Trekking in Nepal

Trekking is by far Nepal’s biggest attraction. Most tourists embark on some trek or the other and many do multiple treks before heading back home. Some arrive each year to do a different trek each time. Trekking is also the best means of seeing the Nepal and to understand Nepalese people.  Walking through emerald rice fields; through rhododendron forests; crossing streams, camping out on a hilltop in the wilderness with towering mountains in the background, make trekking are unforgettable experience that you can get in Nepal.

One can also do pony treks in some remote places, which is equally enthralling for visitors. Pony treks are offered mostly in western region of Pokhara, Dolpo and Lo Manthang (Mustang). 


The two most popular treks are the Everest Base Camp Trek and the Around Annapurna also known as the Annapurna Circuit as it goes right around the Annapurna range. There are many different treks offered in the Everest and Annapurna regions. Other popular regions are the Langtang valley, Helambu, Makalu, Manaslu, Kanchenjunga and the Arun Valley. Another popular destination in the Everest region is the Gokyo valley.

Trekking Peaks

The term “Trekking Peak” is a misnomer as these peaks do require proper climbing gear and climbing experience. All of them are under 7000m and permits for climbing them are issued by Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) which has its offices in Naxal. There are currently only 33 of these peaks open for climbing and the most popular are Island Peak and Mera Peak. No liaison officer is required for climbing these peaks.

For more information about trekking peaks, please log on to www.nepalmountaineering.org, official web site of the Nepal Mountaineering Association.

Permits and Fees

In a bid to control illegal trekking operations and ensure the safety and security of the trekkers in the general trekking areas, Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) have made it mandatory for trekkers to sign up for the Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) Card from April 1, 2010. TIMS cards are available from the 
NTB office, TAAN office and government registered trekking companies in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Under the new rule, all visitors who go trekking through a trekking company must pay US$10 and free individual trekkers (FIT) US$20 per trekking route per person per entry in equivalent Nepalese Rupees only. Part of the collection will go into maintaining the trekkers' database and in the rescue of trekkers in need of emergency services. The fund will also be 
spent on infrastructure expansion, conservation and maintenance of existing trekking trails. For information, contact (Tel +977-1-444 3003, 444 0920) or visit www.timsnepal.com

How and When

Most of the trek routes in the Everest region have tea houses along the way. The routes to Everest Base Camp and Gokyo valley are perfect for teahouse treks. The trail in from Jiri is also endowed with many conveniently located teahouses although no match to their counterparts to the north where standards are high. Places like Namche Bazaar even have cyber cafes and regular pubs.  The Annapurna region is comparable to the Everest region but not so the Kanchenjunga region, where camping treks are the only option. Other trekking routes will almost certainly require the use of tents and a support team to carry the food and equipment.

When to visit

The peak season for treks is October to November and March to May when the skies are clear and good for viewing mountains. Up in the mountains the weather is mild and generally dry during this time making walking conditions ideal. The spring season is good for wild flowers, particularly the rhododendrons, while the autumn season generally gives the best mountain views, as the air at this time is crystal clear. 

Winter treks are possible but the chances of snow are higher and passes may be closed, particularly during late winter. Also during this time, many of the teahouses will close. The summer/monsoon period is generally unsuitable for trekking as the trails are slippery, leeches abundant and the mountain views are unpredictable. It can be a rewarding time, however, if you are prepared to tolerate these drawbacks, as the wild flowers are at their best around this time and there are fewer tourists on the trails making interaction with the locals easier. 

Hiring Staffs.

It is possible to hire guides, porters or yaks at Lukla but for safety a guide from Kathmandu is preferable. The extra cost of his airfare will outweigh the possibility of not finding a suitable guide at Lukla, especially during the peak seasons. Porters are always available at Lukla. Pure yaks will not be found at Lukla, as it is too low for them to operate, but yak crossbreeds will be found there. For a small group only carrying personal gear, porters are preferable. The cost will depend on the seasonal demand for their services. If your trek starts at Jiri, then you will only find porters available there. Guides should definitely be hired from Kathmandu. 

Hiring local staff directly contributes to the local economy. However, we suggest that you make sure that they are registered with the Government or licensed, before you hire them.

Fly to Nepal

Fly to Nepal
Apart from National Flag Carrier, Nepal Airlines, Many International Airlines take you to the capital of Beautiful country Nepal, the Birth Place of Lord Buddha.

