Nepal, officially Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is located mainly in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. With an estimated population of 26.4 million, it is 48th largest country by population and 93rd largest country by area. Sandwiched between China and India, Nepal is one of the most fascinating places to visit on earth. Before you set foot on the hiking trails or tours the streets of Kathmandu. Every travellers think about how many days required to visit Nepal?. How many days will be sufficient in Nepal?. How many days should i spend in Kathmandu?. Here are the useful information before your travel to Nepal. Here are some suggested Nepal Itineraries, from one day to four weeks.

How to Spend Day in Kathmandu

Chisapani Nagarkot Trek
How to Spend 1 Day in Kathmandu

How to Spend 1 day in Kathmandu is our most popular Package. It is the easiest and simple way to know Nepal and its culture in a day. Real Kathmandu Tour offers Mountain flights + Short Hiking + visit to UNESCO World Heritage sites in a one day tour. You will visit the oldest Hindu and Buddhist shrines and your day will end with a very nice dinner.

If you wanted to go a little further afield and get some mountain views, follow this Kathmandu Day Tour, which includes Nagarkot Hiking, Bhaktapur, and Changu Narayan.

How to Spend 2 Days in Kathmandu

Nepal Travel Itinerary 7 days
How to Spend 2 Days in Kathmandu

2 Days in Kathmandu, who have a very short time and willing to visit most important monuments, this is a ideal way to do a guided city tour of Kathmandu valley with Patan & Bhaktapur. This cultural day tour gives you rich heritage of world heritages sites.

The Kathmandu Valley is so full of historical, architectural, and religious treasures that you don’t need to leave to have a rich experience in Nepal. Spend first two days checking out the most famous sites of Kathmandu. The Kathmandu durbar square and Patan Durbar Squares, Swayambhunath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple and Boudhanath Stupa.

This Kathmandu Itinerary 2 days prioritizes all aspects of Kathmandu at its best- Hindu and Buddhist culture mixed with historical monument manifesting artistic opulence of medieval Nepal.

If you wanted to go a little further afield and get some mountain views, follow this 2 Days in Kathmandu Tour, which includes 2 full day cultural tours.

How to Spend 3 Days In Kathmandu

How to Spend 3 Days In Kathmandu
How to Spend 3 Days In Kathmandu

Three days in Kathmandu is enough time to get a feel for the city and its culture. Visit UNESCO World Heritage sites, including sacred Hindu and Buddhist temples. Here are some great things to do in Kathmandu. Chisapani Nagarkot Trek is short and sweet trip for 3 days tea house trek to Chisapani and to Nagarkot if the tour is extended for another 2 days.

The trekking to Chispani Nagarkot offers beautiful nature and village walk experience, natural environment, stunning Himalayan views. Where you can see Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Langtang Himal and even Mt. Everest in far distance.

For detailed itinerary suggestions, check out 3 Days in Kathmandu: 3 Days Kathmandu Itineraries, including a short trek

How to Spend 4 Days In Nepal

how to spend 4 days in Nepal
how to spend 4 days in Nepal

If you think how to spend 4 days in Nepal then go to Chitwan National Park. Chitwan jungle safari tour is one of most popular adventure tours for those who has dream to see wild animals, green forest. Chitwan National Park was declared UNESCO Natural Heritage Site in 1979. Chitwan national park is situated in southern central Nepal. Covering 932 sq.km covered with deciduous forests overlooking the floodplains of Narayani, Rapti and Reu rivers. The park headquarters at Kasara is 21 km drive from Bharatpur which is 20 minutes by air or 146 km by road from Kathmandu. In this park there are many Resorts hotels and lodge to accommodate. Chitwan wildlife safari tour fit for all age group travelers

For detailed itinerary suggestions, check out 4 Days in Nepal: 4 Days Nepal Itineraries, including a wildlife tours

How to Spend 5 Days In Nepal

5 Days in Nepal
5 Days in Nepal

If you think how to spend 5 days in Nepal then go to Kathmandu & Pokhara. Nepal is a country that has a lot of amazing attractions within a small area, and the diverse culture and landscape are enough to make you want to stay a lot longer than just 5 days. But if you are limited on time, then here are a few ideas for things that you can do to make the most of your short visit to one of the last Himalayan kingdoms. Pokhara is one of the cleanest and the most beautiful cities of Nepal. Also known as the city of Lakes, Pokhara offers the spectacular view of mountains, namely Annapurna, Mannchapuchhre, Manalsu, and Dhaulagiri. The places that you visit in Pokhara are David falls and Mahendra cave.

