Nepal
Explore Nepal | Experience the best of adventures, Himalayan culture and spiritualism….
Introduction
Blessed with natural beauty and magnificent sights, Nepal often makes it to the list of ‘must-visit’ destinations in the world. With eight of the world’s highest peaks and a chain of mountains stretching from east to west, the country is a paradise for trekking and climbing enthusiasts. Nepal is also home to ten UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Explore Nepal. Book a Nepal tour package and discover ancient world heritage sites. Walk beneath pagoda-roofed temples and medieval palaces. Trekking in Nepal lets you experience the Himalayas. Hike under the shadows of soaring Himalayan peaks. Stand beneath the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest. Visit ancient Hindu and Buddhist shrines and reconnect with your soul. Explore the tropical jungles of Terai plains. Ride on an elephant and get up close with some of the endangered creatures. Take an aerial tour and experience the Himalayas from up above.
If God dwells everywhere then Nepal is definitely his favorite home. Sandwiched comfortably between China in the north and India to the south, our home is nature’s paradise. The high Himalayas in the north, the green hills and valleys in the middle and the vast jungle and terai to the south- we have it all. If you dream of cuddling in Nature’s lap then there is no other place in the world that can offer you more than Nepal. The possibilities here are endless. Let’s read about what this country has to offer:
Geography
Mountains- The Himalayas:
The ultimate goal for all mountain lovers is to reach Nepal. It is here where you will find 8 out of 14 highest mountains in the world, including Mount. Everest (8848m). Other high mountains like Annapurna, Manaslu, Makalu, Dhaulagiri etc stand tall in the northern region of Nepal, making it truly an adventure lover’s paradise. Nowhere can you trek for countless days with incredible views all around. Tall mountains mean wild rivers which give ample opportunity for adventure sports like canoeing and rafting. The wild landscape also allows a variety of other sports like, rock climbing, paragliding, mountain biking etc. The most famous trails for trekking are Everest Base camp trek, Annapurna circuit trek, Annapurna Base Camp trek, Langtang valley trek etc. if you are not fond of walking; you can also opt for Everest Base camp helicopter tour. Helicopters are also available to take you to other remote areas of the Himalayas.
Ancient cities and sacred sites
If you love history and consider yourself to be a time traveler, Nepal has some amazing preserved history to show off. Sling a small backpack on your shoulders, a camera in your hands and a pair of comfortable shoes and go around strolling through the many UNESCO world heritage sites in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan etc. The medieval cities of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur Durbar square will definitely charm you. Be amazed by unique architecture, skilled craftsmanship and the desire to stand out. Get away from the hustle and bustle and you are sure to find a gem in every nook and corner in these ancient cities. Also take out time to visit sacred sites like Pashupatinath temle, Swoyambhunath Temple, Boudanath stupa and many more.
Visa Information
Upon your arrival in Nepal, you can easily obtain visa at Tribhuwan International Airport. The process is very simple and quick. You can expect long queues during the tourist season; otherwise the process is pretty quick unlike most countries. You can also opt to obtain your visa from Nepalese Diplomatic mission stationed in your country. If you choose to do this then please keep in mind that you will have to enter Nepal within six months from the visa issued date.
If you are entering through the land border of India or Tibet, visa can easily be obtained at the border immigration office.
Please Note: Passport holders of countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Cameroon, Swaziland, Iraq, Ethiopia, Liberia, Palestine etc do not get the visa from the immigration entry points of Nepal.
What do you need to obtain a Nepal visa?
Here are a couple of requirements if you are planning to obtain a visa at the airport :
- A valid Passport (it should have the validity of at least 6 months)
- The application form for a visa is available at the airport. Please fill them up.
- At least two passport size photographs
- You should have a little cash(preferably dollars) handy as you need to pay for the visa in cash.
Visa Fees
- For 15 days- USD 25 or equivalent
- For 30 days- USD 40 or equivalent
- For 90 days- USD 100 or equivalent
- For SAARC nationals, free visa for up to 30 days.
