Nepal Travel Tips

 1.A travel insurance policy that covers medical treatment is recommended for all tourists.
2.Similarly, we recommend you to make sure that the insurance covers activities such as trekking, rafting etc. that you will be undertaking during your stay in Nepal
3.Getting special vaccinations are not necessary when visiting Nepal.
4.We still recommend that you consult with your physician regarding special immunizing against any tropical disease.
5.It may be a good idea to get a complete check up before departure.
6.We recommend that you undertake training programs to be physically fit if you plan to go high-altitude trekking or mountaineering when you’re visiting Nepal.
7.Please read up on altitude sickness (AMS), diarrhea, Giardia, Dysentry, Cholera, Hepatitis, Rabies, Typhoid, Tetanus, Meningitis, Diptheria, Malaria and HIV/ AIDS. Information and little precautions can often save lives.
8.Please make sure that food is thoroughly cooked and served hot when eating out.
9.Please make sure that salads and fruits are washed with purified water or peeled when eating out.
10.Beware of food that has been kept out in the open for long.
11.Always make sure that your water is clean by opting for boiled and then cooled water, treated water or sealed water from reputed brand.
12.Always carry a bottle of water when trekking or venturing off away from the city/ town.
13.Do not walk bare feet on damp mud and grass in unknown areas.
14.Please do not swim in lakes and water bodies, especially where depth and vegetation are not known.
15.Always carry and use mosquito repellant when in Terai region or during summers.
16.Please have a handy medical first aid kit ready for any situation.

TIPPING
Travelers may wish to express their appreciation – a reward for extra service – to the porters, waiters, drivers and guides. The degree of appreciation may vary, and our policy is to leave this to your discretion. This is usually given individually in an envelope at the end of the tour/service.

TRAVELING BY ROAD

All visitors entering Nepal by land must use these designated entry points and may not enter from any other point:
(1) Kakkarvitta
(2) Birgunj
(3) Belhiya, Bhairahawa
(4) Nepalgunj
(5) Dhangadi and
(6) Mahendranagar in the Nepal-India border and
(7) Kodari in the Nepal-China border.

S.No.            Route                   Approx. Distance (border towns to major cities)   Nearest Railways Station in India

1    Siliguri- Kakkarvitta- Kathmandu    620 km                                                          New Jalpaiguri (NJP)
2   Jogbani-Biratnagar-Kathmandu       550 km                                                          Jogbani
3   Raxaul-Birgunj-Kathmandu             280 km                                                           Raxaul (RXL)
4   Sunauli-Bhairahawa-Kathmandu     280 km                                                         Gorakhpur (GKP)
5   Rupaidiya-Jamuna (Nepalgunj)- Kathmandu 520 km                                        Rupaidiya / Nanpara
6   Gauriphanta-Mohana (Dhangadi)-Kathmandu 630 km                                     Gauriphanta/ Paliya
7   Banbasa-Gaddachauki (Mahendranagar)- Kathmandu 715 km                        Banbasa/ Tanakpur
8   Sunauli-Bhairahawa-Palpa-Pokhara 185 km                                                         Gorakhpur (GKP)
9   Sunauli-Bhairahawa-Chitwan 145 km                                                                     Gorakhpur (GKP)
10 Sunauli-Bhairahawa-Lumbini 26 km                                                                      Gorakhpur (GKP)

SOME IMPORTANT TIPS

At monuments you cannot carry eatable, cosmetics & electronics items.
If you want to carry your Video Camera in Monuments or Historic sites, you have to buy Video Camera Entrance Ticket extra from Entrance Ticket.
During the monuments ways you will catch by many hawkers, if you do not want anything please say anything to them, just ignore them.
You will find many baggers on streets, if you want to give them something so please give them food or edible things in place of money. – Note: Ask with guide for recent changes.

ZONE & DISTRICTS
There are 14 zone and 75 small district in Nepal. Districts are administered by the Chief District Officer (CDO) appointed by the Government. Kathmandu lies in Bagmati zone.

BUSINESS TIMINGS
10:00 hrs to 17:00 hrs Monday to Thursday. Friday 10 Am to 1 Pm
Shopping areas like Thamel & Newroad are open up to 19:00 hrs
Restaurants in Thamel of Kathmandu & lake side of Pokhara opens until 10 Pm

COUNTRY CODE
+977 – Area Code – Tel no )
Kathmandu: +977 9851027024  (Mobile)
+977 1 4410350 ( land line)

MOBILE PHONES
In Nepal GSM & CDMA both services are available by Ncell & Nepal Telecom. Local sim card easily available in 5 minutes at arrival & from local sales centers for which need 1 pp size picture and approx Npr 100 cash( Usd 2 ).

