What permits do I need for trekking in Nepal?

Most trails need two things: a TIMS card, issued through registered trekking agencies, and an entry permit for the conservation area or national park you are walking in, such as ACAP for Annapurna or the Sagarmatha permit for Everest. Some protected areas also require you to walk with a licensed guide rather than independently. Fees are lower for SAARC nationals, which includes Indians. Agencies arrange all of it as part of a package, and the paperwork is easier to hand over than to do yourself.

Can I see Everest without trekking?

Yes, in two ways. Mountain flights leave Kathmandu early most mornings in clear season, run about an hour, and fly along the range with Everest visible from the window, and every passenger gets a turn at the cockpit view. The second way is the short flight to Lukla and a couple of days at Namche Bazaar, which puts you among the peaks without the full trek. Both depend entirely on weather, and both cancel often enough that you should not plan them for your last day.

Is Nepal safe for Indian travellers?

For ordinary tourism, yes, and Indians travel there in very large numbers without difficulty. The practical risks are not crime but altitude, road conditions on mountain highways, and weather cancelling flights. Kathmandu's winter air quality is poor enough to matter if you have breathing trouble. Nepal has seen periods of political unrest and demonstrations, which can close roads and disrupt travel at short notice, so check your government's current advisory close to departure rather than at the time of booking.

Is Nepal suitable for families and older travellers?

The Kathmandu and Pokhara circuit suits both well, with short flights, familiar food and no visa paperwork. Two things need thought. Altitude is the first: Muktinath at roughly 3,800 metres and anything above Namche is high enough to affect older travellers, and it is worth a word with a doctor before booking a pilgrimage that goes up there. The second is road time, since the Kathmandu to Pokhara highway is long and rough, and the flight is the kinder option for anyone who will not enjoy eight hours in a vehicle.

Nepal or Bhutan: which should I pick?

Nepal if you want mountains, trekking and a pilgrimage circuit, and if cost matters, because there is no visa, no daily fee and flights are cheap. Bhutan if you want somewhere quieter and more controlled, with monasteries rather than trails as the main event, and you are willing to pay the Sustainable Development Fee for every night you stay. Nepal is louder, cheaper and more varied. Bhutan is calmer, more expensive and easier to organise, since one operator handles everything. For a first Himalayan trip, most Indian travellers start with Nepal.

Nepal Travel Guide & Tourism (2026)

Nepal Travel Packages

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7 Nights / 8 Days

Muktinath Darshan Nepal Tour: Kathmandu & Pokhara

Kathmandu(2N) → Kushma(1N) → Muktinath(1N) → Tatopani(1N) &...

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₹26,999/person

5 Nights / 6 Days

6-Day Enchanting Nepal Tour with 3-Star Hotels

Kathmandu(3N) → Pokhara(2N)

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₹19,900/person

3 Nights / 4 Days

4-Day Nepal Heritage, Religious, and Cultural Tour including 3 Star hotel

Kathmandu(3N)

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₹11,900/person

3 Nights / 4 Days

4-Day Nepal Kathmandu Luxury Tour with Mount Everest by flight

Kathmandu(3N)

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₹24,900/person

4 Nights / 5 Days

5-Day Nepal Heritage, Nature, and Cultural Tour including Air Travel with 5 Star hotel

Kathmandu(2N) → Pokhara(2N)

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₹29,900/person

6 Nights / 7 Days

Kathmandu – Pokhara - Muktinath Tour

Kathmandu(3N) → Pokhara(2N) → Jomsom(1N)

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₹32,000/person

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Nepal Travel Essentials

Region: South Asia

Ideal Duration: 7 to 10 days, or 2 weeks with a longer trek

Currency: Nepalese Rupee (NPR)

Best Time: October to December and March to May; winter is clear and cheap

Accommodation Cost (per night in USD): Dorm bed: $5-15
Budget: $15-30
Mid-range: $40-80
Luxury: $100 and above

Budget for Food & Drinks (per day in USD): Budget: $5-10
Mid-range: $15-30

Visa Policy for Indians: No visa needed; passport or Voter ID accepted

Visa Policy for Other Nationals: Visa on Arrival or E-visa for many countries

Getting In Nepal: Kathmandu (KTM) direct from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Varanasi and Lucknow. Road crossings at Sunauli, Raxaul and Kakarbhitta. Read More

Getting Around Nepal: Buses, microbuses, taxis, and domestic flights for longer distances Read More

Tourist Places to Visit In Nepal

Kathmandu

Bhaktapur

Pokhara

Sagarmatha National Park

4.1

Mustang

4.6

Lumbini

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Must Know Before You Travel to Nepal

No visa at all: Indians need no visa for Nepal and can enter on a passport or a Voter ID card, by air or by road. The "visa on arrival" you see quoted applies to other nationalities.
Indian notes: Only ₹100 and smaller denominations are accepted. Higher notes are not legal tender in Nepal, so carry small notes or change to Nepalese rupees.
Trekking permits: Most trails need a TIMS card plus a conservation area or national park permit, and some protected areas require a licensed guide.
Mountain flights cancel: Flights to Lukla and Pokhara are grounded by weather regularly. Keep a buffer day before any onward international flight.