For detailed itinerary suggestions, check out 5 Days in Nepal: 5 Days Nepal Itineraries, including Kathmandu and Pokhara cities.

How to Spend 4 Days In Nepal

how to spend 4 days in Nepal
how to spend 4 days in Nepal

If you think how to spend 4 days in Nepal then go to Chitwan National Park. Chitwan jungle safari tour is one of most popular adventure tours for those who has dream to see wild animals, green forest. Chitwan National Park was declared UNESCO Natural Heritage Site in 1979. Chitwan national park is situated in southern central Nepal. Covering 932 sq.km covered with deciduous forests overlooking the floodplains of Narayani, Rapti and Reu rivers. The park headquarters at Kasara is 21 km drive from Bharatpur which is 20 minutes by air or 146 km by road from Kathmandu. In this park there are many Resorts hotels and lodge to accommodate. Chitwan wildlife safari tour fit for all age group travelers

For detailed itinerary suggestions, check out 4 Days in Nepal: 4 Days Nepal Itineraries, including a wildlife tours

How to Spend Luxury Day Trip in Kathmandu with Kids

Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour
Luxury Day trips from Kathmandu with Kids

If you think how to spend luxury day trip with kids then go to helicopter ride. Everest helicopter charter offers one of the most pleasing and adventurous flight which also offers to land at high altitude. It is the most exciting and thrilling lifetime helicopter tour experience in Nepal with the front face of Mount Everest in a day. Helicopter Ride in Nepal can be your ideal choice as it provides the dream comes true moment for those who fantasize to explore different places with different attractions but are not able to do so in the precise period of time. In this Himalayan country, you can have different scenic flights for exploring beautiful mountain panorama, Himalayan glaciers, national parks, city areas, green hills, and many more mysterious and remote destinations with the help of these helicopters in Nepal.

For detailed itinerary suggestions, check out How to Spend Luxury Day Trip in Kathmandu with Kids: Day Tour of Everest Base Camp in Helicopter including Kalapathar landing.

The Himalaya form Nepal’s backbone and provide a rugged backdrop to a variety of trekking options. Our specialists have spent much of their time exploring the region on foot and can advise on the best trails to follow depending on your ability and preferences.

Our itinerary ideas are inspired by routes that we have particularly enjoyed and that showcase the true spirit of Nepal. These holiday suggestions also work as an informed starting point and can be used as a springboard for your own holidays ideas.

Children of all ages, from babies to teenagers, will love the sights and activities of Nepal. It can be a chaotic and challenging country to travel around in some respects (the busy cities, the traffic, the long travel distances), but with good planning, you can have a best holidays ideas that will keep every member entertained. Here are some top picks.

Best Tips & Local Advice

  • Take domestic flights to save valuable time. The flights are scenic, too!
  • If traveling during the monsoon (June to Aug), stick to the cities and cultural sites
  • Trekking and water sports are best from March to May & September to November
  • Focus on one region: although Nepal’s a small country, poor roads & mountainous terrain can lead to longer travel times and unexpected delays

Besides these classic tourist attractions, the Durbar Square in Patan, the grand Stupa in Boudhanath and the typical mountain life in Gorkha are equally sensational landmarks for those looking to discover the profound, typical and authentic aspects of Nepal. A trip to Kathmandu is the ideal opportunity to follow the trails of a tiger in Chitwan National Park as well as in Bardiya National Park.

So, it’s now up to you to decide which of these ideas will inspire your upcoming trip to Nepal!

