Poonhill Trekking-5 days

Do I need to get a visa, how I can get visa & what documents should I have with me during my Nepal visit?

Getting Tourist  visa for Nepal is an easy job comparing to getting visa for other countries. For this we need to undergo with a few rules and regulations. The visa category differs according to you purpose of visit in Nepal. If we do not apply Nepal visa through the Nepalese Doplomatic Missions located at your home country,  we get on arrival visa while entering into Nepal at Tribhuvan international airport.

Two ways of Getting Tourist visa for Nepal:

Apply Nepal visa through the Nepalese Diplomatic Missions located at your home country. If you obtain visa this way, you must travel Nepal within 6 months from the date of visa issued date.

 Getting On-Arrival Visa at the immigration office at Trivhuban International airport. This is an easy task. We get visa within a few minutes. Even, we do not need to follow lengthy procedures.

But, in peak trekking seasons (Spring( March-May) and Autumn (Sept-Nov), we may have to stand in a queue in order to obtain Nepal visa at the immigration at TIA. Otherwise, we get an easy Nepal visa within a few minutes in off-seasons ( Summer and winter).

Obtained tourist visa, later, can be changed into other categories if they require meeting the other purpose of the visit of the visitors.

 We require undergoing through a few steps in order to obtain On Arrival Visa for Nepal.

1. Filling up the arrival card
2. Filling in the Online “Tourist Visa” form

You can fill up this online form before arrival. But you have to submit the printed barcode that you get after a successful submission of the form for visit to the immigration at the airport. This receipt will be valid for 15 days. If you fail to submit the receipt with bar code, you need to fill up new form.

Or, we can fill up the visa form at the aiprot by using Kiosk machine at the airport on your arrival.

  3. Paying the Visa Charge

After filling the visa form, we need to pay the charge of visa through bank which is inside the airpot premise. The number of days you are planning to stay in Nepal determines you visa charge. The longer you stay, the more you pay as visa charge.

Different visa charges ‘ On Arrival Visa for Nepal’ on days basis

15 days- 25 USD
30 days- 40 USD
90 days- 100 USD

4. Getting the receipt

On your payment, do not forget to ask and get the receipt.

5. Submitting your online form, payment receipt, and passport.

And, now, in no time or within a few minutes,  we get Tourist Visa for Nepal in our hand.   

However, there are a few cases where you do not need to pay for Visa in Nepal. There’s a provision of free visa for:

• Children below 10 years
• SAARC nationals ( except Afghanistan) for first 30 days of their arrival.
• Free visa for NRN cardholder issued by MoFA/ Nepalese diplomatic missions abroad
• Chinese Nationals
• Officials from China, Brazil, Russia, and Thailand (because of the reciprocal visa waiver agreement)

Extending Visa for Nepal

Sometimes, we do really want to spend more days in Nepal since your purpose is not fulfilled. It this case, we can extend our Nepal Visa. This process is more convenient that getting Tourist Visa for Nepal. For this, we need to contact the Immigration Office at TIA. We also get support from the Imigration Office located at Pokhara for extending Tourist Visa for Nepal.

But to extend other category of visas, there is no other ways except consulting the Department of Immigration, Kathmandu.

Is trekking and tour in Nepal is safe?

Of course, trekking and tour in Nepal is completely safe. Previously, while Nepal went through an insurgency between Maoist and Government, but now, Nepal has a new constitution through peace process. Everything is in order and peace. People favor religious and cultural harmony. Most importantly, we will experience the most hospitable, peace loving and friendly people in the mountain while going trek.

People say that the sky of Nepal is not safe for domestic flights which is not true. The pilots of Nepal are veteran to fly smaller planes through deep gorges and the mesmerizing valleys witnessing breathtaking mountains.

Almost every trekking region has been connected with communication and their no threat of emergency to the travelers. The rapid expanding health, communication, security and other required services like luxurious restaurants and hotels, home stays, lodges and teahouses make Nepal trek and travel more convenient and safe.

Where and how can I exchange my currencies into Nepalese currencies?

We can exchange our currencies into Nepali currency even at the Kathmandu airport. But, you can not take much time for it because your tour or trekking operator will be waiting for you to welcome you at the exit. So, we recommend you to exchange your currency into Nepali currency at Thamel. You can have plenty of money changers in Thamel. Or, if you miss it, then you also can do it in othe major cities like Nagarkot, Chitwan and Pokhara. We also can do it in Besisahar, the beginning point of Annapurna Circuit Trekking.

