Nepal
Old temple towns, a lake under the Annapurnas and rhinos in the jungle, an hour's flight from Delhi.
- Best time to visit
- Oct–Nov and Mar–Apr
- Getting around
- Car with driver, plus short flights
- Currency
- Nepalese Rupee (NPR)
- Ideal length
- 7–10 days
Nepal is closer, and bigger, than it looks
For Indian travellers Nepal is the easiest trip abroad there is: no visa, rupees at a fixed rate and a short flight. What surprises people is the range. In one week you can walk the courtyards of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, watch the sun come up on the Annapurnas from Pokhara, and look for rhinos from a canoe in Chitwan.
October and November give the clearest mountain views, with spring a close second and rhododendrons in bloom. The monsoon (June to September) hides the peaks but turns the valleys green. Families, couples and first-time trekkers all fit here; we pick the pace, and the treks, to suit you.
The country, region by region
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Three royal cities in one valley, each with its own Durbar Square. Add the great stupa at Boudhanath, Swayambhunath (the Monkey Temple) above the city and the riverside temple of Pashupatinath, evenings in the cafés of Thamel, and a night at Nagarkot for sunrise over the Himalaya. Come for Dashain, Tihar or Indra Jatra and the streets fill with festivals.
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A lakeside town with the Annapurna range filling the sky. Row out on Phewa Lake or the quieter Begnas and Rupa lakes, catch sunrise from Sarangkot and paraglide down over the water. Davis Falls and Gupteshwor Cave are close by, and both the short, easy Poon Hill trek and the longer walk to Annapurna Base Camp start here.
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A flight to Lukla, then Sherpa villages, the market town of Namche Bazaar and Tengboche Monastery on the way to Everest Base Camp. Short on time? A mountain flight from Kathmandu shows Everest at eye level in an hour.
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Chitwan National Park is Nepal's best wildlife trip: one-horned rhinos, crocodiles and birds by jeep, canoe and on foot, with Tharu villages at its edge. Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, is a few hours west, with monasteries built by countries from all over the world.
Things worth actually doing
Tap the ones you would like on your trip.
Good to know before you go
No visa: carry a passport or voter ID
Indian citizens don't need a visa. Flying in, carry a valid passport or Election Commission voter ID; Aadhaar is not accepted.
Indian rupees work, with limits
You can carry ₹200 and ₹500 notes up to ₹25,000 in all; rupees are widely accepted at a fixed rate. Permits and parks are paid in Nepali rupees.
Treks need permits and a guide
National parks and conservation areas charge entry permits (lower rates for SAARC citizens), and most trekking routes now need a licensed guide. We arrange both.
Keep a spare day for mountain flights
Flights to Lukla, and mountain flights, are often delayed by cloud. We build in a buffer day before your flight home.
Read before you go
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Read
Destination guides
Nepal in 3 Days: A Kathmandu and Nagarkot Itinerary
From history to adventure, and breathtaking landscapes, here’s everything you can do in Nepal in just three days.
Read the story
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Read
Destination guides
Nepal Travel Guide for Indians: Mountains, Temples and Travel Tips
A heartful travel guide to Nepal, covering where to go, what to eat, and what to pack. From Kathmandu’s charm to Pokhara’s beauty and the epic Himalayan treks—find everything you need to plan your perfect Nepal…
Read the story
