Nepal is celebrating visit Nepal 2020 and they aim to invite 2 million tourist this year. If you are planning to visit Nepal go through this article, this article is written by previous one of our traveler. As the heading is focused on visit Nepal 2020, but this is general information which is always necessary for every traveler. If you are traveling in 2020 go through our previous blog for top 10 destinations for visit Nepal 2020.

Suggested trekking packages for Visit Nepal 2020

• Everest Base camp Trek
• Annapurna Base camp Trek
• Langtang Valley Trek
• Poon Hill Trek
• Annapurna Circuit Trek
• Nepal Helicopter Tour – Single and Multi Day
• Culture Exploration Tour
• Buddhist Circuit Tour

VISA

You need to have a Visa when coming to Nepal!  If you have the possibility it will be better to arrange your visa In advance, as it takes some time upon arrival at the airport. You either can do it at the embassy, online or upon arrival.

Although if that’s not the case and you end up doing it upon arrival these are the amount you have to pay in USD.

Payment in USD

PICTURES

Passport / student size, it´s always better to have more just in case, they ask for them everywhere you go for all documentation

INSURANCE …  recommended

WHAT TO PACK

• Rain Jacket
• Hiking boots
• Crocs / Sandals
• Sunscreen
• Lipstick / Chapstick
• Headband
• Frontal light
• Batteries
• Adaptor
• Medicines
• Power bank 10 – 20 mil amperes
• Purification tablets
• Thermal clothes
• Canes

In case you forget something, there are plenty of stores in Kathmandu and Pokhara were you´ll be able to buy the things you need.

Money and budget

In Nepal pretty much, everything is paid in cash, although you might find (some) atm that will charge commission, you could pay by card in more expensive places or some local stores that will usually charge commissions.

So, if you´ve got no problem caring around money on you, check the currency on different exchange houses and compare rates. Do not stop and change in the first one as there are many and usually, they will not take you for local. When you go into the mountain make sure you’ll take with you enough rupees as there they will surely won’t take other currency nor you´ll be able to find an atm.

I´ll give you and average personal by day mode Tourist / mode Backpacker with no excess of luxury. Trekking prices and travels are not included as the vary depending on the activities one might be interested on.

Back Packer

Tourist

Seasons  & Weather 

Seasons in Nepal and why should you visit now in Autumn?

I surely recommend you to visit during High season consider to be from mid-September to end of November during this time of the year is the BEST SEASON to travel to Nepal, although  take in mind sometimes it may not be exact for me mid-September there was still be some bad rains was not really able to do much , bit before mid-September monsoon was almost over and sun started coming out again. For people coming for trekking in Himalaya in autumn or for longer hikes, the air is dry, and sky is clear, the views are just amazing so clear on the mountains you´ll get to see everything, although for people coming to see savage animals it becomes a bit harder.

So, heads up before planning as not everyone gets it the right way when planning before coming check the weather as it depends on the seasons

From May to June is the pre monsoon season and in July to August is the monsoon season to rainy and too hot definitely NOT RECOMMEND it…. Their high temperatures are just unbearable and with the rain you definitely won’t be able to do much, plus there´ll be plenty of mosquitos … if it’s not a problem for you then go ahead but don’t think that will be so pleasant and I guess it will just not be fun.

Winter season, December to February is the COLDEST season of them all there´s many snow in the mountain and in the cities next to it, therefore there are many more power cuts than usual. And might not be that safe for beginner’s, the good thing is that animals start to become more visible starting from January, although if the main reason your coming to Nepal is to see the animals wait for spring, that would be they´re highest point.

From end of February to April is the SECOND-BEST SEASON of Nepal the weather starts to get warmer, even there are some sporadic rains and is not completely clear the valley has just sprung and you´ll get to see so many kinds of flowers and the animal life will also be so abundant.

So from travelling solo, backpacker, family, or in honeymoon there is a wide range of trekking experiences to a long more adventures from easy to high level of difficulty you can perform and enjoy.

I´ll definitely recommend them From September to December, Autumn – Winter then you´ll definitely get best time for Trekking and get to explore the mountain with the clearest views without being that cold

Have you not decided where to go holidays for the next season and want to have a lifetime experience?  What you´re waiting for to book you´re next adventure trip?

