Nepal Overview
Practical Information
Capital: Kathmandu
Currency: Nepalese Rupee (NPR)
ATM withdrawals: 500NPR Fee * some banks may charge an additional fee
Languages spoken: Nepalese, English
Dominant Religion: Hinduism
Visa Requirements: British Click Here Polish Click Here
Health & Vaccinations: Click Here
Ability to communicate in English: 1- Good
Long distance transportation type: Plane, Bus
Electricity: 230V 2 types of electrical sockets – type C and type D
Greeting: ‘Namaste’
Vegetarian options-availability: 1 – Good
Supermarkets: Local convenience stores
Budget: £1,170 per person for 4 weeks
Legend: 1 – Good 2 – Difficult but possible 3 – Very difficult
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Itinerary
Duration: 27 days
1. Everest Base Camp Trek – 13 nights
2. Chitwan – 3 nights
3. Pokhara – 3 nights
4. Kathmandu – 7 nights
Our main reason for visiting Nepal was to experience the trek to the Everest Base Camp, which normally takes around 2 weeks to complete. We decided to spend an additional 2 weeks exploring other parts of Nepal, which included Chitwan, Pokhara and the capital city, Kathmandu.
We opted to start our trip with trekking to the Everest Base Camp, as it often happens that the departures from Lukla airport are delayed by a few days. If you leave it to the end of your trip, it can cause you to miss your onward flight or exceed your visa, which can come with a fine.
Overview
When we arrived at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, at the baggage claim it was clear why everyone was here, with enormous North Face duffel bags, hiking boots and poles, everyone was heading for the Himalayas.
After picking up our bags we were faced with the chaos that is hard to describe, in front of the airport there are hundreds of taxi drivers and vans waiting for the passengers to exit to offer their services. If you don’t have pre-arranged transportation, a taxi will be your best option to get to the accommodation – don’t forget to practice your haggling skills beforehand.
The road infrastructure in Nepal has some room for improvement, there are buses available connecting the main cities, but be prepared to spend the whole day on the bus. You’re in for a bumpy and windy ride! If you’re restricted by time, don’t worry there are a number of small airports around the country that can also connect you to the main cities, this is a more pricey option, but will take significantly less time.
Accommodation
From hostels to hotels to teahouses, Nepal has everything to offer for every budget and travel style. We were intrigued by different types of accommodation, from $5 a night for two in a hostel dorm, to a private bamboo cottage for $9 a night, and for the more adventurous travellers, a private treehouse for $10 a night. You really can explore Nepal on a small budget and still stay in charming spots. A 3+ star hotels are an option for those looking for more luxurious stays, but expect to pay above $30 a night for a private room.
Banks and ATMs
The currency in Nepal is Nepalese Rupee, and the two most popular ways of getting your hands on this currency are by exchanging your GBP, USD or EUR into NPR, or withdrawing cash from the local ATMs. Depending on your bank you may be charged a withdrawal fee, additionally ATMs in Nepal have very low withdrawal limits and their own withdrawal fees of 500 NPR, that you can’t avoid.
Majority of places accept card payments, but some accommodations and tour operators may add an additional 3-5% charge for card payments, so bare this in mind when you are planning your trip.
Culture & Customs
“Nameste”, you will hear this everywhere you go. This is the polite way to say “hello”, make sure to say it back to the locals.
The leading religion is Hinduism, you will find impressive temples on nearly every corner. Entering the temples requires a particular dress code, so make sure you follow their guidance and cover your shoulders and knees, don’t forget to take off your shoes as well. As a tourist, you will most likely have to pay to enter the temples within Nepal, but this fee is minimal.
The streets of Nepal smell of the local scents laid out as an offering daily, together with food, drinks and flowers. If you are looking for a beef burger, you won’t find it in Nepal as the cow is a sacred animal, so look for other options.
Food & Drink
As vegetarians we didn’t get to enjoy all of the typical Nepalese dishes, but Dal Bhat and Momos were the top two choices for us. Due to the close proximity to India, Indian curries are widely available and exceeded our expectations with both the flavours and spice levels. We even found a new favourite meal in a paneer curry, so much so, that it’s now been added to the top of the list for our death row meal.
For a greater cultural experience, why not try what the local street food has to offer? It may be served to you on a page ripped straight out of the closest book available or a left-over envelope, but the flavours will excite your taste buds beyond your imagination. Our favourite street foods were samosas, pakodas, aloo chop, parathas and momos.
Mango lassi and exotic fruits are perfect for a healthy desert option. You will find a local selling these on every corner.
When looking for something to drink, milk tea is widely offered, as well as spiced masala and fruit flavoured teas.
If you want something harder, the local Nepalese beer is Everest, Gorkha and Nepal Ice. Chhaang is the local rice wine, it looks unusual and has a questionable smell, but is popular amongst the locals. Just don’t let it explode all over you, as it will leave brutal stains that will take forever to remove (thanks to our local guide we can talk from experience here).
Our Top 5 Activities
A 12 day hike to the Everest Base Camp and back was not only an incredible adventure, it was also an enormous achievement and a cultural experience. During this trek we stayed in multiple villages along the path and got to meet the locals, and learn about their customs. We saw the most breathtaking views with every day getting better and better. Our love for nature and mountains grew even more, and being amongst these stunning mountains just made us realise how small we really are. It was a physically exhausting experience, with long days of hiking, altitude sickness, limited showers and cold nights, but all this made the overall achievement even more memorable.
2. Chitwan National Park Walking Safari
Chitwan National Park is easily reachable from the town of Chitwan and is famous for its Indian Rhinos, but you will also find elephants, tigers, deers, buffalos and birds here. Experiencing this safari by foot rather than jeep was a unique experience, that made us feel a lot more closer to nature, and the safety briefing describing what to do if attacked by a wild animal makes this closeness even more real. On top of this, you can learn how to identify certain plants, animal footprints and… their poo!
3. Chitwan Town
We literally fell in love with this charming town. Compared to other towns in Nepal it was so peaceful and calm. It offers a big choice of local restaurants, and oh boy, did we eat our fair share of paneer curries. Strolling around the town and exploring the colourful main street, its cafés and restaurants was the perfect opportunity to enjoy some incredible food, slow down and take a nice rest from the other hectic places of Nepal.
4. Phewa Lake in Pokhara
Pokhara is another great backpackers destination in Nepal. Phewa Lake is where all the locals gather and you can watch them on the side of the lake relaxing and enjoying street food and drinks. You can even take a boat on the lake, and for those more adventurous travellers, opt to paraglide and witness the beauty of this lake from above. If you thought Florida and Paris Disneyland were big, you’ve not been to Disneyland Pokhara!
5. Thamel District in Kathmandu
This can be one of the most hectic places in Nepal, but don’t be discouraged by this, as it has so much to offer. Base yourself in this district and you’ll be able to explore the maze of streets, just remember to look every direction when crossing, because in Kathmandu there are no rules and everyone drives how and where they want to. Thamel offers a wide range of local and western restaurants, coffee shops and street food, so make sure you don’t miss out. Eat all you can, you probably burnt it all off hiking
Overall opinion
Nepal stole our hearts and there you will find the two extremes of peacefulness amongst the mountains, where you can hear the birds in the early mornings and be in the heart of nature, to the busy streets of constant horns in the cities. People will either love it or hate it, but for us, we loved this diversity and intense cultural experience. It may not be a destination you visit every couple of years, but everyone should come and visit this country at least once in their lifetime.
As for the budget, hiking and mountain climbing are the most expensive parts of exploring Nepal, but the rest of the activities and travel can be budget friendly. We don’t think Nepal could ever disappoint!