Who it's for
Is Nepal right for your trip?
Every country is somebody's favourite. The honest question is whether it is yours, and for this trip.
This is your trip if…
- You want a trek that matches your fitness and available days, not the most famous one.
- You will respect acclimatisation schedules and accept that weather cancels flights.
- Temples, festivals and Newar architecture interest you as much as peaks.
- You are comfortable with teahouse simplicity, cold nights and long jeep roads.
Think twice if…
- You expect fixed timings from mountain flights or highland roads.
- You want luxury throughout rather than a comfortable base and simple trail lodging.
- Dust, traffic and power cuts in Kathmandu would spoil the trip.
- You cannot spare buffer days and would fly home the day after a Lukla return.
Best time to visit
When is the best time to visit Nepal?
October–November for clear mountain views; March–April for rhododendrons and warmer trails. Autumn from October to November is the prime season: post-monsoon air is clear, trails are dry and the big festivals fall in this window, so permits, lodges and flights are in demand. Spring from March to April is warmer with rhododendron forests in bloom and haze building by May. Winter is cold but clear at trekking altitudes and fine for the lowlands and valley. The monsoon from June to September brings leeches, landslides, cancelled flights and hidden peaks, though the trans-Himalayan Mustang and Dolpo stay in rain shadow.
- Best
Autumn
October–November
Clear skies, stable weather and Dashain and Tihar festivals; book Lukla flights and popular lodges early.
- Good
Winter
December–February
Cold and clear, with snow closing high passes but lower treks, Chitwan and the valley all workable; Kathmandu mornings are foggy and smoky.
- Best
Spring
March–May
Warm trails, rhododendrons and long days; haze reduces views from late April and pre-monsoon storms build in May.
- Avoid
Monsoon
June–September
Rain, landslides and leeches on most routes and frequent Lukla cancellations; only Upper Mustang and Dolpo stay dry.
Climate · monthly normals
Valley city at 1,400 m: crisp winter mornings, warm springs and a monsoon that delivers most of the year's rain between June and September.
For contrast
Lakeside at 820 m beneath the Annapurnas: warmer than the capital and one of the wettest places in Nepal in July and August.
Festivals and events
What is worth planning around?
Dates a plan should either aim for or steer clear of. Both are useful; the second saves more money.
Fifteen days in September or October
Dashain
Nationwide, strongest in the Kathmandu valley
Nepal's biggest festival closes offices and empties cities as families return home for blessings, kite-flying and animal sacrifice on the main days.
Transport is packed before and after; trekking areas run normally but permits and flights need earlier booking.
Five days in October or November
Tihar
Nationwide
The festival of lights honours crows, dogs, cows and siblings in turn; Kathmandu's streets glow with oil lamps and marigold garlands.
Eight days in September
Indra Jatra
Kathmandu Durbar Square
Masked dances, the chariot of the Kumari living goddess and the raising of a ceremonial pole fill the old city in the valley's most theatrical Newar festival.
Around 14 April
Bisket Jatra
Bhaktapur
The Nepali New Year is marked with a tug-of-war over a huge chariot and a pole-toppling ceremony that draws enormous crowds into Bhaktapur's squares.
Crowds are intense and occasionally dangerous; watch from a rooftop rather than the square itself.
Where to go
Where should you go in Nepal?
The places that earn their nights, most important first, with how long each deserves. Nobody needs all of them on one trip.
City and local guides
6 worked-out stopsMap numbers match the local guide cards.
- 01
Kathmandu valley
South Asia
travel base3–4 daysKathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur each have a royal square, and Boudhanath, Swayambhunath and Pashupatinath mark the valley's Buddhist and Hindu poles. Sleep in Patan or Boudha to escape Thamel's traffic.
Best time: October–March
Explore Kathmandu valley - 02
Pokhara
South Asia
city2–3 daysPokhara is where treks begin and end. Phewa Lake, the World Peace Pagoda and a dawn at Sarangkot fill the days between, and its lakeside strip has the best recovery food in the country.
