Travel Guide/Information

How to arrive in Nepal

By Air

Tribhuvan International Airport at Kathmandu is the one and only international airport in Nepal. There are a number of International Airlines with direct non-stop flights from different nation in the world to Kathmandu. People are interested in visiting Nepal from Europe or America have to adjust their flight to Dubai, Doha, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Bankok, Delhi, Mumbai , Calcutta, Banglore Dhaka, or Shanghai.

By Land

There are many more options; you can enter into Nepal overland both Tibet and India. If you are in Tibet, you can enter Nepal by crossing the border at Kodari and then take a bus to Kathmandu. This will take you 7 to 10 hours depending on the road conditions. The easiest and hassle free overland route to Nepal from Gorakhpur, India is via Sunauli/Belahiya border post using train up to border post. The only direct buses from this route to Kathmandu run at night and take approximately 9 hours. Raxaul/Birgung border post can also be used to visit Nepal. But this may not leave you with a pleasant travelling experience. If you are in Darjeeling you can come to Nepal via Karkabhitta. There are also several border crossings in west Nepal.

 

Weather in Nepal

Primarily, the country experiences four distinct climates annually. Most of the rainfall is being brought by the seasonal reversal of wind direction blown from the Bay of Bengal and vice versa, commonly known as Monsoon. Rain falls mainly between Mid-June to Mid-Sept. and usually during the night.

The latitudinal location of the country plays a limited role in determining the temperature of any particular area owing to the drastic configuration of the landscapes, ranging from the highest point of the world Mt. Everest (third pole) to tropical regions which teem with various endangered species.

Each of the four seasons given below has its own unique feature to quench the thirst of varied tastes of different groups:

Summer (June-Aug)

Sometimes this season extends until mid-September and makes your travels wet and warm. As a result the higher valleys and meadows are blossomed with flowers and lush vegetation. This period is blessed for keen botanist.

Autumn (Sept-Nov)

Having undergone a prolonged period of rainy days, the dust in the air is washed out and the sky remains azure blue, and it will allow you to enjoy the views of glittering peaks all around you. This tantalizing mountain views is one of the major attractions of tourists to the country.

Winter (Dec-Feb)

Snow falls where the elevation goes above 2,500m. Hence it is ideal to trek at lower elevation. The minimum temperature goes down to 0-1 degree Celsius in Kathmandu. Morning and evening are especially cold and days are warm.

Spring (March-May)

I suppose everybody loves the budding season. Brownness is getting a form of greenery; flowers are budding; only a sweater or pullover is needed to avoid feeling cold in the morning and evening. Excellent weather for trekking Nepal, the only the drawback is a bit haze in the sky.

 

Visa and Entry Procedure

Nepal’s people worm welcomes to the tourists and it will be easy to enter. You can get tourist visa upon arrival at the Kathmandu Airport (TIA).  You can apply for the tourist visa online too. You can still fill out the standard printed forms upon arrival too. However, applying for the visa online will help you get the visa quicker and avoid long queue upon your arrival. The application system could hold your application for 15 days. Here is the link to apply Nepalese visa online. Multiple entry tourist visa is available for 15 days, 30 days and 90 days.  You can find details in the website of Immigration Department of Nepal.

Children under age of 10 years need not pay any visa fees. Your passport must be valid for at least six months to apply for a visa. You will need USD cash and two passport sized photographs to get a visa upon arrival.

Tourist entry visa can be obtained for the following duration from Nepal Embassy/ Consulate or Mission offices abroad, or at the following immigration offices in Nepal:

Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu

Immigration Office, Kakarbhitta, Jhapa

Immigration Office, Birganj, Parsa

Immigration Office, Belhia, Bhairahawa

Immigration Office, Nepalganj, Banke

Immigration Office, Mohana, Kailali

Immigration Office, Gadda Chauki, Kanhanpur

Immigration Office, Kodari, Sindhupalchwok

Indian Nationality:

For Indian people do not need a visa. If it is Indians traveling to Nepal by air have to show on arrival at the entry point either a passport or voter’s card issued by the election commission of India or any identity card with the photograph issued by the central or state government of India. Temporary identity card with photograph issued by Nepal – based Indian diplomatic missions for the identification of Indian nationals will also be considered in case of exceptions. Children under 10 years need not show any identification.

Tourist Visa

At the airport there are several visa choices:

Visa Facility:    Duration  Fee (USD or other acceptable currency)

Multiple entry:         48 hours  5

Multiple entry:         15 days    25

Multiple entry:         30 days    40

Multiple entry:         90 days    100

Payment by cash ONLY in any major currency (change is returned in rupees)

Transit Visa

Transit visa for one day can be obtained from Nepal’s immigration offices at the entry points upon the production of departure flight ticket via Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal, by paying US $ 5 or equivalent convertible currency.

