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Destination: Nepal

Places to Visit in Nepal: Nepal Travel Guide
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Destination: Nepal

Places to Visit in Nepal: Nepal Travel Guide

NEPAL TRAVEL GUIDE

Nepal is a landlocked country in South Asia, located between Tibet and India. Nepal is home to8 of the world’s 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest – the tallest mountain in the world. Nepal is also often referred to as the birthplace of Buddha as he was born in the city of Lumbini.

Nepal is a very culturally diverse nation with a multitude of spoken languages. The official language of Nepal is Nepali but most Nepalis speak another language as their mother tongue, such as Tharu around Chitwan, Newari in the Kathmandu Valley, Sherpa in the Everest area, and Maithili and Bhojpuri in the Terai area. Hindi is also widely understood and spoken, particularly in the south of Nepal.

THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN NEPAL

  • Explore the three Durbar Squares
  • See the Swayambhunath Stupa
  • Try local Chiya tea
  • Trek the Annapurna Circuit
  • Visit the Hindu Temple Pashupatinath
  • See the Gokyo Lakes
  • Trek to Mt. Everest Base Camp
  • See Rhinos and Bengal tigers at Chitwan National Park

Typical Costs When Traveling

Accommodation – Nepal offers a wide range of hotel options from budget hostels for backpackers to luxury resorts. A night in a mid-range 3-star hotel costs around $40 USD.

Food – Most travelers will spend between $8 and $12 USD per day on food in Nepal. Eat like the locals instead of choosing restaurants catered to tourists.

Transportation – There is no subway system in Nepal and there are no trains. City buses are difficult to navigate for tourists so it’s best to choose taxis. You won’t spend more than $3-5 USD per day on transportation in Nepal

Suggested daily budget

22-32 EUR / 25-35 USD

(Note: This is a suggested budget assuming you’re staying in a hostel, eating out a little, cooking most of your meals, and using local transportation.

Using the budget tips below, you can always lower this number. However, if you stay in fancier accommodation or eat out more often, expect this to be higher!)

Money Saving Tips

  • Beware Of Money Scamming Taxi Drivers. Some taxi drivers like to take advantage of tourists in Nepal. Be sure to request the taxi driver to charge you according to the meter - and to state this at the beginning of your ride.
  • Stay Away from Fake Guides. Some locals try to scam tourists by offering tour guide services for a lot of money - but you really don't need any of this.
  • Eat Where the Locals Eat. Hotels and tourist areas like Thamel in Kathmandu charge higher prices for meals compared to more local areas of Nepal.
  • Visit the numerous temples for free.All around Nepal there are thousands of Buddhist and Hindu temples - they're all free to visit!

WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM NEPAL?

Nepal is a vibrant and chaotic country. The mix of cultures makes it especially intriguing to visit. The best time to visit Nepal is between October and December when the skies are generally clear and the views spectacular. The weather usually remains dry until April.

Nepal used a caste system similar to India in the past. While discrimination based on a person’s caste has been illegal and punishable since 1962, it is still pretty uncommon to marry a person from a different caste. That’s also why arranged marriages are the norm in Nepal.

TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR NEPAL

I’m always surprised how many people travel without travel insurance. For me, it’s as essential to travel as buying a plane ticket, backpack or accommodation, and I never go without it.

Although Nepal is relatively safe, unexpected natural disasters can always happen and I’ve witnessed people getting laptops and phones pickpocketed first hand.

Adequate insurance not only provides you with medical coverage (if you get sick or break your leg), but also covers things like your camera full of epic shots getting damaged or stolen, your flights getting cancelled, or you getting caught up in a natural disaster.

In short, it’s an insurance against potential issues that arise when you’re traveling and can save your life (or at the very least, a lifetime of debt).

BOOK | I recommend booking World Nomads travel insurance

World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.