Book your Unique Itinerary

Everest Mountain Flight

The Everest Mountain Flight by plane usually takes between 50 minutes up to an hour. The planes take off from

Everest View Helicopter Tour

Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour is direct fly from Kathmandu to Everest. This is a group sharing Everest helicopter tour

Honey Hunting Adventure

Honey hunting adventure is one of the newly develop adventure tour in Nepal that form part of the ancient culture

Disabled Holidays

Do you require disabled holidays, wheelchair access, have difficulty walking long distances or need guaranteed-accessible accommodation?.  Nepal Tours provide 100%

Wedding Anniversary Tour

Wedding anniversary tour really are the ideal way to celebrate years gone by while adding another loving memory to your

Student & Youth Travel

Our Student & Youth Travel are specifically crafted to suit those looking to travel shorter distances but gain a full

Bike Hike Raft Adventure

Nepal Tours have designed a range of adventure in one place like Bike Hike Raft Adventure combinations of activities, and

Nepal Hunting Safari

Nepal Hunting Safari Packages for Blue Sheep and Himalayan Tahr in the hunting areas Gustang, Barse, Fagune, Dogadi. Southern areas

Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour

Chitwan jungle safari tour is one of most popular adventure wildlife tours for those who has dream to see wild

Explore Photography Adventure

An explore photography adventure designed by photographers for photographers. No trekking required, just great moments for you and your camera.

Red Panda Eco Trip

At Nepal Tours, Red Panda ecotrip adventure is not your typical tour, it requires a moderate level of physical fitness,

 

When is the best time to trek Nepal is a tricky question; the summer monsoon (June – Sept), though brings growth and freshness, but is sadly best avoided by trekkers. Nepal might be one of the smallest countries in the world, but it is also the land of the extremes. The country’s terrain ranges from the fertile Terai region at 700 meters to the highest point on earth, the Everest at 8848 meters. This diversity also applies to the weather pattern or the seasons of the country.  The Terai region of the country is humid for most of the year where the temperature can rise up to 45 degrees Celsius during summer. The middle hilly region has a moderate climate with pleasant weather all year around. The northern Himalayan region has an alpine climate with very cold winters and huge drops in temperature over 3300 meters.

There are two main trekking seasons in Nepal: the spring, late March and April, which is beautiful because the rhododendrons and other flowers are in full bloom and the days are longer, and autumn, which starts in late September through to early November. The autumn is colder and the days are shorter, but you get much better clarity with really clear skies. November and December are perfectly good skies for trekking, but it will be colder; the upside is that the normally very busy trails, like Annapurna Base Camp and Everest Base Camp, will be much less busy then.

Technically you can go trekking in Nepal at any time of the year. There are no restrictions. However, each season in Nepal will deliver a different looking landscape, environment and experience. Trekkers in spring enjoying Upper Mustang Trekking. You’ll also need to prepare a little bit differently depending on what month or season you planning to go trekking (don’t worry we cover that here along with climate change issues). The most popular times with optimal trekking experiences are divided into four “peak seasons”.

Autumn (September-November)
Autumn season is considered as the best trekking season for the trekking in Nepal.  September, October and November are fall in this trekking season in Nepal. During in this season offers excellent weather and tantalizing mountain views. Temperature is moderate, making it a good time for any trekking. The sky is generally clear with outstanding views. Occasionally short storms may dump considerable snow at high altitudes.

Winter (December-February)
Generally, the days are clear in winter season in Nepal. December, January and February months are cold days in mountain. In winter season in Nepal is usually snow fall in the higher elevations with risk winds and colder temperatures. Hence is ideal for trekking in the lower elevation. If you are looking for suitable and incredible scenery, this is a great time to Trek in lower elevations.

Spring (March-May)
Spring season in Nepal is also considered as the best season to do the trekking and mountain climbing. In this season offers different varieties of wild flora blossoming of the giant rhododendrons above 3000m and hunting paradise during this season, which makes higher altitude trekking more comfortable and interesting. It is mildly warm at lower elevations and quite moderate temperature at higher elevation over 4000m, which provides spectacular and excellent Mountains view. March, April and May months are fall in this trekking season in Nepal

Summer (June-August)
June, July and August months are main rainy season in Nepal and involves monsoon with heavy rainfall which makes trekking conditions unfavorable.This season is ideal time for trekking and tour to Tibet however, in some Trekking regions of Nepal connecting to Tibet and desert parts of Nepal like Mustang, Nar-Phu valley and Dolpo region are best season to do trekking which is summer trekking a great alternative behind the Himalayas rain shadow area.

