NepalTravel Tips

Typical weather seasons by month.

When the city is peak, balanced, or quieter.

Typical monthly AQI index trends.

What to know before drinking water, eating street food, or dining out.

• Drink sealed bottled water or properly filtered water; tap water is not reliable for visitors.
• Choose busy kitchens with visible turnover, especially for momos, dal bhat, thukpa, and street snacks.
• In trekking areas, eat cooked food and carry purification tablets or a filter for refill points.

Common scams and safety precautions during your stay.

• Agree taxi prices before departure unless the meter is clearly running.
• Use licensed trekking guides and registered agencies for remote routes; cheap operators often cut safety margins.
• Check domestic flight status before leaving for the airport; mountain weather delays are normal.
• Keep small notes for markets, taxis, trail teahouses, and rural shops.

Respectful behavior for temples, neighborhoods, and restaurants.

• Use the right hand when giving money, food, or documents.
• Remove shoes before entering homes and certain heritage interiors.
• Dress modestly in villages and old town courtyards; loud bargaining reads poorly.
• Ask before photographing people, especially elders and working artisans.

Plugs, voltage, and electrical charging standards.

Tipping customs for dining, taxis, and services.

• Restaurants may add service charge; add 5 to 10 percent only when service earns it.
• Tip trekking guides and porters directly at the end of the route, in cash.
• Round up taxi fares when the driver is fair and does not renegotiate mid route.

Essential local laws and regulations to respect.

• Carry your passport copy and visa details; checkpoints on trekking routes can ask for them.
• Drone use requires prior permits and is tightly controlled near airports, borders, and heritage zones.
• Buy trekking permits before entering controlled areas; checks are routine and fines waste time.
• Do not touch carvings, shrines, or old timberwork in heritage squares.

Health advice for climate, insects, and well-being.

• Ascend slowly above 2,500 meters; headaches, nausea, or poor sleep are warning signs.
• Travel insurance should explicitly cover trekking altitude and helicopter evacuation if you enter high routes.
• Use strong sun protection at altitude; UV exposure is harsher than the temperature suggests.
• Monsoon months bring mosquitoes in lowlands; use repellent and covered clothing at dusk.

Simple local phrases that help with greetings and polite conversation.

Useful phrases for shopping, bills, and price negotiations.

Phrases for dietary preferences, vegetarian choices, and water.

Polite ways to decline offers, transport, or street vendors.

Directions for finding toilets, basic shopping, and asking help.

Emergency calls, hospitals, and help phrases in the local language.