Planning a Trip to Nepal: A Perfect Holiday

The best time to visit Nepal is normally either March to May (spring) or September to November (fall). These are both ideal times to go on a trekking tour in Nepal. It’s worth noting though that September to November is the peak tourist season, so the trekking trails can be busy and accommodation prices tend to be at their highest.

Other related articles:
Nepal in March
Nepal in May
Nepal in September
Nepal in November

• Trek to Everest Base Camp: One of the most popular attractions in Nepal is the Everest Base Camp trek. Hike across stunning landscapes, stop off at mountain towns where you can learn about Sherpa culture, and see the Khumbu Glacier. You can fly into the tiny town of Lukla and trek to the base camp. If you’re planning a solo trip to Nepal, make sure to join a group guided tour to Everest Base Camp. The most popular trek durations are 12 to 14 days depending on the route and number of acclimatization days.
• Explore the Mustang region: Head to the north of Nepal and trek on the wide open plains of the Mustang region. This area is completely different from much of what you might recognize as Nepal. With desert landscapes and striking rock formations, it feels a world away from the snowy peaks of the Annapurna Circuit. One of the best things about the Mustang region tour is the food. Enjoy the typical Thakali and Tibetan food. Taste the local wine, unique loaves of bread, and even tea with salt in it!
• Go on an adventure to Pokhara: As the adventure hub of Nepal, a Pokhara trip is ideal if you’re planning a family trip to Nepal. From white water rafting to horseriding to trekking, it has it all. From a cultural standpoint, you should check out Pumdikot, which is a hill station that has a glorious and colorful Shiva statue on top of the peak. If you’re looking for an alternative to Everest Base Camp, Pokhara is also the gateway to the famous and beautiful Annapurna trek.
• Discover bustling Kathmandu: Nepal’s capital needs little introduction, but if you’re looking for history and culture, you can visit palaces, temples, and more, including the Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath, and Kathmandu Durbar Square. If you’re looking for something less touristy, make sure to jump on a local street food tour with an expert and eat your weight in delicious momo and traditional Newari cuisine. Check out our tours to Kathmandu. 

When planning a trip to Nepal, we’d recommend at least two weeks to fully experience this amazing country. This way, you can enjoy a multi-day trek in either the Himalayas or Mustang, check out the culture of Kathmandu, or even jump on an eight-hour jungle safari in Chitwan National Park. Of course, the more time you can spend here, the better.

Not sure how many days to spend on your Nepal trip? Check out our different itinerary options for touring Nepal.

Other related articles:
5 days in Nepal
7 days in Nepal
10 days in Nepal

The main way to get to Nepal is to fly into the international airport in Kathmandu. It’s connected to countries all around the world, with direct flights as far west as Istanbul, and as far east as Tokyo. Overland, you can access Nepal from either Tibet to the north or India from the south.

One of the most popular ways to get around Nepal from Kathmandu or Pokhara is by bus. There are both tourist and local buses that are affordable but can take a long time to reach your destination. You can also take internal flights between major cities and popular tourist destinations with airlines such as Buddha Air. If you rent a car in Nepal, it automatically comes with a driver. You need a valid international license to drive a car or ride a motorcycle in Nepal.

On average, you can budget around *USD 38 per person per day to travel in Nepal. That includes accommodation, bus travel, and food which is largely super affordable. That being said, if you’re joining a luxury private tour, or staying in high-end accommodations, you could be spending up to USD 110 per person per day.

Currently, many of the major treks require permits in advance. For example, Everest Base Camp permits cost over USD 30, and the quota fills up really quickly, as tour companies tend to buy up the passes and include them in the packages. If you’re on a multi-day trek, you might need 3-4 permits, especially on the Annapurna Circuit hike.

More information:
Nepal budget tours
Nepal luxury tours

*Note: The prices mentioned are for June 2023 and are subject to change.

• Nepal’s monsoon season peaks from June to August, and a lot of trekking trails are closed during this period. If you still want to trek during monsoon, head to the shadow areas of Upper Mustang or Upper Dolpo which are a lot drier.
• Nepal is not all mountains. The country is also home to beautiful hills, flat plains, rivers and forests full of wildlife.
• If you like orderly traffic and clear crossing points, Nepal is going to come as a surprise for you. The traffic doesn’t seem to follow any set rules.

• While seatbelts are compulsory for drivers in Nepal, they’re not mandatory in the backseat. Be wary of taxis without seat belts for passengers, especially if you’re traveling at night or on mountain passes.
• Bring altitude sickness tablets if you are going on a trek.
• Only hire guides and tours through credible sources.

So that’s our helpful guide for how to plan a trip to Nepal. We hope it’s been useful for you, but if you need more help planning a trip to Nepal, get in touch with our Nepal travel experts. They can help you plan a customized trip to Nepal that’ll suit any budget, date, or requirement.

Nepal Group Tours
Nepal Solo Trips
Nepal Family Tours
Nepal Customized Trips