Nepal Information

The greatest heights of the Himalaya, Nepal is the ice-cold of the mountains meets the steamy heat of the Indian plains. It's a land of yaks and yetis, stupas and Sherpas and some of the best trekking on earth. The Himalaya's most sophisticated urban cultures took shape here, in the three great minikingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley, Patan and Bhaktapur home to a world class artistic and architectural heritage.Behind the Vishnu shrine of Ichangu Narayan, northwest of Swayambhunath in the Kathmandu Valley, rises the 'Abode of Snows' (Himalaya in Sanskrit), a magnet for trekkers and mountaineers the world over. Only in Nepal can you trek for weeks without the need even for a tent. No longer does your name have to be Tenzing or Hillary to set foot in Everest Base Camp. Out of the mountains, get your adrenaline kick from world-class white-water rafting, Bungu Jumping, paragliding and mountain biking, or from the spine-tingling sight of your first tiger or rhino in Chitwan National Park, koshi tappu National Park.

Access to Nepal
Besides the flight, if you are traveling to neighboring country such as India and China you can travel to Nepal by road. If you traveling from India, Tauliwha at Bhairawa, Birjung, Kakadvitta etc. If you are traveling from China via Tibet, Kodari is only point where you can transit from. From all of these borders you can obtain tourist visas up on arrival at the border.

Travel Ticket/Confirmation:
Check your airline ticket in details. Many routes to Nepal require the change of aircraft or even a change of airline. Also, in our experience, the greatest risk of lost baggage is if you are traveling on a combination of two airlines. In this case, thoroughly cross-examine at check-in as to the pros and cons of tagging it all the way to Kathmandu vs. claiming it the airport at which you change carriers.

Departure from Kathmandu by Air:
Most airlines require that your flight out is RECONFIRMED 72 hrs. prior to departure. If requested Trek Nepal will do this for you. Back to the airport by taxi check-in the usual 2 hours before departure. AIRPORT TAX is currently 1,690 NRs. You can’t in practice, change back NRs. to hard currency.

Visa:

Entry Procedures
Transit visa for all tourists who visit Nepal for 3 days or less no visa is require.
Visa fee for tourists of SAARC countries (India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka) and People's Republic of China is free.

Visa Fee for other nationalities:
Single entry - US$ 30 days for 30 days
Multiple entry - US$ 50 for 30 days.

Visa will be extended subsequently for 30 days each upon payment of US$ 30 for a maximum period of 150 days in a visa year (Jan-Dec). Visa can be obtained either on arrival in Nepal or from Nepalese Embassy or Consulate or other Mission offices abroad. Two passport size photographs required

Insurance:
You should be in Nepal with personal travel insurance. Some policies exclude certain types of trekking, rafting, peak climbing but may add them on payment of a small extra premium. Insurance must cover, medical, emergency evacuation, lost or theft items etc.

N.B. Almost all travel policies refuse to extend the duration of the policy once you are overseas.

General Health:
Nepal cannot be considered an entirely healthy country largely perhaps because of climate that includes long months of mountain monsoon (mid-June – mid-September). This, combined with Kathmandu’s polluting combustion fumes and the valley’s inversion layer, are causes of illness in the form of chest infection. Warm dry clothes are the rules but better still getting into the fresh air that’s awaiting you outside the valley!

Tummy problems do not always handle well the change in diet that occurs when visiting a foreign land. In Nepal, this is aggravated by some poor hygienic practices at restaurants and at tea-houses along trekking routes. Most bodies adjust quickly and a mild case of tummy problem can be waited out without need for medication. Also, we live in the age of mega-antibiotics, which mostly do great jobs at clearing up more severe problems (consult with your doctor at home which ones he/she recommends).

Certain immunizations are crucial. Most countries have a national board that recommends the proper jobs for all countries based on what is endemic. Your doctor at home can check and administer the proper shots before your departure. Malaria is endemic only in small lowland areas of Nepal (in and either side of the monsoon). Doctor differ on prescribing. Most people are in Nepal without Malarial prophylaxis, and without any problem whatsoever – and that is Trek Nepal’s recommendation. HOWEVER your heath is your concern maybe this needs a discussion with your doctor.

AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness)
Some degree of altitude mountain sickness may occasionally occur at around the 3,000m. contour. Above this altitude, Trek Nepal takes great care with altitude acclimatization and all Trek Nepal trips are able to respond quickly to symptoms; whether by immediate descent or, in an emergency, helicopter evacuation (best reason for good personal travel insurance)

Local clinic:
The medical infrastructure in Nepal is, of course, limited. However, Kathmandu does have one ‘western clinic’ which is very proficient in travel medicine. This is the place which we would direct (or escort) you to should the need arise, at that point you are in good hand.

Drinking water:
Although most Kathmandu hotels and restaurants treat water to drinking, many people still consider it best to purchase bottle water (in 1 liter plastic bottle). On treks we boil and sterilize all drinking water which is ready available to you (own water bottle) required. WE DO NOT supply plastic bottled water and do not advocate it at these time. This adheres to the environmental code of discouraging disposable non biodegradable containers in the mountain & wilderness.

