[TOC] There are many things one should know before going to their designated holiday destination. Nepal is a Himalayan nation that offers varieties of trekking trails for Nature admirers. Not only is the quintessence of Mother Nature a noticeable feature of Nepal. There are arts, culture, customs, rituals, traditions, and many more things that a visitor can see while in Nepal. So it is something that any traveler thinking of visiting Nepal can explore and experience in this tiny Himalayan nation. Here in this blog, we are shedding light on the things that a traveler should be prepared with before traveling to Nepal. So here are our best traveling tips for Nepal travelers.
Choose your trek or tour.
There are hundreds of interesting trails and tour activities in Nepal for travelers to choose from. So before moving on to do any preparation, know your preference and what you are looking forward to on your trip to Nepal. People traveling to Nepal for a vacation can do a variety of things in Nepal. Tours and trekking in Nepal are the most popular things to do in Nepal. Henceforth, you can combine both tour and trek in your vacation, or you can do both activities as a standalone.
There are various options one can choose to do in Nepal in terms of touring activities. You can choose to do wildlife tours or cultural tours and many more. Similarly, in terms of trekking, you can choose to do the short trek, easy trek, long trek, or difficult trekking in Nepal. You can select your preferred trekking trail by looking at your endurance level. Therefore, one of the important tips for traveling to Nepal is to choose the right vacation for a wonderful memory. This is similar to wherever you go, but Nepal comes with so much variety sometimes it is difficult to choose one.
It is important to decide whether you want to do the tour/trek alone or with a guide.
Another important thing while traveling to Nepal is to decide whether to travel alone or under the guidance of tour operators. Nepal is a fairly safe country, and there are million of information on the internet regarding every interesting aspect of Nepal. So any travelers may think they can explore this beauty alone without any guidance.
However, we wouldn't recommend travelers travel to Nepal alone or trekking alone. Nepalese trails are confusing, and there is a high chance of getting lost in the woods. And in terms of touring activities, there are far more interesting things to learn about. Moreover, going with a local tour operator helps your trip to run smoothly. From booking your reservation to preparing the best itinerary, tour operators do it all to make your trip nice and beautiful. Therefore, going with a tour operator will cost you extra money, but with them, you are sure to have a wonderful time and a smooth trip.
Choose an ideal time to travel to Nepal.
So if you have decided what you want to do or where you want to go to Nepal, then find out when is the best time to do a particular thing or go to a certain place. Time most of the time, plays a significant role in making your trip a memorable one. Typically, the best time to visit Nepal would be spring and autumn, but some may find winter or summer/monsoon better than those months.
Henceforth, research nicely about your activity or place before making preparation. Similarly, check if the place coincides with your convenient time or not. Because at the end of the day, your schedule is what matters the most. All in all, choosing the right time for your trip is one of the important tips for travelers looking to visit Nepal.
Prepare your Budget
Budgeting is very important while traveling to Nepal. So if you are sure about where to go and what to do, then prepare your budget. Make a draft of where you are going to spend your money and how you are going to spend your money. Touring activities come with a lot of places to do shopping, so you may need to prepare the shopping budget higher shopping budget. Whereas trekking is an expensive touristic activity, there are not many places in between to spend your money. While trekking, you will be spending money mostly on food and accommodation. There are not many places where you can get to shop a lot. However, the Everest trail is considered an expensive trail, so we suggest you keep a flexible budget. Overall, keep a spreadsheet of how and where you are spending your money.
Get on arrival VISA
Getting a tourist visa to Nepal is very easy. It does not require a lengthy process nor varieties of official documents. And there are various ways to get a tourist VISA to Nepal too. Getting ON ARRIVAL VISA upon your landing at Tribhuwan International Airport is a convenient way to obtain a tourist visa. Besides getting ON ARRIVAL VISA, there are other ways too for obtaining Nepal VISA. There are ONLINE VISA services and obtaining a tourist visa from the consulate office or Nepal embassy based in your home country. Nonetheless, we would still suggest getting a VISA on arrival because going to the embassy may feel like a hassle. And an online visa is still only a halfway process. You will still need to stay in line to make a visa fee at the airport upon arrival in Nepal. So, it would rather be easy to stay in line, apply for the visa, and make payment for the fee upon arrival at the airport.
Similarly, people entering India and Tibet can get a tourist VISA at the border between the two countries. However, visa on arrival is not applicable for people from Nigeria, Ghana, Iraq, Palestine, Syria, Swaziland, Liberia, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Cameroon, and refugees with travel documents. They will have to get a visa at the consulate offices or Nepal embassy based in their home country.
