Travel Basics

Know about Nepal!

A traveler visiting Nepal should know the travel basics about the visa, location, transportation, weather and climate, people, culture and religion, people, health system and currency, etc before setting up the travel program. The basic information is essential to ease your visit to Nepal.

The Location

A country in southern Asia in the Himalayas, Nepal borders China to the north and India in other directions. It’s a 19-hour flight from New York with a layover. From London, it’s about 12 hours, also with a stopover.

Capital City

Kathmandu is situated in the Kathmandu Valley in central Nepal. the capital city of Kathmandu is a tourism hub. It’s the largest city in Nepal and is best known for its old town and as the gateway to the country’s best attractions.

Main Airport

Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport is the main hub for international travelers. It is located in Kathmandu, 5.5 kilometers from the popular neighborhood of Thamel. Besides that Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara Regional Airport are under the final phase of construction.

Code : KTM

Language Spoken

The official language of Nepal is Nepali. As English is the language of commerce, people in educated circles widely speak the language. Note that many speak a unique dialect called NEnglish or Nepali English.

Currency

Nepal uses the Nepalese Rupee. The currency code is NPR. Nepalese Currencies are available in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 paper notes. The coins are common for Re. 1, 2, and 5. Make sure to bring some cash, as ATMs can be limited to local banks, especially outside Kathmandu and Pokhara. Be aware of power failures when using ATMs.

Currency Restriction for entry

US$5,000; no pure, unworked gold up to 50 grams of gold jewelry, or 500 grams of silver

Currency Restriction for exit

US$5,000;

Visas

Before setting up your travel to Nepal. The major travel basic that you need to be aware of is Visa. For most citizens traveling to Nepal, the department of immigration issues visas upon arrival for 15, 30 or 90-day stays. The foreign tourist visiting Nepal shall be granted a tourist visa. The tourist visa shall be granted for a period in a maximum of 90 days in a visa year (i.e. January -December). A tourist who has departed before the expiry of the period specified in the visa issued in a visa year shall not be allowed to use the visa by adding the remaining period to another visa year. If any foreigner enters Nepal towards the end of a visa year, desires to spend some days in the next visa year, s/he may use such a facility. Nepal Government strictly prohibits volunteering on a tourist visa.
Tourist Visa Fee15 Days (Multiple Entry) USD 25
30 Days (Multiple Entry) USD 50
90 Days (Multiple Entry) USD 125
Visa Extension (Within Valid Visa Period) USD 3 per Day
Visa Extension (With Multiple Entry) Additional USD 25
Visa Extension (After Visa Expiration) Late fee USD 5 per Day
(for more details regarding visa services please visit the Department of Immigration website)