Which is the best time of the year to trek in Nepal?

Nepal has mainly four climatic seasons:

Autumn (Sept. to Nov.) and spring (March to May) are the best time for Trekking. The weather is delightful and pleasant during autumn. The mountain views are astonishing.

Spring : The hills are wrapped with beautiful flowering rhododendron during spring. Mjaority of the trekkers find Spring best time to trek to Langtang-Gosainkunda since they love to see flowering rhododendron.

Winter( Dec-Feb) will be very harsh due to cold and cloudy weather which hide the mountain peaks.

Summer will be too hot for some trekkers. Heavy rainfall occurs and disturbs the transportation and even walk in the mountain.

What’s the difference between trekking, hiking, and mountain climbing?

Normally, walking in the mountain below 3000m is called hiking. Hiking is relatively the easiest job among all. We do hiking for the preparation of trekking or climbing. Hiking is a pleasant walk in the mountain. We do not need to carry much things for hiking.

Trekking is relatively tougher than hiking and less strenuous than climbing. Generally, walking in the mountain below 6000 m is called trekking. We have easy to moderate to challenging trekking trails. One trekking lasts from one 5 days to one week to 25 days. These varieties of trekking trails take you to the higher elevation at the lap of the mountains and offer you breathtaking mountain panorama.

What’s the climate like in Nepal? Will it be cold?

Nepal has four climatic seasons: Winter, Autumn, Spring and Summer or Rainy. During winter, the temperature ranges from 4- 20/25C but temperature grows more colder in the mountain like between -3- 10/15C. Autumn is pleasant, neither hot nor cold. The temperature ranges from 10-30. In spring, the temperature grows up to 35C and Sumer and rainy days also are hot. The temperature during summer ranges between 18-30C. So, the Spring and Rainy are normally hot and the Autumn and Winter are cold. Nepal has no such extremely hot and cold weather. There are lots of variations in weather condition and climate between Hills, Plains and Mountains.

What is the level of physical fitness required for an individual to trek in Nepal?

We require good level of fitness to trek in Nepal. Trekking normally takes above 3000m and we require to walk 4-8 hours a day. So, those who can walk 4-8 hours a day in the mountain can accomplish any kind of trekking easily. If you drink and smoke a lot and have serious illness, you should not try going higher elevation like above 4000m. Any kind of threat may take place. If you really want to go at higher elevation, then consult your doctor before heading to the trailhead and carry right medicine. In order to enhance stamina, we can do jogging, short hiking, aerobics and other normal exercises.

How long & difficult would it likely take to complete a trek?

Nepal Trekking varies from 3 days to 27 days. Shorter Trekking like 3-7 days trekking takes us only up to 3-4 thousand meter high and the longer trekking like 10-27 days trekking takes us up to 6000m high. In Nepal trekking, we sometimes cross steep and slippery trail and even sometimes ice too andsometimes beautiful valleys and landscapes. Even sometimes, we have walk the steep uphill all the day and downhill the next day. So, we require good level of stamina for Nepal Trekking.

What kind of trek is teahouse trekking and camping trekking?

Nepal offers two kinds of trekking in its mountains. They are: Teahouse trekking and Camping Trekkking. In teahouse trekking, we use teahouse or guesthouse as our accommodation for overnight and choose the item of the meal as we like from the menu provided by the teahouse or guesthouse. Unlikethat, in camping trekking, we use tent fro our overnight accommodation and we need to hire higher number of porters to carry our food stuffs and every required equipment for our trek. Cooks who are hired by us will cook food for us and we need Sherpas to serve the foods. It means, we need to carry all required equipment for our trekking by ourselves which is difficult but the real trekking into the wilderness is Camping trekking in Nepal.

Teahouse trekking is significantly popular these days because it is easy to operate and also the tourists find it convenient. Most of the major Nepal trekking trails have teahouses and guesthouses. Even some of the trekking trails have luxurious hotels and resorts too.

Are the meals and water available in lodges and camps hygienic trekking in Nepal?

