Nepal
A majestic country, with the Himalayas guaranteeing stunning views. You’ll be surrounded by breathtaking scenery and a beautiful culture.
General information
Nepal is a mountainous landlocked country between India and China with a population of nearly 30 million people. The currency is the Nepalese Rupee (NPR) and the official language is Nepali, alongside various other languages that are being spoken. The capital city is Kathmandu. Famous for its mountains (including Mount Everest), Hindu religion, and the birthplace of Buddha (Lumbini).
Safety tips
Emergency number: 100
Nepal is generally considered to be safe for travelers, although recent unrest demands more caution and alertness. Therefore, always check your home countries’ travel advisory before heading off. In addition, it can be good to also read other countries’ advice, just to get a better idea (see for example US, Canada, Australia & UK’s advice for Nepal).
Budget
Nepal is relatively a cheap country to visit.
Low budget travelers: 20-35 EUR /day
Mid budget travelers: 35-50 EUR /day
High budget travelers: 50+ EUR /day
Itinerary
Some common tourist destinations in Nepal are Kathmandu, Pokhara, the Annapurna region, the Everest region, Chitwan, Lumbini, and Bandipur.
Kathmandu is a crowded city famous for its UNESCO-listed Durbar square and various Buddhist and Hindu temples. Although Kathmandu is a bit polluted and therefore travelers tend to not stay there very long, I found it to be an interesting place to roam around and explore the local culture.
Pokhara is a lovely town and your gateway to hiking in the famous Annapurna region. You can rent hiking gear there and warm clothes, as it can get very cold once you’re hiking in the mountains. Pokhara has a large lake and there is some active nightlife.
Bandipur is a tiny town in the mountains, sometimes crowned the ‘Switzerland of Nepal’ (although I find that a bit of an exaggeration…). It is a calm place for relaxation.
Chitwan National Park can be accessed through a place called Sauraha. You can take various tours in the park, and it is possible to see rhinos, crocodiles, monkeys, deer and other wildlife.
Kathmandu Valley is a collection of villages such as Nagarkot and Bhaktapur in the valley next to Kathmandu. These places are great for a less intense form of hiking and to explore what slower, countryside life looks like in Nepal.
Travel tips
Flights to Nepal are usually quite expensive from anywhere in the world, apart from India. You will most probably have a lay-over in India for that reason anyway, although some people also enter Nepal overland (do check the current visa situation before booking such trips!). Please note that the infrastructure in Nepal is currently still developing. Getting from one city to the other can therefore be very time-consuming (and uncomfortable), unless you opt to fly. Public transportation is generally cheap though and definitely be part of the experience.
As is true everywhere: make sure you have an adequate travel insurance that will cover you throughout your stay. Medical help can be less accessible in Nepal, so make sure your travel insurance covers medical expenses and necessary travel to that end.
Accomodation
Booking a stay while traveling in Nepal? I usually compare prices on Booking.com, Hostelworld and Agoda. Searching on Google Hotels can also help to make an easy price comparison.
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