DRINKING WATER
Tap water is potable, with offices/house/hotels/restaurants are equipped with integrated with small Water Purifying plants ( RO ) . We suggest you to drink mineral water which can buy at Npr 20 from local market. Mineral water at hotel cost high say Rs 80 to 200 depending standard of the hotel.

FOOD

Kathmandu is a melting pot of international cuisine. Dining out is, therefore, a pleasure. The Nepali staple is rice, dal (lentils) and curry. Apart from Nepalese cuisine, there are restaurants serving Continental, Indian, Halal, Chinese, Mexican, Japanese, Italian and Korean food. Fast foods like burgers, pizzas are found everywhere. There are two KFC outlets in Kathmandu.

ELECTRICITY
220-240V 50Hz

ELECTRIC PLUG DETAIL
Electricity in Nepal is 230 volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. A voltage converter is needed for a device that does not accept 230 volts at 50 MHz. Sockets in Nepal accept only round three or two pins. So if your electrical device uses flat pins, please bring a universal electric plug adaptor.

INTERNET
Ncell & Nepal telecom both have 3g service in Kathmandu & Pokhara. Gprs service is available in all the cities. Some hotel & restaurant provides WIFI service at free and paid both.

DRINKING WATER
Hotel & restaurant provide drinkable purified or boiled water. But we recommend bottled water in all area. Bottle mineral water cost Npr 20 to 30 in local market in cities. You can buy and take to hotel. Some 5 star hotel do not outside purchases. Where as in the mountain area it cost high say Npr 100 per bottle or so.

PUBLIC TOILET
Public toilets can be use for a small fee in Kathmandu & Pokhara and some other cities too. But visitors are advised to use the toilets at the shopping malls, stores and restaurants which are cleaner.

DOMESTIC AIRLINE BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE – WITHIN NEPAL
15 to 20 kgs Check-in Bag – 7 kgs hand bags .

POST OFFICE

The post office is reliable. Express Mail Service (EMS) is available at the General Post Office located at Sundhara near the Dharahara tower in Kathmandu and at Thamel, Basantapur and airport postal counters in the capital. You can also request hotel or us to post your cards in small hotel.

SOUVENIRS

Popular among visitors are handmade apparels like woolen sweaters, jackets, trousers and caps. And the Pashmina shawl is a highly coveted item. Then there are ethnic and contemporary carpets, gems and jewelry, metal and wooden products, Khukuri (the curved metal knife, music CDs, Nepali paper products, pottery, spices, tea and Thangka paintings to take home.
There are exclusive showrooms at Durbar Marg, Asan, Thamel, Patan and Bhaktapur Durbar Square area which specialize in these items.

SOME DOS & DON’TS

With its diverse ethnic groups and traditional beliefs, Nepal has numerous cultural practices that may appear unusual to a person on his/her first visit to the country. However, to enjoy your stay in this remarkable country of white Himalayas and sparkling rivers it is important to take into consideration the different cultural aspects of the country. Here is a list of things, which may be helpful to you.
A.The form of the greeting in Nepal is ” Namaste ” and is performed by joining the palms together.
B.Before entering a Nepalese home, Temple, and Stupa remember to remove your shoes & circle clockwise.
C. Be careful not to use your spoon, fork or a hand being used for your eating to touch other’s food, plate, cooking utensil or the serving disk.
D.Do not eat from other people’s plate and do not drink from other people’s bottle or glass.
E.It is considered impure by the Nepalese. Never touch anything with your feet. This is considered an offence among Nepalese.
F. While traveling dress appropriately. Women should especially avoid dressing in skimpy, outfits.
G. Seek permission first before entering a Hindu temple many Hindu Temple do not allow westerners or non -Hindus to enter.
H. Leather articles are prohibited to be taken inside the temple precinct.
Walking around temples or Stupas is traditionally done clockwise.
I.Take photographs only after receiving permission for the object or person being photographed.
J. Public display of affection between man and woman are frowned upon.
K. Do not do something that is totally alien to our environment.
L. Remember, many times, when a person shakes his head from left to right, he may mean, ” yes”.
M. Develop a genuine to meet and talk to Nepalese people and respect their local customs.
N.Please do not touch offerings or persons when they are on the way to shrines or are in the process of worshipping. Keep a respectful distance.
O. Please do not accept as gifts or buy objects of art, manuscripts, images etc. Which have antique value.These need to stay here not only for ourselves but for future visitors like yourself who would like to share the experience. Whether something is antique or not can be established by the Department of Archaeology.
P. Please be informed that Nepalese men often walk around hand in hand, but this does not have the same implication as it does in Europe, America or other developed country.
Q.Please do not inquire about a person’s caste.