Yes, we get meals and water at the lodges where we stay for overnight and stop for tea, snacks and lunch. We have our breakfast and dinner at the hotel or lodge where we stay overnight and lunch in the middle of the day during our walk. We can get purified water, boiled water, bottled water which is safe to drink in the mountain. But do not try the water from tap, spring, creek and river in the mountain. The meals are made from locally grown products and they are hygienic and organic.

I am a vegetarian. Will this create any problem in my dietary?

No, never. You can have the meal item as you want in the mountain both vegan and non-vegan. We may not get many variety of items but we certainly get vegan items during our trek. We get bread items, cereals, curry, rice and many other items of vegan items in the mountain. They will produce these all vegetables in their own locality and will be organic. Being vegan or vegetarian doesn’t create any problem.

Should I hire a porter and guide and should I need to pay 'tips' them separately?

The best to enjoy your Nepal trek in fullest is hiring guide and porter. Your guide and porter will help you in many ways. They will not only perform their certain jobs but also assist you in walking, serving food, managing all requirement for your trip. And now, the government of Nepal is introducing a law not to permit an individual traveler to trek higher than 4000m without guide. This rule is praiseworthy.

Yeh, your guide and porter expect tips from you at the end of theNepal trek. You’d better to pay the tips separately so that there will not be any conflict among guide and porter. Tipping your guide and porter

Can a solo female trekkers trek in Nepal?

Yes, solo female trekkers are found traveling or trekking in the mountain of Nepal. We do not recommend solo female trekker without guide and porter in the mountain. Yes, accompanying guide or porter, a solo female trekker in Nepal is safe. They can trek far and wide.

Is it a good idea to carry some medicine with me when I come to trekking in Nepal?

It is the best idea to carry first aid kit or some general medicine to cure common illnesses during the trekking days in the mountain. Bandages, some aspirins, some medicines for minor injuries, blisters etc. are to be carried during the trekking days. And most importantly, if you have some sicknesses, please first go and consult with doctor and bring medicine you require.  

How will you support me if I suffer from altitude sickness or accident?

Your leader will be instructing you all the time how to avoid altitude sickness and accident. However, it may occur any time. In such case, the guide or the leader will handle the case promptly. Your geode will see your condition and nature of sickness or injury. If he thinks you can recover in few days by taking rest or taking you to the lower elevation or with first aid if injury or accident. If such is not the condition, then, your leader of guide will inform the company and you will immediately be evacuated. For this, you need to confirm that your travel insurance will cover entire payment for evacuation and medications.

Do I need to get myself travel insurance trekking in Nepal?

Travel insurance is the most important thing that you have to make sure while trekking in Nepal. You are going to the lap of Himalayas and sometimes, sudden accident or illness may occur. At the time we may have to be rescued in no time. For this, we need make sure that you travel insurance will cover the whole part of the expenses: evacuation and medical expenses. Otherwise, you need to pay all the charge on your own which will be difficult for an individual. Thus travel insurance is a must thing before trekking in Nepal.

Do I get the internet access?

Most of the major trekking trails in Nepal have internet facility. Every guesthouse or teahouse in the mountain in Annapurna region, Langtang region and Everest region has Wi-fi facility and you can chat and share videos and photos with your friends, family and relatives during trekking in Nepal. But for one password, the guesthouse will charge you 200-400 RS.

Other remote and restricted trekking trails in Nepal like Manaslu trekking region, Makalu Trekking region and Kanchenjungha trekking region are still not accessed with internet. But phone calls can be made from all trekking regions of Nepal.

Where I can purchase the NTC & NCELL SIM cards?

We can purchase the NTC and NCELL SIM cards at the arrival at Kathmandu airport. Purchasing SIM cards at the arrival may take longer time sometimes. So, we can purchase NTC and NCELL SIM cards at Thamel or nearby where you stay. You can get it easily at the corner shop. We also can purchase these SIM cards in other cities like Chitwan, Besisahar and Pokhara too. But, for this, we need to submit our passport and 3 p.p. sized photographs. We also can buy Data pack for our trip in the mountain in case Wi-Fi doesn’t work.

What things do I need to bring/carry during the trek in Nepal?
How much extra Money should I bring to go trekking in Nepal?