Electricity / power situation 

Electricity, certainly another thing you´ll notice are the jumble of electrical wires, woow to the electricians, here is kind of the reason for the power cuts, so beware about the cuts in Kathmandu and save enough electricity when around.

In the mountains there is an extra charge for electricity, just so you know about that.

Internet 

In Thamel area you´ll be able to find internet on pretty much all the restaurants, cafes and hotels although on a rainy day the reception may not be the best. On other cities llike Pokhara, Lumbini, or Chitwain you´ll also encounter pretty much everywhere , although when on the mountains the reception may not be the best and you´ll have to pay around $5 per certain time.

Water

For drinking water, just be aware of tap water specially in Katmandu is not the cleanest, it’s okay for showering and brushing your teeth, just take care it’s not drinkable. Tap water is very unsafe to drink and it will only cost around 25 rupees each bottle.

I highly recommend buying a water filtration or purification system and you will certainly be able to keep using it for longer periods. In case you’re looking for other options you can always find purification tablets that way you´ll avoid the constant buying of single use plastic bottles and at the same time you´ll be helping the environment.

Transport

• Bus
• Rickshaw bikes
• Flights
• Moto Taxi (Pathao / Tootle) There is no Uber  but you can download  a similar app called Pathao or Tootle to get around that worked the same way

Safety

Always carry cash over cards, ask prices before, and don’t stay on the streets when it’s too dark specially by yourself.

Many people would like to take advantage as you can find on the street many fraudulent people you just have to pay attention and try to ask prices before you consume!  Sometimes they may try to charge you excessively high prices on the streets without you even knowing as you don’t understand their languages and of course don’t have access to the right information, you so just try to be smarter and don’t let them charge you more for everything.

Travel Insurance

Highly recommended to have a travel insurance before heading to Nepal, you never know what might happened to you and when on the mountain’s altitude sickness, it’s quite common, also getting injured could get costly, the only ways to get you out is by helicopter and the cost of them is quite high.

Make sure you read small letters before buying one and also be sure it will cover the height of the mountain you want to hike as most insurances won’t cover extreme sports.

Responsible Travel 

To be a responsible traveler means to be consent of what Nepal is going thought and also the world, to help with the contribution you can do it in many ways.

• You can avoid the use of plastic bottles by using purification pills
• If you don’t need them make sure they don’t give you plastic bags when you purchase something, try to carry around a reusable one

NEPALI CALENDAR EXPLAINED 

The other day I when to the market and after I was given the ticket I stopped for a minute and there I was WOOOW as If I have gone to the future and came back.  What?! I couldn’t explain myself have I just played in year 2076 another month? what day? Nothing made sense, at least not to me, we were only in September 2019.

Confused? so was I, but don´t worry I´ll tell you all there is to know about Nepalese calendar and explain you easy peace the why and the reasons for that as know it gets hard at the beginning and it´s not so easy to understand.

Ancient Nepalese culture is solely based on lunar calendar as they need it for their festivals, holidays, pujas, Horoscope, Marriage dates,  birthday’s (in case you had the doubt Yes! they celebrate their birthday twice, English calendar / Sambat Calendar, so you better save enough money to celebrate in case you get to spend it in Nepal …..don´t worry I´ll tell you all there is to know about it in another post), shraddhas (Dead anniversaries) and any other religious activities fixations therefore they cannot use Roman Calendar itself , because it does not  have any connection with lunar calendar.

Nepal Sambat (नेपाल सम्बत) or just Sambat calendar was established by an Indian emperor Vikramaditya has variable days and months their system was pure Lunar Calendar so it may have some disadvantages as any lunar calendar does and nowadays it may need solar system calendar help as a Lunisolar Calendar with 354 days per year and added one month every third year. There are 12 months and every 3 years there are 13 months, the extra month is Analaa. This calendar has been in continuous use in Nepal for 888 years the nepali calendar is approximately 56 years and 8 months ahead of the English calendar most commonly known the Gregorian calendar.

Gregorian / Roman / English Calendar the most commonly known calendar defined as a period of rotation of the earth around the sun solar calendar with fixed days months system. 1 year, divided in 12 months, 365.2425 days per year, 4 seasons.  It keeps its 365 days per year and every 4 years the .2425 * 4 making an extra day that will be added on this calendar to the second month leaving ir with a 29th day calling it leap year.