Gratis (Free) Visa

Gratis visa for 30 days available only for tourists of SAARC countries.

Indian nationals do not require visa to enter into Nepal.

Chinese nationals can apply for gratis visa from Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, Consulate General of Nepal at Lhasa, Hong Kong and Honorary Consulate of Nepal in Shanghai

Tourist Visa Extension

Do get the correct visa as above as an extension takes time. Extensions are obtainable from the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu or Pokhara. + 15 days is $30, additional days are $2 per day (payment in rupees only)

Tourists are not permitted to stay more than 150 days in Nepal during one calendar year (January – December).

 

For further information, please contact:

Department of Immigration,

Kalikasthan, Dillibazar, and Kathmandu.

Tel: 977 – 01 – 4433934 / 4429660/ 4438862 / 4438868 |

Fax: 977 – 01 – 4433935|Email: mail@nepalimmigration.gov.np

Website: http://www.nepalimmigration.gov.np

 

Department of Immigration Office Hours

Sunday to Thursday:

10 a.m. – 17 p.m. in summer

10 a.m. – 16 p.m. in winter (Nov. to Jan.)

Friday: 10 a.m. -15 p.m.

 

Visa Application Hours

Sunday to Thursday: 10 a.m. – 15 p.m.

Friday: 10 a.m. – 13 p.m.

 

Trekking cards and Permits for Conservation Areas, National Parks and Restricted Areas

Trekkers should be apply The Trekking permit for the following trekking areas. The areas and required fees are as follows:

1. Lower Dolpo, Kanchenjunga, Gaurishankar and Lamabagar Equivalent to the US $ 10 per person per week
2. Manaslu US$ 50(Dec-Aug) per person per week and US$ 7 for each extra day US$ 70(Sep-Nov) per person per week. And US$ 10 for each extra day
3. Humla – Simikot – Yari US$ 50 per person per week. For 7 days and US$ 7 per person per extra day
4. Upper Mustang and Upper Dolpo US$ 500 per person for the first ten days and US$ 50 per person per day thereafter.
5. Chekampar and Chunchet of Gorkha district (Sirdibas-Lhokpa-Chumling-Chekampar-Nile-Chule) US$ 35 (Sep-Nov) per person for 8 days US$ 25 (Dec-Aug) per person for 8 days

While start trekking through National park areas require an entry permit. The entrance permits fees are as follow for the following National parks and Conservation Areas:

• Annapurna Conservation Area US$ 30.00 per person.
• Makalu Barun Conservation Area US$ 30.00 per person.
• Manaslu Conservation Area US$ 30.00 per person.
• Langtang National Park US$ 35.00 per person.
• Sagarmatha( Everest National Park ) US$ 30.00 per person
• Shivapuri Conservation Area US$ 10.00 per person
• Rara National Park US$ 30.00per person.
• Shey Phoksundo National Park US $30.00 per person
• Chitwan National Park US $20.00 per person
• Bardia National Park US$ 18.00 per person
• Gaurishanker Conservation Area US$ 30 per person
• Kanchenjunga Conservation Area US$ 20 per person
• Dhorpatan (Hunting Reservation) US$ 30 per person

TIMS CARD

Foreign trekkers required to register with the Trekkers’ Information Management System (known as TIMS) and purchase a TIMS card to enter most trekking areas. Managed by the Nepal Tourism Board and the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN), TIMS is used to keep track of foreign visitors in Nepal and respond in case of emergencies. Foreign trekkers are not required to register with or purchase a TIMS card if they are acquiring a Restricted Area Permit. We will arrange all permits.

 

Terrain in Nepal

Nepal is not a large country, roughly 800km long and 200km wide in a rectangular shape. The land can generally be categorized into three areas, the flat plains bordering India in the South that rise into the foothills further north, and the towering Himalayan mountain peaks in the north which borders Tibet. It includes 8 of the 14 highest mountains in the world. It has a total area of over 147181 square kilometers, of which about 17% is forest

Geographically, Nepal is divided into three belts:

Northern Himalayan range

Middle Mahabharat range

Southern Terai (plain) belt

Owing to the drastic features of the landscape-configurations of the country, it has possessed several fascinating things that captivate the travelers worldwide to visit once, if not over and over again. The major magnetic attraction for the traveler are:

Out of 10 highest peaks of the world, eight majestic peaks are found in Nepal. Namely: Everest, Kanchenjunga, Daulagiri, Annapurna I, Manaslu, Lotse, Choyou, and Makalu. There are other numerous nameless peaks, which are soaring above 6000m.

A wide range of perpetual rushing rivers originate from the upper and middle Himalayas appeals to the rafting enthusiasts.

Dense deciduous and alpine forest where it has given shelter to many of the unique species found in the world.