Nepal Travel Tips & FAQs for First-Time Visitors

A handful of small, practical things make the first few days in Nepal go much more smoothly. Here's what genuinely trips up first-time visitors — and the answers to the questions we get asked most often.

Money

The Nepalese Rupee (NPR) is the local currency. Kathmandu and Pokhara have plenty of ATMs and currency exchange counters, but ATMs become sparse or disappear entirely once you're on the trail — Namche Bazaar and Manang are generally the last reliable ATM stops before higher, more remote sections of the Everest and Annapurna routes respectively. Carry more cash than you think you'll need before heading up, since teahouses expect cash for anything not already included in your trip price.

SIM cards and connectivity

Ncell and NTC (Namaste) are Nepal's main mobile networks, both with counters at Tribhuvan International Airport and in Kathmandu. Coverage is reasonable in towns and lower valleys but patchy to non-existent at higher altitudes — expect to rely on teahouse Wi-Fi (paid, and slower the higher you go) for connectivity on the trail itself.

Electricity

Nepal runs on 230V with type C, D, and M sockets. A universal adapter covers all three; charging at teahouses is commonly available but often charged per device, especially above 3,000 m.

Etiquette

• Remove shoes before entering a monastery or someone's home.
• Walk clockwise around Buddhist stupas and mani stones — this matters more than it might seem, and locals notice.
• Ask before photographing people, particularly in smaller villages.
• Dress modestly, especially at religious sites — covered shoulders and knees are appreciated.
• Use your right hand (or both hands) for giving and receiving, particularly money or food.

Tipping

Tipping guides and porters is customary and expected, typically pooled and given at the end of the trek — see our Trekking Costs & Budget guide for typical amounts. Tipping in restaurants and taxis in the cities is appreciated but less strictly expected than on the trail.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a guide?

Every trek booked through this site already includes a licensed guide as standard. Nepal's tourism authorities also now require a licensed guide for independent trekkers in many popular regions, so booking a guided departure covers this automatically.

How fit do I need to be?

You don't need to be an athlete, but a genuine base of cardiovascular fitness matters — see our Trekking Guides article for a realistic training plan and what each difficulty rating actually means.

Is Everest Base Camp hard?

It's rated Moderate on this site — the walking itself isn't technical, but the altitude and the number of consecutive trekking days make it a genuine physical undertaking, not a casual walk.

What's a good first trek?

Poon Hill or Langtang Valley are commonly recommended starting points — shorter, lower-altitude, and still genuinely spectacular, without the multi-week commitment of the classic base camp routes.

Is Nepal safe for solo travellers?

Yes, broadly — Nepal is a well-established, welcoming trekking destination. The bigger safety consideration on the trail specifically is altitude, not personal security; see our Health & Safety guide for what actually matters most once you're walking.