HAMRO PATRO  means our Calendar in Nepalese and is the web and app they use to guide themselves and keep updated with the festivals and cultural activities i´ll leave you the link so you can take a look in case of any doubts https://www.hamropatro.com/

Here´s so you get familiar, this is how date will look like

२०७६ भाद्र ३१ मंगलवार
2019 Sep 17, Tuesday

Months 

• Baishakh     बैशाख  (30/ 31 Days)    mid April – mid May     April 14 NEPALI NEW YEAR
• Jestha   जेष्ठ or जेठ    (31 /32 Days)   Mid May– Mid Jun    May 04: Aama ko mukh hernay din
• Ashdah  आषाढ or अस  (31/ 32 Days)   id June to Mid Ju Aug 15: Rakshyabandhan
• Sawan   श्रावण or साउन      (31/ 32 Days)   id July to Mid August Aug 30: Kuse Aaunsi (Buwa ko mukh hernay din)
• Bhadra   भाद्र or भदौ         (31-32 Days)    August to Mid Septemb Sep 01: Haritalika Teej Sep 29: Ghatasthapana
• bishu karma – Workship to the cars and everything that has a motor
• Asoj    आश्विन or असोज        (30/ 31 Days)   id September to Mid HALF NEW YEAR
• Octobe  Oct 02: Chhath Puja Oct 08: Vijaya Dashami (Dashain 2076)
• Kartik   कार्तिक         29- 30 id October to Mid November Oct 29: Bhai Tika (Tihar 2076)
• Mangsir मार्ग or मंसिर   29- 30 Days  Mid November to mid December Dec 25: Christmas day
• Poush पौष or पुष/पूस     29- 30 Days    Mid December to Mid January
• Magh माघ]                    29- 30 Days  Mid January to Mid February
• Falgun फाल्गुन or फागुन   29- 30 Days    Mid February to Mid March
• Chaitra चैत्र or चैत    30/ 31 Days    Mid March to Mid April

Now that you know all about their calendar you can start view their cultural festival and events like Dashain, Tihar and the Nepali New Year for 2077.

CULTURE

GREETINGS

“ Namaste” First of all and the most important of all things to know the traditional manners, for me and for everyone else to know the greetings and how addressing the older with respect in Nepal involves placing palms together in a prayer style.

DRESSING CODE

Also before packing you want to be sure to obey the “local culture” so as not to offend anyone. Rather than packing shorts or any revealing clothes I would go for something more traditional with lengths under the knee and that covers the shoulders and not showing the cleavage.  In case of thinking about swimming I would stick to a one piece and leave the bikini at home.

LANGUAGE

Nepali is their principal languages although many people speaks Hindu and Bengalis, also many have learned English, locals appreciated when you make an effort and try to say any words in their language

COWS

Here Cows are sacred they rule the streets! So that is by many do not dare to harm cows, if so you could be taken to jail as you are not being respectful of their culture

NO PDA

No public dissection affects displays, it is also part of their culture and you should behave in that way since Nepal is a Hindu country.

TOILETS

The Toiletries they have here in Nepal are some kind of Indian toilets to some degree, to some of you who may not even have a clue of what I’m talking about well they are quite different to the western one your used to using  ( more like a hole on the ground) so I’ll recommend you google them , anyways you´ll discover them on your arrival.

DRIVING

Rules of driving?? Apparently, it might seem there as it they were none but there are many, and apparently lines are also not really seen or might not look as if they were not really followed. So as for taking the bus, it could be quite an adventure, the fare bus collector will hang out the bus and will call out loud the destinations the bus is going to make then if you´re interested then you’re supposed to rush and just jump in.

See for this you have to be very careful and listen to the destinations. If you’re lucky the bus will make a full stop but that’s not the everyday case normally the bus kind of has a rolling stop that doesn’t quite stop.so be very careful when you want to hop on. Sit up front and let them know about your stop for the hop off as it works same ways.

POLLUTION

There are many pollution or inhaling dusk on the roads as it gets kicked out a lot, and not many have pavement,  less in tourist places like Thamel were there is no traffic allowed or very little, therefore a lot of people here find very essential to wear facemask or scarf to cover themselves, so take notes depending were you are going to be touring take a scarf or something to cover your face and also wear closed shoes it may be more convenient and also there may be potholes.

