Travel guide · Nepal
Nepal Trip Planning Essentials
Visas, money, eSIMs, airport arrival, domestic flights and budgets — every pre-departure decision for a Nepal trip in one place.
Planning a Nepal trip comes down to a handful of pre-departure decisions: your visa, your money, how you'll arrive, how you'll move around, and how long you'll stay. Get those right and the rest of the trip falls into place. This guide gathers every logistics question new visitors ask and points you to a focused answer for each, so you can land in Kathmandu prepared rather than improvising at the immigration desk.
The short answer
Most travellers get a Nepal tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport or apply online beforehand, bringing US-dollar cash for the fee. Decide how many days you need in Nepal, set a realistic budget with our Nepal trip cost breakdown, and arrange an eSIM for Nepal so you arrive online. Then read the Kathmandu airport arrival guide and the things to know before visiting Nepal so nothing catches you off guard.
Visas and staying longer
Nepal's tourist visa is one of the easiest in the region — available on arrival in 15, 30 and 90-day options. The full process, fees and exemptions live in the Nepal visa guide. If your plans grow once you're in the country, the Nepal visa extension guide explains how to add days at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu or Pokhara, up to the 150-day annual limit.
Money before and after you land
Nepal runs largely on cash. Read money and ATMs in Nepal for the big picture, then use changing money in Nepal to understand exchange rates, where to swap currency, and why you should keep small rupee notes handy for buses, tea houses and temples.
Arriving and getting around
Your first hour in the country matters. The Kathmandu airport arrival guide walks through immigration, baggage, the prepaid taxi desk and that all-important first SIM or eSIM. Overland travellers should read the India–Nepal border crossing guide instead. Once inside the country, getting around Nepal covers buses and jeeps, while domestic flights in Nepal explain the mountain hops to Lukla, Jomsom and Pokhara that save days of road travel.
Costs, time and connectivity
Two questions shape every itinerary: how long and how much. Our guide to how many days in Nepal helps you match a 1, 2 or 3-week trip to your interests, and how much a Nepal trip costs turns that into a realistic budget. Before you board, sort connectivity with the best eSIM for Nepal so you can hail a ride and load maps the moment you clear immigration.
Put it all together
A typical plan looks like this: choose your dates with the best time to visit Nepal guide, apply for your visa online, buy an eSIM, budget for visa, flights and daily spending, and reserve buffer days for weather. Read the things to know before visiting Nepal once more on the plane, and you'll step off it ready to enjoy the mountains rather than untangle logistics. For peace of mind on the road, skim our is Nepal safe overview too.
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Getting around
Plan your trip
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to sort before travelling to Nepal?+
Sort your tourist visa (on arrival at Kathmandu airport or online beforehand), bring US-dollar cash for the visa fee, decide how long to stay, and plan how you'll get around — including any domestic flights to the mountains. Buying an eSIM before you fly means you land already connected.
Is it easy to plan a trip to Nepal independently?+
Yes. Visa on arrival, widespread guesthouses, frequent buses and a handful of domestic airlines make independent travel straightforward. The main planning work is choosing how many days you have, deciding whether you'll trek, and building buffer days around weather-dependent mountain flights.
How much should I budget for a Nepal trip?+
Budget travellers can manage on roughly US$25–40 a day, mid-range trips run US$50–90 a day, and trekking, domestic flights and guides add cost on top. Your visa, internal flights and any permits are the main fixed expenses to plan for separately.
What is the best way to arrive in Nepal?+
Most visitors fly into Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and get a visa on arrival. Overland travellers from India cross at Sunauli, Birgunj, Kakarbhitta or other border points, where visa on arrival is also available for eligible nationalities.