Best time to travel to Nepal
Nepal is a country of differences with various landscapes, including towering mountain ranges, lush forests, and a vibrant cultural heritage. The best time to travel to Nepal depends on your preferences and the type of excursions or events you intend to participate in. Generally, Nepal has four distinct seasons, each with unique charms and challenges.
Autumn Season: September to November is Nepal's best time for trekking and outdoor activities. Clear skies, pleasant temperatures, and festivals like Dashain Tihar and Chhat make this period ideal for experiencing Nepali culture.
Winter Season: Cold temperatures start in late November or early December, but clear skies suit budget travelers. Lower-elevation treks and skiing/snowboarding in ski resorts are popular activities.
Spring Season: From late February to May, warmer temperatures make it perfect for trekking. Rhododendrons bloom, adding to the scenic beauty. Celebrations like Holi and Buddha Jayanti occur during this time.
Summer Season: Monsoon rains from June to August make trekking challenging, but it's a great time to experience lush greenery and agriculture. Ideal for peace seekers and cultural tours of cities accessible by road.
Fitness and Training:
Trekking and climbing in Nepal's high-terrain Himalayas require physical fitness and training for a safe journey. Trekking involves walking long distances, sometimes for hours daily, over different terrain and at high altitudes. It's best to begin cardio, strength, and endurance activities sometime before the vacation to build up stamina and prepare the body.
Your journey to Nepal can be safe and successful with physical fitness, training, and preparation. Be aware of the risks and challenges, and take necessary safety measures for a fun and secure trip.
Tims and Permit
For the Pikey Peak Trek, you need three different permits to enter Everest: the Khumbu Pasang Lamu Rural Municipality Permit, the Sagarmatha National Park Permit, and the TIMS card.
Khumbu Pasanglamu Rural municipality permit is necessary to enter the Khumbu region. It can obtained in Lukla or Monjo. For foreigners, it costs NPR 2000 (USD 17) per person for the first four weeks and NPR 2500 (USD 25) afterward. Remember, you can't get this permit in Kathmandu.
TIMS Card The TIMS card is essential for guides, porters, and clients in emergencies. It costs USD 20 and is issued by TAAN Nepal.
Sagarmatha National Park entry permit, 3333Rs Per person, Rs 26 US$ in equivalent.
Entry permit and requirements (About Visa)
To visit Nepal, you need a valid passport and a visa. You can quickly get an arrival visa at entry points or Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport. However, some people need a permit before they come, so it's good to check with the nearest Nepalese embassy.
Some nationalities that don't get visas from immigration entry points in Nepal are Nigeria, Iraq, Ghana, Afghanistan, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Palestine, and Ethiopia.
There are three types of visas, as in the table below:
Fifteen days, 30 days, or 90 days. The cost varies from $30 to $125 depending on how long you want to stay. You can pay in US dollars or other significant currencies, sometimes even Nepalese rupees.
If you're coming for business, you can get a suitable visa for up to 5 years. The fee depends on how much money you're investing. If you invest less than 10 million Nepalese rupees, it's $35 per month, $400 per year, or $1000 for five years. If you invest more, the fees are lower; if you invest more than 100 million Nepalese rupees, you don't have to pay any fees.
People from SAARC countries get a free 30-day visa. Indians don't need a visa, but they must show ID, like a passport or citizenship card. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months. And it's a good idea to have travel insurance which covers medical treatment and emergency evacuation.
Some places in Nepal require a separate permit to visit. Our TIMS card and Permit fee section provides more details.
Travel Insurance:
When traveling to Nepal, travel insurance that covers medical emergencies, accidents, and cancellations is essential. We recommend a policy of at least USD 100,000 coverage to provide financial security in case of unexpected events such as altitude sickness or accidents. Please Choose an insurance provider with a good reputation and ensure your policy covers chopper rescue costs in high-altitude areas. Take a copy of your insurance policy and emergency contact details for peace of mind during your trip.
