Tuesday, October 6
LIVE
Travel and Tour World Nepal Powers Up Adventure Tourism Growth as Resunga’s Zipline and Sky Cycling Prepare for Regular OperationsUS Travel Advisories Nepal - Level 2: Exercise Increased CautionTravel and Tour World Nepal Powers Up Adventure Tourism Growth as Resunga’s Zipline and Sky Cycling Prepare for Regular OperationsUS Travel Advisories Nepal - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Kathmandu – NepalPokhara – NepalChitwan National Park – NepalEverest Base Camp – NepalAnnapurna Base Camp – NepalBhaktapur – Nepal
📍 Kathmandu📷 Gerd Eichmann · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
🌍 Asia🗓️ Best: Oct–Nov and Mar–Apr

Nepal ✓

EverestLumbini

Himalayan treks, ancient temples and jungle safaris

🕒 –:– local time2 stories this week2 sources 6 top placesCapital Kathmandu

Advertise with usYour brand hereTop banner · 728 x 90Book this space →
Nepal📸 Photo album · 9 photos · Ultra-HD
Nepal📜 History of Nepal

The story of Nepal

Nepal's valleys and foothills have been home to many peoples since ancient times, and early chronicles describe the Kirat as some of the first rulers of the Kathmandu Valley. Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha, was born at Lumbini in the plains of southern Nepal around the 6th or 5th century BC, and the site is now a major place of pilgrimage. From around the 4th century AD the Licchavi dynasty ruled the valley, leaving inscriptions, temples and the foundations of a refined culture blending Hindu and Buddhist traditions.

Under the Malla kings, who ruled from roughly the 12th to the 18th century, the valley's three city-states – Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur – competed to build ever more splendid palaces, pagoda temples and courtyards. The Newar artisans of this era created the woodcarving, metalwork and architecture visitors admire today. In 1768 Prithvi Narayan Shah of Gorkha conquered the valley and unified the many small kingdoms into a single state.

Read the full history

Nepal expanded until a war with the British East India Company ended with the Treaty of Sugauli in 1816, which fixed much of its modern shape. From 1846 the Rana family ruled as hereditary prime ministers and kept the country largely closed to outsiders. After their fall in 1951, Nepal opened up, and in 1953 Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary made the first ascent of Everest. A multiparty system arrived in 1990, followed by a decade-long internal conflict that ended with a peace agreement in 2006. The monarchy was abolished in 2008, and a new federal constitution was adopted in 2015.

Today Nepal is one of the world's great trekking and mountaineering destinations, home to eight of the fourteen highest peaks. Beyond the mountains, travellers find medieval squares, prayer-flag-strewn stupas, jungle wildlife in Chitwan and a warm, welcoming culture where Hindu and Buddhist traditions intertwine.

Timeline

  1. c. 6th-5th century BCSiddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, born at Lumbini
  2. c. 400 ADLicchavi dynasty rules the Kathmandu Valley
  3. 12th-18th centuryMalla kings build the valley's royal cities
  4. 1768Prithvi Narayan Shah unifies Nepal
  5. 1816Treaty of Sugauli with the British East India Company
  6. 1953First ascent of Everest by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary
  7. 2008Monarchy abolished; Nepal becomes a republic
  8. 2015New federal constitution adopted
Nepal✨ 10 best things to do in Nepal

Things to do in Nepal

  1. Trek to Everest Base CampHike through Sherpa villages and monasteries to the foot of the world's highest mountain.
  2. Walk the Annapurna CircuitCross the high Thorong La pass on one of the world's most varied long-distance treks.
  3. Explore BhaktapurWander brick-paved squares filled with pagoda temples, pottery yards and Newar woodcarving.
  4. Circle Boudhanath StupaJoin pilgrims spinning prayer wheels around one of the largest stupas in the world.
  5. Spot rhinos in ChitwanSearch for one-horned rhinos and maybe a tiger on jungle walks and canoe trips.
  6. Paraglide over PokharaSoar above Phewa Lake with the Annapurna range filling the horizon.
  7. Watch the sunrise from SarangkotSee the first light turn Machhapuchhre's fishtail peak golden.
  8. Visit PashupatinathObserve Hindu rituals along the Bagmati River at Nepal's holiest Shiva temple.
  9. Pilgrimage to LumbiniVisit the birthplace of the Buddha and its international monasteries.
  10. Eat dal bhat and momosRefuel with the national lentil-and-rice meal and steaming dumplings after a day of exploring.
Nepal🗺️ Where to visit in Nepal