Nepal Tourism

Nepal is the one international trip an Indian can take on a Voter ID. No visa, no fee, short flights from half a dozen cities, and on the other side eight of the world's fourteen highest mountains. It works as a five-day city and lake trip, as a pilgrimage to Pashupatinath and Muktinath, or as three weeks on a trail. The Kathmandu valley alone holds seven UNESCO-listed monument zones within an hour of each other, and most visitors give it a day and a half.

Nepal holds eight of the world's fourteen highest mountains, and you do not have to trek to see them. Sunrise from Nagarkot or Sarangkot puts the Himalaya in front of you for the cost of one early morning, and mountain flights from Kathmandu run along the range past Everest. For those who do want to walk, the trails range from two-day routes to the fortnight of Everest Base Camp, with Poon Hill out of Pokhara the popular short option. October and November are the clearest months, with March to May the second season and the monsoon closing the views from June to September.

The Kathmandu valley is the other half of the country and deserves more than the day and a half most itineraries give it. Three separate medieval city centres, at Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, sit within an hour of each other, along with Pashupatinath, Boudhanath and Swayambhunath. Pokhara, six hours west or a short flight, is the lake town where the Annapurnas fill the skyline and most treks begin. Chitwan in the southern plains is the national park, with rhino the realistic sighting. For pilgrims, Muktinath in Mustang and Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, draw a large share of Indian visitors. Five days covers Kathmandu and Pokhara, seven to ten adds Chitwan or a short trek.

Temples in Nepal

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Top Experiences in Nepal

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Visit the Holiest Shrine in Nepal, the Pashupatinath Temple

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Best time to visit Nepal

October to April is the best time to visit Nepal. The monsoon closes the trekking trails and hides the mountains from June to September, and everything outside it works. October and November are the peak, and the single best window of the year. The monsoon has washed the dust out of the air, so this... (Read More)

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FAQs on Nepal

Do Indians need a visa for Nepal?

No. Indian nationals need no visa for Nepal at all, and can enter by air or road on a passport or a Voter ID card issued by the Election Commission of India. There is no fee and no arrival form to fill. The visa-on-arrival system you see described applies to other nationalities. Children travelling without a passport should carry a birth certificate or school ID, and it is worth confirming what your airline will accept before you go to the airport.

When is the best time to visit Nepal?

October and November are the clearest and most reliable months, with the monsoon gone and the mountains visible most mornings. March to early May is the second season, warmer, hazier and with rhododendron in flower on the trails. December to February is cold but often very clear, and it is the cheapest time to go if you can handle the temperature and stick to lower altitudes. June to September is the monsoon, when views disappear, trails turn to leeches and flights cancel.

How many days do I need in Nepal?

Five days covers Kathmandu and Pokhara at a reasonable pace. Seven to ten lets you add Chitwan, a short trek, or the Muktinath pilgrimage. Everest Base Camp needs around fourteen days on the trail plus buffer, and the Annapurna Circuit similar. The single biggest time sink is the Kathmandu to Pokhara road, six to eight hours each way, so a short trip is much better off flying that leg.

How do I get to Nepal from India?

Kathmandu (KTM) has direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Varanasi and Lucknow, most of them under two and a half hours. Pokhara and Bhairahawa also take some international traffic. By road, the main crossings are Sunauli from Uttar Pradesh, Raxaul from Bihar and Kakarbhitta from West Bengal, all open to Indian nationals without a visa, and buses run through from Gorakhpur and Siliguri.

Can I use Indian rupees in Nepal?

Partly, and this catches people out. Indian notes of ₹100 and below are accepted widely and circulate freely. Higher denominations are not legal tender in Nepal, so ₹500 notes are refused by shops, hotels and often by banks. Carry small notes, or change money on arrival. The Nepalese rupee is pegged to the Indian rupee at a fixed rate, so exchange is straightforward and there is little to gain from shopping around. Indian debit and credit cards work in Kathmandu and Pokhara but not much beyond them.

What does a Nepal trip cost from India?

Nepal is the cheapest international trip most Indians can take. A week covering Kathmandu and Pokhara is commonly quoted between 35,000 and 80,000 rupees per person including flights. Trekking adds guide and porter fees, permits and teahouse costs, and a two-week Everest Base Camp trip typically runs well above that. The flight between Kathmandu and Pokhara is the one upgrade worth paying for on a short trip, because it saves a full day in each direction.

Do I have to trek to enjoy Nepal?

No, and most visitors do not. The Kathmandu valley and Pokhara make a complete five day trip with no walking beyond a temple courtyard. Sunrise from Nagarkot or Sarangkot puts the Himalaya in front of you for the cost of one early morning. If you want a taste of a trail without committing, Poon Hill from Pokhara is four or five days and needs no technical skill, and Australian Camp is an overnight. Everest Base Camp is a fortnight and a different kind of holiday altogether.

Nepal Travel Guide