Nepal is a landlocked country located between India and Tibet. It lies along the southern slopes of the Himalayan mountain range and is host to eight of the 10 highest peaks in the world, including Mount Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Kanchenjunga. The mountain regions in Nepal offers some of the most iconic hiking trails in the Himalayas. Nature lovers will enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery while adrenaline junkies will revel in activities like whitewater rafting through the roaring Nepali river or bungee jumping at the Himalayan gorge.

Despite the 2015 earthquake, Nepal has recovered tremendously and remains the cultural centre of the Himalayas. The Kathmandu Valley’s collection of palaces, hidden shrines and amazing temple art make it a great place to learn about everything from Tibetan Buddhism to how to make the best momos (dumplings). With an area of 147,181 km², Nepal is slightly larger than 1.5 times the size of Portugal. The country has a population of approximately 31 million with half of the population speaking the official language Nepali, and the rest using one of the several other Tibeto-Burman languages.

Those wanting to travel to Nepal should be aware that the climate in Nepal varies from one place to another in accordance with their geographical features. In the north, summers are cool and winters severe, while in the south summers are tropical and winters are mild. The average temperatures also drop by 6°C for every 1,000 m gained in altitude. Therefore, travellers should prepare themselves properly before making a trip up the mountains. The best time to go trekking in Nepal would be during spring and autumn. Spring, around March and April, is the time when rhododendrons bloom while the months of October and November, which is after the monsoon season, promises clear blue skies

A visit to Nepal is not complete without a visit to the country’s political and cultural centre, Kathmandu. Kathmandu, the capital and the largest city, was once thought to be an inaccessible Shangri-La but now attracts travellers from all over the world. It’s long history of faiths and beliefs, diverse culture and incredible Newari architecture mixed together with the latest technology will enchant any visitor visiting the city. Kathmandu is also described by as a living museum where travellers will feel as if they were transported back in time and relive the history.

Aside from immersing yourself in culture and history, travellers should also discover the uniqueness of Nepali food. One should try the Nepali national meal, daal bhaat tarkaari. It is essentially spiced lentils poured over boiled rice and served with tarkari: vegetables such as mustard greens, daikon radish, potatoes, green beans, tomatoes, cauliflower, cabbage, squash cooked with spices. This dish can be found in pretty much every Nepali home and teahouse. Other dishes to try would be momos, a meat or vegetable filled dumpling (similar to Chinese pot-stickers) often served with beer, and Tibetan bread and honey, puffy fried bread with heavy raw honey that's great for breakfast. One delicacy that you do not want to miss while in Nepal is the dried meat. For those trekking up the Himalayan mountains, the food will mostly consist of potatoes as they are the staple of the Sherpa people. Travellers should try the potato pancakes (rikikul). They are best eaten hot and covered with dzo (female yak) butter or cheese.

All travellers, apart from Indian citizens, wanting to visit Nepal must first obtain a visa.

Tourist visas are available on arrival for citizens of all countries except Afghanistan, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iraq, Liberia, Nigeria, Palestine, Somalia, Swaziland, Syria and Zimbabwe. Visas will cost USD25 (RM102) for 15 days, USD40 (RM164) for 30 days and USD100 (RM 409) for 90 days. However, visas can only be granted for a maximum of 150 days in each 12-month period. All tourist visas are currently "multiple entry" type visa and permit multiple entries and exits during the period of validity.

How to Get There?

By plane

Travellers visiting Nepal via flight will enter the country through Tribhuvan International Aiport. The airport is located just outside of the Ring Road in Kathmandu and serves as the hub for Nepal Airlines, which flies from various destinations in India, as well as Bangkok, Doha, Dubai, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. Other major airlines that fly to Nepal include Air Arabia, Air Asia X, Air China, Air India, Etihad, flydubai, Jet Airways, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Silk Air and Thai Airways.

There are several options for travellers to get to Kathmandu from the airport. Pre-arranged hotel transfers are available from most hotels and are included in most trekking/touring packages. First-time travellers to Nepal or those arriving late night should consider this mode of transport, for safety purposes. There are also prepaid taxis are also available at the airport and will cost NPR 700-800 (RM25-30) to Kathmandu. Regular taxis are also in abundance. However, travellers are advised to negotiate the price beforehand. Local buses are also available at the airport, but they generally do not have fixed schedules and are often crowded. However, the bus is the cheapest mode of transportation with the ticket costing on NPR 10-20 (40–80 sen).

By Car or Motorcycle

Travellers can drive to Nepal from India, however rental cars from India cannot cross the border. Rental cars in Nepal comes with a driver whereas a thorough damage assessment should be done on any rental motorcycles before any transaction is completed. Travellers are also advised to haggle for a reasonable price.

