Nepal Trip Planner in 2024: Trip Cost, What to See, Know and Do

Wondering how to plan a perfect & safe trip to Nepal?

With this Nepal Trip Planner guide, you will find everything you need to know about traveling in Nepal. From the safest ways to get around to the best places to visit. It also covers the cost of traveling to Nepal, the best time to go, and how to find the best accommodations and transportation options. This is your one-stop guide for planning your trip to Nepal!

I spent 30 days in Nepal and I have learned a lot during my trip – and now I bring to you all you need to know for planning your trip to Nepal and how to travel safely. Don’t forget to check this guide about 30 Things to Know Before your Trip to Nepal.

This picturesque country has a lot to explore. Nepal offers treasures such as Everest, the tallest mountain on our planet, the house of the living Goddess Kumari, and Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha Shakyamuni. If you are looking to explore the outdoors and love to immerse yourself in nature, Nepal is the perfect place to visit.

For more Nepal reading❤️:

• Perfect Nepal Itinerary
• Kathmandu Best Things to do
• Best Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tours

 

LANGUAGE: There are 123 languages spoken in Nepal, and the most spoken in Nepali. You will find that in the touristy areas and the guides speak English.

CURRENCY: The currency in Nepal is the Nepalese Rupees – Click here for the daily conversion rate. You won’t be able to exchange Nepalese rupees outside Nepal.

TIPPING: It is not customary to tip in Nepal. But note that trekking in Nepal has a tipping culture and they expect you to tip the guides and porter. Read more about All you need to know about hiring a porter in Nepal.

CREDIT CARD & ATM: You can find ATMs in major cities – Kathmandu and Pokhara. I found it was easier to withdraw money from the ATM. If you are hiking and visiting rural areas, you won’t have access to ATM. You can pay for hotels, nicer restaurants, and shops in tourist areas with a credit card. 

PLUGS: The standard voltage in Nepal is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. The plugs in Nepal are plug styles C.D & M. I recommend buying a universal adapter and using a converter for hair dryers. 

NOTE: Power Outages are very common around Nepal. You can be prepared with a power bank like this Anker Portable Charger as it holds 7 charges at once.

Wi-Fi IN NEPAL: You will find that in most hotels you will have access to decent Wi-Fi. But don’t expect to have internet access during your hiking in Nepal.

LOCAL SIM CARDS: Getting a local SIM card is the best way to have cell service in Nepal. There are 2 cell providers – NCell and Nepal Telecom

Let’s dive into this Nepal trip Planner by understating where is Nepal. The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal is one of the few countries in the world never to have been colonized

Nepal is a landlocked country located in South Asia, sharing borders with China/Tibet to the north, and India to the south, east, and west. 

Nepal is a landlocked country, home to the highest mountain range in the world, the Himalayas, including the tallest mountain in the world, Mt. Everest, as well tropical lowland plains in the south. Over 26 million people live in Nepal, most of whom call the chaotic, dusty capital, Kathmandu, their home.

The first step for your trip to Nepal, you need to understand the Nepal Visa requirements- Click here to check the Visa requirements to Nepal.

There are two ways you can get your visa for Nepal. Direct at the Tribhuwan International Airport upon your arrival in Kathmandu.  Or you can get your Nepal visa through iVisa if you don’t want to fill out the forms yourself.

Otherwise, you can get your Visa to Nepal at the immigration entry point The average pricing for the visa are:

• 15 DAYS: $30USD 
• 30 DAYS: $50 USD
• 90 DAYS: $125 USD

The most important thing about your Nepal Trip Planning is to find the best flight for you. The trip is long, and prices can be steep – so I recommend starting looking for flights as soon as you can, and booking it way in advance to try to get a better deal.

There is a selection of airlines that offer flights to Nepal but the main ones are Virgin, Air India, Jet Airways, and Turkish.

Most people book tickets through to Kathmandu – Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), but you can also make your own way to a major regional air hub such as Delhi, and arrange transport from there.

Airfares depend on the time of year, but timings of the high, low, and shoulder seasons are calculated differently by each airline, and may not always coincide with tourist seasons.

Most airlines consider the high season to be summer and the period around Christmas; the low season is winter (excluding Christmas), while spring and autumn may be considered low or shoulder season, depending on your route. High-season prices from both the USA east and west coasts are around US$1500–2000.