Nepal Tours advice:
There are two major factors to weigh as you decide when to go to Nepal: crowds and weather. As a general rule, the better the weather, the more people come to Nepal to go trekking. During the high tourist season in October and November, flights and hotels are fully booked and hotels and trails in the hills can be horrendously busy.  During autumn the nights are cold in the mountains, but the bright sun makes for pleasant day temperatures – in the high 20s° C, falling to 5° C at night, between 2500 meters and 3500 meters. At higher altitudes temperatures range from about 20° C down to -10° C. Mornings are usually clear with clouds building up during the afternoon, disappearing at night to reveal spectacular starry skies.

Whilst it’s possible to trek all year-round in Nepal, the best time to trek Nepal is in the peak seasons as they are warmer and provide the best opportunity for clear vistas.  If you don’t like the thought of the crowds then we would suggest taking other less-trodden routes such as the Gokyo Lakes Trek to Everest Base Camp. Most tour companies will not trek during the off-peak seasons and you will need to find alternative guidance. At Nepal Tours, we can arrange private treks during the off-peak seasons but would advise only experienced trekkers to trek Nepal in the winter period as the temperatures get very low and many routes will be snow covered.

Click here for a detailed weather forecast for Nepal.

Pokhara is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Nepal. Many tourists visit Pokhara Valley to see the Himalayan range and lakes. Pokhara is also famous for boating, trekking, rafting, ultralight flight, paragliding and extreme sports like whitewate rafting, canoying and bungee jumping.

Pokhara is one of those charming cities that always attracts travelers where you can easily stay longer than you planned. Located on the banks of Lake Phewa, the city is surrounded by impressive mountains and peaks, with some of the best trekking routes in the world. In addition to stunning hikes and lakes, this popular destination has a wide range of culture and leisure activities, such as markets, pagodas, cafés and restaurants offering delicious Nepalese food.

Here are the few things What is Special in Pokhara:

Things To Do in Pokhara

Pokhara Day Tour

Pokhara Day Tour lets you experience all the major highlights of Pokhara in just a single day. Visit David's fall,

Pokhara to Annapurna Helicopter Tour

Pokhara to Annapurna Helicopter Tour cost start from $2200 for private charter (Maximum 4 person) for 1 and half hours

Pokhara to Muktinath Jeep Tour

Pokhara to Muktinath Jeep Tour is one of the paradises on the earth with tantalizing view of towering Himalaya which

Khopra Danda Trek

Khopra Danda Trek is an Alternative trek of Ghorepani & Poonhill to avoid crowd and close view of Annapurna South

Begnas Thulokote Hiking - 1 Day

Begnas Thulokote Hiking is also a part of famous Royal Trek in Nepal. This day trek is a less explored

Ghandruk Trek

The Ghandruk trek is most popular for wonderful Gurung culture, the beautiful village, geographical differences and the fantastic views of

Poon Hill Trek - 4 Days

Poon Hill Trek is the shortest trek for the people with the limited time. The 4 days Poon Hill Trek offers an outstanding

3 Days Trek Pokhara

This 3 Days Trek Pokhara is short but quite a rewarding trekking around Pokhara. Dhampus Sarangkot Hiking is an incredible

2 Days Trek Pokhara

2 Days Trek Pokhara for busy people who want to have a Himalayan hiking experience during their short holiday or

Heli Sightseeing Pokhara

With Nepal Tours quality and assurance, you can choose your special 30 minute Pokhara helicopter tour! The best prices, 3

Nepal is located in South Asia between China in the north and India in the south, east and west. While the total land area is 147,181 sq. km including water area of the country that is 3,830 sq. km. The geographical coordinates are 28°00′N 84°00′E. Nepal falls in the temperate zone north of the Tropic of Cancer.Nepal’s ecological zones run east to west about 800 km along its Himalayan axis, 150 to 250 km north to south, and is vertically intersected by the river systems. The country can be divided into three main geographical regions: Himalayan region, mid hill region and Terai region. The highest point in the country is Mt. Everest (8,848 m) while the lowest point is in the Terai plains of Kechana Kalan in Jhapa (60 m).

