Nepal still evades travellers’ bucket lists for 2024/2025. Nepal is a country of diversity in every aspect. Spectacular natural riches combine with a vibrant culture and sense of history. Home to ten of the world’s 14 highest mountains, the country offers a magnificent setting for hiking and mountaineering, as well as some of the world’s best white water rafting.

It has got beautiful landscapes, beautiful and amazing cultures, multiple ethnic and religious groups, breathtaking trekking trails and incredibly hospitable people. One can observe the difference in culture, landscapes as well as language in the very short distance in this country.

Simply Nepal is a gorgeous and wonderful country, anywhere else in this World. Obviously, once is not enough in Nepal. You do not forget Nepal for many reasons.

Here are the top 7 reasons to visit Nepal never ever that embark on your next holiday destination in Nepal.

Very Climatically Diverse Country

Nepal is topographically divided into three regions. The Himalaya to the north, the middle hills consisting of the Mahabharat range and the Churia Hills, and the Terai to the south. The Himalaya and its foothills make up the northern border of the country and represent 16% of the total land area.

Nepal’s beauty is not limited to one element of Mother nature. The climate in Nepal varies from subtropical in the lowlands to a cold high-altitude climate in the mountains. The country experiences 5 different seasons: summer, monsoon, autumn, winter and spring. During winter, the Himalayas block the cold air, causing it to be quite warm south of the Himalayas.

Explore Incredible Heritage Sites

Nepal is a divine place nestled by the conglomeration of mystical mountains blended with unique civilization settlements. The country has many amazing places to visit. Out of them, 10 places in Nepal have been listed as the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Boudhanath Stupa | Explore Incredible Heritage Sites
Boudhanath Stupa | Explore Incredible Heritage Sites

The land of Nepal is not just an arresting blend of pragmatism along with reminders of culture and natural charms, but it also carries on the mystics of the ancient history of science and civilizations like The Legend of Yeti, The Abominable Snowman. We can see these ancient mystics and history on the cultural heritage sites in Nepal.

Some of the heritage sites werre also unharmed, during the 7.8 magnitudes that hit Nepal in April 2015. If you are planning a visit to Nepal or in a Kathmandu Tour for 3 day, you shouldn’t miss all the heritage sightseeing places to be included in your itinerary.

Country is Famous for Adventure Tourism

When talking about Nepal, it would be wrong to not mention mountains. In the global eyes, mountains are our identities. In fact, Nepal’s Himalayas are incredibly popular for adventurous activities. And when we talk about the Nepalese Himalayas, these are certainly different from those in Western countries.

Nepal is Famous for Adventure Tourism
Nepal is Famous for Adventure Tourism | Reasons to visit Nepal

Our Himalayas stands tall over 8000 meters, and our hills easily over 1000 meters. Most find these mountains intimidating, but they are simply mesmerizing when looked at closely. One should definitely visit Nepal just to witness the bewildering mountains of Nepal. However, some can find long journeys to mountains- tiring. In that case, try different activities in Nepal or simply other countries.

Nepal’s major tourist activities include wilderness and adventure tourism activities such as mountain biking, bungee jumping, rock climbing and mountain climbing, trekking, hiking, bird watching, mountain flights, ultralight aircraft flights, paragliding and hot air ballooning over the mountains of the Himalaya.

The Beautiful Lakes

Nepal is not just home to some of the world’s highest mountains but also boasts beautiful and picturesque lakes in the Himalayan landscape. You may not know, but Nepal is the second richest country in inland water resources; Nepal is blessed with more than 6,000 rivers, 3,252 glaciers, and 2,323 glacial lakes.

The towering mountains and glaciers are the sources of rivers and lakes. The elegance of lakes in the mountains and mid-hill attract travelers from around the globe. Also, over the years, local enthusiast travelers have shown a keen interest in exploring the beautiful lakes in Nepal.

Tilicho Lake | Reasons to Visit Nepal
Reasons to Visit Nepal – Tilicho Lake: one of the highest lakes in the world.

The lakes in Nepal at higher altitudes have a religious significance, calling pilgrims from around the world. While some lakes, with their sheer beauty, are among the favorite travel destinations.

Other lakes are known for their unique features and spectacular exquisiteness. Needless to say, some lakes in Nepal are well-known for their unmatched and notable traits, signing in the world record.

