Nepal is for people who want to be in mountains — not look at them. The Annapurna and Everest treks deliver the most dramatic high-altitude walking on earth. Kathmandu is chaotic and exhausting; Pokhara is the chill counterpoint with a lake and a view of the Annapurnas.
Trekking days fall into a rhythm fast: walking by seven, dal bhat for lunch, a teahouse bed by mid-afternoon, cards and ginger tea while the peaks go pink. Kathmandu is worth two days — Durbar Square, Boudhanath, and gear shopping in Thamel, where everything is cheap and half of it is fake. Then a flight to Lukla or a long jeep ride to the Annapurna trailheads. Your money goes to flights, permits, and guides; the walking itself costs almost nothing.
The honest part: Kathmandu's dust and traffic wear you down, Lukla flights cancel for days at a stretch in bad weather, and road construction has eaten the lower sections of the Annapurna Circuit. Teahouses are cold and basic; a hot shower is a rumor above 4,000 meters. Altitude sickness is a genuine danger, not a footnote. If your holiday needs comfort, skip it. If you want the biggest mountains on earth at backpacker prices, nothing else comes close.
Highlights
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Annapurna Circuit
The classic 2-3 week trek through villages and 5,000m+ passes.
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Everest Base Camp
Two weeks to stand under the highest mountain on earth.
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Pokhara
Lake, paragliding, and mountain views you never quite get used to.
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Kathmandu Valley
Temples, palaces, and three medieval capitals close together.
Practical info
- Visa
- Visa-on-arrival for most nationalities (15/30/90 days).
- Currency
- NPR (Nepalese Rupee). Roughly 134 NPR ≈ 1 USD.
- Language
- Nepali. English widely used in trekking areas.
- Safety
- Safe on trails. Altitude is the real risk — acclimatize properly.
- Getting around
- Mostly hire car or buses. Domestic flights for trekking trailheads.
- Tap water
- Tap water not safe. Treat or bottled.
- Plug type
- Type C Type D Type M 230V
- Money
- Cash dominant. Bring USD for visa and as backup.
General guidance — visas, safety, and health change, so check your government's travel advisory and the official sources before you go.
Common questions
- When is the best time to visit Nepal?
- Nepal is at its best in March, April, October, November. It's best to avoid June, July, August.
- How many days do you need in Nepal?
- Most trips run 2–6 weeks, depending on how much ground you want to cover.
- Is Nepal expensive?
- Plan for backpacker – budget daily spend, depending on how you travel.
- Is Nepal safe for travelers?
- Safe on trails. Altitude is the real risk — acclimatize properly.
- Do you need a visa for Nepal?
- Visa-on-arrival for most nationalities (15/30/90 days).
Compare Nepal with
If you like Nepal, also consider
United Arab Emirates
Dubai and Abu Dhabi: superlatives, desert, and a stopover worth a few days of its own.
Maldives
One island, one resort, almost nothing to do. That is the point.
The Alps
The ski and alpine benchmark — every other mountain range is measured against this.
Switzerland
The most concentrated mountain scenery in Europe — and you'll pay for it.
Austria
The Alps done properly — skiing, hiking, and Vienna for the culture.
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