The Constitution of Nepal, adopted in 2015, establishes Nepal as a federal secular parliamentary republic divided into seven provinces. Nepal was admitted to the United Nations in 1955, and friendship treaties were signed with India in 1950 and the People’s Republic of China in 1960. Nepal hosts the permanent secretariat of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), of which it is a founding member. Nepal is also a member of the Non Aligned Movement and the Bay of Bengal Initiative. The military of Nepal is the fifth largest in South Asia; it is notable for its Gurkha history, particularly during the world wars, and has been a significant contributor to United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Nepal Tourism Board:
Nepal Tourism Board is a national tourism organization of Nepal established in 1998 by an Act of Parliament in the form of partnership between the Government of Nepal and private sector tourism industry to develop and market Nepal as an attractive tourist destination. The Board provides platform for vision-drawn leadership for Nepal’s tourism sector by integrating Government commitment with the dynamism of private sector.NTB is promoting Nepal in the domestic and international market and is working toward positioning the image of the country.It also aims to regulate product development activities.

Fund for NTB is collected in the form of Tourist Service Fee from departing foreign passengers at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, thus keeping it financially independent. The Board chaired by the Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation consists of 11 Board Members with five Government representatives, five private sector representatives and the Chief Executive Officer.“Naturally Nepal, Once is not Enough” is the tourism brand of Nepal.”Naturally Nepal” is a simple expression that repackages the Nepal brand in a positive light. “Once is not Enough” not only accurately captures the tourists’ emotions at the airport’s departure gate but also serves as a decision tool that enables the Nepali tourism industry individually and collectively to focus both on consumer retention and acquisition.

Nepal Tourist Information Centers
Nepal Tourism Board, the tourist service center at Brikutimandap
(Phone: +97714256909, Fax: +977 1 4256910.
E-mail: [email protected]
provides brochures and free posters on Nepal from Monday to Thursday from 9 am to 5 pm. On Fridays, it closes at 3 pm. The department stays open until 4 pm in winter.

Other tourism information center locations are listed below with phone numbers.
Birgunj – 051-22083
Pokhara – 061-20028
Bhairawa – 071-20304
Janakpur – 041-20755
Kakarbhitta – 023-2020

Tourist Police Nepal:
Tourist Police Nepal was established in 1979 AD as a special unit of Nepal Police working under Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Tourism Industry Division. Tourist Police today has the strength of 227 Officers working under the Supervision of Police Inspector and has 24 units spread throughout the country including 9 units inside the Kathmandu valley and 15 units outside the valley in 11 different districts. The Central Office is situated inside the Premises of Nepal Tourism Board, Bhrikutimandap Kathmandu Nepal. Since its inception, the tourist police have been active in facilitating tourists and delivering security services.

For any assistance in Nepal:
Tourist Police Nepal
Bhrikutimandap Kathmandu. (Inside the premises of Nepal Tourism Board)
Phone: +977-14247041, 1144.
Email:- [email protected]
Website:- www.nepalpolice.gov.np

No matter when and where you are Dial 1144

Resources: Nepal – Wikipedia, Nepal Tourism Board

What do you think is the ideal way of celebrating a wedding anniversary? Throwing a party, go out on a dinner date or a movie date, hang out with friends, a romantic candle light dinner, travel, take pictures and capture the moment, cut cakes and blow up balloons and what not!! These are the list of very few things that strikes our mind when we think of it. But for David Richardson and Jessica Richardson, planning their big anniversary day was not an easy task.

California based Richardson’s are currently working in Mauritious. They wanted their big day to be unique and adventurous. Rather than having a typical boring anniversary, they wanted to come up with something totally challenging and worth remembering in years to come. Eventually, they decided to celebrate their anniversary in Kala Patthar at 5664m and feel the cold breeze of Mount Everest. They also decided to make it up to all UNESCO listed heritage sites in Kathmandu Valley.

