Guide to Nepal

Banking in Nepal

All tourists and travelers to Nepal should let their bank and credit card companies know that you are traveling in Nepal. Many banks cancel cards if you do not let them know. Likewise, if your bank offers an SMS security service, it may not work in Nepal due to the telecommunications network in Nepal.

Sending money out of Nepal is a hassle in Nepal. As a tourist, it shouldn't be necessary. However, in the event of an emergency, it's better to deal with your own international bank than a Nepali bank for sending money outside of the country.

Using an ATM in Nepal:

I cannot stress enough the importance of making a prudent choice when selecting an ATM in Nepal. Given the frequent power cuts, inadequate maintenance, and banking regulations, your decision can greatly impact your experience.

Since 2015, banks have centralized their ATMs into designated "ATM lounges." These lounges host multiple ATM machines from different banks. To navigate this effectively, remember to opt for a bank displaying signage indicating compatibility with your card. It's also crucial to time your ATM usage when electricity is available in the area.

Prominent ATMs, such as Standard Chartered, Himalayan Bank, and Nabil Bank, are generally reliable choices. However, bear in mind that most ATMs have withdrawal limits ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 rupees per transaction. Additionally, be prepared for a surcharge on all foreign transactions, typically around USD$5.

Using your credit or debit card in Nepal:

Be careful using your debit or credit card in Nepal. Some businesses still use old carbon swipe and sign machines. While still legal, there can be an element of fraud. Do keep all your receipts in this case. Likewise do not use your debit or credit card for purchasing online domestic flights or bus tickets. Many services are just not secure. Purchase tickets in a travel agent rather than online. Most debit or credit cards are charged 3-4% of the total.

Likewise be wary of additional fees either Tap and Go cards services. Ask before paying and if possible check your balance ASAP to see if there was a percentage charge. Try to pay for everything you can in cash. Carrying cash in Nepal is still the norm.

Apple Pay and Google Pay are technically not supported in Nepal. However, some enterprising businesses have brought in tap and pay services from overseas. I would not make critical payments this way. In 2025, travellers from China, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Mongolia, Thailand, South Korea, and Italy can now use their own payment apps in Nepal where the NEPALPAY QR code is displayed. ESewa is Nepal's own prefered domestic digital payment app.

Here's a guide on dealing with money, ATM's and credit cards in Nepal.

Living in Nepal

Of all the places in my journey Nepal gave me that deep feeling that reached out and said this could be home. Find a niche market like the paragliders did and you could also make a living here. Though, howlong that lasts is anyone's guess. The international paragliders did well in Nepal in the 90s and 2000s. However, from 2010 onwards they were quickly pushed out of the country. In 2025 there are few international paragliders left.

As you can tell, there are ferocious obstacles with living in Nepal though. Asides from the political instability at the moment, Nepal still has one of worst economies in the world, a country on the brink of natural disaster and an already over populated tourist industry. It can be tough to make a living here.

It's very easy to be wooed by Nepal. I've met countless volunteers and older travelers who either fall in love with orphanages, Pokhara, or romance. It's hard not to understand why, but I've rarely seen it work out in the long run. Nepal generally works out to be great for a few months of the year or every few years. Long-term expats in Nepal often end up torn by a love for a country and it's complete inability to develop or allow itself to develop. Meanwhile long-term foreigners in Nepal are also broken down by the relentless two-tier pricing system of Nepal coupled with an incredibly large amount of wealthy Nepali who enjoy flaunting it.

Owning property or a business is in Nepal is not possible outright if you are a foreigner. By marriage and business partnerships only. For some more insight on this do read this article on how to do business in Nepal and understanding the caste culture of Nepal.

2015 Earthquake Updates

On April 25th a 7.8 earthquake hit Nepal followed on May 12th by a powerful aftershock.

Over 8.1 million people were affected. 8,700 died with the final number expected to reach 10,000.

Several of Nepal's historic temples were destroyed. Many more temples survived the earthquake.

Nepal was quickly helped by a vast international aid effort which directly rescued over 1,200 people from rubble and delivered aid to thousands more.

Nepal's tourism infrastructure was not directly affected. The vast majority of the Kathmandu Valley temples survived. Only 2 out of 30+ trekking routes were closed.

Nepal is still in the process of rebuilding. Over 8% of its economy relies on tourism and an unofficial number of 25% of the population is supported by tourists.

Nepal is officially open to tourists with both the government and the people of Nepal asking for more tourists to come.

Visiting Nepal is the best way to directly help at this stage as it promotes sustainability via the tourism economy.

In 2025 all of Nepal's wonderful sights are open and ready to be visited. Do visit each of my individual Nepal guides to see local updates on each area.

Travel tips for Nepal

How much is a daily budget?

