Passports and Visas
Please make sure that your passport is still valid for at least six months at the end of the tour. All foreigners, except Indians, must have a visa. You can obtain a visa on arrival at the airport by filling out an application form and providing a passport photograph. To get a jump on the line, you can download a visa application form from the websites of the Nepali embassy in
Washington, DC or
London ahead of time. The Visa fee depends on duration of stay; 15-day visa costs US$25 and 30-day visa costs US$40. Please see further details from Nepali embassy websites.
Health
There are no compulsory vaccinations although it is strongly recommended that you are vaccinated against: Typhoid; Hepatitis A and B. Tetanus and polio vaccinations should also be up to date at the time of travel. If you have come from an area infected with yellow fever you are required to be vaccinated before entering the country. Please speak to your doctor/physician for the most recent information.
Weather
Temperatures and climate vary according to the altitude. Nepal has two seasons – the dry season runs from October to May and the wet (monsoon) season from June to September, when 80% of the rain falls. Nepal’s weather is generally predictable and pleasant with March to May (spring) and September to November (autumn) being the best times to visit. The Kathmandu Valley, at an altitude of 1,310 m/ 4,297 ft, has a mild climate, ranging from 19-27ºC/67-81ºF in summer, and 2-20ºC /36-68ºF in winter. Come prepared for chilly evenings and bring proper gear for brisk early morning starts and descents.
Accommodation
For trips in the Himalaya, accommodation is limited to local guesthouses, or “teahouses.” Himalayan teahouses are simple, family-run operations that provide full room and board for guests. Due to the remote location of the high Himalaya, and the fact that all supplies must be carried in on foot, facilities are basic. Nearly all rooms are twin share, with shared toilet and bathing facilities throughout the guesthouse. Hot water usually must be prepared in advance.
Meals are served in the main common area of the teahouse, usually heated by a wood (or dung) stove. Travelers can usually charge devices in the common area, as rooms are not equipped with power outlets.
Rooms are not heated, but we’ll provide 4 season sleeping bags to keep you toasty during the cold mountain nights!
Food
Meals are included in the itinerary as B = breakfast, L = lunch, and D = dinner. Camping meals will be prepared by the cook team and feature Nepali and Western-style cuisine. Any special dietary requirements can also be catered for as well. Please let us know at the time of booking.
Drink
Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Cold water and energy-restoring drinks are included in the tour price. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. Beer and alcohol are NOT included in the price.
Solo Travelers
SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for travelling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveller of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above.
Extra Expenses
We recommend that you tuck away a few extra dollars a day for incidentals. Included entrance fees are those for the listed sites and national parks that are part of the itinerary. Any other site fees are not included.
Money
The currency is the Nepali rupee (Rs) and there are Standard Chartered Bank ATMs in Kathmandu and Pokhara that take international cards. However, to be safe, we suggest you change money in Kathmandu and carry cash as backup in case the power goes down, the ATM is out of order, or you lose or break your plastic. Major credit cards are widely accepted at midrange and better hotels, restaurants and fancy shops in the Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara only.