Though their anniversary was on September, Richardson’s decided to visit Nepal on November as it was the best season to visit Nepal. It was their fifth anniversary and Nepal trip was much anticipated. “Yes! What we dreamt has been materialized. Despite of the earthquake in April and the problems caused due to economic blockade, our dream came true and we didn’t find any difficulties celebrating our anniversary,” said Jessica after accomplishing their dream anniversary and having a photo shoot on their bridal wears at all the places. She added that the only dificulty she faced was fitting on the same bridal attire for five consecutive years. It was quite a challenge!

The couple said that they were highly overwhelmed by the warm hospitality of Nepalese people. They were inspired by the warmth of the people, the endurance and patience at gasoline lines, the way Nepalese people adapted to almost everything, their kind nature and then they were awestruck by the mountains. The couple further added that nothing can beat their 5th anniversary in Kathmandu. It was one hell of an experience and a lifetime achievement for them. It was the best anniversary celebration they have ever had. They had celebrated their first anniversary in Salsburg, second in Brussel, third in Rome,fourth in Mauritius and fifth in Nepal.

“We are even more happy after learning the fact that we have set a new  record of celebrating anniversary on Bridal attire at Kalapathar. It was indeed a proud moment”, says David and Jessica in a common voice. “We are returning back today with a message that Nepal is safe, secure, beautiful and welcoming as before despite of going through a hard time. Accurate global message needs to be spread to deliver correct message to people around the globe. Hey travellers ! Do visit this beautiful country now as there are less tourist in many mountains and you can enjoy a lot. If you want the madness to yourself, do pay a visit to Nepal.”, said David and Jessica.

Please check the Wedding Anniversary Tour.

Are you planning to Nepal Trekking?. The Nepal trekking packing list below is based on our personal trekking experience in Nepal and has taken a long time to compile. As the list is so long and detailed, we recommend bookmarking this page as a future reference point. This packing list can be used for all hiking and trekking routes in Nepal, including the Annapurna Circuit, Everest Base Camp and the Langtang Trek.

On top of this, we regularly receive feedback from our readers and other experienced trekkers who provide brilliant and useful little insights into gear which we then add to the list.

Although the list can seem daunting and potentially heavy, many of the items listed below can be purchased or rented locally at Kathmandu, Lukla or Namche. Please note though that local equipment is sometimes not up to scratch for severely cold weather that you might encounter on the higher parts of your trek.

This Nepal trekking equipment list is comprised of gear that we have personally used or had recommended to us by experienced trekkers. We believe this gear provides the best value for money whilst also delivering the best performance.

Suggested clothing and equipment list for Nepal Tours:

Footwear:
Walking boots. A pair of water repellent boots with ankle support.
Gaiters. A pair used to keep boots dry if walking through deep snow.
Walking socks.
Trainers or trail shoes. Can be used in and around lodge in the afternoons/ evenings.

Clothing:
Waterproof jacket and trousers (goretex or similar).
Trekking trousers.
Long sleeve shirts (not cotton).
Micro fleece.
Mid to heavyweight fleece.
Sleeveless or body warmer type fleece.
Thermals or baselayer for top & bottom (merino wool or synthetic).
Fleece pants.
Medium weight down jacket (eg Nuptse jacket by The North Face).

Handwear:
Fleece gloves.
Warms mittens and/or gloves.

Headwear:
Wool or fleece hat.
Sun hat.
Bandana or scarf.
Headtorch.  Bring extra batteries.
Sunglasses.
Personal Equipment:
Sleeping bag (Note: it is possible to rent this in Kathmandu for about £1 per day).
Day pack large enough to carry water bottles, camera, lunch and extra clothing.
Stuff sacks for keeping your gear dry and organised.
Two water bottles (Nalgene wide mouth bottles are the best).
Sunscreen and lipsalve with a high SPF.
Water purification tablets (Pristine, Biox Acqua or Acqa Mira).
Favourite snack food.
Books, ipod and cards etc.
Trekking poles (Black Diamond with “Flick Lock” are best).
Camera with spare batteries and memory cards.
Insurance certificate.
Earplugs (optional).
Baby wipes (optional).
Hand sanitizer (optional).

