With amazing natural beauty and immense spiritual kindness, Nepal attracts tourists from different countries to travel to this land. Located between the majestic Himalaya Mountains, Nepal is considered a masterpiece of nature. Although Nepal is a small landlocked country, it is one of the best destinations in the world. It has challenging trekking routes, breathtaking glaciers, and picturesque valleys. Whether you’re exploring Kathmandu Valley, trekking the Annapurna Mountains, tracking rhinos and tigers in Chitwan, or venturing to Everest Base Camp, this exhaustive list of things to do in Nepal caters to people of all interests.
How to Get to Nepal?
Tourists can travel to Nepal by air or by car or by railway which depends on your departure place, distance, and your preference.
1. By Air
Taking flights to the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal seems to be a fast and convenient way to travel to Nepal. Currently, Tribhuvan International Airport is the only international airport in Nepal. By the way, the airport is just 6km away from downtown, so it’s easy and cheap to take a taxi there. Every year, from October to November and from February to March are the peak tourist seasons in Nepal, so please book the flight tickets in advance.
From England and Ireland
There are no direct flights from London, Ireland or other European countries to Kathmandu, so there’s a stopover during the flight journey. And the ticket fare varies in seasons, from £650-900 in the peak season (late September to mid-November, late February to late March, and Christmas) to £450-500 in tourist off-season. The flight time is about 12 hours.
From USA and Canada
From the US, tourists from the east coast can fly to Kathmandu via Europe and tourists depart from the west coast to Kathmandu via the Far East. Flight time is estimated at 20-24 hours. The airfares for both the East and West coasts are around US$1500-US$2000 in peak tourist season. From Canada, tourists from Toronto can fly to Kathmandu via India or the middle east, and cost around Can$1600–2000 in the high season.
From Australia and New Zealand
Tourists fly from Australia or New Zealand to Kathmandu always transit in Bangkok or Singapore. The second option is to fly to India first and then to Kathmandu by plane or by car. The last option is to have a layover in Hong Kong. Airfare from Singapore or Bangkok to Kathmandu is AU$1,800 or NZ$2,400 in the low tourist season.
Nepali Visa
Travelers can apply for a visa on arrival with any valid passport and a passport-sized photo. The duration of stay can be 15 days, 30 days, or 90 days, and the visa fees are US$25, US$45, and US$90 respectively.
If you want to stay longer after your visa expires, you can apply for an extension of stay at the Department of Immigration. And the extension is subject to a fee of 30 US dollars per month (a 1-day extension is calculated as 1 month). Within one year, the accumulative period of stay in Nepal shall not exceed 150 days.
Things to Do in Nepal
There is the majority of the highest mountains on earth, stunning scenery, and ancient cities known for their historic buildings, monuments, and monasteries. From sightseeing and trekking to rafting and gliding and shopping, there are plenty of Nepal tourist places for all ages.
Best Time to Travel to Nepal
The best time to travel to Nepal is in October and November, which is the dry season here. For tourists, it is also the golden season for sightseeing, photographing, and trekking in the year. Therefore, this period is the peak tourist season, and the corresponding tourism cost will be higher.
The second best time is from February to April, which is a good time to visit Nepal. During this period, the climate is mild with dense vegetation and flowers in full bloom, also very beautiful.
The shoulder season refers to December and January. The main problem during this period is temperature. Although it belongs to the dry season without too much rainfall and the air is fresh, there is a large temperature difference between day and night. Especially for those areas at high altitudes, the temperature will be relatively low in the morning and evening. If you want to go trekking, hiking, or rafting in Nepal, it is recommended to avoid this period.
