Nepal Destination

Why chose Nepal for your holiday and adventure?

Nepal is famous for mountain and Himalayas. Himalayan range stretches from Nanga Parbat in Pakistan in the west to Namche Barwa in Tibet in the east. The section in Nepal has eight of the fourteen highest peaks above 8000 meter including Mt. Everest. Nepal is also home of the world famous Gurkha soldiers and high altitude Sherpa climbers. Both are well known for their loyalty and bravery.

It is a small country on the lap of the Himalayas. There are many high peaks and varieties of weather condition. Wide varieties of natural vegetation and wild life are its resources. You find Royal Bengal tigers, rhinos and dolphins in the national parks. The country is home of 886 species of birds and, many migratory birds make their home in winter. The vegetation and flowers ranges from subtropical to alpine climatic zones. Nepal is excellent place to enjoy Wild life Jungle safari and nature walking holiday.

The civilization of Kathmandu started from Kirat dynasty that dates back to 800 BCE. At that time Gautam Buddha was teaching his philosophy of life. He once came to Kathmandu. The Kirat rule had spanned 2000 years. After that many other dynasties came in and ruled the valley. They all cultivated and nurtured tradition and culture that we see today. Some of the best monuments in the world you find in Kathmandu are from that time. In Kathmandu valley there are seven UNESCO world heritage sites. All these sites are in the open. Lumbini, birth place of Gautam Buddha, is a cultural heritage center of the world. Chitwan National Park is a natural heritage.

In Nepal you get to experience mixture of mysticism, tantric and modern tradition. Spiritual belief and nature form integral part of Buddhism and Hinduism. These belief and faith interlinks unlike in other countries. In Kathmandu valley you find God and Goddess on the streets and in the corners. There are festivals all year round. Living Goddess is part of culture and tradition. Indigenous people of Nepal speak 123 dialects. To enjoy local culture stay with local families in their home stay facilities. The facilities are available in many places in the mountain and in plain (Terai). Women groups in the villages manage local villager’s community. They offer their home stay hospitality. It is special experience to live with them in their villages.

Nepal is a paradise for trekkers, mountaineers, climbers, and explorers. There are 1310 peaks above 6000 meter. Popular destinations for trekkers are in the foothill of the Himalayas. Trek to the destination below snow line (5000 meter) to get close-up view and feel of the Himalayas. It has fantastic view and exotic culture. Most popular trekking trials are in Everest, Annapurna and Langtang regions. Trek to Dolpa and Humla are in high elevation. She Gompa monastery in Dolpa and Limi village in Humla are very popular exotic destination. These are trekkers favourite choice once they have done some of the popular treks. Kanchanjunga, Manaslu and Makalu regions are trending trek destinations. The treks in these areas are good for trekkers seeking authentic, fresh and hard walk. Treks in this destination have become popular. Now the treks are affordable due to lodges on the trekking trial. Mustang is excellent for culture, landscape and quick escape to the mountain. The road has made it accessible. You can trek or drive there. There are still many places least visited by travelers. Many areas are still undiscovered and unexplored.

Mt. Everest is the highest, most popular and famous peak in the world. It is expensive and demanding climb. The other 8000 meter peaks are Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Makalu, Kanchanjunga and Manaslu. Popular peaks less than 8000 meter are Amadablam, Puthahiunchuli, Annapurna IV and Dhumpus. There are innumerable smaller peaks that are good for combining trek with climbing. The popular among trekkers are Mera Peak, Island Peak, Chulus and Pisang. For trekking peaks your fitness and basic climbing experience is only that matters.

To get out of your comfort zone take one of our adventure trip in the mountain or in the river. There are several swift flowing rivers fed by the glacier of the Himalayas. White rafting in Sunkoshi, Trishuli and Seti rivers are very popular. The rivers have some of the best white water and float trips near Kathmandu. Mountain biking and Short Treks are excellent stress breakers. All these activities are closer to Kathmandu and Pokhara. You can combine it with leisure and cultural tours. There are andrenaline - fuelled short trips to get your blood pumping. Bungy jumping, cannoning, hang gliding, paragliding and zipping are several options. For health conscious people there are exercise based activities like yoga and retreat centers. Expert and specialist guide these adventures.

Travelling By Air to Nepal: Travelling by air - You can fly directly or indirectly to Kathmandu from London, Paris, Frankfurt, Vienna, Amsterdam, Doha, Dubai, Dhaka, Karachi, Munich, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Paro, Lhasa, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangalore, New Delhi, Mumbai, Patna, Calcutta and Varanasi. Charter flights can also be arranged for large movements. All flights feature business class and amenities of international standards.

Nepal Airlines, Thai Airways, Qatar Airways, Indian Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines, Biman Bangladesh, Gulf Air, Indian Airlines, Air Sahara , Jet Airways, Austrian Air, Martin Air, Air China, Druk Air fly to Nepal regularly.

Airfares fluctuate with the changes in exchange rates and are to be paid in foreign currency by foreign nationals. Only Nepalese and Indian nationals are permitted to pay in rupees for air passage between Nepal and India.

Customs: All baggage must be declared and cleared through the customs on arrival at the port of entry. Passengers arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) without any dutiable goods can proceed through the Green Channel for quick clearance without a baggage check. If you are carrying dutiable articles, you have to pass through the Red Channel for detailed customs clearance.

Import: Apart from used personal belongings, visitors are allowed to bring to Nepal free of duty cigarette (200) or cigars (50), distilled liquor (one 1.15 liter bottle), and film (15 rolls). You can also bring in the following articles free of duty on condition that you take them out with you when you leave: binoculars, movie or video camera, still camera, laptop computer, and portable music system.

Export:It is illegal to export objects over 100 years old (sacred images, paintings, manuscripts) that are valued for culture and religious reasons. Visitors are advised not to purchase such items as they are Nepal's cultural heritage and belong here. The Department of Archaeology (tel: 4213701, 4213702) at Ramshah Path near Singha Durbar has to certify all metal statues, sacred paintings and similar objects before they are allowed to be sent or carried out of the country. Handicraft dealers and travel agents are able to assist you in this process. For more information on customs matters, contact the Chief Customs Administrator, TIA Customs Office; tel: 4470110, 4472266.

Travelling by Road: All visitors entering Nepal by land must use no other entry points other than:

Nepal-India border

1. Kakarbhitta
2. Birgunj
3. Belhiya, Bhairahawa
4. Nepalgunj
5. Dhangadi
6. Mahendra Nagar

Nepal-China border - Kodari - closed at the moment

The overland tourists entering the Kingdom with their vehicles must possess an international carnet. You can go for overland travel to enter Nepal from both India and Tibet.

If you are in Tibet, you can enter Nepal by crossing the border at Kodari. Thereafter, take a bus to Kathmandu. This will take you 7 to 12 hours depending on the road conditions.

The easiest and hassle free overland route to Nepal from India is via Gorakhpur using train and the Sunauli/Belahiya border post. The only direct buses from this route to Kathmandu run at night and take approximately 9 hours. Raxaul/Birgung border post can also be used to visit Nepal. But this may not leave you with a pleasant travelling experience. If you are in Darjeeling you can come to Nepal via Karkabhitta. There are also several border crossings in west Nepal.

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