Frequently Asked Questions about Nepal
What is the best time to travel?
The best time to visit Nepal depends on what you wish to do there. The best months for walking in the mountains are April, May, October and November. The weather is good during the day and the temperatures do not drop as rapidly during the night. After the monsoon, the air is clear, leaving the spectacular snow-covered mountain tops clearly visible. The monsoon season (July and August) is not suitable for hiking in the mountains, as the paths become muddy and slippery and the mountains become almost impossible to see. From October until the middle of March, it is dry and sunny. It can be cold during the night, but as soon as the sun comes up it quickly becomes pleasantly warm again.What is the best time to see wildlife?
Chitwan National Park in the centre of Nepal is the best place to see wildlife (it has rhinos, tigers, crocodiles, parrots, an elephant breeding centre and much more). The best time to visit the park is from October to May.What are the best festivals and when do they take place?
April/May: Bisket is the Nepalese New Year. Statues of Hindu gods are paraded through the cities on trailers, and everyone is given the day off.
September/October: Durga Puja or Dasain is the largest festival in Nepal. It lasts for about 10 days and is celebrated everywhere. It honours the victory of the goddess Durga over the buffalo-demon Mahisha. Kite-flying competitions are held, as are parades and processions in the valley.
End of October/November: Diwali or Tihar, the Festival of Light, is celebrated. Thousands of lights are lit, fireworks are set off, sweet treats are prepared and sand patterns are made outside the front door. This festival is held to welcome the god Rama back from his long exile in the jungle. The festival in honour of the goddess Lakshmi is held simultaneously.
When does the tour start?
All of our tours start at 12:00 midday at the hotel where we spend our first night. Your room will be available to check-in from this time. If you arrive later, don't worry, your tour leader will meet up with you at a later time to brief you.Can I pre-book transfers and extra nights?
We are unable to offer airport transfers but we do have the option to book pre-tour/post-tour nights if you have chosen to arrive earlier/leave later. Prices for these extra nights are available on the tour information page.
What about my passport?
You need a passport that is valid for at least 6 months from the date of departure. You are responsible for having a valid passport and visa when you travel.Do I need a visa?
UK citizens need a visa for Nepal, but this can usually be sorted out when you arrive at the border. However, these things can change so please
click here and check out the current situation. You can also check on that website if a visa is required for any other nationality. Make sure you find out whether or not you need a visa at least a month before departure so you do not run out of time.
If you need a visa, please
click here to find details of the embassy you need to contact (unless you use a visa service). Shoestring does not organise your visa. You are responsible for having a valid passport and visa when you travel. You can also obtain the visa through a specialised visa agency like
http://www.travcour.com/. It is a good idea to visit this website in any case, as it provides much more detail on exceptions etc.
Do I need vaccinations or malaria tablets?
Please
click here for questions regarding vaccinations and malaria tablets for this country and then contact your GP or a specialised health centre to make an appointment to get your injections and pills. Please make sure that you arrange this at least six weeks beofre your departure to allow time for a full program of injections. Two weeks should suffice for people who have already had a few vaccinations. You are responsible for having the right protection when going on tour.
What is the recommended currency for Nepal?
The Nepalese Rupee is the local currency in Nepal. At the time of writing, there are approximately 130 Rupees to the pound. It is best to take US dollars or Pounds Sterling travellers cheques and exchange locally in hotels, banks or at the airport.What kind of clothing and other stuff is practical to take?
For your trip to Nepal, we advise that you bring a pair of good, worn in walking shoes/hiking boots and a pair of sandals. Summer clothes plus a warm jumper for the cool evenings should be sufficient for the months of November, December, March, April and May. The winter months can bring cold evenings, nights and mornings. If it is misty, it can be very cold for the whole day, and most of the accommodation has no heating. A warm coat is certainly advisable, as is a thick jumper, thick socks and thermal underwear. Warm clothing is available cheaply in Nepal, and many items such as rainwear can be rented. Other important items include sunglasses, sun cream, toiletries, a first-aid kit, an umbrella, a camera and sufficient film, spare batteries, a torch (power cuts are frequent), a pen/pocket knife (make sure you do not carry this in your hand luggage during the flight), a lighter, a small supply of snacks, an alarm clock, writing equipment, books, your (valid) passport and visa, copies of your passport and visa, sufficient money and/or travellers cheques, a list of numbers of your travellers’ cheques and their receipts (store these separately), your flight tickets, all relevant travel insurance details and documents, a diary with important addresses/phone numbers and your booking papers for this trip. You may also wish to bring binoculars, maps or travel games.What kind of luggage should I take?
