Travel Guides
Travel and Trekking FAQs
Yes, Nepal is generally safe to travel to, especially for tourists. Every year, thousands of travelers visit Nepal to explore its rich culture, stunning mountains, and spiritual sites without issues. However, like any destination, there are a few things to keep in mind to stay safeNepal Visa Fee
Book your Nepal tour with a Government-Authorized Trekking Company
Travel insurance is a must, especially if trekking or doing adventure activities.
Register with your embassy, just in case of emergencies.
You can apply for a travel visa for Nepal at your country's Nepalese Embassy or Consulate Office. Likewise, you also have the option to apply for an on-arrival visa that you can obtain upon landing at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu.
Most countries are eligible for on-arrival visas. However, citizens of some countries cannot get them. So, we suggest you check the details of the Nepal travel visa before deciding how you want to apply for a Nepal travel visa.
Moderate fitness is enough for most treks like Everest Base Camp or Annapurna Base Camp. For challenging routes like Manaslu or Three Passes, good physical conditioning is necessary. You don’t need to be an athlete, but you should be able to walk 5–6 hours a day comfortably.Nepal Visa Fee
We are a Government of Nepal licensed trekking agency. We have been organizing tours, treks, and expeditions for our valued clients since August 2000. Your guide will be a local Nepali, but a fluent English speaker. We can also provide guides who speak French, Spanish, Japanese, German, Chinese or Italian if you require. Most of our guides come from the mountainous regions of Nepal. They are carefully selected on the basis of their appropriate experience, leadership skills, and personal aptitude.
With an objective of sustaining local communities Beyond the Limits Treks only employs staff from the different groups of Nepal’s diverse ethnic community; including Sherpas, Gurung, Magar, Rai and Brahmin Chhetri who have adequate knowledge about the culture, ecosystem, flora, fauna, geography, and history of Nepal. Moreover, we provide the guides who have gone through special training package programs like Intensive Wilderness First Aid, Trekking Guide Training, Eco Trekking Workshop & Adventure Meet, Rock climbing, Ice Climbing, and Mountaineering (for expedition leaders), etc, which are certified and approved by the government of Nepal.
We provide sleeping bags, down jackets for the Lodge to Lodge trek (Teahouse) and tents, mattresses, kitchen equipment (all of the highest quality) during the Camping Treks. However, trekking shoes, personal equipment and climbing equipment is up to you. See our equipment list or email us for a specific list.
Nepal is a country with various level of treks. It would be easier to understand what grade of trek you will be going to and consult with your tour operator.
Our team will pick you up from the airport on your arrival day and drop you off at the international airport on your departure day. We provide complimentary airport pick-up and drop-off to our guests. If you do not require this service you can let us know.
Since we run a company that’s linked to tourism, we are obligated to keep the environment clean, at any cost, no matter what. We are very serious about our environmental obligations & ensure that firewood is never used to cook food. In partnership with the Kathmandu Educational Environment Project (KEEP), we have contributed to a number of successful clean-up campaigns and awareness programs; its true that tourism is taking a toll on natural green landscapes, we believe that all should be committed to being a part of the solution for preserving Nepal’s natural beauty.
Nepal has it all, even if you are a greenhorn or a veteran hiker, there’s something for anyone with a love for adventure. This is just the place for you to wet your footfalls. We are experienced in determining what’s most suitable for you according to your choices & how far you would want to go…no matter what level of trek you choose, you will enjoy the journey of your life on Nepal’s mountains…in a nutshell, treks are surely not difficult, however, for the higher altitudes, if you’ve enjoyed hiking wherever you are, then treks above 3-4000m are never a problem, you’d just love it.you can join any of our packages.
You can use your credit card when you are in cities only. When you are out of the city, you need to keep cash with you for your personal expenses. So, please make sure that you withdraw enough Nepalese currency.
Most ATMs in Kathmandu charge a $5 service fee and will allow you to withdraw up to 25,000 rupees per day.
You can tip as much as you wish to guide and porter. Some trekkers tip 10% to 20% of the package cost, while some choose to pay collectively in a group. It is up to you.