I mostly travel everywhere independently. But of course, there are some expectations when a guide is required, or the logistics are unfeasible to go by me. 

If you are traveling on a budget, the good news is that it is possible to explore Nepal independently – it only requires some research, planning, and physical preparation in case you are planning to go on hiking.

I explored Nepal with a private Travel Guide from Epic Adventures and I had an amazing experience, as they took care of my whole trip in Nepal.

🌟DISCOUNT CODE: I have great news for you! Paula Pins the Planet readers get a special offer for a Private Tour in Nepal or a Guided Hiking in the Himalayas. Request your special price with Epic Adventures, and mentioned that you are booking through this site (use PPP promo code).

I got to explore Kathmandu & Pokhara, hike the Annapurna Base Camp, go on the Everest Base Camp helicopter tour, and have a very unique experience at a Rural Homestay in the Himalayas all with my very experienced guide – including transportations, hiking permits and book of my accommodations. 

In some cases, you will want to join a group tour or even cases where you are required to hire a guide, such as The Annapurna Base Camp. But the group tours, or even a private guide, are very affordable in Nepal. Make sure you use reliable sources, and verified tours at tour companies such as GetYourGuide or Expedia. 

Not sure where to start? This Nepal trip planner will help you to figure out what are the best places to visit in Nepal. Keep in mind that Nepal is small  – to be the exact U.S. is 67 times larger than Nepal – but it is a country packed with amazing places to visit and some of the best places to hike on the Planet!

Below are the main places that you should consider to visit during our itinerary in Nepal.

Let’s talk about Nepal Trip costs now, as it is one of the most important things during your Nepal trip planner. The good news is that prices in Nepal are quite affordable. But as I always say, it will depend on your travel style.

• You can spend as little as US$20/day per person if you choose to stay at a Hostel and cook your own food.
• If you choose to stay at a 3-star hotel and eat at local restaurants, it can cost you an average of US$100/day per person.

Keep in mind that most likely you will be traveling around the country. Most people go hiking in the Himalayas (far from Kathmandu), and you will pay for transportation to get there. To take an 8-hour bus ride from Kathmandu to Pokhara costs US$25 per person or you can choose a 25 minutes flight for US$120.

While trekking, you will have expenses with the lodges which can be as cheap as US$5 per day, plus an average of US$7 per meal. Hiring a porter will cost approximately US$10 per day and if you have a guide, prices can vary.

You will also need to pay for everything else: hiking permits, liters of water (no bottles), Wi-Fi service, hot shower, hot tea, etc. Once you reach the summit, you can decide to take a helicopter flight back to the city if you don’t want to hike back, but this will add to your budget.

	ESTIMATED COST FOR 2 PEOPLE
LODGING	$20 – $80 – per night
STREET FOOD	$5 (per meal/ person)
RESTAURANT FOOD	$20 (per meal/ person)
DOMESTIC FLIGHTS	$120 per flight (per person)
PORTER FOR HIKING ANNAPURNA OR EVEREST	$20 (per person/ day)

🚗 Car Rental in Nepal

I traveled by airplane and by car during my trip to Nepal and I don’t recommend renting a car in Nepal. The roads can be chaotic and take too long to go from one place to another, so my first option was to fly to save time.

The pavement stops at the city limits, after that the roads are pothole-filled, dusty, dirt paths. The big cities are pretty much walkable, and I walked almost everywhere in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

But you still consider to rent a car in Nepal, I use and recommend to my readers Discover Cars. They have ratings for all companies, so make sure to eliminate any that don’t have a good reputation. You also can buy Finish car insurance right from Discover Cars, so you’re not surprised with an unexpected bill when you pick up the car.

🌟 You can compare and save up to 70% on your rental car when you book through this site. I use and recommend Discover Cars because it is the most reliable rental car source, and it allows you to compare the prices of different places.

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🚌 Public Transportation in Nepal

There is no train or reliable public transportation in Nepal (other than buses). But if you are going to rely on buses in Nepal, be prepared to take a long time even for short distances. 

Kathamandu is only 125 miles (200 km) apart, but the bus ride takes at least around 5-6 hours. The same journey takes around 35 minutes by plane, and the prices are very affordable. 

