FAQ

Yes, almost everyone needs a visa to enter Nepal — except Indian citizens. The good news is most travelers can get a visa on arrival (VoA) at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Fees are USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days, or USD 125 for 90 days.

Here’s how it breaks down by country.

🇺🇸 United States citizens

You need a visa. Visa on arrival is available. Cost: $30 (15 days), $50 (30 days), or $125 (90 days). Bring USD cash, one passport photo, and a passport valid for at least 6 months. Total airport process: 20–45 minutes.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom citizens

You need a visa. Visa on arrival is straightforward — UK passport holders typically experience fast entry into Nepal. Same fees as US: $30 / $50 / $125. You can also apply online via Nepal’s e-visa portal before arrival to save queue time.

🇪🇺 European Union & Schengen citizens

You need a visa. All EU and Schengen passport holders are eligible for visa on arrival. Same fees: $30 / $50 / $125. Bring USD or EUR — both are accepted at the airport bank counter.

🇦🇺 Australian citizens

You need a visa. Visa on arrival is available. Same fees apply: $30 / $50 / $125. AUD is accepted at the airport exchange but USD usually gives a better rate.

🇮🇳 Indian citizens

You do not need a visa. Under the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship, Indian citizens can enter Nepal freely. Carry either a valid Indian passport or a Voter ID card issued by the Election Commission of India. Aadhaar cards are generally not accepted for air entry.

Honest tip from a Nepali

Choose the 30-day visa for $50 as your default. Many trekkers cut their Everest Base Camp trips short because they chose 15 days to save $20. Weather delays and acclimatization days eat up time fast. The extra $20 is the cheapest insurance you’ll ever buy.

For more on which airport you’ll land at, see my full guide to airports in Nepal.

Nepal is one of the most affordable travel destinations in Asia. Budget travelers spend around $25–40 per day, mid-range travelers $50–80 per day, and luxury travelers $150+ per day. These figures exclude international flights and trekking permits.

Here’s a realistic breakdown for 2026.

One week in Nepal (7 days)

A one-week itinerary typically covers Kathmandu (3 days), Pokhara (3 days), and a buffer day.

Two weeks in Nepal (14 days)

Two weeks lets you add a short trek (Poon Hill or Mardi Himal) or a Chitwan safari.

One month in Nepal (30 days)

A month lets you do a major trek (Everest Base Camp or Annapurna Circuit) plus cultural sightseeing.

Extra costs to budget for

Major treks add $1,200–2,500 for guide, permits, food, and accommodation. The Annapurna Conservation Area Permit alone is around NPR 3,000, plus the TIMS card. Add $50 for visa, $200–400 for domestic flights if you’re flying to Lukla or Pokhara, and tips.

Honest reality check — Nepal is cheap, but the trekking and domestic flights are where costs add up. A week of city travel can cost $200. A week of trekking with a guide can cost $700+.

Yes. Nepal is one of the safest countries in South Asia for solo female travelers. In 2025 surveys, 98% of solo female travelers rated their experience as safe or very safe, and 87% rate Nepal as safe overall.

Most women find Kathmandu, Pokhara, and the main trekking routes comfortable and welcoming. You’ll get curious stares — especially outside tourist hubs — but these are almost always curiosity, not threat. Petty annoyances like inflated taxi prices are far more common than serious incidents.

Since April 2023, foreign trekkers must hire a licensed guide for treks in national parks and most popular trekking routes. The good news is this has created a wave of female trekking guides you can request through reputable agencies.

No. Tap water in Nepal is not safe to drink for tourists. Even locals filter or boil their water. Stomach issues from contaminated water are the single most common reason travelers’ trips get ruined.
Use one of these instead.
Bottled water is available everywhere — around NPR 30–50 in cities, NPR 100–300 on trekking routes (the higher you go, the more it costs). Always check the seal is intact before drinking.

A reusable bottle with a filter like LifeStraw, GRAYL, or Sawyer is what I actually recommend. Plastic bottle pollution on trekking routes is a real problem, and a good filter pays for itself in 3 days of trekking. Refill stations on the Annapurna and Everest routes are increasingly common.

Water purification tablets work in a pinch but taste mediocre. Useful as backup.

Boiled water at teahouses is generally safe. Most charge NPR 100–200 to fill your bottle with boiled water.
Extra precautions worth taking Skip ice in drinks unless you’re at a high-end hotel. Brush your teeth with bottled or filtered water. Be careful with raw salads and unpeeled fruit at street food stalls. Cooked food served hot is almost always safe — it’s the rinse water on raw vegetables that gets people sick.

Nepal uses the Nepalese Rupee (NPR), symbolized as Rs or रू. As of early 2026, the exchange rate sits at approximately 130–135 NPR per 1 USD, 165 NPR per 1 EUR, and 90 NPR per 1 AUD. Rates fluctuate daily.
Banknotes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000 rupees. Coins exist but are rarely used.
Where to exchange money in Nepal
Best option — licensed money changers in Thamel (Kathmandu) or Lakeside (Pokhara). Rates are competitive, the process takes 2 minutes, and you can compare rates across several shops within walking distance.
Second-best — banks. Slightly lower rates than money changers but completely safe. Useful for larger amounts.
Third option — ATMs. Withdraw between 10,000 and 35,000 rupees per transaction with a 500 NPR fee per withdrawal. Use Himalayan Bank, Nabil Bank, or Standard Chartered ATMs in major cities. Avoid airport ATMs — they have higher fees.
Avoid — airport exchange counters. Rates are the worst at the airport. Change only what you need for your first taxi, then exchange properly in Thamel the next day.
A few Nepali tips most guides miss
Carry plenty of NPR 100 and 500 notes. In the mountains, teahouse owners often cannot break a 1,000-rupee note, especially early in the trekking season. Crisp, new USD bills get better rates than worn ones — money changers do check. Cryptocurrency is banned in Nepal — don’t try to use it. Cards work in Kathmandu and Pokhara hotels and bigger restaurants but usually come with a 3–5% surcharge.

Nepal uses plug types C, D, and M, with a standard voltage of 230V and frequency of 50Hz. You’ll need a universal travel adapter if you’re coming from the US, UK, EU, or Australia.
Here’s what each looks like.
Type C — two round pins (same as most of Europe). The most common in Nepal.
Type D — three large round pins in a triangle (used in India and parts of Africa). Common in older buildings.
Type M — three large round pins, similar to Type D but bigger. Used for high-power appliances like hot water heaters.
What to bring from your country
🇺🇸 US travelers: Bring a universal adapter. Your devices also need to handle 230V — most modern laptops, phones, and camera chargers do (check the label, it should say “100–240V”), but hair dryers and curling irons often don’t and will burn out.
🇬🇧 UK travelers: Your three-pin plugs won’t fit. Bring a UK-to-Europe adapter or a universal one.
🇪🇺 EU travelers: Your Type C plugs will fit directly into Nepali Type C sockets. You’re the luckiest of the lot — no adapter needed for most devices.
🇦🇺 Australian travelers: Your Type I plugs won’t fit. Bring a universal adapter.
A practical Nepali tip
Power cuts still happen, especially during winter and outside major cities. Bring a power bank (10,000 mAh minimum) for treks. Most teahouses charge NPR 100–500 to charge a phone or camera battery — the higher you go on a trek, the more it costs.