Nepal Guide

10 Facts about Nepal that may seem fun but also so true:

• Nepal is home to the world’s highest mountain, Mt. Everest at 8,848m
• Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal
• Yeti, the elusive snowman, is believed to roam the mountains of Nepal
• Nepal has the thickest concentration of World Heritage Sites in a single area
• Momo: A type of meat/veggie dumpling which is a super popular dish hereabouts
• 124th: Nepal’s football team’s best FIFA ranking to date
• 54.6 cm: The height of the world’s shortest man who is Nepalese
• Nepal is the only country on earth that does not have a rectangular flag
• Nepal is a secular country with 80.62 % of the population being Hindus followed by Buddhists (10.74%)
• The download speed in Nepal is one of the slowest in the world at only 6.4mbps. (17.2 Mbps, global average)

Entering in Nepal

a. By Air

There are twelve major international airlines that fly into Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is the national flag carrier of Nepal with flight connections to Delhi & Mumbai in India; Bangkok in Thailand; Osaka, Japan; Hong Kong, Shanghai in China; Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia; Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore.

Other international airlines connecting Kathmandu to other parts of the world are Biman Bangladesh to Dhaka in Bangladesh; China Airlines to Lhasa in Tibetan Autonomous Region of China; Druk Air to Paro in Bhutan; Gulf Air to Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates; Indian Airlines to Delhi, Kolkata, and Varanasi in India; Qatar Airways to Doha in Qatar; and Thai International to Bangkok in Thailand. With these destinations, there are connecting flights onward home all over Europe and the West.

b. By Road

All visitors entering Nepal by land must have a passport with a valid visa and can only use these designated entry points i.e. Nepal-India or Nepal-China border and may enter from these points:

• Kakarvitta
• Birgunj
• Belhiya
• Bhairahawa
• Nepalgunj
• Dhangadi
• Mahendranagar in the Nepal-India border
• Kodari in the Nepal-China border

Please note, that overland tourists entering Nepal with their vehicles must possess an international carnet or complete customs formalities.

Driving into Nepal

Overland tourists entering Nepal with their vehicles must possess an international carnet. For more information on customs matters, Please Click on http://www.customs.gov.np (official Website of the Department of Customs) or Please Contact the Chief Customs Administrator, TIA Customs Office at 4470110, 4472266

For moving around the country by air, there is an excellent domestic air network and helicopter charter services; luxury AC tourist coaches are also available for surface travel. ‘Dream Peak Adventure’ will assist you in making your travel arrangements within Nepal as per your trip itinerary.

Passport and Visa Information

Visas are conveniently available on arrival at the international airport in Kathmandu and at all land border crossings that are open to foreigners, as long as you have passport photos in hand and can pay the visa fee in foreign currency (some crossings insist on payment in US dollars). Your passport must be valid for at least six months, and you will need a whole free page for your visa.

All foreign nationals are required to arrange a visa to enter Nepal. A Nepalese Visa can be obtained either before your arrival at a Nepalese embassy abroad or on arrival in Kathmandu at the airport. But nationals from Afghanistan, Iraq, Cameroon, Ghana, Somalia, Swaziland, Palestine, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Liberia will need to obtain visas from Nepal Embassies or Diplomatic Missions in their respective countries, as they do not get a visa on arrival at the immigration entry points of Nepal. A valid passport for at least six months and recent digital photos (size: 1.5" x 1.5") will be required. The following fees either in USD dollars cash or the equivalent local currency will be required to obtain your visas for Nepal.

Visa Facility Duration Fee

• Multiple entry 15 days                       US$ 25 or equivalent Nepalese currency
• Multiple entry 30 days                       US$ 40 or equivalent Nepalese currency
• Multiple entry 90 days                       US$ 100 or equivalent Nepalese currency

For further information please visit:

http://online.nepalimmigration.gov.np/tourist-visa

Visa Extension

Tourists can stay for a maximum of 150 days in a visa year (Jan 1 to Dec 31).

Travel Insurance

A travel-insurance policy that covers theft, loss, evacuation, and medical bills are the most suitable one. There are various policies available, so check the small print carefully. Make sure you are covered for adventure activities done at high altitude. Since you reach above 4,000 meters on several treks in Nepal, it is best to choose a policy that covers medical and emergency repatriation, including helicopter evacuation for trekkers and general medical evacuation.

You must also be prepared for the fact that most medical treatment and hospital bills must be paid at the point of arrival of the patient. So it’s wise to choose a policy that pays doctors or hospitals directly rather than you having to pay on the spot and claim later. This could be a hassle you’d want to stay far from.

Currency

The Nepalese Rupee is the currency of Nepal. Our currency rankings show that the most popular Nepal Rupee exchange rate is the NPR to the GBP rate. The currency code for Nepalese Rupees is NPR.

Banking & Foreign Exchange

Payment in hotels, travel agencies, and airlines are made in foreign exchange. There are plenty of cash machines or ATMs in cities, and most will accept cards issued by any of the major international banking networks (Plus, Cirrus, etc.). The majority of ATM's currently have a maximum withdrawal amount of NPR 30,000 (although you can make repeated withdrawals).

Major Credit Cards such as Visa, MasterCard, JCB, and American Express, are readily accepted at most tourist class hotels, restaurants, airlines, and major tourist merchants. Again there is always a transaction fee for processing the cards (this charge is enforced by the banks and not the merchants so please don't ask for a discount to remove this), and this is usually around 4% (although American Express fees are considerably higher at around 7%).

Electricity

In Nepal 220-240 volts/50 HZ power is normally used throughout the country. Sockets usually take plugs with three round pins. The plugs can be both small and large in size. Some sockets take plugs with two round pins as well.