• To/fro  Delhi
  Nepal Airlines
  Jet lite
  Jet Airways
  Indian Airlines
  Druk Air
• To/fro  Mumbai
  Jet Airways
• To/fro  Kolkotta/ Varanasi
  Indian Airlines
• To/fro  Pakistain
  Pakistan International Airlines (from Karachi)
• To/fro  BANGLADESH
  Biman Bangaladesh (from Dhaka)
  GMG Airlines (Dhaka),
• To/fro  HONGKONG
  Nepal Airlines
  Dragon Air
• To/fro  DUBAI
  Nepal Airlines
  Fly Dubai
• To/fro  Bangkok
  Nepal Airlines
  Thai Airways
• To/fro  Kuala Lampur
  Nepal Airlines
• To/fro  Sharjah
  Air Arabia
• To/fro  China
  Air China (Lhasa, Chengdu)
  China Southern Airlines (Guanzhou),
   China Eastern (Kunming),
• To/fro  Amsterdam
  Arke Fly
• To/fro  Baharain
  Baharain Air
  Gulf Air
• To/fro  Paro
  Druk Air
• To/fro  Abu Dhabi
  Etihad Airways
• To/fro  Muscat
  Gulf Air
• To/fro  Doha
  Quatar Airways
• To/fro  Seoul
  Korean Air
• To/fro Singapore
  Silk Air
  
  
  Airfares fluctuate with the changes in exchange rates and are to be paid in foreign currency by foreign nationals. Only Nepalese and Indian nationals are permitted to pay in rupees for air passage between Nepal and India. Departure flight tickets should be reconfirmed three days in advance to avoid inconveniences by possible flight cancellation or changes in the flight schedule. Overweight luggage charges are levied in foreign exchange.
  
  Traveling by road/Entry Points 
  All visitors entering Nepal by land must use these designated entry points and may not enter from any other point: 
  Nepal-India border 
  Kakarbhitta 
  Birgunj 
  Belhiya, Bhairahawa 
  Nepalgunj 
  Dhangadi 
  Mahendra Nagar 
  Kodari, Nepal-China border 
  
  Overland tourists entering the country with their vehicles must possess an international carnet.

Map of Nepal and Major Tourist Destination

Annapurna Treking Map

Map of Bhaktapur

Map of Chitwan National Park

Map of Everest Trek

Map of Helambu and Langtang Treks

Map of Kathmandu

Map of Patan

Map of Pokhara

Entry Procedures and Visa Rules

Entry Procedures & Visa Rules 


a. Tourist Visa 
Visa Facility      Duration     Fee
Multiple entry    15 days     US$ 25 or equivalent convertible currency
Multiple entry    30 days     US$ 40 or equivalent convertible currency
Multiple entry     90 days    US$ 100 or equivalent convertible currency

b.    Gratis (Free) Visa   
•    Gratis visa for 30 days is available only for nationals of SAARC countries. However, for extension of visa for SAARC nationals, the rule is same as that of other nationals.

•    Indian nationals do not require visa to enter into Nepal. 


For Visa Extension: 
Tourists can stay for a maximum of 150 days in a visa year (Jan 1 to Dec 31) extending the visa at the rate of 2 US $ per day. However, a minimum amount of 30 US$ has to be paid for a period of 15 days or less. 

(For further information, please, contact Department of Immigration, Maitighar, Impact Building, Kathmandu, Tel: 00977-1-4221996/ 4223590/ 4222453, Web: www.immi.gov.np )  



Custom Formalities 

Any visitor bringing in more than 5000 US$ or equivalent amount in any other currency/currencies must declare the currency/currencies at the Customs Office in the Airport.
 

Customs: 
All baggage must be declared and cleared through the customs on arrival at the entry point. Personal effects are permitted free entry. Passengers arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) without any dutiable goods can proceed through the Green Channel for quick clearance without a baggage check. If you are carrying dutiable articles, you have to pass through the Red Channel for detailed customs clearance. 

Import: 
Apart from used personal belongings, visitors are allowed to bring to Nepal free of duty: cigarettes (200 sticks) or cigars (50 sticks), distilled liquor (one 1.15 liter bottle), and film (15 rolls). You can also bring in the following articles free of duty on condition that you take them out with you when you leave: binoculars, movie or video camera, still camera, laptop computer, and portable music system. 

Export: 
The export of antiques requires special certification from the Department of Archeology, National Archive Building, Ram Shah Path, Kathmandu. It is illegal to export objects over 100 years old, such as sacred images, paintings, manuscripts that are valued for culture and religious reasons. Visitors are advised not to purchase such items as they are Nepal's cultural heritage and belong here. 

For more information on customs matters, contact the Chief Customs Administrator, TIA Customs Office (Phone: 4470110, 4472266). 