The Culture, Acceptance of Religion & Unique Festivals

Most of Nepal’s population practice Hinduism, but as already mentioned with the many stupas around, there is a heavy Buddhist influence, and also some Kiratism, Islam and Christianity, although in smaller populations.

Because of this diversity of religion and multiculturalism, travelling around different parts of Nepal and learning about each region’s customs is an enlightening experience and shows what a unique place it is to visit.

The Culture, Acceptance of Religion & Unique Festivals
The Culture, Acceptance of Religion & Unique Festivals | Reasons to visit Nepal

The varied culture of Nepal is seen through its many festivals. Nepalis celebrate numerous festivals throughout the year, much like the Indians. Major festivals include Dashain (Nepali equivalent of Durga Puja) which marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura.

It is one of the most anticipated festivals of the year and is celebrated by Nepali Hindus with great pomp and joy for fifteen days in the month of Ashvin (September-October). Tihar (Diwali), also called as Swanti and Yamapanchak by some communities, is another famous festival celebrated for five days. In addition to decorating the houses with lights, animals are also worshipped during this period.

Meet the Friendliest Peoples

Nepalese People are exceedingly warm and welcoming. Firstly Nepali people are friendly, warm and welcoming people who are proud of their traditions, religion, music and culture. They believe guests are God and always try to make you feel at home.

Meet the Friendliest Peoples | Reasons to Visit Nepal
Meet the Friendliest Peoples | We welcome travelers across the globe to this beautiful land of the Himalayas.

They never fail to serve you tea and offer you help when needed. Ask a friend who has visited Nepal before and they will tell you how friendly the Nepali people are. It is little wonder that there comes such a saying that while you first come to Nepal for the mountains, you return here for the people.

The People of Nepal are friendly. Often when you are confused looking at the map or different direction they will come forth and ask you were you want to go and give you direction as well. They offer you seat in croweded bus. They never ignore you if you initiate to talk unless they think you are dangerous. I think these are great examples of their friendliness.

Best Spot For One Horn Rhinos and Bengal Tigers

Not many people think of Nepal as a place abundant with wildlife, but oh, how wrong they’d be. Nepal has a large, diverse population of bird species, and if that’s not hardcore enough, head to Chitwan or Bardia National Park for a safari, tracking down crocodiles, rhinos, deers and the elusive Bengal Tiger.

Best Spot For One Horn Rhinos and Bengal Tigers
Best Spot For One Horn Rhinos and Bengal Tigers | Reasons to visit Nepal

It’s also one of the few countries which is the habitat of clouded leopards (like leopards with bigger spots, but much more elusive), living high in the mountains, thought until recently to be extinct in Nepal.

Bardia National Park, in the far west of Nepal, is much less-visited than Chitwan, so offers a more rugged safari experience. While Royal Bengal Tigers live in various parts of Nepal, and are pretty elusive, you have a chance of spotting them here.

Ranging from the charisma of chilly mountains to the tranquillity of wildlife, Nepal presents the best variety of safaris. So, as you plan your trip to this beautiful country, make sure you witness the beauty of nature.

Reasons to book a trip to Nepal Tours
Nepal is a country offering you a wide range of diverse landscape as it is rich in its natural beauty. We have numerous trip packages and itinerary carefully designed, taking due care of your time and budget.

Do you know why tour book with a tour agency in Nepal is better than traveling alone?. Nepal Tours respect your hard earned money and do not compromise with the quality of services we provide. From accommodation, transportation, trip advice, customer care service, guides to other services, we provide you with the best. We even customize our tour packages as per your specifications for your convenience.

We welcome travelers across the globe to this beautiful land of the Himalayas.

Everything you need for travel to Kathmandu. Kathmandu itinerary includes travel tips, costs, how to get around, and how to spend a days in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Kathmandu Valley represents a cultural meeting point in the region. The valley’s profound mystic culture and lifestyle is based on a unique amalgamation. Hinduism and Buddhism as well as many other faiths and belief systems. Kathmandu Valley, the cultural and commercial hub of Nepal, contains three fabled cities – Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur.

Kathmandu is packed full of important religious shrines, temples, relics from history, and places to eat and sleep on the cheap. Not to mention there’s the Thamel neighborhood, which is perhaps the biggest counterfeit (and non-counterfeit) outdoor gear bazaar in the world.

Each has an artistic exposition of graceful temples, elegant palaces, brick-paved courtyards and quaint streets. Multi roofed temples, exquisite monasteries, stone carvings and wooden carvings. The Kathmandu valley holds a considerably high number of places recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.