Travelling:
Duffle bag or large backpack for your personal gear on the trek (carried by a porter).  Bring a small combination padlock to secure the bag.
Travel clothes. You will need casual clothing for air travel days and time spent in Kathmandu.
Toiletry bag include toilet paper, soap, towel, toothbrush, etc.

Personal first aid kit:

Note: we provide a comprehensive group first aid kit but please bring personal medications and other items you might use regularly such as:

Any personal medications.
Malaria prophylactic tablets.
Blister treatment (Compeed patches are the best).
Rehydration powder eg Dioralyte.
Analgesics (paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin).
Plasters and zinc oxide tape.
Throat lozenges.
Diamox (helps with acclimatisation

Nepal tourism experienced a dramatic turnaround last year after being hit by the twin disasters of a devastating earthquake and crippling trade embargo in 2015. Foreign tourist arrivals to Nepal jumped 39.71 percent to 753,002 in 2016, boosted by robust visitor growth from India, China, the US, the UK and Sri Lanka, according to the statistics of the Department of Immigration.

However, 2016 arrivals are still 4.69 percent down from 2014 when the country welcomed 790,118 foreign visitors. The tourism boom is expected to continue in 2017 and remains a major growth driver for the economy even as the industry sees low overseas promotional activities. October, November and December have been the most productive months for the industry, accounting for nearly one-third of total arrivals.

“It’s a dramatic growth. The industry is returning rapidly to its pre-earthquake growth level,” said Kedar Neupane, director general of the Department of Immigration. “The tourism boom is expected to continue in 2017 given a level of promotion by Nepal in the major source markets.” He said that if the government, Nepal Tourism Board and private sector conducted aggressive promotional activities, this year could be an extraordinary year. “We can expect 1 million tourists in 2017 considering the current environment.”

Neupane said that Nepal could see a boom in Chinese arrivals this year following the move by the Chinese government to encourage travel to the country. China has announced Nepal Tourism Promotion Year 2017 in a bid to encourage its citizens to visit the Himalayan republic, according to the Nepal Embassy in Beijing.

“The industry carried out massive marketing activities in major source markets after the earthquakes, leading to a massive recovery,” said tourism entrepreneur Basant Raj Mishra. “The arrival of foreign volunteers as well as conferences held by I/NGOs in Nepal last year propelled growth.”

Suman Pandey, chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter, said that 2017 looked promising; but the crumbling Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Nepal’s only international aerial gateway, could be a major setback.

“The hospitality industry in Nepal can accommodate more than 3 million tourists, but the airport is already choked with capacity constraints even though arrivals are way short of the one million mark,” he said.

TIA is currently served by 28 international carriers, and it has announced that it cannot accommodate more flights. “What does this statement mean? Of course, Nepal has become an attractive holiday destination for travellers, but TIA will remain the main obstacle to the growth of the industry.”

Nepal received a lot of media exposure following the earthquake which has aroused tremendous interest among potential travelers. The world’s leading travel guide Lonely Planet has named Nepal the world’s ‘best value destination’ for 2017. Likewise, Nepal’s Langtang region has been featured in The New York Times ‘52 places to go in 2017’ list.

Nepal has also appeared in the January travel issue of chinadaily.com.cn. “Nepal remains a fabulous choice for budget-conscious travelers, whether it’s the country’s world famous trekking routes or the wildlife in the southern region. Travel costs per day are as low as $50 on average,” it said.

A breakdown of arrivals by market shows Indian travellers at the top of the list. Arrivals from the southern neighbour reached 118,249 last year, up 57.40 percent. Chinese tourist arrivals jumped 55.26 percent to 104,005. Travel trade entrepreneurs said that Chinese arrivals did not increase as expected last year as the key entry point,

Tatopani Customs in Sindhupalchok, was closed after the earthquake. However, Rasuwagadhi has emerged as an important surface route with 23,452 Chinese visitors entering the country through this point last year.

Meanwhile, visitors from the US, Sri Lanka and the UK jumped 25.67 percent, 29.64 percent and 55.71 percent respectively.