TABLE MANNERS

If they invite you over, they might not ask you but basically, they remove shoes before entering anyone houses, and they’ll leave them outside, they may also eat with they´re hands without any forks

OPEN CREMATORIES

They have open crematoria’s, if you have no previous knowledge about the worship of the dead, it might make you feel uncomfortable or in a different way, be respectful and get to understand the religion and their aurati (Ceremony of the death) Hindus believe in reincarnation and that is the reason why they let the ashes free into the river.

My goal of showing you all this cultural difference was so you´ll know the broad range of experiences you´ll find surrounded with throughout your arrival in Nepal and how you can enjoy your trip.

A guide to Food in Nepal

WOOW from where to start telling you all about there is about food. They´re influenced by its Indian and Tibetan neighbors’ and much of their cuisine have Asian hybrid variations, also the multi – ethnic and multicultural Nepal has, gives many varieties of dishes to offer. Therefore, all Nepalese food is exceptionally good!!  Tourism is a big deal in Nepal, meaning there is a lot of effort put into quality meals, you can find both from local to western taste.

For me travelling is about trying local, so you can’t leave without getting to know the most typical meal locals eat at least once a day Dal Bhat and Momos ¡ eat all you can eat, they´re my favorite ones! And the best part you can find them in many versions for vegetarian & meat lovers.

Try the local variety of snacks like pakora, samosas, eat their delicious food!!  You can find them on any street corner, there is where you´ll find so many tasty flavors so dare to adventure and try new things. And while there ask for milk tea, or masala tea there’s no way to live the experience and to know their culture better than with locals. Don’t forget to also ask for a lassi while walking down the streets of Nepal.

Typical Nepalese sweets

• Titaura – from hug plum is a candy made out of hug plum called lapsi and is only found in Nepal.
• Pustakari made out of coconut

The value for money is one of the best, food, transport, clothing, hiking, safaris and tours have a very reasonable price, if you visit Nepal you can do it be done at a very cheap price.

Cost of Food and Drinks

Snacks                          50 – 200

Meal on the street    100

Inexpensive meal      180 – 300

Three course meal    800

Beer                             200

Water                          25- 50

Soft drinks                  50 – 100

Coffee                          50 -200

tea                                20 – 60

Hikers take in mind that the higher you go into the mountain things could increase even 10 times in places like Gorak Shep and Manag than the averages prices in Kathmandu or Pokhara so keep that in mind when budgeting your trip

Definitely you won’t be able to find McDonald’s and people are quite happy about it!

But In case you fear you might not like the food … there’s plenty of restaurants in Thamel were, if you’re craving for a taste of home you´ll be able to enjoy from one of the best chicken Cordon, to pasta or a very good burger. Although I think you should stay with the local food.

As for drinks pretty much you can find whatever your looking for, there is a wide range of options. From soft to hard liquors the prices will vary. There are also many bars.

A HANDY GUIDE FOR DRINKS & NIGHT CLUBS IN NEPAL

Coffee, teahouses and bars are quite common in the tourist areas of Thamel, Bhaktapur, Pokhara and Sauraha that means it´s always easy to find a nice tea, coffee or cold bear anywhere you go.

If you’re into alcohol keep reading your love this… a Fleet of Nepalese microbrews are beginning to emerge now, so you can find many local brews such as Gorka, Nepal Ice & Everest (this is a great one) if you have the chance at least try one of them! Of course, if your peaky about brands you can always find many other ones. Although I’ll recommend staying local.

As for hard drinks and liquors there is a wide range of options, the prices will vary from cities and depending on the type of restaurant you decide to take them at.

• Raksi
• Jhiakhatte
• Tongba
• Chhyang
• Marpha Brandy
• Khukuri rum
• Nepali beer

Looking also to have a little party in Katmandu? The city has the best places for that, restaurants, live music bars, many crows and much more. If your only for a short periods of time the next ones are few of the best established night clubs were you can go a have a good time.

Night Clubs in Kathmandu

• Club Déjà vu
• Karma Bar
• The Victory Lounge
• Purple Haze Rock Bar
• Ibyza
• LOD Lord of the Drink

Don’t hesitate to ask the locals they will always help you with a smile! Also try some Nepalese beer!

more travelers hack

Before Trekking to Nepal