Kathmandu is a city with no shortage of awesome things to do. Kathmandu is not overflowing with pristine historical sites like cities in Europe. Apart from cultural sites, shrines, and temples, there is plenty of tasty food to try, haggling to be done, and optional day trips to areas outside of Kathmandu.  Here is links to of the things to do in Kathmandu to get your ideas flowing.

Kathmandu Itinerary is very suitable for the people who have short time and love the nature and mountain views staying very close to the capital of Nepal.  As you are walking over the hills, you will have the stunning view of Mountains, sunrise / sun set over the Himalayas and the rural villages, people and their local lifestyles.

What is the best time to visit Kathmandu?

Every season in Kathmandu, Nepal, has something to offer, making it one of the places which can be explored at any time of the year!. October to December, however, remains the best time to visit Kathmandu because of the views of pristine glaciers and skies. During these months, the place remains dry and suitable for exploration and trekking.

The temperature in October ranges from 26 degrees Celsius to 14 degrees Celsius, and as December approaches, it drops to the range of 20 degrees Celsius to 4 degrees Celsius. During these suitable months for visiting Kathmandu, you can also witness and indulge in various festivals that are celebrated. Kathmandu is also best visited in March and April as the temperature steadily rises and spring steps in! During this season, rhododendrons bloom, spreading across the whole valley, giving it a beautiful, mesmerising look!

Kathmandu Weather?


This trip gives a very good feel of Kathmandu Valley and includes all the highlights during a day trip to week-long trip.

Suggested Kathmandu Itinerary

Kathmandu Itinerary 4 Days

Kathmandu Itinerary 4 Days is a suitable for all families and who has a limited time in Kathmandu this is

Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

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

Real Kathmandu Day Tour

Real Kathmandu Day Tour is a unique single day tour in Nepal. Spend a day exploring the historic sights of

Everest Mountain Flight

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

3 Days in Kathmandu

This 2 nights 3 days Kathmandu tour package offers an excellent opportunity to explore the local culture, heritage and traditional

Are you thinking any Trip to Nepal Cost can be a daunting task. Where to start? How to budget? Where to go? What to do? What do you need to prepare?. The good news is everything you need to plan your trip to Nepal is on Nepal Visitors.

Nepal’s tourism is largely centred around trekking and it does attract a fair amount of wealthy visitors as well as backpackers. As a result there are facilities to cater for them in some areas, which can provide you with some temptation to stray above $30/day. By extending your budget to $40 you can add a little bit of luxury into your trip by staying in nicer hotels and dining out at more tourist-geared restaurants from time to time. It will also give you more room to do extra trips and visit more of the best trekking trails, which typically cost $30 to enter.

How much money will you need in Nepal? NRS 3,902 ($38) is the average daily price for traveling in Nepal. The average price of food for one day is NRS 1120 ($10.60). The average price of a hotel for a couple is NP₨2,818 ($27).  These average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

However if you are looking for more organised trekking expeditions, which is highly recommended if you’re not experienced, then even this budget won’t cover for that. The Trip to Nepal Cost can be quite high for guided trips and to reach the highest points in the Himalayas, it will take many days, which clearly is going to be quite expensive.

If trekking is likely to be the main or a major focus of your trip then use these budgets for the days you won’t be trekking and find a good company for the days you will and research the costs in advance. Here are 5 of the best short treks in Nepal along with an idea of the pricing.

UNESCO protected Durbar Square is a popular spot when backpacking Nepal. A square filled with history of rulers and royalty (Durbar literally means palace). Many of the buildings around the square are actually older than the square itself; Kasthamandap is the oldest building in the valley, at three stories and made out of wood it’s a beautiful ancient sight to awe at. You can easily spend a day wandering the streets, exploring the temples, people watching and enjoying a refreshing beer on one of the rooftop cafes.

Don’t leave Kathmandu without spending some time at the Hanuman Dhoka. Nepal’s Royal palace has some incredible history; founded in the 4th to 8th centuries AD and then expanded to what it is now in the seventeenth century by the king. You can easily spend a day exploring the sprawling palace and it’s 10 courtyards. Plus it is free to enter if you have a ticket to visit Durbar Square! Sadly the palace felt the effects of the 2015 Earthquake and some areas are undergoing repairs. Don’t let this stop you from visiting, most of the palace is now accessible and restored to its previous beauty.

