have schedule flights to and from Nepal. You can have a scene and comfortable flight for your travel destination Nepal.

Roadways: If you come by road, there are several entry points lies in Nepal- India borders. Because there is open boarder system between Nepal and India. There are many buses runs to and from Kathmandu. The places to enter Nepal by land route are Kakarvitta, Birgunj, Sunauli, Nepalganj, Dhangadhi and Mahendranagar.

05. Can I get Nepal visa in advance or on arrival at the Airport?

Nepal visa can easily be obtained upon your arrival at your entry places or even at advance from the embassies of Nepal in your respective country. You will get the visa of multiple entries for 15 days, 30 days & 90 days as per your demand. 

06. Will somebody come to pick up me at the airport on my arrival?

Yes, our airport representative will be displaying the Massif Holidays sign board or your name card outside the airport terminal to pick up you. Then you will be transferred to your respective hotel by our tourist vehicle.

07. What sort of accommodation can I expect in cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara, etc?

Normally, we provide standard rooms with twin sharing accommodations at three star category hotels in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Hetauda, Chitwan, Lumbini and main cities including breakfast. Accommodation in these cities can be upgraded as per your request. The accommodation services will be nicely placed and provided during your tour in Nepal.

08. Is the credit cards accepted in Nepal?

Most of the places in cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara, Nepalgunj, Biratnagar, Hetauda, Chitwan, Lumbini accept credit cards but not essentially in all shops and restaurants. But you need cash in the mountains. Please change the currency in local Nepali Rupees before you go to the mountains, as this can make you more reliable and easy in financial matters in the Himalayan region.

09. What sort of accommodation can I expect in trekking?

Guesthouses/Tea houses/Lodges provide twin sharing single and double rooms and occasionally a dormitory which is basically clean with a mattress and a quilt or blanket. Our company provides the sleeping bag if needed but we always recommend having your own sleeping equipment. You have to share the room with your group member or sometimes with unknown traveler. The toilet is always outside the room with basic facilities. 

10. What kinds of foods are available in trekking?

Most of the foods are cooked in the kitchen of tea houses. The served dishes are organic and healthy and it will be beneficial for you to avoid food poisoning or other high altitude health problems. They serve you with different varieties of delicious Nepali and continental dishes. The most popular Nepali food is daal bhat (rice and lentils) with some mixed vegetable curry. Garlic soup in popular as it helps you with acclimatization. The best way is to go vegetarian in the mountains. You kind find all common types of drinks like hot chocolates, coffee, tea, hot lemon with honey, ginger tea, soft drinks etc. you will have your breakfast and dinner at the lodges where you will be staying and lunch somewhere on the way to your next destination.

11. What sort of transportation do I get?

You will get transportation as mentioned in our itineraries. Most of our itineraries include the local transportation for typical local experience for the traveler. We can upgrade your transportation from local to private comfortable tourist vehicle, 4WD, even domestic flights upon your request.  We also arrange yak, horse or mule rides in trekking trails if you want to have such experiences.

12. What is the best season to travel Nepal?

The best season to travel Nepal varies on the basis of the holiday activities you want to do in Nepal. Most of the holiday activities in Nepal can be done throughout the year except some high passes trekking and expeditions. The climate in Nepal varies from places to places which be categorized in different four main seasons.

The main seasons in Nepal are Spring (March to May), Summer (between June to August), Autumn (between September to November) & Winter (between December to February). The best season to travel Nepal is Autumn (September, October & November) & Spring (March, April & May). These are the perfect time of the year for the breath taking views of King-Kong Himalayas, trekking around the world’s most dramatic landscape, tour of different historical and cultural cities, bungee jumping into a bottomless Himalayan George, rafting down a roaring Nepali rivers, cycling, mountain biking, paragliding and many other activities. Some activities like tours, jungle safari, low altitude trekking, short hiking are recommended even in winter season. Nepal and Tibet has some rain shadow area where the monsoon is lighter. These areas are visit worthy during the Summer season (June, July & August). 

