Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu is the only international airport in Nepal.

The national flag carrier, Nepal Airlines, and other international airlines directly connect Kathmandu with major cities around the world.

Alternatively, you can travel to Nepal via India.

All visitors coming to Nepal by land can enter through any of these entry points on the India- Nepal Border:

Overland tourists entering the country with their vehicles must possess an international carnet or complete customs formalities.

All foreign nationals, except Indians, need visas to enter Nepal. Multiple entry visas for 15 days (US$ 30.00 or equivalent convertible currency), 30 days (US$ 50.00) or 90 days (US$ 125.00) can be obtained from any Nepalese embassy or consulate. You can also get a visa on arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport , Kathmandu or at the Immigration Office at the entry points of Nepal. Tourist visas can be extended for a period of 120 days at the Immigration Department in Kathmandu or Pokhara. However, nationals of the following countries will not get visa on arrival at the immigration entry points of Nepal: Afghanistan, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iraq, Liberia, Nigeria, Palestine, Somalia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. They need to obtain visas from Nepalese embassies or diplomatic missions in their respective countries prior to their arrival in Nepal. Gratis (Free) Visa for 30 days is available only for nationals of South Asian countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka for the first visit in one visa year (January to December). However, a visa fee is required for its extension beyond the 30 days. Indian nationals do not require a visa to enter Nepal.

There are metered taxis, buses, battery-operated three-wheelers and rickshaws in the cities. Long routes are served by buses. Nepal does not have a railway system connecting cities. The only other travel option is by plane, and   Nepal is well connected by air. There are Intercity Tourist Buses to popular tourist destinations like Pokhara, Chitwan and Lumbini from Kantipath in Kathmandu, while you can board a bus to Jiri and Dhunche at the New Bus Park.

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.    Kathmandu has the only Post Restante of the country.

Mobile coverage is wide in Nepal, even in the rural areas. Internet facilities are available in hotels and cyber cafes in all major cities. Apart from the urban centers, popular trekking destinations : Annapurna & Everest region also have modern communications facilities.

There is accommodation ranging from 5-star chain hotels and resorts to comfortable lodges in Kathmandu and major tourist destinations. The hotels offer specialty restaurants, conference facilities, exclusive health clubs and business centers. You also have the option of home-stay where you can stay in local houses with the local people and enjoy their traditional food. During Trekking the local lodges have shared washing and toilet facilities. 

Kathmandu is a melting pot of international cuisine. Dining out is, therefore, a pleasure. Apart from Nepalese cuisine, there are restaurants serving Continental, Indian, Chinese, Mexican, Japanese, Italian and Korean food. Fast foods like burgers, pizzas are found everywhere. There are some KFC outlets in Kathmandu. The Nepali staple is rice, dal (lentils) and curry. Table manners in Nepal are quite different in homes. a typical Nepalese household there may be no plates, knives, forks or spoons on the table. The Nepalese use the right hand for eating. However, this does not mean that guests may not use forks or spoons. Do not offer food with your left hand, it is considered as ‘unclean’.

Yes.

Although specific immunization is not required to enter Nepal, it is, however, best to protect yourself against diseases such hepatitis, meningitis and Japanese encephalitis. Malaria has been reported in the Terai plains of   Nepal, so take precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes. Please notify the authorities or the hotel of any symptoms of bird or swine flu or any endemic.

Use only bottled mineral water or boiled and filtered water only. Always wash your hands before eating. Do not eat unpeeled fruits or vegetables unless they have been thoroughly washed. Even if you are an experienced medical practitioner, it is not wise to give medicine to a sick Nepali on the trek unless you can watch his or her reaction. Most Nepalese have never been exposed to Western medicine and may react unpredictably. Encourage villagers to wash cuts with soap and boiled water, and to see their closest clinic for medical treatment.

It is safe to take a walk around the city from morning to late evening until the shops are closed. But you are advised not to trek alone. Trekking with a guide from a registered agency is the best security. Do not display your cash or expensive items. Always lock your room and baggage.

The Tourist Police at Bhrikuti Mandap is there to help you with security and travel-related problems. If any valuable item is lost, you can contact the Tourist Police to prepare documents for theft to claim insurance.

Tel: 4247041  (email:policetourist@yahoo.com/policetourist@nepalpolice.gov.np)

Public toilets can be used for a small fee. But visitors are advised to use the toilets at the shopping malls, stores and restaurants which are cleaner.

The country code for Nepal is 977 and the area code for some common places are : 

Baglung - 068,

Bardiya-084,

Bhaktapur-01,

Chitwan-056,

Dolpa-087,

Gorkha-064,

Humla-019,

Illam-027,

Kaski (Pokhara)-061,

Lumbini-071,

Kathmandu-01,

Lamjung-066,

Lalitpur-01,

Manang-066,

Mustang-019,

Myagdi-069,

Rasuwa-010,

Solukhumbu-038 .

Nepali time is GMT plus 5 hours 45 minutes.

Tipping is a newly accepted custom in Nepal. Hotel, restaurant, touring and trekking organization staff members often make up for relatively meager wages with tips. But, it should only reward good work. Don't tip for short taxi rides in town or any service person you've bargain with. Groups might give a reasonable amount per day to a tip pool to be divided among the staff, generally relative to rank, for good service.

