Nepal Travellers Information

Getting to Nepal by Air

You can reach Nepal by air from Bangkok, Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, Dhaka, Doha, Dubai, and Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Karachi, Lhasa, London, Moscow, Osaka, Paris, Paro, Singapore, Varanasi and Vienna.

The following in terminal airlines connect with Nepal Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Indian Airlines, Druk Air of Bhutan, Lufthansa German Airlines, and Pakistan international Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Aeroflot Russian Airlines. Air China, Thai Airways.

International, Qatar Airways and Austrian Airlines getting to Nepal (by surface) There are five official entry points to Nepal. Biratnagar, Birgung, Bhaiwahawa bordering with India to the south and Knkarbhitta, which connects Nepal with Darjeeling, Sikkim and Siliguri to the southeast. Birgunj is the most popular entry point for visitors. Kodari is the only road connected with Lhasa/Tibet and visitors who hold Chinese Visas with Tibet entry permits may enter here.

Visa :
Tourist who intends to visit Nepal must hold valid passport and visa. Tourist entry visa can be obtained from Royal Nepalese Embassy or Consulate or other mission offices or immigration offices located on entry points in Nepal.

For Indian nationals, visa is not required. Children under 10 years need not pay any visa fees. Two passport-sized photos are mandatory for visa on arrival.

Chinese citizens are requested apply in Royal Nepalese Embassy or other Nepalese diplomatic missions abroad as there is no provision to apply visa upon arrival for them.

Visas are issued free to Chinese and South Asian passport holders (Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives and Pakistan).

- Single entry: US$ 30 for 60 days
- Additional re-entry cost: US$ 25, 40 and 60 for the single, double and multiple respectively
- Visitors who intend to re-enter the country within 150 days after leaving the country during the same visa year, entry visa fee is US$ 50 for 30 days
- For visitors intending to stay more than 60 days, tourist visa extension fee is equivalent of US$ 50 for 30 days from the Department of immigration

Business visa (with multiple entry) can be obtained from the Department of Immigration for the period of one year and five years upon the recommendation of the Ministry of Industry by paying the equivalent US$ 100 and US$ 250 respectively in Nepalese currency for the foreign investors.

Customs Formalities :
All baggage must be declared & cleared through customs on arrival and departure. Goods which are prohibited by the government cannot be brought or taken out of Nepal.

Accommodation :
Nepal has every category of accommodation facilities that range from the international standard star hotels to budget hotels and lodges. During spring and fall, the better hotels work at near full capacity and are booked well in advance. There are, however, plenty of less glamorous but decent hotels to suit everyone's fancies and finances. Most hotels offer choice of: bed and breakfast; bed, breakfast and one other meal; or room and full board. Rates vary as per facilities. Even in remote parts of Nepal, accommodation and meals for tourists are more easily available these days.

Food and Water:
Hotel food is safe. Please avoid uncooked or food bought from street vendors. But be very careful about what you eat before the trekking or rafting trip. Once you are on trekking or rafting, you need not worry as our staff is well trained in hygienic practices concerning food handling and will serve you clear, delicious and healthy meals.

Bottled water is available in most cities in Nepal and along the popular trekking routes. Do not drink water from streams or even taps if it looks clean and appealing.

Shopping :
Nepal has many fine handicrafts to offer to visitors such as hand- knotted woolen carpets, jewellery, pashmina shawls, woolen knit wears, embroidery, thangka paintings, mithila paintings, wood carving, metal works, ceramics and pottery, rice paper and stationery.

Credit Card :
Major credit cards such as MasterCard, American Express, Visa card are honored and accepted at major hotels, restaurants etc.

Tourist Security :
A unit of Nepal Police known as the Tourist Police, trained specially to assist visitors regarding security and other travel related problems is available instantly upon request.

Foreign Exchange :
Foreign currencies must be exchanged only through the banks or authorized foreign exchange dealers. The receipt from such transaction is to be obtained and retained. Visitors can exchange money at the foreign exchange counter at the Airport upon arrival also.

Electricity :
Major towns in Nepal have electricity and the voltage available is 200 volts and 50 cycles. Load shedding is sometimes experienced in Nepal. However, most ofthe hotels have installed their own generators.

Insurance :
Please ensure that you are adequately insured to cover up any unforeseen incidents such as accidental injuries, inability to continue at high altitude, deaths etc.

Communication :
Private communication centers and hotels provide ISD, STD, Fax and E-mail services. The STD code for Nepal is 977 Inquiries can be made at 197.

Time:
Nepal is 5 hours 45 minutes ahead of GMT(Greenwich Mean Time) and approximately 12 hours and 50 minutes ahead of Pacific Time.

Money and Credit Cards:
Payment can be made in foreign exchange in hotels, travel agencies and airlines. Credit cards such as American Express, Master and Visa are widely accepted at major hotels, travel agencies, shops and restaurants. Major banks foreign currency exchange centres and the exchange counters at Tribhuvan International Airport provides services for exchanging foreign currency.

Customs Clearance

Green Channel: Passengers arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) with visa and without any dutiable goods can proceed through, the Green Channel for quick clearance without a baggage check. If you are carrying dutiable articles, you have to pass through the Red Channel for detailed customs clearance.

Import:
Apart from used personal belongings, visitors are allowed to bring to Nepal free of duty 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, 1.15 liters of distilled liquor and 15 rolls of film. The following articles will be free of duty on condition that you take them with you when you leave Nepal. Binoculars, movie or video camera, still camera, laptop computer and portable music system.

Export:
It is illegal to export objects over 100 years old (Sacred images, paintings, manuscripts ) that are valued for cultural and religious reasons. Visitors are advised not to purchase such items as they are Nepal's cultural heritage and belong there. If you need any help in this regard, please let us know.