Trip Safety:
We highly give top priority. We provide experienced guides with first aid kits and necessary safety gear to ensure a safe hand. Our team monitors weather and trail conditions and takes precautions to avoid risks. Before starting the trek, we discuss the trip to provide a clear understanding and ensure a reliable experience.
Guide and Porter Arrangement:
Our company, Asiana Treks and Tours, focuses on responsible tourism in Nepal. We make sure our guides and porters are well-trained in trekking and mountaineering. They know a lot about the areas we go to, including geography, history, customs, and culture. We train them regularly in safety, first aid, and environmental conservation. We follow guidelines to treat our porters fairly, providing them good pay, accommodation, and meals during treks. Our guides and porters are essential team members, and we appreciate their hard work. When you trek with us, you support ethical tourism in Nepal, making your trip meaningful and memorable.
Asiana Treks and Tours prioritizes your safety and enjoyment. Our knowledgeable guides, reliable equipment, and safety measures ensure a great trekking experience in Nepal.
Packing Checklist:
When planning a trip to Nepal, packing the right gear is crucial for a successful journey. This includes clothing, equipment, and accessories tailored to your trek and the time of year. If you're trekking, pack light unless you're hiring a porter. Consider renting or buying gear in Nepal to save space. Ensure your equipment is high-quality and in good condition to avoid problems in the mountains. Take our suggestions to prepare your baggage correctly. Lastly, double-check the weather forecast and ensure you have all the necessary items for a safe and comfortable trip.
Teahouse Facilities:
Guest houses are familiar places to stay while trekking in Nepal. They're simple lodges with rooms, eating areas, and toilets. Guest houses vary in quality but are affordable and convenient for trekkers. They offer a cozy place to rest after walking and serve Nepali and international food. Rooms usually have twin or bunk beds, and bathrooms are shared. They provide blankets and pillows. Our company offers sleeping bags, but bringing one for extra comfort is a good idea.
Safe drinking water:
Staying hydrated is essential while trekking in Nepal's Himalayan region. Tap water is available in lower areas, but you must purify it to keep you safe. Guest houses have mineral water along popular routes but can be costly. Our guide will assist you in buying a boil and filtering water. However, we suggest bringing a water filter or purification tablets and a Steri pen to treat water from natural sources along the trail, which is a good idea.
Toilet Facilities:
Most teahouses have Western-style flush toilets during mountain treks, especially at lower elevations. But as you go higher, find simple squat toilets along the trails and teahouses at higher altitudes. These toilets usually have water or toilet paper, but it's a good idea to bring your toilet paper just in case. You can also use restrooms at nearby teahouses or find a private spot along the trekking routes.
Internet Connectivity:
While trekking in the Himalayan region of Nepal, connecting with your family and friends is also a good idea. You can find internet access at some teahouses and lodges, but it might cost extra. The signal might be weak because of the remote location. You can also get internet access using a local SIM card and data packages available at Kathmandu airport or nearby shops. You'll have a passport-sized photo and a copy of your passport to get a SIM card. It's a good idea to compare prices and data packages from telecom companies like Ncell and Nepal Telecom before buying. Knowing about teahouse connectivity. Our guide will suggest connections.
Altitude Sickness and Acclimatisation:
Altitude sickness is common among hikers in Nepal's Himalayan Region. It happens when the body doesn't get enough oxygen at higher elevations, causing headaches and dizziness. Acclimatisation is essential to prevent this. It means gradually getting used to higher altitudes by resting, drinking fluids, and ascending slowly. Spending an extra day at lower elevations before going higher is the best way to avoid altitude sickness. Hydration is the main issue during trekking to prevent dehydration, which can worsen altitude sickness. Drinking plenty of water, tea, and soup can help. Trekkers can also take medicines like acetazolamide or dexamethasone to relieve symptoms, but it's best to consult a doctor first. Proper acclimatization techniques, like "climb high, sleep low," and staying hydrated, can reduce the risk of altitude sickness. Booking with an experienced guide can ensure you get the right advice and help during your trek.