Season
Traveling to Nepal is possible any time of the year. But it all depends on where you travel. Trekking is possible at anytime of the year depending on where you are going. The most popular seasons are autumn (September-December) and spring (February-May). Winter is very clod above 4000m. & high mountain passes may be snowbound, but it is good for trekking at lower altitudes. During the monsoon season (June-August), you can trek in the rain-shadow areas north of the Himalayan like Mustang, upper Manang and Dolpo. These places are out of reach of the rain clouds because of the high mountains and are unaffected by the monsoon. During the monsoon in Nepal it is recommended to travel in Tibet (May to September)

Climate & average temperature

			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Kathmandu	Max	ºC	19	20	25	30	32	31	30	29	27	24	20	20
	Min	ºC	1	4	8	11	16	20	21	20	19	15	8	1
	R.f.	MM	17	21	16	54	81	270	384	338	164	80	15	3
Pokhara	Max	ºC	20	21	27	31	32	31	30	30	29	27	23	21
	Min	ºC	8	8	11	16	19	20	21	21	20	18	11	7
	R.f.	MM	20	31	55	116	352	620	908	797	573	217	22	12
Chitwan	Max	ºC	24	26	33	35	35	36	33	33	32	31	28	24
	Min	ºC	7	8	12	18	20	23	24	24	22	18	12	7
	R.f.	MM	1	20	1	45	85	291	390	443	201	112	1	54

Or for latest update of weather please visit
http://weather.cnn.com/weather/forecast.jsp?locCode=VNKT&zipCode=936264825748

Currency Exchange:
Payment in hotels, travel agencies, and airlines are made in foreign exchange. Credit cards like American Express, Master and Visa are widely accepted at major hotels, shops, and restaurants. The receipts may be needed to change left-over Nepalese Rupees into hard currency before leaving the country. However, only 10 percent of the total amount may be converted by the bank. ATM is widely in use in Kathmandu.

Nepalese Rupees are found in denominations of 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. One rupee equals 100 paisa. Current exchange rate US$ 1 = (Nepalese Rupees) NPR 71

Culture and Language:
Nepalese Language is the official language of Nepal. The country is potpourri of different ethic groups and sub-groups who speaks over 70 different languages and dialects. Over 81% people are Hindus and over 10% Buddhist. Rest of the religions is Muslim, Christian, Sihk etc.

The Nepalese people are friendly and hospitable by nature and the tourists in general will have no difficulty in adjustment. At the same, one may be confused regarding some customs, tradition and manners as in coming into any unfamiliar society. Nepal like any other country, has its own ways of regulation life though it might be different in degrees to each individual visitors. We want the visitors to observe and see the ways of Nepalese people and share with them. It is in this spirit that we offer some practical guidelines that could help to make the stay delightful and rewarding.

Dos & Don’t

Use local greeting “Namaste” with open upright hands together at your chin (it is also the respond)
Before entering anyone’s house or temple take off your shoes.
In some of the temples entrance may be prohibited for non-Hindus.
Leather articles are prohibited to be taken inside the temple precinct.
It is better not to touch offerings or persons when they are on way to shrines.
Beef is strictly prohibited among both Hindus and Buddhists. No female animal is killed for food
Walking around the temples or stupas is traditionally done clockwise.
Generally temples and monuments are permitted to photograph but it is better to ask authorized person before taking photographs.
It is better to be decently clan when visiting any place. Sun and beachwear is not proper when roaming around. Briefs, shorts, bare shoulders and backs may not be appreciated. One need not be stiff and overdressed but comfortably and decently covered.
Do not be offered if a Nepalese lady hesitates to shake hand. In Nepal, people especially women, do not normally shakes hands when they greet one another, but instead press palms together in a prayer-like gesture known as “Namaste”.
Public display of affection between man and woman if frowned upon. Do not do something that is totally alien to our culture.

Communication Facilities
Postal Services: The Central Post Office located near Dharahara Tower, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The counters are open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and provide stamps, postcards and aerograms. Post Restante is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Express Mail Service (EMS) is available at GPO and at Thamel, Basantapur and airport postal counters.

Telephone Services:

Telephone, fax, telex and telegraph services are available at the Nepal Telecommunications Corporation at Tripureshwar. Hotels and private communications centers provide long distance telephone. For calling from outside, country code for Nepal is 977 and the area code for Kathmandu is 1.

Internet Services:

Several Internet cafes and communication centers have opened up in the Valley and around the country in the past few years. Visitors only have to find a place they are most comfortable in to use the facilities to keep in touch with home. E-mail and Internet services are also offered by hotels.

Media:

Nepali media has sped light years ahead in just a few years time and what used to be a controlled and tight knit community, is so no more. The government audio and television news networks are Radio Nepal and Nepal Television respectively. However, numerous FM radio stations and upcoming regional television stations are dominating the market. Major Nepali daily newspapers are Gorkhapatra and Kantipur, while the English dailies are The Rising Nepal, The Kathmandu Post and The Himalayan. A number of other newspapers and magazines are also available.

Electricity:

Major towns have electricity and the voltage available is 220-volts and 50 cycles. Load shedding is sometimes experienced. However, most major hotels have installed their own generators.