A daily toll of NPR120 (RM5) and a one-time transport permit of NPR50 (RM2) is imposed on all vehicles crossing the border. Proof of payment should be kept carefully as local Nepali police can ask you to produce these documents at any time.

By Bus

Travellers travelling by bus can enter Nepal through one of the five border crossing open to tourists: The Sunauli-Bhairawa, the Raxaul-Birganj, the Siliguri-Kakarbhitta, the Banbassa-Mahendrenagar and the Bahraich-Nepalganj. The Kodari crossing between Nepal and Tibet is also open to independent travellers. There are direct buses run by the Uttar Pradesh Road Transport Corporation which goes from Vanarasi, India to Kathmandu every two days. The journey will take approximately 13-16 hours and costs RS1,370 (RM80). Direct buses to Kathmandu can also be found in the Indian cities of Patna, Gorakhpur and Lucknow

By Train

Cargo and passenger trains operate between Sirsiya in southern Nepal and the Indian town of Raxaul. However, foreigners are not allowed to cross-border using trains. Local Nepali train network is limited to just a few kilometres of train network in Janakpur.

What to do There?

Tea-House Trekking

Travellers visiting Nepal should definitely try trekking at one of Nepal’s famous trails. Beginner trekkers can consider "Tea-House Trekking" which is the easiest way to trek as it doesn't require support. The treks usually take a day’s hike and the trails are between lodge-filled settlements or villages which means there's no need for tents, food or water as they can be purchased along the way. For experienced trekkers who wish to take on the less populated hiking trails, but these trails are often visited as organized groups and will require guides, porters and full support. Certain areas like Manaslu and Kanchenjunga may also require Restricted Area Permits requiring a minimum of two foreign trekkers plus a registered/qualified guide.

Annapurna Region Treks

Another recommended hiking trails in Nepal; Annapurna Region Treks. A 2/3-week trek around the Annapurna mountains. Everest Everest Base Camp Trek. This trek promises stunning scenery and experiencing Sherpa hospitality. Travellers going on this trek in November can visit the Buddhist Tengboche monastery and experience the Mani Rimdu festival. The Island Peak trek in the Khumbu region will allow travellers to view some of the most spectacular scenery in the Himalayas.

Bhote Khosi

For rafting/kayaking enthusiasts, Nepal would be “whitewater paradise”. Nepal boasts of world-class rapids and there are rafting/ kayaking excursions made to suit everyone’s ability. Travellers should take note that rafting/ kayaking trips will usually take several days and will start from either Kathmandu or Pokhara. The main rivers for rafting are; Bhote Koshi, Kali Gandaki, Karnali, Seti, Sun Koshi, Trisuli, Tamor and Marshyangdhi

The Scar Road

There are many popular biking routes in Nepal that are currently in operation; The Scar Road, Kathmandu to Dhulikhel, Dhulikhel to the Tibetan Border, The Rajpath from Kathmandu, Hetauda to Narayangarh, Mugling Kathmandu to Pokhara and Pokhara to Sarangkot and Naudanda.

The best time to go for biking is between mid-October and late March when the atmosphere is clear the climate is temperate - warm during the days and cool during the night. Travellers have the option to use their own bicycles or use a rental. Rental can cost anywhere from USD3 (RM13), which is usually a simple bicycle to USD 30 (RM123) for bicycles with suspension

Where to Stay?

Hotel Lily Kathmandu

Hotel Lily Kathmandu is a budget hotel conveniently located at the central Thamel, Nepal's pioneer touristic area and is the best place to stay while you are visiting Nepal. The property is 15 km away from Tribhuvan International Airport and 5 km from the Swayambhunath Stupa.

Good Vibe Homestay Kathmandu

The Good Vibe Homestay is conveniently located at Manamaiju. It is 8.5 kilometres from Tribhuvan International Airport, 5 km from the Good Vibes main office in Thamel and close to the National Judicial Academy of Nepal. What’s unique about this homestay is that travellers will have the opportunity to stay with a Nepali family and enjoy a peaceful and less crowded space away from the hustle and noise of the city.

Crowne Plaza Hotel Hotel Kathmandu - Soaltee

Crowne Plaza Kathmandu-Soaltee Hotel is a 5-star hotel that offers luxurious rooms to its guests. The hotel’s location provides direct access to a palace and a temple as well as the Swayambhunath Temple, which is about 20 minutes’ walk away from the hotel. The hotel is also a 15 minutes’ drive to Tribhuvan International Airport.