Climate : Nepal experiences 4 seasons:
Spring (Mar - May),
Summer (Jun - Aug),
Autumn (Sep - Nov) and
Winter (Dec - Feb).
Temperature varied ranging from- minimum 7 – maximum as high as 40 degree Celsius in the plain, 2 to 28 degrees in the Kathmandu Valley and between -6 and 16 degrees in the mountains.
Nepal can be visited all year round.

Foreign Exchange:

Foreign currencies must be exchanged only through the banks or authorized foreign exchange offices. The receipts from such transaction are to be obtained and retained. Payment in hotels, travel agencies or trekking agencies, and airlines are made in foreign exchange. Credit cards like American Express, Master and Visa are widely accepted at major hotels, shops, and restaurants. Major Banks, hotels, and the exchange counters at Tribhuvan Airport provide services for exchanging foreign currency.

Entry Procedures & Visa Rules :
Gratis visa for all tourists who visit Nepal for 3 days or less.
Gratis visa for tourists of SAARC countries and People's Republic of China.

Visa Fee:
Single entry - US$ 30 days for 60 days
Multiple entry - US$ 50 + US$ 30.
Visa will be extended subsequently for 30 days each upon payment of US$ 30 for a maximum period of 150 days in a visa year (Jan-Dec). Visa can be obtained either on arrival in Nepal or from Nepalese Embassy or Consulate or other Mission offices abroad. Two passport size photographs required. Indians do not require visa to visit Nepal. However, they require to be in possession of any one of the following documents while traveling between the two countries.

• Valid national passport

• Photo identity card issued by the government of India/any State Government or Union Territory/Administration in India/Identity Cards issued by the Election Commission of India. (Except Tatkal Identity Cards issued by the Ministry of Railways).

• Children between 10-18 years age group are allowed to travel by air on the strength of a passport or photo identity card issued by the Principal of their school or college.

• Emergency Certificate issued by Embassy of India, Kathmandu to Indian nationals in case of emergent conditions.

• Children up to the age of 10 years will not require the above-mentioned documents for travelling between India and Nepal, by air.

Customs Formalities:

Customs:
All baggage must be declared and cleared through the customs on arrival at the entry. Personal effects are permitted free entry. Passengers arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) without any dutiable goods can proceed through the Green Channel for quick clearance without a baggage check. If you are carrying dutiable articles, you have to pass through the Red Channel for detailed customs clearance.

Import:
Apart from used personal belongings, visitors are allowed to bring to Nepal free of duty cigarette (200) or cigars (50), distilled liquor (one 1.15 liter bottle), and film (15 rolls). You can also bring in the following articles free of duty on condition that you take them out with you when you leave: binocular, movie or video camera, still camera, laptop computer, and portable music system.

Export:
The export of antiques requires special certification from the Department of Archeology, National Archive Building, Ram Shah Path, Kathmandu. It is illegal to export objects over 100 years old like sacred images, paintings, manuscripts that are valued for culture and religious reasons. Visitors are advised not to purchase such items as they are Nepal's cultural heritage and belong here.

Clothing and accessories:
Warm clothing is required during November to April and light clothes in the warmer months. For evenings and mornings, however, warm woolen pullover or anorak/parka jacket could be needed. For trekking enthusiasts trekking equipment can be hired or bought in Kathmandu or Pokhara. Other requirements include a comfortable sleeping bag, water bottle, a backpack, a sturdy and lockable duffel bag, umbrella or rainproof jacket with hood or poncho, flashlights with spare batteries and bulbs, sunglasses, toiletries and medical supplies.

Travel Route:

Traveling by air
Many International airlines operate scheduled flights to Kathmandu at Tribhuvan International Airport from Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Bombay, Calcutta, Doha, Delhi, Dubai, Dhaka, Paro (Bhutan), Bangalore, Varanasi, Paris, Hong Kong, Karachi, Osaka, Karachi, Munich, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Lhasa, Amsterdam, London, Frankfurt and Vienna.
Nepal Airlines, Thai Airways, Qatar Airways, Indian Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines, Biman Bangladesh, Gulf Air, Indian Airlines, Air Sahara , Jet Airways, Austrian Air, Martinair, Air China, Druk Air fly to Nepal regularly.

Traveling by road
All visitors entering Nepal by land must use no other entry points other than:
Nepal-India border

• Kakarbhitta
• Birgunj
• Belhiya, Bhairahawa
• Nepalgunj
• Dhangadi
• Mahendra Nagar
• Jogbani (Biratnagar)
• Nepal-China border
• Kodari

The overland tourists entering the Kingdom with their vehicles must possess an international carnet.

Airport Tax:
Rs.660 per person for departure to SAARC (South Asian) Countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Rs.1100 for departure to other international destinations.