Pack everything into a weekend bag or backpack, but do not use a hard suitcase, as this will prove difficult to transport. In addition, you should also bring a small backpack or shoulder bag for daily hand luggage. For storing valuables and important documents, we advise that you buy a thin money belt to be worn under your clothing. Do not bring too much baggage with you. Clothing in particular can be bought for next to nothing, so it is much better to bring too little than too much. More than 12 kg of luggage is rarely necessary and only hinders travel in Nepal.Electricity
Please
click here to check what voltage and plugs are in use in Nepal. You could also consider taking a universal electric plug adaptor.
Travel guides and maps
If you want to take a travel guide or map, we suggest you click on
Lonely Planet.
What is the accommodation like?
We stay in hotels with en-suite facilities except during the trek when there will not be ensuite facilities.How is accommodation arranged if I book alone?
If you book alone you will share your room with a fellow traveller unless you have booked a single room. Sometimes this means sharing your room with someone of the opposite sex. If there is camping involved in your tour and you would prefer not to share a tent you can bring your own one-man tent. There may be (very small) extra charge for this at campsites.Do I need to take a mosquito net?
You may consider bringing a mosquito net but insect repellent is usually sufficient.Do they cater for vegetarians in Nepal?
Vegetarians will find that they are catered for adequately as the local cuisine is mainly made up of rice, porridge and a wide range of vegetable dishes. Much of the Nepalese population is Hindu and does not eat meat anyway.What kind of transportation is used?
Transportation is in minibuses or on public transport.Can you travel with children?
Yes, children can travel with their families on a Shoestring tour. We recommend the easiest tours which are listed as ‘Category A’ where the distances covered are short and there is a slow traveling speed. But please check with our friendly sales team if you are unsure.
We would define a child as being under the age of 18. They would only be allowed to travel provided they do so with an adult family member or close relative.
Children under the age of 8 we recommend not to travel as they simply would not be old enough to enjoy the experience nor cope with the nature of travel that we provide.
The tour prices are the same for both adults and children however there will be a reduction on the child airfare which will vary depending on the flight selected (Please use the ‘search flights’ facility on the website to check the up-to-date prices).
Is Nepal dangerous?
Nepal is a relatively safe country, where people are friendly and honest. However, tourists in the cities are being increasingly targeted by pickpockets and thieves. Do not leave valuable items in your hotel rooms: either bring them with you or leave them in the hotel safe.
If you are interested in what the Foreign Office has to say, please
click here.
What local customs do I need to keep in mind?
There are many local customs in Nepal which can appear quite strange to Westerners.
For example: When visiting sacred sites, you must be bare-headed and barefoot, even if the site is little more than ruins. As long as you adhere to this rule, the faithful worshippers will not bother you, even during ceremonies. Women must be covered up to a certain degree. The bare minimum that women can wear is a blouse with short sleeves and a dress/skirt that covers the knees. The Nepalese greet each other simply with a namaste, which involves placing the palms of the hand together in front of the face and saying ‘Namastay’. Physical greetings, such as hugging or kissing are unusual to the Nepalese and are not appreciated by the locals.
What other activities and sports could I do?
You can visit the stupas and temples in Kathmandu, swim, row or walk around the beautiful mountain lake in Pokhara, climb the peaks of Annapurna South or search for rhinos and tigers in the Chitwan National Park.Mobile phone, email and snail mail
Mobile coverage in Nepal is sporadic and variable. Internet facilities are available in hotels and in cafes in Kathmandu and Pokhara.Time difference with the UK
Please check the
world clock in order to find out the exact time difference between Nepal and the UK.
Please bear in mind that the difference can change depending on whether or not the UK is on daylight saving time or not.