Your trip day starts today when you arrive to Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Upon your arrival, you will be received by our representative at the airport. He will be carrying a signboard with our company’s name on it. Then you will be transferred to the tour hotel and checked in. A trip briefing will follow later today and the time will be notified to you by the representative who picks you up from the airport. We will come to meet and brief you about the trip at the fixed time. Until then just relax or explore a bit of surrounding.
We take you for a day tour of cultural heritage monuments in Kathmandu valley after breakfast. The tour will give you a mixed insight of history, culture, art, architecture and spirituality of Kathmandu valley. The sites include; Swoyambhunath aka Monkey Temple: The oldest of all sites in Kathmandu valley, Swoyambhunath is an important Buddhist spiritual site having the history over two thousand years old. This site has gained a popular name as monkey temple as this small forested hill is a good habitat for hundreds of monkeys. The visit there will heighten your spiritual and cultural experience. Patan City including Patan Durbar Square: A tour to medieval city of Patan gives you a great insight about ethnic Newari culture, Budhhist spirituality, religious harmony, art and architecture while you stroll around the charismatic alleys taking you to magnificent local community squares known as Bahal and eventually leading you to an incredible medieval palace square. The monuments and skill of the local artisans displayed on those monuments in the square will stun you with their unbelievable charm. Boudhanath Stupa: The largest of its kind in the world, this magnificent stupa is a very important center of faith for the people following Tibetan Buddhism. This place is nice Circular Square with the stunning stupa in the middle of it which spreads a lot of spiritual vibrations around the atmosphere.
The journey of the day starts very early today to drive to Shivalaya to the east from Kathmandu. Seven hours on the mountain road will take you to Shivalaya, a village in Sindhupalchok district. The road journey brings a wonderful view of the country life style and some majestic Himalayan panorama. The highway stretch of about 210 km can feel a little longer as the driving is slow on the mountain road but it’s definitely worthy to take as it provides wonderfully scenic views and good glimpses of life style on the way. Stay overnight at a lodge.
Today is the first day of trekking and it takes you to Bhandar. The trail winds up and down the hill via several fascinating places with beautiful sights to see. We go past the villages of Bharkaur and to Mali Danda before heading towards Khimti valley. Passing through Khasrubas and Mahabir, we eventually make it to Bhandar for overnight stay.
We start early trek from Bhandar to Namkheli today. Walking down on the Bhandar valley, we pass through several beautiful houses, fields and meadows. When we reach the river, we cross a suspension bridge to go towards Namkheli instead of going along the river bank on the route to Everest base camp. It’s a steep uphill walk after crossing the bridge up to Namkheli. When we reach Namkheli, we can enjoy beautiful view of Numbur Himal. Stay overnight at Namkheli.
About six hours of walk today takes us to Ngamor Gompa from Namkheli. We leave Namkheli behind and head on our trek towards Ngamor Gompa. Traversing the beautiful trail, we are gaining a good level of elevation to be at 2800 meters above sea level.
We are going to gain almost 1200 meters of elevation on our walk to Pikey Danda, our penultimate destination of the trip. The walk brings a rich experience of nature walking with some beautiful view on the sight. Stay overnight at Pikey Danda.
We wake up early in the morning to hike to Pikey Peak for a spectacular sunrise over the Himalayas. We are going to witness what Hilary called the best view of the Everest and the range. The stunning panoramic view of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Thamserku, Amadablam and many other peaks in the range takes our breath away. When the sun starts throwing the first warm rays on the mountain range, we see the magical color effects upon them. We descend to our tea house for breakfast and later head down towards Junbensi. Stay overnight at Junbensi.
We start our trek for the day to Phaplu today. We are going to trek for about 5 hours passing through many beautiful places before reaching Phaplu, a small village with airport in Solu region.
We fly back to Kathmandu today. Once we reach Kathmandu, we will have some free and relaxing time to wander around. We will go for farewell dinner with Nepali cultural show.
You will be transferred to airport as per your flight schedule. We will pick you up from the hotel three hours prior to your flight time.