Where to go in Nepal

  • KathmanduKathmandu Valley · capitalA chaotic, fascinating city of Durbar Square, Thamel's lanes and sacred stupas.
  • BhaktapurKathmandu Valley · medieval cityThe best-preserved of the valley's royal cities, famous for its squares and curd.
  • 📍
    Patan (Lalitpur)Kathmandu Valley · art & templesAn elegant Durbar Square and a superb museum of Nepali art.
  • PokharaWestern Nepal · lakes & mountainsA relaxed lakeside town and gateway to the Annapurna treks.
  • 📍
    Everest region (Khumbu)Eastern Himalaya · trekkingLegendary trails, Sherpa culture and close-up views of the highest peaks.
  • 📍
    Annapurna regionWestern Himalaya · trekkingTreks for all levels, from Poon Hill to the full circuit and Annapurna Sanctuary.
  • Chitwan National ParkTerai lowlands · wildlifeGrasslands and forests sheltering rhinos, tigers, elephants and crocodiles.
  • LumbiniTerai · Buddhist pilgrimageThe UNESCO-listed birthplace of the Buddha, with temples built by many nations.
Nepal✨ Must-do experiences
  • Trek in the Everest or Annapurna regions
  • Watch sunrise over the Himalaya from Sarangkot
  • Go paragliding over Phewa Lake
  • Take a jungle safari in Chitwan
Nepal🍽️ Taste of Nepal
  • Dal bhat – lentil soup with rice and curry, the daily meal
  • Momo – steamed dumplings with spicy dip
  • Thukpa – Tibetan-style noodle soup
  • Sel roti – sweet ring-shaped rice bread
Nepal🌦️ Weather & best time to visit Nepal

Best time to visit Nepal

Nepal's climate ranges from subtropical in the southern Terai to arctic at the highest peaks. Kathmandu is mild for much of the year, with warm, wet summers and cool, dry winters.

BestOctober to November for clear mountain views and stable trekking weather; March to April for rhododendron blooms.
ShoulderDecember to February is cold at altitude but clear, and good for lower treks and the valley.
AvoidJune to September is monsoon season, with rain, leeches, cloudy views and landslides on mountain roads.
19°☀️Jan
21°☀️Feb
25°💧Mar
28°💧Apr
29°💧May
29°💧💧💧Jun
28°💧💧💧Jul
28°💧💧💧Aug
28°💧💧Sep
27°💧Oct
23°☀️Nov
20°☀️Dec

Typical daytime highs and rain in Kathmandu (approximate averages).

Nepal🎉 Festivals & events in Nepal
  • September or October
    DashainNepal's biggest festival brings families together for blessings, feasts and kite flying.
  • October or November
    TiharThe festival of lights honours crows, dogs, cows and siblings with lamps and garlands.
  • September
    Indra JatraKathmandu's living goddess, the Kumari, is paraded through the streets in a chariot.
  • March
    HoliStreets explode with coloured powder and water fights.
  • October or November
    Mani RimduMonks at Tengboche Monastery in the Everest region perform masked dances.
Nepal🧭 Nepal itinerary ideas

How many days in Nepal?

7 daysValley, lakes and jungle

Days 1-3 explore Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur. Days 4-5 travel to Pokhara for Sarangkot sunrise and the lakeside. Days 6-7 head to Chitwan for a jungle safari.

16 daysEverest trek and highlights

Days 1-2 explore Kathmandu, then fly to Lukla for days 3-13 trekking to Everest Base Camp with acclimatisation days. Days 14-16 recover with a trip to Bhaktapur or Pokhara.

