1. Nepal Visa Entry Procedure
To enter in Nepal, you need to have a valid passport (The passport should have a validity of at least six months). Once you reach the Tribhuvan International Airport, you can fill the Visa Application Form there or visit immigration entry point for the visa. You will need to provide two passport size photos and pay the visa fees in cash. You can also obtain a tourist visa for Nepal at the Nepalese embassy or consulate or other mission offices in your nation.
You can enter in Nepal from:
- Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu
- Central Nepal – Birgung, Parsa
- Eastern Nepal – Kakarvitta, Jhapa
- Western – Rupandehi (Belhiya, Bhairahawa)
- Mid-western – Banke (Jamuna, Nepalgunj)
- Far western – Kailali (Mohana, Dhangadi) / Kanchanpur (Gaddachauki, Mahendranagar)
- Northern Border – Kodari, Sindhupalchowk
2. Meals and Accommodations
You will find almost all kinds of cuisines if you are in the main cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan. However, if you are traveling to remote areas, you will generally get food like Dal-Bhatt, Momo, Dhedo, and other limited options. In some areas, you might even have to cook for yourself. If you are trekking in the Himalayas, you will find tea-houses that do not assure clean toilets, hot water, or electricity. Home-stay is also possible where you will get to live with the host family and experience the Nepalese culture and tradition more closely. Similarly, you will find all ranges of accommodations in the main cities ranging from luxurious to pocket-friendly standards.
3. Physical Fitness
If you have good health conditions, you can go on tour to places like Pokhara, Kathmandu, Chitwan, Lumbini, etc. However, if you want to go on the trekking or expedition, you need to be physically fit. To go on these trips, you also need to show the health certificate and take out the health insurance. Along with that, you are also supposed to be mentally and emotionally strong, as the trail can be extremely challenging and scary. You are also recommended to practice fitness and walking routines prior to your trips like trekking and expedition.
4. Trekking Seasons in Nepal
September to November (Autumn season) is recognized as the best season to go on a trip to Nepal. The weather is excellent with moderate temperature and the skies are generally clear offering perfect views of the tantalizing mountain. December to February (Winter Season) is good to go on treks to EBC, Annapurna Sanctuary, Annapurna Panorama, and Annapurna Dhaulagiri, etc. March to May (Spring season) has a mild warm climate. During this time of the year, you will see several species of flowers that make the whole region unbelievable. June to August (Summer season) is a monsoon period in Nepal. This is the ideal time for a botanist to travel to the higher valleys to study gorgeous vines and lush vegetation.
5. How to Book Your Tour
Before booking the trip, you are advised to go through all the Terms & Conditions and itinerary section nicely. You can book trek or tour by filling a Booking Application Form along with the 20% of the total trip cost. This 20% is a booking deposit, and it is usually non-refundable. You can pay the deposit by Bank Transfer or with the Credit Card (Visa/Master/Union Pay/American Express/JCB/SCT Card). You are required to pay rest of the amount after arriving at Kathmandu before departure for the trip.
6. Travel Insurance
If you’re going on an expedition or higher trekking then be sure to make medical and accident risks insurance. This insurance should include helicopter rescue service, medical coverage, and air ambulance. Several of the policies don’t include cover for this sort of travel. Therefore, you are requested to make sure that the policies include an adequate level of protection. You will be asked to provide a medical and accident risks insurance paper at the time of the trip. If it’s not possible for you to provide the insurance certificate, then you will not be permitted to continue your trip. You will also not be entitled to any refund for the services not provided. You are conjointly needed to hold your insurance certificate with you on the trip. You are also suggested to take out the cancellation insurance.
7. Drinking Water
You have to keep yourself hydrated throughout the trek, and it is also recommended to drink 3 to 4 liters of water each day. You can get cold water for free at every teahouse during your trek. You are suggested to bring a reusable bottle yourself, fill it every time you get an opportunity and use a SteriPEN, which is a handheld UV water purifier. In Nepal, all bottled water is not mineral water and you can use SteriPEN to purify them as well. You can buy it easily on Amazon, online retailers, and outdoor shops. You can also buy boiled water from the tea house but, as the elevation increase, the price of boiled water will also increase. You are requested not to buy bottled water on treks to preserve the region from pollution.
8. Internal Flight Delays
Weather cannot be predicted in the Himalayan region of the nation. Due to adverse weather condition at airports such as the one in Lukla, flights may get delayed or canceled anytime without any prior notice. If the weather worsens and it becomes impossible to go on the trek then, you will be offered an alternative trek of the same worth. However, flying with helicopters is possible during minor conditions of bad weather. But, this will cost you extra money of around US$500-600 per person. The company will pay for half of this extra charge and the client will have to pay the other half. If there are any long delays at the end of your trek, you will be sent to Kathmandu via helicopter to catch your international flight. The company holds the decision to pay the clients as per their individual cases.
