General Information | The Kathmandu Valley | Trekking in Nepal | Major Festivals

After arrival in Nepal….
Your first consideration on arrival is to follow the necessary airport procedures:

After you get down from the Plane...
Nepal remains a popular destination for tourists all over the world, with its offerings of the mystical Himalayas, lush green valleys, and a rich cultural and natural heritage. However, in order to make the initial transition smoother once setting foot in this enigmatic country it would be best to follow the advice below.

So are you ready to begin your journey of Nepal? Here is what you should do at the airport:

1. Fill out your disembarkation card properly.
2. Fill out your visa application if you do not have a visa yet and paste a photo of yourself on the application.
3. You will be asked to submit your visa fees. Travelers visiting here the second time: be informed that you will be asked to pay your re-entry fees. (Too bad but it can't be helped!)
4. A little hint: if you come to Nepal for not longer than 24 hours and you can show a valid flight ticket, you can get a transit visa for only US$ 5.
5. Once you pay the visa fees, do not forget to count the change, and don't be shy to claim the deficit!
6. Next, you will walk through an X-ray machine (just in case you happen to carry ammunition and stuff...).
7. Walk to the luggage claim and make sure you collect all that is yours.
8. If any of your baggage is missing, you can claim it at the Royal Nepal Airlines office.
9. Walk through customs. Expect to be checked even at the green channel.
10. Now get a trolley for your luggage.
11. Make sure the trolley is functioning well. Don't be surprised to find a squeaky one or even one with a missing wheel!
12. You exit, and now, do not, I repeat, DO NOT be shocked… Fifty people will come at you offering this, that or the other.
13. Flatly refuse. Say NO to everything.
14. If you are not picked up by a travel agent or an acquaintance, walk to the departure lounge and hail a normal taxi.
15. This is it. Check into a hotel (preferably one that has been recommended to you by a friend) and relax.
16. Congratulations! You are now all set to begin your journey of the mystical land of the Shangri-La.

Welcome to the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal
Dear travelers, please be informed of the following important hints for your safety.

• Beware of touts who claim to be the representatives of companies and offer to take you bargain-hunting.
• Always use hotel safety boxes for valuables such as money, passports, cameras etc. Do not leave cash and other valuable things lying around in your room.
• Always keep the photocopies of passports and permits with you for they might be checked anywhere on security grounds.
• It is illegal to exchange currency with persons other than authorized dealers in foreign exchange (bank and hotels).
• Save your encashment receipts in order to change surplus rupees at the time of departure, as you must present your receipts for this exchange.
• Always drink boiled or mineral water for hygienic purposes.
• Fruits and uncooked vegetables should be treated before consumption to avoid dysentery and other diseases.
• Never eat any kind of food which is openly sold on the side of roads.
• Do not encourage begging by being benevolent.
• Pick-pocketing in crowded public places and buses is common, so be careful and always keep your valuables close to your body.
• Ask for permission before taking snaps of any religious place or people.
• While traveling in a local taxi, properly check the meter and pay only the amount shown by the meter.

Newspapers and Magazines
Visit www.nepalnews.com for the latest news & events

Television
Nepal Television (NTV) transmits from 7:00 am to 10:30 pm. Many hotels and lodges provide access to satellite channels such as the BBC, CNN etc.

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

Time and Business Hours
Nepal is 5 hours and 45 minutes ahead of Greenwich Median Time (GMT).

Business Hours within the Valley

• Government offices are open from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday.
• Banks are open from Sunday through to Thursday, from 10 am to 3:30 pm, and till 12 noon on Fridays.
• Most business offices are open from 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday to Friday.
• Embassies and International organizations are open from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday.
• Most shops open after 10 am and close at about 8 pm. They are usually closed on Saturdays.

Holidays
Nepal observes numerous holidays, so it is important to check the holiday calendar. Government offices observe all the national holidays and banks observe the majority of them. Businesses observe major holidays only.

Climate
Nepal's climate consists of a dry season (October to May) and the monsoon season (June to September). Nepal is at its most beautiful at the very start of the dry season from September to November, when the monsoons have left the countryside green and lush.

Temperature Chart ( In Celsius)

City Buses
There are many buses and minibuses available at Ratna Park (Old Bus Park) which depart to different destinations in the valley. Bus services operate from early morning (5 or 6 am) till 8 or 9 pm.

Metered Taxi
Consult Kathmandu Valley map to find out the direction of your destination. Hail a taxi, which is easily recognizable by its taxi sign on top and black license plate. Trips inside the city can cost anywhere between Rs. 20 - 200 depending on the distance you are travelling. No tip is expected.

A metered taxi from the airport to downtown will cost around Rs. 150 - Rs. 200. Private taxis may charge slightly higher than the ordinary taxis.

There is also an arrangement of a Night Taxi service operated by 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.

Auto Rikshaw (Metered Tempo)
Black three wheeler metered tempos and battery operated electric vehicles with fixed routes and rates are also available in the valley. The fare is slightly cheaper than metered taxis.

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 in 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. A new bus park has been constructed at Gongabu, on the Ring Road near Balaju, from where buses depart for the different destinations.

Domestic Air Service
Royal Nepal Airlines (RA) has an extensive network of air services in the interior of Nepal. It has scheduled connection flights from Kathmandu to various places around the country. Besides RA, other domestic airlines such as Buddha Air, Cosmic Air, Necon Air etc also provide regular and charter services to popular domestic destinations.