Nepal continues to be a destination that offers flexibility in terms of budget. The truth is, Nepal can be as economical or as extravagant as you desire. On the high end, you can indulge in a luxurious 5-star hotel at $350 USD per night and opt for private transportation for $150 USD. Conversely, you have the option of securing a private room for as little as $12 USD and relying on affordable public transport, all for under $1. By steering clear of tourist-oriented restaurants and entrance fees, you can comfortably spend a day here for just $25 USD, relishing delicious local cuisine. However, Nepal's allure lies in its plethora of activities. Even with local transportation to city attractions and some entrance fees, you can enjoy a fulfilling experience for around $30-40 USD. The above is based on a low budget, you can spend a lot more per day depending on your needs.

How to save money in Nepal?

Avoid package tours: Do not buy an expensive package tour with a private company unless you have the money to spend and/or literally do not have a day to spare. I have come across people who have spent $5,000USD for a 10 day stay in Nepal. Yes, they had everything taken care of for them. But they also did not get to choose their guide for a 3 day trek. Stayed in an out-of-the-way 5 star hotel, and were fairly isolated. It was too much money by far.

Hire a local guide: Hiring a package tour guide from overseas on the internet is a waste of money and not practical. There are so many guides in Nepal even in the height of tourist season there are still too many. The streets are full of trekking guide offices. Just be sure to hire a registered trekking guide. Have a read of my article on hiring a trekking guide in Nepal for more information or use my Find a Local Trekking Guide Service.

Kathmandu: When you buy your pass to Durbar Square, head off to the tourist office there straight away and for free get a pass to the square for as long as your visa lasts. Keep in mind Durbar square is in the middle of KTM so you will have to pass through plenty of times (read more about ticket prices to Durbar Square in my guide).

Bhaktapur & Patan: The hefty entrance fees imposed here have resulted in a high level of preservation. Thankfully there are many side streets you can meander down off the main entrance area to avoid buying a ticket should you wish. Stay clear of these little side streets later as they have guards asking to see your tickets. Better yet, go with your passport, pay up to help conservation and get your ticket stamped for the validity of your stay in Nepal.

Eating out: Thamel in Kathmandu and Lakeside in Pokhara are two popular places for expensive (albeit great) dining. Most tourist rstraunts start at around $7 USD and meals will go all the way up to $20. Walk a little further and enter a good local place. A bowl of chicken soup, plate of momo and a coke will cost about $4.00. A buff steak $5.00. Chow Mien $2.00.

The problem comes when you are socializing and head out to eat. Most will head to a nice place and want to split the cost of the meal within the group and bang there goes your budget!
Likewise with beer such as Nepal Ice or Everest it's 6-10 USD on average in most restaurants for a liter bottle. That said beer in Nepal is not the cheapest anywhere due to high tax.

If you are on a budget, do read my backpackers guide to Nepal.

What are the Banks/ATM's like in Nepal?

Never had a problem bar from power outages and mass of grit inside the machines scratching them. Be sure to ask your hotel/guesthouse for the electrical outage times before heading off. Most banks have generators but not all work that well and I have heard of a few travelers getting their cards stuck due to this. The ones in Thamel are fine and in Pokhara. Banks are open Sunday through to Friday Lunchtime.
If you are going trekking be sure to stock up on your smaller Nepali notes as ATM's usually only dispense big ones. Guesthouses and eateries usually struggle for change in remoter areas.
One thing you must do is tell your credit card provider that you are in Nepal, otherwise it might get blocked.

Do read this guide on dealing with money, ATMs and credit cards in Nepal.

What guidebook?

My guidebooks to Nepal! Allow me to elaborate—Lonely Planet's Nepal guidebook has fallen significantly behind the times. In 2020, they underwent a change in ownership, with a marketing company taking the reins and announcing a shift towards primarily computer-generated updates based on online information. As of 2024, their latest publication looks like an instagram brochuore, is outdated, lacks crucial details such as prices, timetables, entrance fees, and hotel information—making it arguably their least satisfactory or useful effort to date.

Rough Guides, on the other hand, has ceased dispatching writers to Nepal. While their Kathmandu chapter may suffice if you last visited a decade ago and are unfazed by perplexing and challenging-to-decipher maps, their guides for Pokhara, Bhaktapur, and Patan suffer from subpar maps and outdated or inaccurate information. It appears evident that they have embraced an AI and an automated approach, which regrettably falls short of expectations from what was once one of the better options. Today, it's largely irrelevant.

Yes, I'm speaking from experience here. So, after over 17 years of research and writing the best online guide to Nepal I've have my own guidebooks to Nepal both in print and digitally. Including the best Guidebook to Nepal - you simply won't get better anywhere else, guaranteed!

For trekking check out my guidebook to Trekking in Nepal.

For heritage lovers there's Kathmandu Valley Heritage Walks.

All my books are availble worldwide in paperback delivered to your door, or instant digital downloads. See my Nepal Guidebook shop.