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🚖 Taxis in Nepal

It is easy enough to take a cab in Nepal, but you will need to negotiate before you get in, as they will try to charge you much more. The price can vary during the time of the day and also, depending on where you are going or coming from. Note that there is no Uber in Nepal.

One of the most important things to consider during your Nepal trip planner is to choose the right accommodation, at the right area. During my trip to Nepal, I used a mix of hotels in the cities, tea-houses during my trekking, and homestay in the rural areas.

The accommodations in Nepal are generally cheap and you have many options to choose from. It will depend on your preference and budget. 

When you are visiting Kathmandu and Pokhara, you will have many options for hotels, hostels, or private rooms. While hiking in the Himalayas, you will stay in tea houses along the way.

Best accommodation options in Kathmandu:

If you are staying in Kathmandu, the best area is around Thamel, but keep in mind that the area can be noisy and very busy. Here you can find hundreds of guest houses, hotels, and hostels. It is the best area to stay in, especially if you are visiting Kathmandu for the first time. Here you can soak in the real Kathmandu, walk the streets while shopping, or just do people’s watching.

MY PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION | Beautiful Kathmandu (⭐️ 8.3) This is where I stayed and I highly recommend it. The service is excellent, they have a continental breakfast included in the price. The rooms are very comfortable, and the location is excellent. I just walked everywhere, including safe to walk at night if you need to go out and grab a drink or dinner. Rates can be as low as $35 per day.

MID RANGE | Nepali Ghar Hotel (⭐️ 9.0) has a restaurant, bar, and terrace area plus a fitness center. It is a modern boutique hotel, with very nice decor and friendly staff. The location is very convenient and a continental breakfast is included in the price. It has very high reviews on Booking.com

LUXURY | Baber Mahal Vilas (⭐️ 9.3) besides being listed as a luxury, the good news is that the price is not steep, the average is $150 per day. This is a very beautiful hotel, with an excellent restaurant that serves dinner and breakfast. The amenities are great and it is a little oasis inside the Thamel area.

Best accommodation options in Pokhara:

A good area to stay in is around the lake, as it is within walking distance from the city center, shops, restaurants, bars, etc. There are so many options for hotels in Pokhara, as it seems that each year dozens of new hotels open.

MY PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION | White Pearl Hotel (⭐️ 8.8): I stayed at the White Pearl and I highly recommend it. It is only a 6-minutes walk to the lakeside, the views from my room were phenomenal, and the breakfast was really great with lots of options from fresh fruit to some local dishes.

BUDGET | Hotel Lake Shore (⭐️ 9.3): This hotel is the best deal for you if you are traveling on a budget! I love that this hotel is a sustainable hotel, it is located only a 7-minutes walk to Lakeshore. Also, the rooms are very comfortable and even better!? It comes with a delicious breakfast with the Annapurna views.

LUXURY | The Pavilions Himalayas The Farm (⭐️ 9.3): Do you want to stay at a 5-star hotel, without paying 5-star pricing? Even listed as a luxury, the prices of this spectacular hotel are really affordable. You will have your own terrace, swim pool, and an international restaurant with breakfast included.

Accommodation options in the Himalayas

During your hiking in the Himalayas, you will have options of lodges or tea houses to stay. They are normally 3-4 hours apart and clustered together.

During the high season, you will need to book in advance as it gets busy and you may not find a room. They are normally very simple and offer a basic stiff mattress and warm blanket for you to spend a night during your hiking.

The accommodations are very basic, the walls are thin and the rooms don’t have heat. Typically you will have 1 outlet and 1 light bulb with 2-4 beds per room. A few rooms have bathrooms in the room and some lodges offer a gas-heated shower.

Lodges also have a main room/dining area. The main room is where people gather in the evenings to eat their meals and their share stories from the day. The main room is the warmest place to be in the evening. The lodges all offer basically the same menu (see below), and Wi-Fi is often available for a small fee.

I visited Nepal during wintertime, and it was cold in the morning and evening, with more comfortable temperatures during the day. The rule of what to pack for Nepal is layers.

Also, Nepal is a very religious and conservative country, therefore consider this when you are packing and dressing conservatively.