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Foreign Currency and Credit Cards 
Payment in hotels, travel agencies, and airlines are made in foreign exchange. Credit cards like American Express, Master and Visa are widely accepted at major hotels, shops, and restaurants. Remember to keep your Foreign Exchange Encashment Receipt while making foreign exchange payments or transferring foreign currency into Nepalese rupees. The receipts may be needed to change left-over Nepalese Rupees into hard currency before leaving the country. However, only 10 percent of the total amount may be converted by the bank. ATM is widely in use in Kathmandu. 

Major banks, hotels and exchange counters at Tribhuvan International Airport provide services for exchanging foreign currency. 

Exchange rates are published in English dailies such as The Rising Nepal, The Kathmandu Post and The Himalayan Times. Nepalese Rupees are found in denominations of Rupees 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are found in denominations of Rupees 5, 2 and 1. One rupee equals 100 paisa. 


Time and Business Hours 
Nepal is five hours 45 minutes ahead of GMT. 

Business hours within the Valley: Government offices are open from 10 am to 5 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday and close at 3pm on Friday in the Kathmandu Valley. During the winter, they close at 4 pm. Most Business offices are open from 10 am to 5 p.m. Sunday through Friday. Embassies and international organizations are open from 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday. Most shops open after 10 am and close at about 8 pm and are usually closed on Saturdays. 

Business hours outside the Valley: Government offices outside Kathmandu valley open from 10 am to 5 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday. On Fridays they remain open until 3 pm. Banks are open from Sunday through Thursday from 10 am to 3 pm. On Fridays, banks remain open until 12 pm only. Business offices are open from 10 am to 5 pm Sunday through Friday. Recently many private banks have re-organized to have different branches open at various different times making banking hours longer. If one branch is closed another will be open.

Holidays: Nepal observes numerous holidays, at the least a couple in a month. So please check the holiday calendar. The longest holiday in Nepal is during the Dashain festival in late September or October. Government offices observe all the national holidays and banks observe most of them. Businesses observe major holidays only. 


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Communication Facilities 

Postal Services: The Central Post Office located near Dharahara Tower, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Friday. The counters are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and provide stamps, postcards and aerograms. Post Restante is available Sunday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Express Mail Service (EMS) is available at GPO and at Thamel, Basantapur and airport postal counters. 

Telephone Services: Telephone and fax services are available at the Nepal Telecommunications Corporation at Tripureshwar. Hotels and private communications centers provide long distance telephone and fax facilities. For calling from outside, country code for Nepal is 977 and the area code for Kathmandu is 1. 

Internet Services: There are countless Internet cafes and communication centers have opened up in the Valley and around the country. Visitors only have to find a place they are most comfortable in to use the facilities to keep in touch with home. Internet services are also offered by hotels. 

Media: Nepali media has made a gigantic leap ahead in just a few years time and what used to be a controlled and tight knit community, is no more. The government audio and television news networks are Radio Nepal and Nepal Television respectively. However, numerous FM radio stations and regional television stations are dominating the market. Major Nepali daily newspapers are Gorkhapatra and Kantipur, while the English dailies are The Rising Nepal, The Kathmandu Post and The Himalayan Times. A number of other newspapers and magazines are also available. 

Electricity: Major towns have electricity and the voltage available is 220-volts and 50 cycles. Load shedding is a seasonal phenomenon during the dry season and eases off once it begins to rain. However, most major hotels have uninterrupted power supply through their own generators.

(Source: Nepal Tourism Board)

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Beautiful Mountain

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Mount Everest close photo

Everest and Nuptse

Adventure in Nepal

Adventure in Nepal

Bunjy Jumping In Nepal

Health Guide: Protect yourself while being in Nepal

Nepal is a popular destination for travelers across the world. Panoramic views of snow capped mountains, ten world heritage sites, the vivid symbols of traditional arts and cultures, and never endings festivals are the greatest attraction of this Himalayan country. Nations capital, Kathmandu, also known as the city of temples is a paradigm of cultural heritage.
Due to lack of infrastructures and proper management of health resources this country is still struggling with many diseases which are rare phenomenon in developed countries. Lack of awareness to this issue may make you prone to many diseases / disorders which you never know or imagined while being in your native country. Before embarking on your visit to Nepal, you must make yourself familiar with different diseases that are common in Nepalese climatic conditions. As the temperature of Nepal ranges from tropical to arctic, you should be acquainted not only with tropical diseases but also with altitude sickness. To make you an expert on health aspects of Nepal would not only be difficult but also troublesome. Some knowledge about proper lifestyle and precautions you have to take while being in Nepal can make your stay in Nepal pleasant and most memorable. This article aims to give glimpse of prevalent health situation, vaccination required and most and care you have to take to avoid most likely ailments.