- For Indian nationals, no visa is required. If they enter Nepal via air, they will have to show a valid identification certificate (passport/citizenship certificate). Children under the age of 10 need not show identification certificate.
Visa Extension
- For up to 15 days visa extension, the charge is USD 30 or equivalent.
- If you require a visa for more than 15 days, USD 2 will be charged per day after the completion of 15 days. The maximum period the visa can be extended is up to 150 days in a visa year( visa year refers to the year starting January to December)
Weather
Best Trekking Seasons in Nepal
Choosing the right trekking season is very important while determining how memorable and awesome your trek might be. Trekking to the Nepal Himalayas requires careful planning and choosing the right time. These factors determine how memorable and awesome your trek might be. Due to bad choices, some people ruin their journey, while the ones who make the right decisions get a chance to fully enjoy the beauty of the Himalayas, lush hills, valleys, rivers and other landscape at its fullest.
Which is the best trekking season for you?
High Season ( March- April, September-November)
Spring (March-May) is the wonderful time of the year when snow melts and all the flowers and trees start blooming again. Imagine this- you are walking through lush dense forests, the trees are thick with red rhododendron flowers and the hills are covered with different species of colorful flowers. This is the time when nature shows off her true beauty and there are colorful blossoms everywhere. The cold winter gives way to beautiful warm sunshine but the possibility of precipitation remains. Trekking in this season is vibrant, exciting and colorful.
Autumn (September November) is the best time for trekking in Nepal. If you want to experience the Himalayas to its fullest, then there is no better time than autumn. During autumn, the weather remains, dry, stable and clear. There will hardly be any clouds in the sky during this time of the year, giving you the best views of the mountains. Since the weather remains dry, the trails are not slippery and the walk will be comfortable and exciting. It feels as though nature herself has undressed her attire, showing you the best of what she has to offer.
Low season (June-August, December-February)
Out of all the seasons, summer (June-August) in Nepal is the least preferred time of the year for trekking. During this time of time of the year, black monsoon clouds start making their way up to the Himalayas and they crash against the mighty giants, causing precipitation and rain. The skies remain cloudy causing poor visibility, the trails are muddy and slippery. There are leeches everywhere on the trail and the mountains are all covered with heavy fog and mist.
Winter (December-February), as the name suggests is the coldest time of the year in Nepal. If you like snow and ice and if you think cold weather is not a problem, then this season is the perfect time for you to trek. Please keep in mind, trekking to higher altitude is not recommended as everything will be covered in snow and the temperature is very low. This also causes the trails to be slippery and thus prone to accidents. The air usually is dry, so trekking in the lower regions of Nepal during this time could be fun.
However, if this is what you seek and if you wish to experience the mountains during the rain, Third Rock Adventures will make it happen for you. Wet or cold, rain or sunshine, our dedicated team of experienced guides and Sherpas will stand with you all the way to give you a complete experience.
Travellers' Guide
- Entering Nepal or staying in Nepal without a valid visa is illegal.
- Nepali tourist visa can be obtained through either Nepali embassy or consulate in your respective country or at the immigration entry points at the airport or land borders.
- Visa fees once paid is non-refundable and once it is issued, it cannot be amended.
- For Nepali visa, fees must be paid in cash. Credit card and cheque is not acceptable.
- For children below 10 years of age, one need not pay any visa fees. However, they must obtain a valid visa.
- In order to obtain a new passport or travel document, please contact the Immigration department for document transfer.
- Carrying your passport and trekking permit while trekking is a must.
- There are some camera restricted areas. Please be careful not to break the law.
- The Nepalese people highly regard their culture and traditions and are very sentimental towards them. Avoid performing any act that would hurt their sentiments.
- Please respect and understand the Nepali values. Please do not do anything that would cause a moral uproar.
Nepal Overview
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