13. What are the weather/ temperature like in Nepal?

The climate in Nepal varies from places to places which be categorized in different four main seasons. The main seasons in Nepal are Spring (March to May), Summer (between June to August), Autumn (between September to November) & Winter (between December to February). The best season to travel Nepal is Autumn (September, October & November) & Spring (March, April & May). Weather in the mountains is hard to predict.  Days are generally warm if the sun is out and night is a bit cooler. Even there is snow in the months of December January & February but days are warm and beautiful if sun comes out in the sky. Always expect the unexpected weather in the mountains. The temperature could be as high as 20 deg C to -10 deg C low in the mountains.

14. Is there any problem for vegetarian people?

Completely NO PROBLEM for vegetarian people as we always recommends going vegetarian in the mountains to avoid any food poisoning.  All hotels in cities and guest houses while in trekking serve the vegetarian food.

15. Who will guide us in trekking/tour?

We provide the professional government license holder fluent English speaking tour and trekking guides. Comparatively trekking guides speak less good English than tour guides in the cities. We can also provide French, Spanish, Japanese, German or Italian speaking guides as per your preference. All guides will be Nepali people who are carefully selected on the basis of their appropriate experience, leadership skills and personal skill. They are all trained, certified and approved by the Nepal government.

16. Do I get the hygienically standard foods & water in the lodges and camps?

All your foods and water are served when it is hygienically prepared on lodges or tented camps. Our guides make sure that everything is okay before serving any food in tea houses which have simply trained but experienced cook. We always encourage to drink mineral water but boiled and purified water also doesn’t make any harm to your digestive system.  While on tented camp trekking, our crew has good combination of Guides, Sherpas, Cooks, Kitchen staffs and Porters. Guides and cooks are technically, practically and theoretically well train whereas kitchen staffs and porters are practically well train. We serve boiled and medically purified drinking water in tented camp trekking.

17. Do we book our international flight to and from Kathmandu?

We always recommend you to book your own International flights but we also arrange it upon your request.

18. Can I charge my gadgets during trekking?

Most of the places in your tea houses have charging facilities. You can charge your devices by paying some extra money. Its good if you brings TWO or THREE pin travel adapter.

19. How much additional money do I need per day?

It’s very personal question as expenses depends on habit. Normally, in Kathmandu and Pokhara you can allocate about USD 10 to 15 per person per lunch or dinner. USD 10 to USD 15 per person per day will be sufficient to buy bottles of water, chocolates, pay for hot shower during the trekking.

20. Is Massif Holidays environmentally & socially responsible?

Being a part of society and environment, we have lots of social and environmental responsibilities. We are operating any of our holiday packages without making any harm to environment and social code and conduct. We jointly participate with Kathmandu Educational Environment Project (KEEP) for different clean up campaigns and social awareness programs. We have decided to contribute certain amount of our profit for the developments and maintenance of different trekking trails & child orphanage home.  We believe on “joint hands can hold the Universe” and kindly appeal all our travelers to contribute something in our social and environmental project.  

21. What is the number requirement (minimum pax) of any trip?

We have indicated the minimum numbers of people in “De- Facto of Trip” section. We operate the group joining trips, private group trips and individual trips. If you want to do any private trip we are ready to organize for solo traveler as well. We operate any kinds of trip from one person to big groups.

22. Does your company help to arrange domestic & international flights, hotel reservation, and other travel services?

We deal with all kinds of travel services like domestic flights, international flights, hotel reservation, and private transportation rental and many other travel services. The better services with nice guidelines will be delivered on your stay during the tour in Nepal.

23. What will be the altitude in trekking/ tour?

We have mentioned the highest altitude related to your trekking in “Trip Highlights” section. As the maximum altitude gets differ as per the selection of the travel packages in Nepal. It will be much more informative looking after the related Massif Holiday Packages and feel free to write us to get the complete information about your trip by our export corresponding team.

24. What are the recommended souvenirs from Nepal?

Shopping in Nepal is one of the most popular holiday activities as Nepal has lots of unique & local made things to offer. Shopping tour is also one of the most popular activities done by lots of foreigners. Travels have always full of option for Shopping in Nepal with various things like the most unique paintings on cotton canvas called Thangka, the most popular Pashminas in the world, clothing materials, metal works specially the Singing Bowls, jewelry, tea, sculptures, rice paper, incense, spices, dolls, puppets ,trekking gear, woven or embroidered shirts, trousers, blouses ,dresses. These are the remarkable and most unique items from Nepal.