Nepal🎒 Backpacking Nepal – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $20–35 a day

  • Tourist buses are cheaper than flights between Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan; local buses are cheaper still but slower.
  • Thamel in Kathmandu and Lakeside in Pokhara are the classic budget hubs, packed with guesthouses.
  • Dal bhat often comes with free refills, making it the best-value meal on the trail.
  • Trekking permit and guide rules change, so check current requirements before setting off.
  • Hire gear like down jackets and sleeping bags in Thamel or Pokhara rather than buying.
Nepal🛡️ Safety & money in Nepal

Stay safe

  • Ascend slowly when trekking and know the signs of altitude sickness; descend if symptoms worsen.
  • Get travel insurance that covers high-altitude trekking and helicopter rescue.
  • Mountain roads can be dangerous, especially in the monsoon; consider domestic flights for long journeys.
  • Strikes and protests occasionally disrupt transport – check local news and your government's travel advice.

Money

  • The Nepalese rupee is the currency; carry plenty of cash on treks as there are few ATMs in the mountains.
  • ATMs are common in Kathmandu and Pokhara but often have low withdrawal limits.
  • Tipping guides and porters at the end of a trek is customary, and around 10% in restaurants is appreciated.

Emergency: 100 police · 101 fire · 102 ambulance

Nepal🛬 Getting to Nepal

Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu is the main gateway, with newer international airports at Pokhara and Bhairahawa; land borders connect with India at crossings such as Sunauli and with Tibet (China).

✈️ Cheap flights to Nepal: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

Nepal💡 Did you know? 5 facts about Nepal
  • Nepal's flag is the only national flag in the world that is not a rectangle.
  • Eight of the world's fourteen peaks above 8,000 metres are in Nepal, including Everest.
  • Kathmandu has a living goddess, the Kumari, chosen from young Newar girls.
  • Nepal was never colonised by a European power.
  • Nepal's official time zone is 5 hours 45 minutes ahead of UTC.
Nepal❓ Nepal travel FAQ

Nepal travel questions

Is Nepal safe for tourists?

Nepal is generally safe and friendly for travellers. The main risks are altitude, road travel and natural hazards like landslides, so trek responsibly and get good insurance.

When is the best time to visit Nepal?

October to November and March to April are the best seasons for trekking and mountain views. The monsoon runs from June to September.

How many days do you need in Nepal?

A week covers Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan. Add 10-14 days for a major trek like Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit.

Do I need a visa for Nepal?

Many travellers can get a visa on arrival, but rules depend on your passport. Check the official government site or embassy before you travel.

Do I need a guide to trek in Nepal?

Rules on guides and permits vary by region and have changed in recent years. Check the current requirements with official sources or a licensed trekking agency before you go.

Nepal💰 What a trip costs
$price level
$20–35backpacker / day
$50–100mid-range / day

Approximate daily cost per person (stay, food, local transport).

Nepal🚌 Getting around

Tourist buses and domestic flights link the main areas, but mountain roads are slow. Taxis and ride-hailing apps work in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Nepal🛕 Sacred & spiritual places
  • Lumbini – Birthplace of the Buddha, with temples from many countries
  • Pashupatinath Temple – Major Hindu temple on the holy Bagmati River
  • Boudhanath Stupa – One of the largest stupas in the world, a Tibetan Buddhist centre
Nepal🤝 Local etiquette
  • Walk clockwise around stupas and temples
  • Remove shoes before entering temples and homes
  • Greet people with 'Namaste' and palms together

📰 Older Nepal stories Everything our agents ever found – keeps loading as you scroll

🧭 Nearby countries

Bhutan
BhutanHimalayan kingdom of fortress monasteries and prayer flags
Bangladesh
BangladeshRivers, mangrove forests and the world's longest beach
India
IndiaPalaces, spice markets, Himalayan peaks and palm-lined beaches
Myanmar
MyanmarGolden pagodas, temple plains and calm lakes
Pakistan
PakistanGiant peaks, Mughal cities and legendary hospitality
Kyrgyzstan
KyrgyzstanWild mountains, alpine lakes and nomad yurt camps
Tajikistan
TajikistanRoof-of-the-world peaks and turquoise mountain lakes
Afghanistan
AfghanistanTurquoise mosques, mountain valleys and the Silk Road
Advertise with usYour brand hereBottom banner · 970 x 90Book this space →