Best time: October–March
Explore Pokhara - 03
Annapurna region
South Asia
travel base5–14 daysPoon Hill, Mardi Himal, Annapurna Base Camp and the circuit all start within a jeep ride of Pokhara. No flight risk, lodges everywhere and a real choice of length and altitude.
Best time: June–September or December–March
Explore Annapurna region - 04
Everest region
South Asia
travel base12–16 daysThe Khumbu starts with a weather-bound flight to Lukla and climbs through Namche and Tengboche to Base Camp and Kala Patthar. Acclimatisation days are non-negotiable and buffer days save trips.
Best time: June–September or December–March
Explore Everest region - 05
Chitwan
South Asia
travel base2–3 daysChitwan National Park holds one-horned rhinos, gharials and a slim chance of tiger, explored by jeep, canoe and walking safaris from Sauraha or the quieter western lodges.
Best time: October–March
Explore Chitwan - 06
Lumbini & Bandipur
South Asia
travel base2–3 daysLumbini's Maya Devi temple and monastic zone sit in the hot Terai near the Indian border; Bandipur, on the road between Pokhara and Kathmandu, is a restored ridge-top trading town with mountain views.
Best time: October–March
Explore Lumbini & Bandipur
Things to do
What should you do in Nepal?
Not a bucket list — the handful of things that make this country this country, with the timing catch that stops people doing them well.
- 01
Build the acclimatisation curve
Namche Bazaar and Dingboche
On the Everest trail, rest days at Namche and Dingboche are what get most people to Base Camp; skipping them is the usual reason for helicopter evacuations.
- 02
Fly Lukla from Ramechhap when required
Lukla
In peak months Lukla flights depart from Ramechhap, four to five hours by road from Kathmandu; plan the pre-dawn transfer and two buffer days for the return.
- 03
Choose the Annapurna walk by days, not fame
Ghandruk, Mardi Himal and Manang
Poon Hill suits four days, Mardi Himal a week, Base Camp ten and the circuit two weeks; the road has shortened the circuit's start and end.
- 04
Stay in Patan or Bhaktapur
Kathmandu valley
The two smaller royal cities keep their Newar courtyards and workshops without Thamel's noise; both are an easy taxi ride from the airport.
- 05
Take Chitwan on foot and by canoe
Chitwan National Park
Walking safaris with two guides and a dugout canoe show the grassland differently from a jeep; skip elephant rides, which the park is phasing out.
- 06
Give the valley a dawn
Boudhanath and Swayambhunath
Circle Boudhanath's stupa with the morning pilgrims, then climb Swayambhunath before the day-trip crowds and the monkeys wake up.
How to get around
How do you get around Nepal?
Roads are slow: Kathmandu to Pokhara is 200 km and six to eight hours, with Chitwan and Bandipur sitting on or near the route. Domestic flights save time to Pokhara, Bharatpur and Lukla but cancel in poor visibility. Trek access is by jeep to trailheads in the Annapurna region and by air to Lukla for Everest. Cities run on taxis and ride-hailing apps.
Private vehicle or jeep
A hired car with driver links Kathmandu, Bandipur, Pokhara, Chitwan and Lumbini at your own pace, and shared or private jeeps reach Annapurna trailheads. Roads are rough and journeys long; build in stops.
Rule of thumb: Valley–Pokhara–Chitwan → road; Everest → fly.
Domestic flights
Buddha Air and Yeti Air connect Kathmandu with Pokhara and Bharatpur; Lukla and Jomsom flights are weather-bound and often depart from Ramechhap in peak season. Keep two buffer days after any mountain flight.
Tourist and local buses
Tourist coaches run Kathmandu–Pokhara–Chitwan daily and are the budget standard; local buses reach everywhere else slowly. Avoid overnight services.
On foot with guide and porter
Trekking is the transport on both major routes; a guide is now required in national parks and a porter changes the experience for most people.
Passes and cards, honestly
- Trekking requires a TIMS card and the relevant conservation-area or national-park permit; agencies arrange both, and restricted areas such as Upper Mustang need a separate costly permit.
- There is no transport pass; tourist bus tickets and domestic flights are bought per journey.
Travel tips
What should you know before you go?
The things locals assume you know. Most travellers learn them by getting one wrong on day two.