Health Scenario of Nepal
Traveler’s diarrhea is the most common travel-related ailment for tourist visiting any developing countries including Nepal. Diarrhea, dysentery, typhoid and other gastrointestinal disease are other potential diseases that you can acquire while being in Nepal. Kathmandu, the city of temples, a paradigm of cultural heritage, is one of the most polluted cities. Water and sanitation are also poor in Kathmandu. The prevalence of Malaria and Japanese encephalitis is greatest in the Terai plains along the southern border with India. Transmission is from July to December, with a peak during the monsoon season from mid-August to early November. Risk of Malaria exists in Chitwan National Park and Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha, from June to August but is negligible during the rest of the year. There is no malaria risk in Kathmandu and Pokhara or on typical Himalayan treks. The prevalence of rabies is high in Nepal. The chief risk is from stray dogs, followed by monkeys.

Recommended vaccination
Before visiting Nepal, you may need to get vaccinations and medications for vaccine-preventable diseases and other diseases you might be at risk for at your destination. Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and typhoid vaccine is recommended for all travelers. Revaccination is recommended in every 10 years for Diphtheria and Tetanus. One-time booster of Polio is recommended for any adult traveler who completed the childhood series but never had polio vaccine as an adult. Japanese encephalitis vaccine is recommended only for travelers who may spend a month or more in rural areas and for short-term travelers who may spend substantial time outdoors in rural areas, especially after dusk. For travelers spending a lot of time outdoors, or at high risk for animal bites, or involved in any activities that might bring them into direct contact with bats, rabies vaccine is necessary. Two doses of Measles mumps and rubella is recommended for all travelers born after 1956, if not previously given. Yellow fever vaccination is required for all travelers arriving from a yellow-fever-infected area in Africa or the Americas.

Prevention, the Best Medicine
Care in what you eat and drink is the most important health rule. The cornerstone of prevention of most travel related ailments is food and water precautions. The number one rule is, do not drink tap water unless it has been boiled, filtered or chemically disinfected. Use only bottled water of good brands for drinking purpose. The Water of Bagmati and all other rivers, water from wells and public taps are grossly contaminated so don’t use them for any purposes. Reputable brands of bottled Water or soft drinks are generally fine. Salads and fruit should be washed with purified water or peeled where possible. Wash your hands frequently, as it's quite easy to contaminate your own food. You should clean your teeth with purified water rather than straight from the tap. Visitors should only eat thoroughly cooked food and fruits they have peeled themselves.


You can get worm infections through bare feet. Wear long sleeves, long pants, hats and shoes instead of sandal. For rural and forested areas, boots are preferable, with pants tucked in, to prevent tick bites. Try to avoid insect bites by using full sleeves clothes and by using insect repellents to exposed skins (but not to the eyes, mouth, or open wounds). If you are planning to go trekking monsoon season, leech are the most noxious creatures troubling you. They are not harmful, but sure make a bloody mess of your socks, boots, and any parts where they do penetrate. Wearing durable cotton leech-proof sock and boots can make your trekking adventurous and exciting, but do care while walking as leech don’t only enter the body from foots, they can enter from any where. Use of full sleeves clothes not only reduce the bite of insects and mosquitoes but also protect you from leeches to some extents.

Air pollution is the number one area in Kathmandu valley where improvement is needed. You can never be convinced with the air quality of Kathmandu so wear good masks if you are taking the tour of cultural heritages around the city. Use good quality masks can save you from respiratory problems. Avoid contact with stray dogs and other animals. Altitude sickness is the most area to be concerned with if you are planning trips and treks in Himalayan regions. It occurs in travelers ascending altitudes greater than 2500m. Do read about it and do understand it before you leave and while trekking and mountaineering in Nepal.
Bring adequate supplies of all essential medications in their original containers, clearly labeled. All travelers should bring along an antibiotic and an anti-diarrheal drug to be started promptly if significant diarrhea occurs. Most cases of travelers diarrhea are mild and do not require either antibiotics or anti-diarrheal drugs. Adequate fluid intake is essential. If diarrhea is severe or bloody, or if fever occurs with shaking chills, or if abdominal pain becomes marked, or if diarrhea persists for more than 72 hours, medical attention should be sought. If acquired animal bites, clean the area with soap and bottled water and contact the local health authorities immediately for possible post-exposure treatment.

Beautiful Country Nepal