If you are with someone special and think about the nice trip in a single day then why not choose a helicopter rides Nepal. Helicopter tours are very popular due to the unsurpassed and up-close views of mountain and the Himalayas, such as the Mount Everest, Annapurna or Langtang Range. Nepal tours provides quick and personal option to experience the snow-capped mountains of Nepal within a short time. Some of the Nepal Helicopters are also used for rescue operations.

Whether for business or pleasure, time, distance and location can always act as barriers when planning trips away. Our professional and modern fleet allows you to travel. Whether it’s a special occasion, romantic treat, company incentive, private family experience or VIP trip, our exclusive helicopter fights allow guests to enjoy a memorable experience of a lifetime.

About Aircraft
In Nepal, there are two type of helicopter currently operating in private sector: AS 350 B series of helicopters which are manufactured by Euro-copter, France and are very popular all over the world. It is regarded as one of the most versatile helicopters and is suitable for mountain flying and all types of helicopter missions. Following are its features:

Fail Safe Design:

  • Comfortable Seating Arrangements
  • 5 seats excluding Pilot
  • Suitable for all types of helicopter missions
  • Can fly up to an altitude of 16,000 feet

Nepal Tours is the first choice for all your corporate helicopter charter needs, our personalised service will ensure your private helicopter charter flights, Private helicopter rides Nepal and passenger transfers are completed in style. We have a number of luxury VIP aircraft available that will ensure we are able to fly you or your clients around Nepal or beyond in complete comfort and speed.

Nepal Tours are specialists in providing versatile aerial photography and filming platforms. We have a long history of providing superior aerial footage for sporting events, television shows, movies and documentaries in and around the Nepal region.

Some of the beautiful Helicopter Rides in Nepal are:

  1. Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour – 3.50 hours ( Single Day)
  2. Everest Base Camp Helicopter Trek – 1o days trek in the Mountain and fly back to helicopter
  3. Langtang Helicopter Trek – 06 days in the Langtang trek and fly back to helicopter
  4. Muktinath Helicopter Tour – 3.50 hours to 5 days packages.. It depends on your time in Nepal.

How much do helicopter rides cost? (2 person minimum)

1.30 Minutes Langtang Tours $1100 Per Person
2 hours helicopter Pokhara to Muktinath $1500 Per Person
3.50 hours Everest Helicopter tour
$2200 Per Person

Nepal tour packages are delightful of surprises and exploration of the vast expanses of the Himalayan Mountains and green valleys. It gives you a chance to experience the holistic and divinity of the nation which is full of serenity and peace.

Nepal tourism attracts millions of tourists every year. This land of Hinduism and Buddhism, houses hundred of majestic temples and monasteries. The stunning landscapes of Nepal, surrounded by the great Himalayas are truly a sight to visit.

Nepal Tour Packages from Chennai, Bangalore & Kerala provide an opportunity to explore. This mystic land known around the world for its majestic peaks, dense forests and spiritual wonders. The best part is that this foreign land can be visited by air as well as by road from India.

Nepal is blessed with some of the best tourist spots in Asia. This country attracts millions of travelers every year like adventure seekers, pilgrims and travelers intrigued by mighty Himalayas. A trip to this majestic land can be a cultural eye opener or a life changing experience.

The country offers some of the best historical and cultural tourist spots like oldest temples and monuments worth a visit. Following are the important tourist spots you must visit during your trip to Nepal from Chennai, Bangalore & Kerala.

If you are traveling from Chennai, Bangalore & Kerala.  Here are some beautiful Nepal packages:

Kathmandu Itinerary 2 Night 3 Days

 1 Night Kathmandu, 1 Night Nagarkot
Sightseeing places are: Pashupatinath, Budhanilkantha, Boudhanath, Bhaktapur, Nagarkot

City 3 Star Hotel 4 Star Hotel 5 Star Hotel
Kathmandu Kasthamandap Boutique Hotel Manaslu Hotel Shangrila
Nagarkot Country Villa Country Villa Club Himalaya
Cost ( BB Basis)
 INR 16,500  INR 19,200 INR 23,500

 

Kathmandu Pokhara Itinerary: 04 Nights / 05 Days

2 Night Kathmandu, 2 Night Pokhara.
Sightseeing places are: Pashupatinath, Budhanilkantha, Boudhanath, Sarangkot, Phewa Lake, Davi’s Fall