- Guides and porters are the industry
- Since 2023 solo trekking in national parks requires a licensed guide; hire through agencies that insure porters, cap loads at 25 kg and provide proper gear.
- Temples have rules
- Many Hindu temples, including Pashupatinath's inner courtyard, admit only Hindus; walk clockwise around stupas and mani walls, and ask before photographing rituals or cremations.
- Newar cities are not museums
- Patan and Bhaktapur's squares are still used for daily worship, festivals and drying grain; the entrance fee funds post-earthquake rebuilding that continues.
- Mountains are sacred and shared
- Sherpa, Gurung and Tamang communities live along the trails; buy from their lodges, respect prayer flags and leave summits like Machapuchare to their prohibition.
- Nepal is not India
- The kingdom was never colonised and became a republic in 2008; comparisons to its neighbours land badly, and politics, load-shedding and road-building are daily conversation.
Travel basics
Visa, money, SIM cards and more
The boring section, which is why it is the one people skip and then regret at the airport.
visa
On arrival, with cash and patience
Fill in the online form within 15 days of arrival, then pay at the airport in major currency; 15-, 30- and 90-day options exist and extensions are handled in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
money
Cash for trails, cards in cities
ATMs cluster in Kathmandu and Pokhara and vanish on treks; carry enough rupees for the whole trail plus tips, and note that Indian 500 and 2,000 notes are not accepted.
connectivity
SIM plus lodge wifi
Ncell and NTC SIMs are sold at the airport; Everest Link wifi cards work in the Khumbu, but expect slow or absent data above Namche and on most Annapurna trails.
plugs
Type C, D and M sockets
230 V; lodges charge for device charging at altitude and power cuts persist, so carry a power bank and a universal adapter.
safety
Altitude and roads
Acute mountain sickness is the main trekking risk: ascend slowly and descend at the first serious symptoms. Highway accidents are common, so avoid night buses and check operators.
health
Evacuation insurance is mandatory in practice
Buy a policy that covers helicopter rescue above your maximum altitude; water purification tablets or a filter beat bottled water on trails, and check current vaccination advice for Chitwan and the Terai.
Trip costs
How much does a trip to Nepal cost?
A mid-range trip usually needs about €35–€100 per person per day, before long-haul flights. Teahouse trekking, local food and guesthouses make Nepal cheap on the ground, while permits, guides, porters, Lukla flights, helicopter contingencies and travel insurance with evacuation cover are the real costs. A guided Everest Base Camp trek runs from about €1,200 with a basic agency to several thousand with a premium operator.
Shoestring
€€20–35
per person / day
- Stay
- Guesthouse or teahouse
- Food
- Dal bhat, momos and lodge menus
- Transport
- Tourist buses and local jeeps
The trekking staple; prices rise with altitude on every trail.
Mid-range
€€50–100
per person / day
- Stay
- Boutique guesthouse or good hotel, standard teahouses
- Food
- Restaurants in cities, lodge meals on trail
- Transport
- Domestic flights, private transfers, guide and porter
Enough for a guided trek with insurance and buffer days.
Comfortable
€€150–350
per person / day
- Stay
- Heritage hotel, luxury lodge or Chitwan camp
- Food
- Hotel dining and Newar feast experiences
- Transport
- Private vehicles, helicopters and premium trekking operators
Buys comfort lodges on the Everest and Annapurna trails and helicopter flexibility.
Sample itineraries
Starting points, not scripts
Each of these is a real request you could hand to Menta as written. Change the people, the month and the pace; the structure will hold.
Valley and Annapurna taster
12 days- Kathmandu
- Bhaktapur
- Pokhara
- Poon Hill trek
- Pokhara
Three valley days, a road or flight to Pokhara and the four-day Poon Hill loop with lakeside recovery either side.
Everest Base Camp with buffer
18 days- Kathmandu
- Lukla
- Namche Bazaar
- Everest Base Camp
- Lukla
- Kathmandu
The classic Khumbu trek with acclimatisation days at Namche and Dingboche and two buffer days for the flight home.