• Adapters
• Portable Battery Pack: This battery last up to 7 phone charges
• Sarong: For a multi purpose cover up
• Water Purifier Steripen: It sterilized a liter of water in 90 seconds
• Portable water bottle: Remember to bring and drink a lot of water 
• Trekking Poles: If you are considering to hike in Nepal have hiking poles, as they do make hikes easier and your recovery time shorter 
• First-aid kit: Remember to pack kit for Hiking in Nepal
• Day-Backpack: This is very handy for any hiking. 
• Wear sturdy shoes for hiking: The most important thing is to protect your feet and avoid twisting your ankle and get injured. I recommend investing in a good hiking boots brand such as Teva, Salomon, or even Keens. 
• Moisture-wicking clothing: These clothes help to pull the sweat away from your body and stay cool and dry during your hiking such as light hiking pants & long sleeves shirts. 
• Warm-Layers: Early morning or late night can get cold so it is important to bring layers, a lightweight puffy jacket is a must!
• Hiking Jackets: You will wear one them a lot! 

Here is one of the most important Nepal travel tips to keep in mind. I recommend packing in a backpack if you are planning to travel around Nepal. Consider that you will be traveling from point A to point B on public transportation. Or even if you fly, it is easier to just have a carry-on item with you. Pack light and smart is always my rule of thumb!

I love traveling with my Osprey Backpack, and if you are taking a backpack, I recommend rolling your clothes and using small packing cubes separated by categories (pants, tops, socks…), so you don’t need to empty the backpack every time when you are trying to reach to the items you need. Here are the best backpacks for travel that I recommend.

Nepal is a country of extremes. The low-land plains of the Terai can have tropical temperatures. The Himalayas can get to sub-zero temperatures, but the sunshine can bring some warmth during the day, even in the mountains.

• Spring (March to May): Ideal for trekking and mountaineering as the weather is mild, and the landscapes are adorned with blooming rhododendrons.
• Summer (June to August): While lush greenery prevails, heavy monsoon rain makes trekking challenging. Best for cultural exploration in lower regions. The wettest month is July with an average of 325.3mm of rain. The morning and night are cold and the days are warm when sunny. June is the hottest month in Kathmandu with an average temperature of 73°F (23°C) and the coldest is January at 49°F (9°C) with the most daily sunshine hours at 12 in April.
• Autumn (September to November): Clear skies and moderate temperatures make it the prime time for trekking and outdoor activities. Festivals add cultural vibrancy.
• Winter (December to February): Suitable for low-altitude trekking and cultural exploration with clear skies, although high-altitude regions can be cold.

I found Nepal a very safe country to visit. I didn’t see any signs of violence during the time I was visiting.

I even had an episode where I forgot my laptop at the lodge at the Annapurna Base Camp, and I just noticed the next day. My guide was able to contact the person in charge of the lodge, and my laptop got rescued by helicopter and got to the city before me.

The only annoying thing I found in Kathmandu is the guys selling drugs in the streets – not only at night time. In every country, you will see this around the tourist areas, but I found that in Kathmandu it was more than any other place. They are not aggressive and whenever you deny, they will leave you alone.

If you are wondering if you need Travel Insurance to Travel to Nepal, the answer is YES! You absolutely need travel insurance to travel to Nepal. Request a quote from  this link and you will be surprised how cheap is to have your trip covered and travel safely.

I use a service called HeyMondo and can highly recommend them — they offer affordable prices, great coverage, comprehensive travel + medical insurance, an app with 24-hour medical support, and no out-of-pocket fees.

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The cities offer a great variety of restaurants and dishes. From local cuisine to Indian to Western.

The food in Nepal is very good as they use a variety of unique spices. I was also surprised by the large variety on the menu in the lodges during the hiking; I didn’t expect to have so many options.

You also have an option to try the Nepal Cooking School to learn more about the amazing flavors of Nepal

• Dal Bhat –Dal is a soup made of lentils and spices, served over boiled grain, and Bhat is boiled rice. These two ingredients are accompanied with vegetable curry and tarkari. Condiments are usually small amounts of extremely spicy pickle which can be fresh or fermented.
• Momo –is one of the most popular dishes in Nepal. Momos are usually steamed dumplings, with a filling of meat or vegetables. It becomes succulent as it produces an intensively flavored broth sealed inside the wrappers and served with a curry dipping sauce.
• Nepali pizza – Very simple, but makes a great meal especially at night after our hike. A simple homemade dough with cheese and tomato is popular in Nepal and covered with cow or yak cheese.
• Breakfast – Nepali people usually do not have breakfast, so keep in mind that if you are in a non-tourist area, you will only have coffee or tea options. But if you are in the city you can find great cafes with pastries or find a continental or American breakfast pretty much everywhere, including during the hiking at the lodges.
• What else – Indian cuisine has a huge influence in Nepal and you can find a large variety pretty much everywhere. I did miss my greens, as I am very big on salad and in Nepal you don’t have the option for fresh green salads. I also avoided eating meat, as they are not very big on red meat. I did try some dishes with chicken and fish and they were all delicious.