Trekking Permit:
The Department of Immigration located at Bhrikuti Mandap, issues permit for the tourists who intend trekking to any part of the country.

Time and Business Hours
Nepal is five hours 45 minutes ahead of GMT.
Government Office-Hour:
From To Day Month

• 9 AM 5 PM Sun-Fri February to mid to November mid
• 9 AM 4 PM Sun-Fri November mid to February mid
• Banks are open from Sunday through Thursday from 10 am to 3 pm. On Fridays, banks remain open until 12 pm only. Most shops open after 10 am and close at about 8 pm.

Note: Government offices and banks are closed on Saturdays and other official Holidays.

Insurance
Travel insurance policies that cover theft, loss and medical treatment are recommended. Make sure the insurance also cover the activities that you will be undertaking during your stay in Nepal such as trekking, river rafting, wildlife safaris, climbing and such other activities.

Communication Facilities

Postal Services:
The Central Post Office located near Dharahara Tower, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Friday. The counters are open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and provide stamps, postcards and aerograms.

Telephone Services:
Telephone, fax, telex and telegraph services are available at the Nepal.

Internet Services:
Several Internet cafes and communication centers have opened up in the Valley and around the country. E-mail and Internet services are also offered by hotels.

Media:
Nepali media has sped light years ahead in just a few years time and what used to be a controlled and tight knit community, is so no more. The government audio and television news networks are Radio Nepal and Nepal Television respectively. However, numerous FM radio stations and upcoming regional television stations are dominating the market. Major Nepali daily newspapers are Gorkhapatra and Kantipur, while the English dailies are The Rising Nepal, The Kathmandu Post and The Himalayan. A number of other newspapers and magazines are also available.

Electricity:
Major towns have electricity and the voltage available is 220-volts and 50 cycles. Load shedding is sometimes experienced. However, most major hotels have installed their own generators.

Getting Around:

Domestic Air Service
Nepal Airlines (NA) has an extensive network of air services in the interior of Nepal. It has scheduled connection flights from Kathmandu to Taplejung, Bhadrapur, Rajbiraj, Bhojpur, Phaplu, Lukla, Lamidanda, Tunmlingtar, Rumjatar, Biratnagar Simara, Janakpur, Ramechhap, Bharatpur, Meghauli ,Pokhara, Jomsom, Manang, Baglung. Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj Chaurjhahari, Surkhet, Dang, Dolpa, Jumla, Bajura, Baitadi, Dipayal, Darchula, Mahendranagar, Dhangadi, Tikapur and Sanfebagar. Besides NA, other domestic airlines such as Buddha Air, Cosmic Air, Gorkha Airlines, Sita Air, Skyline Airlines and Yeti Airways provide regular and charter services to popular domestic destinations.

City Buses
There are many buses, minibuses and microbuses available. Safa tempo run by battery is also available in Kathmandu for commuters.

Metered Taxi
Metered taxi is easily recognizable by its taxi sign on top and black license plate. There is also an arrangement of Night Taxi service operated by the major hotels. The fare is slightly higher than the metered taxi. One can rent a private car through a travel agent or a car rental company.

Hired Mountain Bike / Ordinary Bicycle
Mountain bikes and ordinary bicycles are cheap and the best form of transportation for economy tourists. One can hire them at Thamel, Rani Pokhari and Jhochhen.

Long Distance Bus Service
Long distance day or night bus services are available from Kathmandu to all cities of Nepal. Six seater Sumo Tata van, 12 seater van and air-conditioned mini bus also available for long distance travel.

SOME DOS AND DON'TS

• The form of greeting in Nepal is "NAMASTE" and is performed by joining the palms together.
• Before entering a Nepalese home, temple, and stupa remember to remove your shoes.
• Be careful not to use your spoon, fork or a hand being used for your eating to touch other's food, plate, cooking utensil or the serving dish. Do not eat from other people's plate and do not drink from other people's bottle or glass. It is considered impure by the Nepalese.
• Never touch anything with your feet. This is considered an offence among Nepalese.
• While traveling dress appropriately. Women should specially avoid dressing in skimpy outfits.
• Seek permission first before entering a Hindu temple. Many Hindu temples do not allow westerners or non-Hindus to enter.
• Leather articles are prohibited to be taken inside the temple precinct.
• Walking around temples or stupas is traditionally done clockwise.
• Take photographs only after receiving permission for the object or person being photographed.
• Public displays of affection between man and woman are frowned upon. Do not do something that is totally alien to our environment.
• Remember, many times, when a person shakes his head up and down, he may mean "Yes".
• Develop a genuine interest to meet and talk to Nepalese people and respect their local customs.