Mountains, jungle and pilgrimage
16 days- Kathmandu
- Bandipur
- Pokhara
- Mardi Himal trek
- Chitwan
- Lumbini
A road loop that pairs a week-long trek with Chitwan wildlife and Lumbini's monastic zone before returning to the capital.
Common questions
Quick answers about travel in Nepal
Short answers to the questions people ask before they book. Use the full guide for the detail and trade-offs.
- When is the best time to visit Nepal?
- October–November for clear mountain views; March–April for rhododendrons and warmer trails. Autumn from October to November is the prime season: post-monsoon air is clear, trails are dry and the big festivals fall in this window, so permits, lodges and flights are in demand. Spring from March to April is warmer with rhododendron forests in bloom and haze building by May. Winter is cold but clear at trekking altitudes and fine for the lowlands and valley. The monsoon from June to September brings leeches, landslides, cancelled flights and hidden peaks, though the trans-Himalayan Mustang and Dolpo stay in rain shadow.
- How much does a trip to Nepal cost?
- Plan about €35–€100 per person per day for a mid-range trip, before long-haul flights. Teahouse trekking, local food and guesthouses make Nepal cheap on the ground, while permits, guides, porters, Lukla flights, helicopter contingencies and travel insurance with evacuation cover are the real costs. A guided Everest Base Camp trek runs from about €1,200 with a basic agency to several thousand with a premium operator.
- How do you get around Nepal?
- Roads are slow: Kathmandu to Pokhara is 200 km and six to eight hours, with Chitwan and Bandipur sitting on or near the route. Domestic flights save time to Pokhara, Bharatpur and Lukla but cancel in poor visibility. Trek access is by jeep to trailheads in the Annapurna region and by air to Lukla for Everest. Cities run on taxis and ride-hailing apps.
More destinations
Where else?
- JapanA megacity, a thousand temples and trains that leave to the second.
- ChinaImperial capitals, fast trains, regional tables and landscapes at continental scale.
- ItalyThree civilisations' worth of cities, and lunch takes two hours.
- SpainEurope's longest high-speed rail, five cultures, and lunch at three.
- PortugalTwo hilly cities, a valley of port and a long Atlantic coast.
- GreeceAntiquity, two hundred inhabited islands and a ferry timetable to respect.
- IcelandOne road, no trains, and weather that rewrites the plan daily.
- ThailandStreet food, temples, two coasts and Asia's cheapest good hotel room.
- VietnamTwo capitals, one slow railway and the best street food in Asia.
- MoroccoMedinas, the High Atlas and the Sahara, a ferry ride from Europe.
- MexicoA 3,000-year-old civilisation, the best street food on earth, and two coastlines.
- Costa RicaCloud forest, two coasts, volcanoes and wildlife best seen slowly.
- The BahamasShallow banks, island towns and water-led journeys between cays.
- BarbadosCoral coasts, Bajan food and an island with several speeds.
- CubaLayered cities, karst valleys and a journey that needs patience.
- Dominican RepublicCaribbean cities, mountain interiors and coasts beyond the resort gate.
- JamaicaMusic, mountain rain, strong food and coasts with different rhythms.
- FranceGreat cities, long lunches, mountains and a coast for every mood.
- United KingdomHistoric cities, wild coastlines and weather worth planning around.
- GermanyBig culture, small cities, forests and trains with caveats.
- NetherlandsCanals, art, cycling and small cities that reward staying longer.
- CroatiaAdriatic islands, stone towns, clear water and a crowded August.
- TurkeyMosques, markets, ancient cities and coastlines on a huge scale.
- SwitzerlandAlps, lakes and trains that make the expensive route feel simple.
- AustriaImperial cities, Alpine lakes, music and excellent rail links.
- NorwayFjords, midnight light, coastal towns and beautiful long distances.
- SwedenArchipelagoes, forests, design and summer light that lasts.
- FinlandLakes, saunas, forests and a capital built for slow days.
- CzechiaBeautiful old towns, serious beer and an easy train route beyond Prague.
- PolandDeep history, lively cities, forests, lakes and mountain food.
- IrelandAtlantic cliffs, music-filled towns, green roads and weather in charge.
- AustraliaBig distances, old landscapes, city beaches and wildlife in the wild.