You need to separate 5-10 USD for your guide and porter. For one item of meal, it normally costs between 2-8 USD. Drinks line beer costs 4-8 USD. One WI-Fi password costs 200-400 rupees and one hot shower costs 200-500 rupees. And other extra expenses depends on you like shopping, going to the clubs and restaurants, massage and spa and so on.

 How can I book the trip & payment terms?

 You can book the trip by settling down 20-30 % of total amount of the trip 3 months prior to the trip. This happens for preplanned trip. But for the immediate trip plan, you can just email or visit the office of Trekking and tour company and book it for you. Once you pay the deposit, it won’t be returned. So, think twice before making the booking of the trip you like.

 Who will come to receive me in the Airport?       

The representative of particular trekking or Tour Company through which you have booked the trip will come to receive at the airport. This representative will be holding a placard with your or company name. He/ She will be at the arrival. You will be received and transferred to the hotel.

How are the toilet facilities and washroom/shower facilities during my travel?

In the cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, Besisahar, Nagarkot etc have modern western washrooms and showers. But in the mountain during your trekking, we get very common toilet or Washroom which are normally shared. The washrooms are outside. We hardly get attached washrooms in the mountain. But, in major trekking regions in Nepal like Everesre region, Annapurna region and Langtang region have luxurious accommodation which have modern washroom and shower but hard to find. Do not expect to use attached washroom during your trekking days in the mountain in Nepal.

The mountain lodges and teahouse have solar heating system and they offer you shower. But in some of the cases, you may have to use bucket shower too. This happens in remote and restricted area trekking like Makalu, Kanchenjungha and Manaslu region trekking. One shower costs between 200-500 rupees.

What are the time zone and phone code in Nepal?

Time zone in Nepal (GMT+5:45) and the phone code in Nepal is +977.

 Are tourist visas available upon arrival to Nepal?

Getting On-Arrival Visa at the immigration office at Trivhuban International airport. This is an easy task. We get visa within a few minutes. Even, we do not need to follow lengthy procedures.

But, in peak trekking seasons (Spring( March-May) and Autumn (Sept-Nov), we may have to stand in a queue in order to obtain Nepal visa at the immigration at TIA. Otherwise, we get an easy Nepal visa within a few minutes in off-seasons ( Summer and winter).

Obtained tourist visa, later, can be changed into other categories if they require meeting the other purpose of the visit of the visitors.

 We require undergoing through a few steps in order to obtain On Arrival Visa for Nepal.

1. Filling up the arrival card
2. Filling in the Online “Tourist Visa” form

You can fill up this online form before arrival. But you have to submit the printed barcode that you get after a successful submission of the form for visit to the immigration at the airport. This receipt will be valid for 15 days. If you fail to submit the receipt with bar code, you need to fill up new form.

Or, we can fill up the visa form at the aiprot by using Kiosk machine at the airport on your arrival.

  3. Paying the Visa Charge

After filling the visa form, we need to pay the charge of visa through bank which is inside the airpot premise. The number of days you are planning to stay in Nepal determines you visa charge. The longer you stay, the more you pay as visa charge.

Different visa charges ‘ On Arrival Visa for Nepal’ on days basis

15 days- 25 USD
30 days- 40 USD
90 days- 100 USD
4. Getting the receipt

On your payment, do not forget to ask and get the receipt.

5. Submitting your online form, payment receipt, and passport.

And, now, in no time or within a few minutes,  we get Tourist Visa for Nepal in our hand.   

However, there are a few cases where you do not need to pay for Visa in Nepal. There’s a provision of free visa for:

Children below 10 years
SAARC nationals ( except Afghanistan) for first 30 days of their arrival.
Free visa for NRN cardholder issued by MoFA/ Nepalese diplomatic missions abroad
Chinese Nationals
Officials from China, Brazil, Russia, and Thailand (because of the reciprocal visa waiver agreement)

 When are the best times of year to visit Nepal?
What about the condition of the trekking trails of Nepal?

The trekking trails in Nepal are completely safe now. Actually, this question arises because Langtang reigon was hit hard by April Earthquake 2015. It really brought a huge devastation in mesmerizing langtang valley. Many people lost their lives and properties. These people from Langtang Valley migrated to the other place. But now even the Langtang region is completely okay. The major trekking regions like Annapurna, Everest and Langtang have good cumminication facility like phone calls and Wi Fi. Trekkers can connect to their family and relatives during their trip in the mountain.