Essential items include good hiking boots, layers for warmth, a down jacket, rain gear, a sleeping bag (for colder treks), sunscreen, a water purification system, and a personal first aid kit.
We provide sleeping bags, down jackets for the Lodge to Lodge trek (Teahouse), and tents, mattresses, and kitchen equipment (all of the highest quality) during the Camping Treks. However, trekking shoes, personal equipment and climbing equipment is up to you. Do some research or contact us to get packing list.
Yes, you can store your extra luggage in Kathmandu. We provide free space for our guests in our office. Likewise, you may also get a free locker room to store your luggage during the trek duration.
Yes, you can buy trekking and hiking gear in Kathmandu. Not only that but there is also a rental service available for some gear.
Nepal is generally safe and welcoming for tourists. Nepali people respect guests as gods. Our staff members ensure the safety of all our trekking guests, male and female alike. Nepal is popular for its welcoming and friendly nature toward its guests. It is also one of the safest places to be.
As we travel, our guides monitor the whereabouts of all guests. In addition to traveling in small groups, which makes it easier for us to maintain contact with one another. If a guest is ever in trouble, we have several emergency contacts within the region who can help.
Just follow common travel precautions and always trek with a licensed guide in the authorized trekking Company.
Yes. It's highly recommended and often required for high-altitude treks. Your insurance should cover emergency evacuation and medical treatment at altitude.
Insurance is not available here for tourists. It is really important before any of our trips that you be protected against comprehensive expenses that may incur due to medical issues or accidents (including air ambulance, helicopter rescue, and treatment costs). Please note that we don’t arrange or sell insurance. Your trip is more enjoyable with good travel insurance. In the event of any sickness or injury, the cost of emergency treatment and evacuation is pretty high. Therefore, travel insurance is strongly recommended for everyone who signs up with Beyond the Limits [BTL].
We strongly advise that you be careful while choosing a policy as some insurance has exceptions for adventure travel. Before buying insurance make sure your insurance company is aware of the BTLT adventure itinerary that you are going to undertake and is agreeable to cover all activities being undertaken in the trip. Such as if you are planning trekking or climbing/expedition in the Himalayas your insurance must cover emergency air ambulance/helicopter rescue including medical expenses. For group tours in urban areas, your insurance coverage of ambulance or helicopter rescue is not mandatory, however, it’s better to have them too.
You need to send us your copy of your insurance policy (e.g. your insurance certificate) or carry it with you while you come on the trip.
You’ll need insurance that covers trekking at high altitudes (often Lower 5,000m) and includes emergency evacuation by helicopter, medical treatment, and trip cancellation.
Most popular routes have “tea houses” — basic lodges offering simple meals, shared rooms, and common toilets. Luxury lodges are available on certain treks like Everest and Annapurna.
Most treks require a specific national park or conservation area permit (like ACAP, MACAP, KCAP)and a special permit for restricted areas like Upper Mustang, Manasalu Tsum valley, Upper Dolpo. Kanchenjunga, etc .
Yes, during your journey, we can arrange a -20°C sleeping bag for a USD20 rental cost, and down jackets are USD15. Please let us know in advance if you wish to do this. You can inform our team about your needs, and they will sort it out for you.
This is good question. Yes! … your food and water are safe while you are on a lodge and camp trek. We ensure the food is hygienically prepared in your lodge. Moreover, our guides are the cooks while you are on a lodge trek, they check the ingredients for your meals before it’s prepared in the kitchen & make sure everything is Okay. Most of the cooks in the local teahouses are simply trained but experience has made them perfect. You will get boiled water in the lodges or you can purify the water with tablets and bottled sealed water in case of insufficient supply even though we are conscious of current environmental issues. On BTL’s camping trek, our crews are a good combination of Guides, Sherpas, Cooks, Kitchen staffs and Porters. Guides and cooks are technically, practically and theoretically well trained where as kitchen staffs and porters are practically trained well.