It is important that you have both a voltage converter and a plug adapter to use your electrical appliances in Nepal. You may even need many different plug adapters if you are planning to travel to more than one country. We recommend getting a universal adapter and converter kit if you are planning to bring many different electrical items. All laptops and some electric razors take universal voltages. Check your equipment to be sure. If the only electronic device that you are bringing with you is an electric shaver, you may consider buying a model that is not too heavy. Alternately, you can purchase them in Kathmandu and other cities but not in remote locations.

Voltage fluctuation is very common in Nepal, and it is advised that you use an adapter with a quality power surge protector for your electronics. The good news is that the government has stopped load shedding in most parts of the country. The ancient valley of Kathmandu now enjoys power supply throughout the year, we don’t have any more load shedding in the dry season.

Business Hours

is five hours 45 minutes ahead of GMT. Government offices are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday in summer and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in winter. On Fridays Government, offices open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Most business offices including travel, trekking, and tour agencies are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Friday. Embassies and international organizations are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Most shops open after 10 a.m. and close at about 8 p.m. and are usually closed on Saturdays and public holidays as designated by the Government of Nepal. The public holidays are based on international calendars and also based on the lunar calendar.

Communication

Telephone Services

Landline and mobile phone services are available throughout Nepal. Networks cover Kathmandu, major cities and towns, and most of Nepal, except for some rural Himalayan outposts. Nepal Telecommunications Corporation at Tripureshwor, Kathmandu, is the national service provider. There are also private service providers like Ncell. Hotels and private communications centers also provide long-distance telephone and fax facilities. For calling from outside, country code for Nepal is 977, and the area code for Kathmandu is 1.

To call Nepal from other countries:

00 + country code (977) + city code + telephone number

Internet Services

The Internet is easily accessible in Nepal. There are countless Internet cafes and communication centers in major cities. Wi-Fi services are also provided at various hotels and restaurants. Visitors only have to find a place they are most comfortable in to use the facilities to keep in touch with home. Internet services are also offered by hotels.

Postal Services

The Central Post Office located near Dharahara Tower is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Friday. The counters are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and provide stamps, postcards, and aerograms. Post Restante is available from Sunday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Express Mail Service (EMS) is available at GPO and Thamel, Basantapur and airport postal counters.

Purchase of Goods

Shops/emporia selling goods or providing services to foreign tourists are permitted to accept payment in foreign exchange in the following manner:

1. Against internationally recognized Credit Cards

2. By bank drafts were drawn in approved foreign currencies on banks in Nepal;

3. By travelers’ cheque in foreign currency

Foreign tourists are permitted by Nepalese Customs to take with them goods purchased in Nepal (except banned items) without any value limit, provided the goods are purchased out of funds brought from abroad. Some shops and emporia also undertake to send the goods abroad as unaccompanied baggage at the request of the tourists.

Cultural Etiquette

Some tips on the common etiquette practiced by Nepali people should be useful to visitors.

• The form of greeting in Nepal is “Namaste” performing by joining both palms together. It means “the divine in me salutes the divine in you”
• As a mark of respect Nepalese usually take their shoes off before entering someone’s house or place of worship
• Food or material that has been touched by another person’s mouth is considered impure or “jutho” and, therefore, is not accepted unless among close friends or family
• Touching something with feet or using the left hand to give or take may not be considered auspicious
• Women wearing skimpy outfits are frowned upon especially in the rural parts of the country
• As a part of the tradition, some Hindu temples do not allow non-Hindus to enter
• Leather articles are prohibited inside some temple areas
• Walking around temples or stupas is traditionally done clockwise
• To avoid conflict, photography is carried out after receiving permission from the object or person
• Public displays of affection are considered scandalous
• Nodding of the head usually means “Yes” while shaking of the head means a “No”. A slight dangling of head from left to right means “OK”

Responsible Tourism

Please be a responsible tourist. Like someone once said, we request you to: “Leave only footprints, take only photographs.”

• Use designated routes, campsites, and resting places to reduce trampling & other negative environmental impacts
• Respect local culture and traditions, use homestays, locally owned hotels/lodges or campsites as much as possible to support the local livelihood
• Avoid/minimize using firewood. Use common space for heating. Opt for alternatives to minimize deforestation
• Maintain cleanliness and hygiene. Use the litter box locally available. Carry back your garbage while traveling through ecologically sensitive areas
• Encourage to place mobile toilets at a considerable distance from sources of water, riverbanks, and springs while camping along the riversides
• Use the services of local guides and porters as much as possible to explore more about the local environment and culture
• Money spent here will contribute directly to the local livelihood, women’s empowerment and environmental conservation
• Before you begin your journey in the woods, we request you to abide by the above guidelines to safeguard the nature and culture of the areas you trek to and be a responsible tourist. The Himalayas are yours as much as it’s ours…Love it!!

Dream Peak Adventure figures these Useful Nepali phrases and expressions will be enough to win the hearts of the locals when you holiday in Nepal, it’s not difficult to learn and memorize:

English: Nepali

Hello: Namaste

How are you?- Tapaiilai Kasto Cha?

I am fine - Malai Thik Cha

Have you eaten? (Used often as an informal greeting)- Khana khannu bhayo?

Thank You- Dhanyabaad

What is your name?- Tapaiiko naam ke ho?

My name is Adam- Mero naam Adam ho

Excuse me/pardon me/ sorry- Maaph garnuhos

I don’t understand- Maile bhujhina

I understand- Maile bhujhe

I hope we meet again- Pheri bhetaunla