I've also written up several more FREE online travel guides to all of Nepal based on my own personal experience. Here's a sample - the rest are in the sidebar on this page.

• Travel guide to Kathmandu
• Travel guide to Bhaktapur
• Travel Guide to Patan
• Travel Guide to Chitwan
• Travel Guide to Bardia
• Travel Guide to Lumbini
• Travel Guide to Pokhara

Do explore the links within these guides as they lead to further pages on this site with yet more information to help you.

All my guides are 100% free of sponsored trips, stays, meals and so forth. Everything has been paid for by me so you know you will be getting a 100% honest guide to Nepal.

See my links in the upper right sidebar of this page for more guides to Nepal plus overland travel guides in and out of Nepal.

For those that want an actual book to own and read offline then I've got my own best guidebooks to Nepal right here.

Frequently asked questions by tourists preparing to visit Nepal

Over the years I've been asked many questions about Nepal both by people planning to visit and by those already in the country. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions along with answer about Nepal I get.

How to hire a guide?

Times have changed drastically over the past 10 years. If you are reading an outdated guidebook, or relying on a visit from 10 years then things have indeed changed.

Firstly don't do it over social media. Nearly all trekking companies in Nepal now have a website and email. Facts, prices, and clear polices are now essential. There are plenty of guides in Nepal even in tourist season. Tours around Nepal, or trekking tours can be arranged quickly this way.

Secondly if you want to go to the Annapurna region get your guide in Pokhara. If you want to go to Everest arrange from Kathmandu, doing it the other way round will be expensive. Interview at least three guides as if hiring them for a job at your workplace. Personality is important, remember you will be with this guide for possibly 3 weeks! There are female guides available but they are expensive. Arrange the payment before you shake on it. The costs of an independent guide are from $30 USD per day to $50+ USD per day. From an agency add on $5USD, a porter starts at around $20 while guide/porters at around $26. For more information check out my full page on How to hire a Guide in Nepal & my Find a local trekking guide service.

How to buy trekking gear in Nepal?

If you have trekking gear, have the luggage space and are only visiting Nepal for trekking then bring it. Otherwise buy it there.

Kathmandu has one of the largest selections of trekking gear on the planet. It is a lot less hassle to shop in Pokhara. Prices are dependent on quality. Let's take an all weather North Face Jacket listed at $300 online retailers as an example. You will find the real thing in the North Face store in KTM. It will be a the same price as the USA or Europe.

In the downtown KTM trekking stores there are 3 categories. Fakes (China), copies of fakes (Nepal made) and Nepali copies. Avoid Nepali copies. They are easy to spot with bad logos and poor stitching.

Stitching is key to the others too. Examine a jacket carefully and pull at the seams. If there is any give at all, put it away. Turn the pockets inside out and examine them. Any bad shapes and poor stitching is easily seen here. You should be able to walk away with a good quality heavy jacket (Nepal copy) for $50 or China Copy for $80-$100. The only thing I would not buy are trekking shoes in Nepal. They are dirt cheap, look nice, but glued. They will fall apart in a few weeks.

If you really are worried about buying fake trekking gear in Nepal. Then head to The North Face Store opposite Fire & Ice in Thamel. They have a huge range of quality stock.

Ask for the manager Sabina, she's a walking encyclopedia of both trekking gear and serious expedition gear. She's also very honest and won't steer you wrong. What's more if you mention that you heard about her through The Longest Way Home it might get you some discount there! :)

Otherwise Sonam are a regional trekking store with their own brand which sells quite good equipment and have several outlets in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

The one piece of trekking gear to avoid buying in Nepal is a pair of trekking boots. They look shiny and new, but just don't do it. They are cheaply made a will fall apart. Blisters are also common place as are collapsing soles. Most are from China and also covered in now proven dangerous chemicals. If you are seriously stuck, there are a list of reputable trekking stores for trekking footware in my Trekking in Nepal Guidebook. But, expect to pay USA/European prices.

As to what trekking gear do you need? Well, you'll need to factor in what trek, what time of year and how long you will be going before buying anything nice and new. But before you do that check out what I've written about Equipment you'll need for trekking in Nepal. Otherwise there's a huge section in my guidebook on trekking in Nepal with details on equipment you can and can't buy in Nepal.

Getting sick in Nepal

The two most common complaints or illnesses tourists have in Nepal are respiratory and stomach related. Respiratory infections generally occur due to the high levels of pollution and dust in Kathmandu city. This can get particularly bad in the winter months (dry season). Sinus, chest and ear infections are the most common ailments. Prevention comes in the form of wearing a dust mask that many a local wear daily, or simply not staying in the city during these months. See below for more on stomach complaints.

Read my guide on what vaccinations do you need for Nepal.

How to deal with stomach problems in Nepal?

