Nepal

Asia

Nepal

Nepal is the Himalaya made accessible: Everest Base Camp treks, the Annapurna Circuit's terraced valleys, and mountain towns where prayer flags stretch between stupas and teahouses. Kathmandu's Durbar Square and Boudhanath's giant stupa anchor a deeply Buddhist and Hindu religious life that shapes daily street scenes as much as any temple visit. Beyond trekking, Chitwan's lowland jungle adds rhino and tiger safaris to what is otherwise a mountain-defined trip.

Why go thereMountain hiking Climbing & mountaineering Sacred sites Nature & landscapes Culture & heritage Adventure sports Wildlife Safari Indigenous cultures Rural traditions Architecture & cities Food

Main destinations

Food & drink to try

Dal bhat

Lentil soup over rice with vegetable curry and pickle, refilled until you stop.

Momo

Steamed dumplings of buffalo or vegetable, dipped in tomato and sesame achar.

Thukpa

Hot noodle soup with vegetables and meat, from the Himalayan north.

Main destinations

Other destinations

Comfort in January · by notability

Food & drink to try

Dal bhat

Lentil soup over rice with vegetable curry and pickle, refilled until you stop.

Momo

Steamed dumplings of buffalo or vegetable, dipped in tomato and sesame achar.

Thukpa

Hot noodle soup with vegetables and meat, from the Himalayan north.

Sel roti

Rice-flour rings fried in oil, crisp outside and soft within, made for Tihar.

Gundruk

Fermented dried leafy greens, made into a sour soup or a pickle.

Dhido

Buckwheat or millet flour stirred into a stiff paste, eaten by hand with soup.

Chatamari

Newar rice-flour crêpe topped with minced meat and egg, eaten flat.

Choila

Buffalo grilled then tossed in mustard oil, chilli and spice, served cold.

Bara

Black lentil patties fried in a pan, sometimes with an egg cracked over.

Yomari

Fish-shaped rice dumplings filled with molasses and sesame, steamed for the full moon.

Sukuti

Air-dried meat tossed with chilli, onion and timur pepper as a drinking snack.

Aloo tama

Potato and fermented bamboo shoot with black-eyed beans, sour and thick.

Sekuwa

Marinated meat grilled over wood fire on skewers by the roadside.

Juju dhau

Bhaktapur's king of curd, set in clay pots until it can be cut.

Tongba

Fermented millet in a wooden pot, topped with hot water and drunk through a straw.

Raksi

Home-distilled millet or rice spirit, poured warm in the hills.

Practical info

Drives on the left

Entry & health

Set your passport

thehimalayantimes.com iec.ch worldstandards.eu

Advisory only — AI + web search, may be out of date. Confirm official sources before you travel.

Tipping & local customs

Tipping is not obligatory but is widely appreciated and increasingly expected, especially for trekking guides and porters; a 10% service charge is often already added to restaurant bills in tourist areas, so check before adding more, and small round-ups are fine for cafés and taxis.

Greet with 'Namaste' (palms together) rather than a handshake, especially with elders or in rural areas
Remove shoes before entering homes, temples and monasteries; dress modestly (cover shoulders/knees) at religious sites
Use your right hand for eating, giving/receiving items and greetings — the left hand is considered unclean
Walk clockwise around Buddhist stupas and mani walls, keeping them on your right
Avoid touching people's heads (considered sacred) and don't point your feet at people, shrines, or food
Public displays of affection are frowned upon; ask permission before photographing people, especially sadhus or at religious ceremonies

Advisory only — AI + web search, may be out of date. Confirm official sources before you travel.

Before you go

Stay connected

Get an eSIM for Nepal — mobile data the moment you land.

via Airalo

Travel insurance

Cover trip cancellation, medical care and delays.

via EKTA