City 3 Star Hotel 4 Star Hotel 5 Star Hotel
Kathmandu Kasthamandap Boutique Hotel Manaslu Hotel Shangrila
Pokhara Lakeside Retreat Lakeside Retreat Fishtail Lodge
Cost ( BB Basis)
INR 26,550 INR 31,200 INR 35,800

Kathmandu Pokhara Chitwan Itinerary : 07 Nights / 08 Days

2 Nights Kathmandu, 2 Nights Pokhara, 2 Nights Chitwan on full board.
Sightseeing places are: Kathmandu, Pokhara & Chitwan

City 3 Star Hotel 4 Star Hotel 5 Star Hotel
Kathmandu Kasthamandap Boutique Hotel Manaslu Hotel Shangrila
Pokhara Lakeside Retreat Lakeside Retreat Fishtail Lodge
Chitwan Centerpark Resort Park Safari Resort Kasara Resort
Cost ( BB Basis)
INR 32,550 INR 37,200 INR 45,800

Tourism in Nepal is safe and will remain safe. The Popular tourism destination like Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan are considered very safe regions. These days a Bandha is rare. The Bandh is a strike called by any political party. However you can expect some change in the itinerary if a Transport strike is called by a political party. Such strike has zero effect in sight seeing in Kathmandu valley or trekking.

The illegal trekking or travel agency, trekking operator / tour operator, Individual trekking guide /freelancer, personal website creator for tourism activities are only concerned with their own wealth and often pay their trekking staff very less and in most occasion don’t offer them insurance, proper equipment or any other kind of support so concerning all the adventure trip so to choose the government registered Nepal trekking or travel company is one of the best scheme to concrete your dream in to the reality.

Known as the land of snowy peaks, incredible landscapes, and impressive mountains.  Nepal is a country that has culture, adventure, and adrenaline rolled into one. Home to ten of the highest peaks in the world. It is no wonder that this place is frequented by adventure junkies from all over the world. However, during our trip to Nepal what surprised me the most was the fact that beyond the mighty Himalayan mountains, the country itself is incredibly diverse and lush. Offering tourists a wide array of things to do Nepal is a country that didn’t disappoint.

Before Visiting to Nepal.

Before you head off on your Nepal tour, there are some things you should consider knowing and having, to save you from a bad experience whilst in this stunningly beautiful Himalayan kingdom. Travel insurance, while not a requirement in Neal, is a good thing to have just in case something untoward happens, such as having your wallet stolen or needing hospital care. A good travel insurance does not cost a lot, and can save your life if things go wrong in Nepal. Hospitals in Nepal are not free, and you will need to show an ability to make the payments first. All of the hospitals have affiliations with the major insurance companies, and can quickly and easily validate and verify your travel insurance to take care of the bill, or transfer you to another country or even home, in severe cases.

Social Etiquette in Nepal

First and foremost, you‘ll want to know how to greet the locals. The traditional manner of greeting in Nepal involves placing your palms together in a prayer style and saying “namaste” or “namaskar”. Address anyone older than you with respect using the terms “dai” for men and “didi” for women. And avoid stepping over someone‘s outstretched legs or touching anyone with your feet as these are considered impolite.

Water Safety in Nepal

If you plan on staying in Nepal for a while, you may want to pack a boiling pan and filter for the tap water. Water from the tap is not safe for consumption, even if it‘s from your hotel. Remember to also avoid fruit that may have been washed in contaminated water or drinking soft drinks with ice in them, as the ice may have been made from tap water. Stick to bottled water, which can be found in just about every store in the country.

Solo women trekking in Himalaya Nepal

Solo trekking not recommends for any female traveler to the Himalayas because of the safety point of views, illness and accidents. It is better to search and find the travel mate or to join the group with fix departure with other trekking agency or hire a guide or porter for safety that helpful to know the local people, language, culture and lifestyle. The best advice is to never trek alone with a local male guide. Adventure Connexion in Kathmandu is  specialises in providing female staff for treks.

Travel with Children

Increasing numbers of people are travelling with their children in Nepal, and with a bit of planning it can be remarkably hassle-free. Many people trek with older children, but heading out on the trail with smaller children for any length of time or on any higher routes with children of any age is generally not to be advised. The best trips with children. Please visit the page Nepal for kids.

Read Government Travel Advice

The folllowing government websites offer travel advisories and information on current hotspots. Some of this official travel advice can sound a little alarmist, but if your government issues a travel warning advising against ‘all travel’ or ‘all but essential travel’ to a specific area, then your travel insurance may be invalid if you ignore this advice.

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.