Nearly everyone unaccustomed to this part of Asia will have a few days of bowel issues. This usually passes but be sure to stay hydrated and seek medical attention if it persists. There is a chance you will come away with something on prolonged treks or stays. Especially if you go in the off season where food is not prepared as frequently. Giardia is possibly one of the biggest things to look out for and thankfully fairly easy to treat. A bad stomach for a day or two should pass by. Anything lasting longer and you should seek proper medical advise. Check out my own medical woes list here.

Cameras and Internet in Nepal

Fake memory cards are a big problem as is the cost of buying them. Head down to New Road in Kathmandu to buy and test the cards at a reduced cost compared to Thamel. Cyber cafes are everywhere in Nepal. But they are slow and full of viruses. Be sure to backup all your photos and personal data before plugging your memory card, flash disk or external Hard Drive into any public computer. It may be a better option just to buy another memory card.
WIFI is available in most Cafe's and in hotels but again slow. Try to test its speed out before investing in an expensive coffee or meal.
Don't know what camera to take if your going trekking? No problems. Read camera recommendations for trekking in Nepal which includes how to get camera repairs in Kathmandu.

Electricity in Nepal

In late 2016 Nepal went from 18 hours of no electricity a day to 24 hours of electricity. Load shedding still exists but rarely lasts more than a few hours these days.

If electricity is vitally important to you during your stay e.g. battery charging etc. Then make sure you stay in a hotel with a working generator. Many hotels now have inverters which are large batteries that power a single light bulb in each room in the evenings. It's best to simply work out when there is electricity and charge your devices then (even if it means waking up at 4am).

Volunteering in Nepal, anything to know?

There are plenty of opportunities to Volunteer in Nepal. Personally I am very much against these pay $1000 to volunteer time positions. Call it something else, it's not volunteering, it's paying to work. That said some of the charges are pathetically high. Some people pay $4000 for 6 weeks volunteering at an NGO. I have written about this in an old travelogue here (NGO's in Nepal). The best thing to do is just arrive. Go and see a place for yourself. There are so many people looking for volunteers that provide free accommodation and basic food. It's easy to find a position like this and it probably helps more than lining the pockets of an overpriced 'Volunteer Agency' whose HQ is overseas.

Finally if you still want to volunteer then you can face up to some pretty tough facts on volunteering in Nepal and an overview of  working in Nepal

Departure Tax?

There is a 1130 rps Departure Tax plus 565 rps tourism service fee added on making a total payable of 1695 rps. This is nearly always added onto your ticket so you won't get charged extra at the airport. If you are flying to India or other SAARC countries the total is 1356 rps. Again this fee is usually included in your plane ticket for international flights!
There is also a 200 rps departure tax for domestic flights which is again added on to your ticket price so there is nothing to pay at the airport for both domestic and international flights.

Should I leave a tip in Nepal?

In 2008 Nepal introduced a 10% service and 13% VAT charge and then in 2018 removed the service charge and promptly brought it back before removing it again. At the moment about 50% of restaurants are still charging it despite the service charge being deemed illegal. If this is included in restaurants then I would not leave a tip. Nepal is not North America. The native culture here is not to tip and technically the service charge is no longer required. For guides and porters if you feel their service has been above and beyond then adding 10% - 15% is about right. Again, it's not compulsory and although everyone likes to receive, its not in the culture. Doing so changes this for the worse as I've seen in many countries. Do check out this article on dealing with money when traveling in Nepal or more.

Visas in Nepal

On arrival you can get a 15 day or 30 day or 90 visa. There used to by a 60, but, no more. To extend this visa, ignore all agencies and fill out the online extension form before heading to immigration in Kathmandu, or Pokhara and collect your 30/60 day extension before 2pm. Very easy. You can stay up to 150 days in Nepal per year January to December. Full information about tourist visas in Nepal here.

More questions about Nepal

My Nepal travel guides are the best. This website has been here for 20 years and is filled with more information to help you than any other. And, it's all free. Purchasing one of my guidebooks to Nepal helps to keep the site running. Do explore through this page and the links on the sidebar to the right for a comprehensive collection of guides to Nepal.

Finally, I have written many guidebooks to Nepal which are far more in-depth. Professionally written with the best maps to Nepal, free heritage walks, transport routes, recommended hotels and restaurants, trekking routes, trekking agencies and the list goes on.

If you are planning a trip to Nepal do please purchase my guidebook to Nepal. It will help keep this website going and most definitely help you more than any other guidebook!

Read more about the best guidebook to Nepal.

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Liked this page? You'll love my guidebooks to Nepal! I cover Kathmandu city, Bhaktapur, Patan, Chitwan and many more places with well researched information, photographs and travel tested walking tours.

They are interactive for tablets, laptops or mobile & printable. Quite honestly they will help you more than any other guide books to get the most out of Nepal.

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