During my planning for the my Nepal Itinerary, I researched the internet and also, bought some books and maps to help me with my itinerary in advance. An excellent guidebook that I used during my itinerary preparation is the Lonely Planet Nepal Travel Guide, as it has tons of great information.

One of my top Nepal travel tips for you as that you include to visit at least one big city to get the vibe of the unstoppable lifestyle in Nepal. I booked almost everything in advance – flights, accommodations, trains, and Everest Base Camp Helicopter tour and my trip to Pokhara.

Remember that pre-planning, researching, and understanding what you are looking for will help make your travels far more successful and safe. I have spent a good amount of time researching, and spent a month traveling around Nepal, and these articles will be extremely helpful with tons of Nepal trip planner for you:

• Unique Ideas for Nepal Itinerary: from 7 days to 3 weeks
• 30 Interesting Facts about Nepal you need to read before your trip
• Perfect Kathmandu Itinerary
• Perfect Pokhara Itinerary
• 17 Best Hikes in Nepal
• 10 Best Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tours
• How to hire a porter in Nepal: Prices and Tips
• How to do a Homestay in Nepal rural village
• How to train for a high altitude hike

There are so many amazing opportunities for photos and videos, so it is impossible not to capture the amazing moments while traveling around. Therefore, do not forget to bring your camera equipment with you:

• This is the camera I use and love – Sony Mirrorless a7III
• Bring a couple of good lenses for different pictures – I always carry this lens with me
• Extra memory cards 
• I recommend bringing some filters
• Tripod to photograph the waterfalls and depending on the time of the year, the Aurora Borealis. 
• If you want to capture amazing videos, I use and recommend a Gimble Smartphone Stabilizer
• I also recommend a GoPro HERO9 for some action images videos and pictures.
• You can also capture incredible Drone images in Jalapao I use DJI Mavic Air 2
• If you are looking to take photos underwater this Underwater camera (with accessories) is a great option

I hope this Nepal Trip Planner guide helps you to plan a safe and fun trip. For any trip you go, preplanning, research, and understanding what you are looking for will help make your travels far more successful and safe.

Make sure you have the places you want to visit highlighted. Nepal offers amazing things to do and explore. You can visit my Travel Planning and print the easy 10-steps to plan an international trip.  

Below are the 8 ESSENTIAL STEPS for planning your trip to Nepal:

1. DECIDE HOW MANY DAYS YOU HAVE AND WHAT YOU WANT TO VISIT: Depend on how many days you have to explore Nepal, you can visit the main cities of Kathmandu and Pokhara, and if you have more time you can add a trekking in the Annapurna Base Camp or Everest Base Camp.
2. BUY A GUIDE BOOK: During planning your trip to Nepal, an excellent resource is to buy an Nepal Travel guidebook. They have tons of great information on main attractions, places to stay, and many curiosities about Iceland’s culture.
3. CHECK VISA REQUIREMENTS: Get your Nepal visa through iVisa if you don’t want to fill out the forms yourself.
4. BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION IN ADVANCE: Make sure you book your accommodations in advance to take advantage of the best prices and best options. I recommend Booking.com as it has a great policy of free cancelation.
5. BUY TRAVEL INSURANCE: Wherever you go or do during your travels, don’t travel anywhere in the world without travel insurance; the unexpected can, and often does, happen. I strongly recommend reliable travel insurance through HeyMondo 
6. START PACKING: It will depend on when you go to Nepal to pack accordingly. Check my recommended packing list. 
7. BE A RESPONSIBLE TRAVELER: Responsible and Ethical traveling is REALLY IMPORTANT. Check my complete guide
8. BOOK ANY TOUR IN ADVANCE: There are great options for group or private tours in Nepal. I recommend booking through Epic Adventures Nepal and use my discount code for 10% discount (Discount Code: PPP10)