Because of its elevation, Nepal can be divided into three zones – the high mountains, the mid-hills and the flat plains called the Terai. The Everest, Langtang and Annpurna trekking destinations in the mountains are cool throughout the year. The mid-hills, including Kathmandu and Pokhara, are cool except in the summer months from May to July. Temperatures in these cities during the summer remain much cooler than in many cities of the region. Lumbini, Chitwan and Janakpur in the Terai plains are hot in summer (March –July) but cold in winter (December-February). So if you are going trekking, the best months for walking are Autumn (between September to mid-December) and Spring (between February to May) when the weather is fair during the day and the temperatures do not drop rapidly during the night. The weather is sunny and warm with outstanding views. But the nights are cold and can fall to freezing level in higher elevations. Trekking in summer or monsoon (June to August) will be affected by rain but the summer trek could be a boon for a keen botanist.

There are well-equipped general & specialized hospitals, nursing homes & private clinics managed by very competitive doctors in Kathmandu, Pokhara and other cities if you fall sick. Your hotel will provide good advice on the matter.

Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is caused by thin air at high altitudes starting from 3,000 meters upwards and may even lead to death. The main precaution that needs to be taken while trekking is not to go up too high too fast. So the body should be given enough time to acclimatize. If you suffer from initial symptoms like headaches, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, inability to sleep, swelling of the face, hands and feet and loss of appetite, descend to a lower elevation immediately, and seek medical help. Donkeys Adventures itineraries are designed to prevent AMS as much as possible.

The Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA), a non-profit organization that works to prevent casualties from AMS, operates a permanent aid post in Manang which is managed by volunteer doctors from HRA. It also operates a small aid post in the Khumbu village of Pheriche at 4,280 m during the trekking season by volunteer doctors. HRA also operates a camp at Everest Base Camp during the mountaineering season.

Helicopter services are available should you fall sick or meet with an accident while trekking. However, such rescue services are expensive. So comprehensive travel insurance is advised to cover emergencies like helicopter rescue and medical treatment.

With the distinction of Nepal as a trekking destination and its growing charm, a provision of the Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) has been implemented to ensure safety and security of the trekkers and to control illegal trekking operations. As a trekker entering a protected area in Nepal, you will be asked to provide some information about the dates of your trip, the itinerary, and a contact number. These data will be inserted in the visitors’ database, where they can be accessed for park management purposes or in case of accidents and/or natural calamities, in order to inform the concerned institutions about the trekkers inside the park at any time. So    basically it’s a trekkers tracking procedure with all the information about the trekkers.  

A trek leader is experienced guide who will lead you during your trek. Trek leader also known as team leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Every effort will be made to keep to the conformed holiday packages itinerary; however, since this adventure entails travelling in remote mountainous regions, we cannot guarantee that we will not deviate from it. Weather conditions, health condition of a group member, unexpected natural disasters, etc., can all contribute to changes in the itinerary. The leader will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but please be prepared to be flexible for any alternatives if required.

Almost all Donkeys Adventures Treks are suitable for passionate walkers who have the ability to walk at least 4-6 hours a day with a light rucksack. In some days we might even need to walk 7 to 8 hours. Walking in higher altitudes is more physically demanding than walking in the lower altitudes; however, if we are in excellent health with average physical fitness, have a positive attitude, self-confidence and strong determination, we can accomplish the trek successfully. Exercising and jogging regularly for some weeks prior to the trip is good idea to enhance our strength and stability. Past hiking experience would be an asset but no technical skill is required for the treks. Participants with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung, and blood diseases should inform DA before booking the trek.

Early in the morning, wake up for a cup of warm tea with a smile. After freshening and finishing up our tea, we will have breakfast before setting off. At the right moment, we pack our bags and assemble in the dining hall before setting off on the day's trek. After approximately 3-4 hours of trekking we will take a break for lunch somewhere in the trail. After a relaxing lunch, we typically spend around 2-3 hours or even more sometimes on the trail before reaching our stopping point. Throughout the day, we will take frequent rest breaks and take time to admire the fascinating mountains views. We take plenty of pictures of ourselves with incredibly panoramic mountains, rivers, landscapes, prayer flags, temples, shrines, cairns, and monasteries. Once we arrive at our tea house, we will take a brief rest, shower, & have a light snack with tea or coffee. If we are early, we may take a short walk through the village & surrounding neighborhoods. After checking into our room and while waiting for our dinner we have time to read or chat with fellow trekkers or with Donkeys Adventures’ crew members. Following a warm dinner in a cozy   dining hall our trek leader briefs us on the next day's itinerary. We will give breakfast order which allows our guide to have everything ready for us for the next morning. Extra time can be spent on reading, enjoying some drinks or   playing cards. Our crew members love to teach various Nepali card games as well as learn new Western games. Finally, it is off to bed for a well-earned night's rest before starting all over again the next day.

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 the 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.

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. It is illegal to export anything older than 100 years. Please do not take any religious objects (prayer stones, statues, temple ritual objects, prayer flags, etc.) away from sacred sites and discourage others from doing so.

Please do not hesitate to contact us at your convenience.