Trekking Permits and Entry Fees
A certain amount of fees are set for significant attractions in Nepal. Before entering any recorded or heritage sites, you need to acquire an entrance fee. Moreover, on the off chance that you are here for trekking, you are required to get a trekking license. Without trekking permits, you can't enter the trekking zone.
Additionally, there are diverse trekking permits as per the trekking locations. Some isolated areas are called restricted areas; hence to enter these places, you need to acquire special permits, which are quite more expensive than normal trekking permits. Such places are the Dolpo region, Upper Mustang region, Kanchenjunga, Nar Phu Valley, and a few others.
Similarly, you cannot go to these places alone or without a guide. To enter these places, you need to hire a local trek operator. So research if your chosen destination is a restricted area or not and what type of trekking permits are required.
Make sure to purchase Travel Insurance.
Travel insurance is mandatory while visiting Nepal. It covers the extra expenses incurred due to unpredicted events. So make sure to purchase a nice insurance package that is best for the nature of your tours or trekking. Besides, travel insurance is one of the important documents for trekkers to have to enter their designated trekking region.
Get vaccinated before coming to Nepal, especially if you are visiting the lower region of Nepal – Terai.
You don't need to get a vaccination before coming to Nepal. But if you have come to Nepal from places where communicable disease like Yellow fever is apparent, then we suggest you get a vaccination. Similarly, we encourage you to look for clinical experts, at any rate, a half year before heading out to Nepal. Additionally, kindly remember that on the off chance that you are pregnant and making a trip to Nepal, you ought not to get any type of vaccination.
Additionally, individuals with sensitivities are not encouraged to get immunized. A portion of the things you should think about is Influenza, Diphtheria, meningitis, Japanese encephalitis, Polio, Hepatitis A and B, Yellow fever, Typhoid, lockjaw, and rabies. For the most part, you are not required to get a vaccination on the off chance that you are in Nepal for trekking. Nonetheless, we strongly recommend you consult with your doctor and get a vaccination if you are planning to visit the lower region, also called the Terai region of Nepal.
Choose the right gear for your journey.
If you are visiting Nepal for touring purposes, then you do not need to hassle yourself with lots of gear. However, if you are planning to travel to Nepal for trekking, then having the right equipment is very important. Nepal's trekking paths are rugged, rough, narrow, unpaved, and steep. So trekking is very important. Whether you travel an easy path or a difficult high-altitude path, we suggest you travel with the right trekking gear. Having reliable and good gear, in some way, plays an important role in making memorable memories in the Himalayas. Trekking gears are expensive, so aspiring trekkers can rent necessary trekking gear while in Nepal. There are many shops where you can hire and rent trekking equipment.
Exchange your currencies for local Nepalese currencies.
Foreign currencies are accepted widely in Kathmandu, Chitwan, and Pokhara. But it will be convenient for you if you exchange your currencies with local Nepalese currencies. Similarly, rural places or cities out of valleys are not many keens on accepting foreign currencies. Trekkers, wherever they decide to go, should exchange budgeted amounts for local currencies. Foreign currencies are not accepted on the trekking trails of Nepal. So you can exchange your budget shortly after you arrive in Nepal at the money exchange booth in the Airport or small shops around Thamel streets. You will see plenty of them.
So these are some of the important tips you should know before traveling to Nepal. Besides these, there are many things you should know before traveling to Nepal. Some extra essential tips for Nepal travelers are as follows:
Pack your bag light. You can find many things here in Nepal if you forget or need something. You should not bulk your luggage with unnecessary items.
Don't forget to wear face masks. The air pollution level is quite high in Nepal.
Bring a universal travel adapter. Nepal mostly has two rounded plugs that are dissimilar to the international plug system. The power voltage of Nepal is 230V/250Hz.
Bring your water bottle. We mostly discourage trekkers from buying mineral water bottles due to environmental concerns. Even if your trekking destination is very remote, you can still find spring or tap water and hot boiled water. We recommend people bring a water purification tablet along with them.
All types of food are available, so even if you are vegan or have a dietary restriction like gluten-free meals, everything will be managed.
In conclusion
Other than the above-given tips, gather all the data about the spot you will visit. Also, on the off chance that you are looking to do trekking in Nepal, bring along a solar power bank, head torch, and general medical aid pack, alongside some different fundamentals. Hence, these are the few best traveling tips for Nepal travelers to make their journey even better. Overall, we trust these tips are helpful for your adventure to Nepal. If you have any inquiries, feel free to contact us.