While on a camping trek our best cooks prepare you with a variety of delicacies hygienically prepared. You will find different menus for each day on the trails during your entire trek. Teahouse trekking is a popular method of trekking in Nepal and has almost replaced camping trips. This style of trekking involves resting in teahouses or lodges scattered throughout the trekking route. In most cases, teahouses are established & run by local families with facilities like accommodation and food. Some teahouse may also provide you with internet facilities. Please read our blogs for more information on Teahouse Trekking in Nepal. It will show you what to expect & be prepared for when on a teahouse trek.
Each day you can expect to hike for five to seven hours, covering 10 to 14 km. However, above 3500m, the times will be the same but you’ll only cover 8 to 9 km. importantly, all our itineraries are flexible and can be altered by weather, geographical and physical conditions of the individual participant. In most cases, the group you move with are very understanding because we mention this in our briefing or orientation before the trek commences. Your sirdar [local trek leader] makes the decisions & the group always follows the instructions or request of the trek leader at all times. This is made very clear in the beginning.
In the case of a serious sickness or a casualty, which we believe will not happen; you shall be rescued by a helicopter. Since you are entirely liable for all the expenses incurred in evacuation please make sure that it is covered by your insurance before assigning for it or be prepared to pay on your own after getting back in Kathmandu. Ask your guide to arrange a runner to the nearest communication point and inform office about the requirement of a helicopter. While asking for the helicopter, please send the name of the sick person and give the exact location from where the helicopter can airlift you.
Do not leave the place although you are getting better once you have ordered Helicopter. Altitude Mountain Sickness [AMS] does not generally occur except in rare cases. Our itineraries are planned in a way that gives you enough acclimatization so you get used to the thin air above 3000m. Our safety measures are always in place before we commence on any trek above 3000m.
Yes, this is available in most villages that we trek through, especially on popular treks that most trekkers make a choice for before the trek. Of course, most trekkers generally do their shopping in Kathmandu before heading to the mountains; but in the event of your forgetting to purchase your needs, the above-mentioned items are available most times in different villages we hike through or at teahouses that we lodge in on the trip.
Depending on the prevailing situation, you can modify it to some extent after consulting with your guide. However, the date of trek completion should always coincide with the original itinerary. You should keep in mind that this is an adventure trip into the remotest regions within the Himalayas in Nepal, where many unforeseen events may contribute to the need for a change in itinerary. In such cases, we or your senior guide will suggest the best alternative similar to your original itinerary after consulting with the group.
The best season for visitors heading to Nepal is autumn (mid-September-November) & spring {March to June}. The weather is highly pleasant & so are the mountain views. While the spring season (March-May) is also considered a good season, the temperature is mildly warm in the lowlands while moderate at higher altitudes with plenty of opportunities to revel in the mountain views. It is also the time for flowers to blossom and the national flower of Nepal – rhododendron sweeps the ascending altitudes with its magnanimous color and beauty. Winter season (January-February) is also recommended for tours, safari, and low altitude treks below 4000m. But for some areas of Nepal, Tibet, and India, the summer season (June- August) are the best month because these areas are ‘rain shadows’ and monsoon is much lighter here.
Exploitation is rampant in Nepal’s tourism infrastructure & this is a bad spot that one has to note; workers from almost every part of Nepal’s various industries are underpaid & overworked, this is a very serious issue that has affected the reputation of this Himalayan country. However, at Beyond the Limits [BTL], we ensure the rights of our employees, especially our guides, porters & cooks who spend a lot of their time in some very harsh conditions.
We provide all our staff with good salaries, insurance, proper equipment, training and medical treatment if & when needed. Also we work in tandem with the International Porters Protection Group (IPPG).
What are the Types of Nepal Visas?
The most common visa types that the Nepal government issues to foreign nationals are:
Nepal Tourist Visa, issued to all foreigners entering Nepal for tourism or leisure activities.
Nepal Business Visa, issued to foreigners entering the country for business or investment purposes
Nepal Transit Visa, issued to foreigners transiting in Nepal for a duration of 24 hours. They can get a transit visa on arrival.