- New ZealandVolcanoes, fjords, coast roads and a country made for the outdoors.
- IndonesiaVolcanoes, rice fields, reefs and thousands of islands to choose from.
- South KoreaFast cities, quiet temples, mountain trails and food at every hour.
- United StatesHuge landscapes, distinct cities and a route that must respect the map.
- CanadaBig wilderness, thoughtful cities and distances that need their own plan.
- ArgentinaBig-city appetite, Andean wine country and Patagonia at full scale.
- BrazilAtlantic cities, living cultures and continental-scale nature.
- ChileDesert sky, Pacific cities, volcano lakes and Patagonian wind.
- ColombiaHighland cities, Caribbean history and coffee-country roads.
- PeruAndean cities, living food cultures and Amazon headwaters.
- IndiaMughal cities, desert forts, sacred rivers and a monsoon coast.
- Sri LankaTea hills, ancient cities and two coasts with opposite seasons.
- MalaysiaHawker cities, tea hills, island coasts and Bornean rainforest.
- PhilippinesIsland archipelago where the flight map decides the trip.
- CambodiaAngkor's stone, the Mekong's rhythm and a country still healing.
- TaiwanNight markets, high-speed rail and a mountainous Pacific island.
- LaosSlow Mekong days, mountain roads and a new railway.
- United Arab EmiratesSeven emirates, two big cities and a mountain-and-desert hinterland.
- JordanPetra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea on one compact road.
- OmanForts, wadis, dunes and turtle beaches on the Arabian Sea.
- EgyptThe Nile corridor, Red Sea reefs and five thousand years in sequence.
- South AfricaTwo oceans, self-drive safari and cities with unfinished histories.
- KenyaSavannah, highlands and a Swahili coast, sequenced by rain.
- TanzaniaThe northern circuit, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar, priced honestly.
- NamibiaSelf-drive desert, empty roads and Africa's darkest skies.
- BelgiumFlemish art cities, Brussels institutions and forested Ardennes valleys.
- DenmarkCopenhagen design, island villages and long Jutland beaches.
- HungaryThermal baths, Danube grandeur, wine hills and the Great Plain.
- SloveniaAlpine lakes, an emerald river, karst caves and a Venetian coast.
- GeorgiaCaucasus villages, eight-thousand-year wine and a serious table.
- MontenegroA fjord-like bay, limestone peaks and a short, crowded coast.
- AlbaniaOttoman towns, an Ionian riviera and a raw alpine north.
- RomaniaSaxon towns, Carpathian wilderness and Europe's largest wetland.
- BulgariaMonasteries, mountain villages and a working Black Sea coast.
- SlovakiaAlpine peaks, castle ruins and wooden churches on a rail spine.
- Bosnia and HerzegovinaOttoman bazaars, stone bridges and wild rivers between mountains.
- EstoniaMedieval Tallinn, bog boardwalks, island manors and long white nights.
- LatviaArt Nouveau Riga, castle valleys, a wooden spa coast and deep forest.
- LithuaniaBaroque Vilnius, a dune spit, lake castles and pine spa towns.
- MaltaLimestone capital, Neolithic temples, harbour ferries and Gozo's slow coast.
- CyprusDivided capital, mosaic coast, painted mountain churches and a wild peninsula.
- SingaporeA dense, humid city-state that rewards districts, not landmarks.
- MaldivesAtolls, reefs and two very different ways to stay.
- BhutanHimalayan valleys, dzongs and a daily fee that shapes everything.
- UzbekistanSilk Road cities linked by fast trains and desert roads.
- EthiopiaRock churches, highland monasteries and a distinct calendar.
- UgandaGorillas, chimpanzees, the Nile and crater-lake forests.
- RwandaGorilla volcanoes, tea hills and a compact, orderly country.
- BotswanaDelta floods, elephant rivers and empty Kalahari pans.
- ZambiaWalking safaris, wild rivers and the Zambian side of Victoria Falls.
- MadagascarLemurs, baobabs and an island that evolved apart.
- MauritiusLagoon coasts, a volcanic interior and a Creole, Indian and Chinese island.
- TunisiaCarthage, medinas, Roman arenas and the Saharan oases.
