Permits, costs, seasons and logistics for visiting Nepal. What the guidebooks say and what the ground reality actually is.
Travel Planning
Nepal uses the Nepali Rupee (NPR). As of mid-2025, one US dollar buys around 133-135 NPR. That rate moves daily. Check Nepal Rastra Bank's live rate before you go, and again when you arrive. Everything else in this guide covers the decisions most travellers get wrong: which bills
Travel Planning
The Nepal visa on arrival process works. What it does not do is move quickly. What to prepare before landing, how the queue breaks down at peak arrival times, and what to do if the system is down.
Travel Planning
Nepal monsoon runs from June to September. Here is what the season actually does to the country, where to go, what to expect, and the case for going anyway.
Travel Planning
October and November are Nepal's peak months. What nobody mentions is that pre-monsoon March to May is equally good for trekking and significantly less crowded. What each season actually changes about a trip.
Trekking
The permit system for trekking in Nepal changed significantly after 2023. What you need to carry depends on where you're going - and the answer is different for every circuit.
Travel Planning
The guidebook figure for a daily budget in Nepal is outdated. Post-earthquake reconstruction, post-COVID pricing, and the 2024 permit changes have all moved the number. Here is what things actually cost.
Trekking
The risk profile for solo female travel in Nepal is not what the travel forums say it is - in either direction. What the numbers, the trail culture, and the ground conditions actually show.
Mustang
Upper Mustang requires a restricted area permit that costs USD 500 for 10 days - one of the most expensive trekking permits in the world. What the restriction is for, where the fee goes, and what you actually get.