Nepal Work Visa, which is issued by the Nepal Department of Immigration after the foreigner has already entered the country with a Tourist Visa and presented the necessary documents.
Nepal Relationship Visa, which is issued to foreign-born family members of Nepalese citizens by the Nepal Department of Immigration.
Nepal Student Visa, which is issued to foreign students who wish to pursue their studies or do research in Nepal or teachers who will be teaching in Nepal. International students need a recommendation from the Nepal Ministry of Education while teachers must have a recommendation from the relevant agency of the Nepal Government.
A Nepal visa can be obtained for the following duration from the Nepal Embassy/ Consulate or Mission offices abroad
OR
At the following immigration offices in Nepal:
Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu
Kakarvitta, Jhapa (Eastern Nepal)
Birganj, Parsa (Central Nepal)
Kodari, Sindhupalchowk (Northern Border)
Rasuwa Gadi (kerung in Rasuwa district)
Belhiya, Bhairahawa (Rupandehi, Western Nepal)
Jamuna, Nepalgunj (Banke, Mid Western Nepal)
Mohana, Dhangadhi (Kailali, Far Western Nepal)
Gaddachauki, Mahendranagar (Kanchanpur, Far Western Nepal)
Tourist Visa
Please follow these simple procedures for Tourist Visa on Arrival at the airport (TIA) if you have not acquired Visa prior to boarding the plane.
1st Step
Fill in ' Arrival Card '
Fill in Online ‘Tourist Visa ‘form ( you can fill it up prior to your arrival visiting our official website Department of Immigration / fill it up using Kiosk machines upon your arrival at the airport). If you fill it from the website, you will get submission Receipt with barcode, please print it out and bring it along for acquiring visa. It works for fifteen days and becomes invalid then after. If so, you will have to fill it up again.
2nd Step
Make payment at the bank according to your visa requirement ( 15/30/90 Days)
Get the receipt
While you can use different modes of payments (at visa fees collection counter), we advise you to carry some cash to be on the safe side.
On Arrival Visa Fee at Entry Points
|
Visa Facility |
Duration |
Fee |
|
Multiple entries |
15 Days |
US$ 30 or equivalent convertible currency |
|
Multiple entries |
30 Days |
US$ 50 or equivalent convertible currency |
|
Multiple entries |
90 Days |
US$ 115 or equivalent convertible currency |
3rd Step
Proceed to the Immigration Desk with your online form, payment receipts, and your passport
Hand in your documents to the immigration officer for visa processing. He/she issues a visa to you upon his/her satisfaction.
Visa Extension Fee
Tourist visa extension is done for a minimum of 15 days with USD 45 and USD 3 per day for additional days.
In the case of a delay of less than 150 days, an additional USD 5 per day as late fine.
Gratis Visa (Visa for Free)
Gratis Visa is issued free of cost in the case of the following categories of Visa applicants:
Children below 10 years except for US citizens
Up to 30 days for SAARC Citizens (except Afghanistan) visiting Nepal for the first time in a given visa Year. Afghan citizens are eligible for Gratis Visa on Arrival only upon the recommendation of the Department of Immigration. If you are an Afghan citizen, you can request the concerned institution inviting you to Nepal for the necessary paperwork with the Department of Immigration to get you a Gratis Visa 'On Arrival'.
Non-Residential Nepalese(NRN) card holder ( issued by MoFA /Nepalese diplomatic missions abroad)
Chinese Nationals
Officials from China, Brazil, Russia and Thailand do not need Entry Visa based on reciprocal visa waiver Agreement
Visas of all kinds including ‘Gratis’ issued at the Airport are Tourist Visas. Contact Department of Immigration for extending your visa or changing the category of your visa. Tourist Visa extension can be done from Immigration Office, Pokhara too. Non tourist visa extension can be done only at Department of Immigration (if eligible) for a period of maximum one year (except business visa).
Nationals of following countries are requested to acquire Visa prior their arrival from their nearby Diplomatic missions (Embassies/consulates) of Nepal Government.