- GuatemalaMaya highlands, volcano lakes and a Petén forest of ruins.
- PanamaCanal city, Caribbean archipelagos and cloud-forest coffee.
- EcuadorVolcano avenue, cloud forest, Amazon edge and the Galápagos.
- BoliviaAltiplano salt, Aymara cities and a wide Amazon lowland.
- UruguayCalm capital, Atlantic beaches and slow wine country.
- FijiReef islands, village life and two big green mainlands.
- SerbiaDanube cities, monastery hills and long-table hospitality.
- North MacedoniaOhrid's lake, Ottoman bazaars and mountain villages in a small compass.
- KosovoEurope's youngest country: café capital, Ottoman Prizren and alpine valleys.
- MoldovaUnderground wine cities, cliff monasteries and Europe's least-visited country.
- ArmeniaStone monasteries, Ararat views and a capital that stays up late.
- AzerbaijanCaspian capital, mud volcanoes and Caucasus villages above the tea plains.
- LuxembourgFortress capital, Moselle wine and Ardennes castles by free bus.
- AndorraPyrenean principality of ski valleys, Romanesque chapels and thermal spas.
- Faroe IslandsEighteen basalt islands of sea cliffs, tunnels and turf-roofed villages.
- GreenlandIcebergs, ice sheet and Inuit towns reached only by air and sea.
- KazakhstanTian Shan foothills, steppe capital and canyon country by air.
- KyrgyzstanYurt stays, alpine lakes and horse treks in the Tian Shan.
- TajikistanPamir Highway, Wakhan villages and turquoise Fann lakes.
- PakistanMughal Lahore and the Karakoram, planned region by region.
- BangladeshRiver delta, mangrove tigers, tea gardens and Dhaka's old city.
- Hong KongVertical harbour city, outlying islands and surprising country parks.
- BruneiWater village, gilded mosques and untouched Borneo rainforest.
- Timor-LesteReef walls, mountain villages and a young nation's coastline.
- Saudi ArabiaNabataean tombs, Red Sea reefs and a fast-changing kingdom.
- QatarA compact Gulf peninsula built around one polished capital.
- GhanaAtlantic forts, Ashanti heritage and a warm, workable West Africa.
- SenegalDakar's music, Gorée's memory and delta and river landscapes.
- Cape VerdeTen Atlantic islands of morna, volcanoes and trade winds.
- SeychellesGranite islands, coral atolls and Creole ease in the Indian Ocean.
- MozambiqueIndian Ocean coast, dhow islands and a restored savanna.
- ZimbabweVictoria Falls, walking safaris and Africa's largest ancient stone city.
- MalawiA freshwater sea, restored parks and high plateaus in one small country.
- EswatiniA small kingdom of royal ceremony, rhino reserves and highveld hikes.
- LesothoThe mountain kingdom: pony treks, high passes and Basotho villages.
- BelizeBarrier reef, Maya cities and Garifuna coast in one small country.
- HondurasBay Islands diving, Copán's carved city and cloud-forest highlands.
- El SalvadorSurf coast, volcano towns and a small country in rapid change.
- NicaraguaColonial cities, twin-volcano island and two very different coasts.
- Trinidad and TobagoCarnival, ibis and doubles on Trinidad; reef and calm on Tobago.
- Saint LuciaThe Pitons, rainforest ridges and Kwéyòl villages on one green island.
- ParaguayRiver cities, Jesuit ruins and the enormous quiet of the Chaco.
- SamoaTwo volcanic islands, village fales and fa'a Samoa on its own terms.
- TongaA Polynesian kingdom of four island groups, whales and strict Sundays.
- VanuatuActive volcanoes, kastom villages and eighty islands of Melanesia.
- Cook IslandsRarotonga's ring road, Aitutaki's lagoon and atolls nobody reaches.
Nepal is a good trip. Make it your trip.
Everything on this page is context Menta already has. Add the people going, the dates and what you actually care about, and the plan starts smarter than a blank chat.
Two journeys free. No payment details. 0 % markup on bookings.
Start planning NepalGuide last reviewed 2026-09. Check visa rules against your own passport before you book.