25. Are ATMS easily available? Is credit cards accepted?

Most of the popular cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara, Narayngath, Butwal, Nepaljung, Hetauda, Bhairahawa, Biratnagar has many ATMS. But sometimes it might be out of services and you have to walk to find another one. But you will not get ATMS in the mountains or in trekking trails. Most popular and widely accepted credit cards in Nepal are VISA, MASTER CARD & AMERICAN EXPRESS. Both Debit and Credit Cards are accepted in Nepal.

26. Is there any government institution for tourists’ complain?

The government authorized institution to deal with tourists’ problem is TOURIST POLICE. The main office of tourist police is at near Nepal Tourism Development Board's Office. Also, there are complaint counters at most popular tourist destination like Airport, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Monkey Temple, Pasupatinath, Boudhanath, Thamel, Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square. You can call for further inquiries or any assistance at 4-247041, 4-4268969 during 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

27. Are there any communication or internet services during the trek?

Most of the villages/guesthouses/lodges in trekking trails have telephones services. They provide the WIFI service with some extra charge which helps to get updated with social Medias, friends or family. All our guides carry the local mobile phone. You can use his mobile phone to make any local or international call from trekking trails by paying him directly. You can even pass him number to be connected with your family or friends. We highly recommend taking local SIM card for call and internet services during trekking. Local SIM cards are easily available in many stores and in airport. You need to provide two copies of your photographs and your passport copy to get local SIM CARDS of NCELL & NTC (only these two companies provide telephone services in Nepal)

28. Do I need to provide tips to my guides and porters? How much would that be?

This is very personal question and difficult thing to tell. Tipping is not obligation but the way to thanks your guide and other staff. Normally the level of your satisfaction should be reflected on tipping. We have seen everything from USD 10 to USD 1000 per person for guides and porters. Our recommendation will be always to spend minimum 10% of your total trip cost for tipping to all local staffs. You can also talk in detail about it in our pre-trip meeting in Kathmandu.

29. Can I have shower during the trek? Is it healthy?

Most of the guest house provide hot shower with some extra cost.  And in rest of the places, bucket water will be provided for shower. It will be less pleasant once you trek higher in the mountains.

30. Can I add any extra days on trek/tour?

Of course, we are ready to operate your holidays as per your interest and requirements. You can spend extra days on your loving or favorable places or even can make it shorter. We will always do our best to manage your hotel bookings, flight booking and everything. The main theme is to make your trip and vacation remarkable and unforgettable journey in Nepal with the team of Massif Holidays.

31. What types of travel insurance do I need to buy before coming Nepal?

You need to have a travel-insurance policy to cover theft, loss, medical problem & emergency helicopter evacuation from high altitude places before coming Nepal. Choose a policy depending on the holiday activities you are doing. You need to have normal medical insurance in tours and insurance with coverage of high altitude helicopter evacuation with all medical insurances for trekking in the mountains. The cost of emergency helicopter evacuation is between 2,500$ - 10,000$ depending upon the different places or situations.

32. What is the weight restriction on domestic flights?

You can carry maximum 15 kg per person on every domestic flight for free and more with some extra payment.

33. What is the recommended weight for porters on trekking?

The recommended weight for porters on trekking is 15kgs per person. We always recommend settling your things in light & soft duffle bag. Please store your hard luggage at the locker of your hotel for free if you have any. It’s always easy and comfortable as light as you travel.

34. Can we change the itinerary?

As the itinerary is tailor made itinerary, so before booking the trip you can easily customized the itinerary. And furthermore, depending on any given situation, you can modify it to some extent after consulting with your guide. However, the date of your trek completion should always coincide with the original itinerary. You should keep in mind that this is an adventure trip into some of the most remote regions on earth, where any unforeseen events may compel you to go for a change in your itinerary. In such cases, Massif Holidays expert team will suggest the best alternative, similar to your original itinerary.

35. What equipment do you provide? What should I bring myself?

Massif Holidays provide sleeping bags, down jackets & duffle bags for the Lodge to Lodge or Tea House Trek. We also provide the required materials like tents, mattresses, kitchen equipment during the Camping Treks. However, trekking shoes, personal equipment and climbing equipment is up to you.

NOTE: - The above mentioned questions with answers are the outline information before stepping on the road. Please contact our expert team to get more and detailed information about your trip.