Hiking in Nepal

Verborgen in het Himalayagebergte, wordt het natuurlijke landschap van dit betoverend land gedomineerd door acht van 's werelds hoogste toppen, waaronder de iconische Mount Everest. Vele ambitieuze klimmers komen hier naar toe, om de uitdaging van het beklimmen van deze majestueuze piek aan te gaan. Grote aantallen ecotoeristen zijn enthousiast over de vrijwel ongerepte natuur, weelderige subtropische bossen met exotische dieren in het wild. Het culturele landschap van Nepal is net zo divers als het natuurlijke landschap en biedt onderdak aan een reeks verschillende etnische groepen. Andere populaire toeristische hoogtepunten zijn: de hoofdstad Kathmandu met zijn prachtige tempels en paleizen; de pure pracht van Patan's Gouden Tempel;  het Chitwan National Park en Bodnath, het meest heilige boeddhistische monument van het land.

Currency 

The currency of Nepal is the Nepalese Rupee (NPR; symbol Rs) = 100 paisa. Notes are in denominations of Rs1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 25 and 10 paisa.

Visitors should bear in mind that foreign visitors other than Indian nationals are required to pay their airline tickets, trekking permits and hotel bills in foreign currency. Taking Nepalese currency outside the country is prohibited.

Banking

Banking hours in Kathmandu valley: Sunday-Thursday 09h30-15h30 and Friday 09h30-13h30.

American Express is widely accepted, with MasterCard and Visa in tourist shops, hotels, restaurants and agencies. ATMs are widely available in Nepal, however, it is not possible to withdraw cash in the mountains. Those embarking on treks should take enough cash for the duration of their trek.

Travellers’ cheques are accepted at banks and major hotels. If trekking, it is important to bear in mind that cash is necessary. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

Destinations such as Lukla, Pokhara, Simikot, Jomsom, Janakpur and Bharatpur are served by domestic flights. Nepal Airlines operates an extensive range of scheduled services, dropping trekkers at the main hiking routes. Yeti Airlines and Buddha Air are also popular carriers. Internal flights can be booked via Nepal Air Flight. Morning flights tend to be affected less by inclement weather.

Please note that airfares must be paid in foreign currency by foreign nationals. 

The road infrastructure in Nepal is limited. Road quality is also poor; potholes abound and landslides frequently close roads, particularly mountain roads which can be impassable during monsoon season (June to August). 

There are frequent bus services in populous towns and cities. Private minibuses are also available.

Taxi: Metered taxis are plentiful in Kathmandu; at night, the meter reading plus 50% is standard. Private taxis are more expensive and fares should be agreed before departure.

Tempos: These metered three-wheel scooters are slightly cheaper than taxis.

Rickshaws: These operate throughout Kathmandu. Fares should be negotiated in advance.

Ferries are used for river and lake crossing but tend to be overcrowded. 

Sandwiched between India and China, Nepal’s cuisine is heavily influenced by its neighbours – although dishes tend to be simpler and less varied. Meals are typically spicy and meaty, although that’s not to say you can’t find good vegetarian cuisine. Indeed, the national dish is dal bhat (lentil curry), which, like most dishes, is accompanied by rice and thin pancake-like bread known as chapatti. 

Adventurous gastronomes should venture into the markets to sample fresh fruits including umpteen varieties of bananas, which are some of the sweetest you’ll ever taste. At the higher end of the market, Kathmandu has developed an international culinary scene where diners can find dishes from all over the world. Chefs artistically prepare five-star menus, and food competitions have aimed to encourage budding restauranteurs.

Bakeries and cafés are scattered around tourist towns, where patrons can quaff Nepali tea (ask for it kaalo (black) or with chini (sugar). 

It is considered rude to eat with your left hand. Utensils are provided in most tourist destinations, but locals still eat with their hands. Bring your own water bottle to be eco-conscious or buy bottled for cheap on the street.

Tipping is only expected in tourist hotels and restaurants; 10% is sufficient.

Monsoon season begins around the end of June and lasts until the end of September. About 80% of Nepal's annual rainfall is during that period, so the remainder of the year is pretty dry. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons; winter temperatures drop to freezing, with a high level of snowfall in the mountains, while high summer can be blisteringly hot. Summer and late spring temperatures range from 28ºC (83ºF) in the hill regions to more than 40ºC (104ºF) in the Terai.

In winter, average maximum and minimum temperatures in the Terai range from a brisk 7ºC (45ºF) to a mild 23ºC (74ºF). The central valleys experience a minimum temperature often falling below freezing point and a chilly 12ºC (54ºF) maximum. Much colder temperatures prevail at higher elevations. The Kathmandu Valley, at an altitude of 1,310m (4,297ft), has a mild climate, ranging from 19-27ºC (67-81ºF) in summer, and 2-20ºC (36-68ºF) in winter.

Lightweight and tropical clothes with umbrella are advised for June to August. Between October and March, lightweight clothes are worn in Kathmandu, with a coat for evenings and warm clothing for the mountains. When trekking in the mountains, high-quality trekking gear that can handle minus temperatures is recommended all year round.

Electrical sockets in Nepal are one of two electrical socket types:  Type D (BS-546) and Type C (CEE 7/16 Europlug). If your appliance's plug doesn't match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in. Travel plug adapters simply change the shape of your appliance's plug to match whatever type of socket you need to plug into. If it's crucial to be able to plug in no matter what, bring an adapter for all types.

Electrical sockets in Nepal usually supply electricity at 230 volts AC / 50 Hz frequency. If you're plugging in an appliance that was built for 230 volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then an adapter is all you need. If your appliance isn’t compatible with 230 volts, a voltage converter will be necessary.