- When Traveling Around Nepal
For getting around the country, there is an excellent domestic air network and helicopter charter services as well as deluxe tourist coaches and a private car hire. A wide range of local buses is also available. Our team will assist you in making your preferred travel arrangements within Nepal accordingly to your trip itinerary.
While trekking in the Himalayas you are required to have an appropriate clothing and equipment set. You can either purchase your own or hire some of the necessary items in many adventure shops in Kathmandu. Sleeping bags and down jackets are easily rented for about 1 USD a day, other items can be bought locally. Most of the gear is locally manufactured and a lot cheaper. Some branded gear is likely to be more expensive but has more quality. Remember that excess baggage is likely to be a burden for yourself and your supporting staff. “Pack light, but pack right”, is our motto. We will help you to arrange all of the necessary equipment on the second day of your arrival to ensure your comfort and safety during the trek.
Currency is spelled as Nepalese Rupees or Rupee (Rs) or in short NRS. 100 Paisa (an equivalent of 1 cent) equals 1 Rs. Nepali Notes are: 1000, 500, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 rupees; 2 and 1 rupee coins are rarely used.The Banking and Foreign Exchange in Nepal. Payments in hotels, travel agencies, and airlines are made in foreign exchange, however major credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, JCB, and AmericanExpress, are accepted in most tourist class hotels, restaurants, airlines, and major tourist merchants. There are plenty of cash machines or ATMs in cities and most will accept cards issued by any of the major international banking networks (Plus, Cirrus, etc.). The majority of ATMs currently have a maximum withdrawal amount of 10,000Rs (although you can make repeated withdrawals). It is very common that most credit cards are blocked by your bank after first use. It is done for security reasons and may put you in a problematic situation where you can’t withdraw cash from ATMs. Always inform your bank about your travel plans and get authorization to use your card in Nepal. We also advise you to always have a sufficient amount of cash with you in case of any of the above issues.
In Nepal 220-240 volts/50 HZ power is used. Sockets usually take plugs with three round pins. The plugs can be both small and large in size. Some sockets take plugs with two round pins as well. It is advised to carry the universal electric adapter with you, however, you can also purchase them in Kathmandu and other cities, but not in remote locations. Voltage fluctuation is very common in Nepal and it is advised that you use an adapter with a quality power surge protector for your electronics. Also, in dry seasons power outages are common and can last for a few hours, hence we recommend having a power bank with you. Most hotels and businesses have an emergency backup of fuel cells and generators.
- When Flight Delays And Unexpected Weather Conditions
Flights by plane and helicopter are prone to unexpected delays and cancellations caused by unexpected weather in remote areas. Operational complications may also occur, which is more likely to happen in the Everest region -Lukla flight, Annapurna region- Jomsom flight, Dolpa, Simikot, Jumla region, etc. Most of the time, mountain flights are delayed without prior information. The flight is scheduled at 6:30 am, so you are required to be at the airport by 6:00 am. However, most of the time flights delay for more than an hour, so please be prepared for that. We advise you to always carry extra money for food and accommodation in case of an emergency. The Above Himalaya Trekking will not be responsible for additional expenses coming with unforeseen reasons. We advise you to plan accordingly. While trekking in remote areas, especially off-season, you’re advised to reserve extra days to avoid frustration in case if any delays occur. In case of delay in flight prior to trek departure or at the end of the trek, you will need to cover your accommodation and food costs by yourself.
It is notoriously difficult to predict the weather in the mountain. At night, it is generally cold and the days are generally warm. There will be snow during the month of December and February. It is important to make sure that you can stay warm and dry in just about any condition. The fluctuation in temperature is an unavoidable feature of the Himalayas. The seasons in Nepal are pretty much the same as in Europe, opposite to the Australian seasons. Nepal’s climate is moderate, which means: winters are cold and dry and summers are hot and humid. However, because of the huge range in the altitude and landscape, the climate of Nepal differs significantly throughout the country. Generally, the monsoon season lasts from around the end of June to the end of August. About 80 % of the rainfall occurs during this period throughout the country but the remainder of the year is dry. May and June can be very hot and humid until the monsoon rains. In spring (March to April) and autumn (October to November) the temperatures are pleasant with occasional short bursts of rain, while November to February is dry, but can be very cold, especially at night.
- Best Season To Visit For Nepal
Spring (March, April, May) and autumn (Sept, Oct, Nov) are the best months of the year to visit Nepal. During this time, the weather is pleasant with loads of warm sunlight. The sky is clear so you can truly enjoy the remarkable Nepalese landscape and the Himalayan views. During the monsoon (June, July, Aug) although there will be no problem with trekking, lower visibility and rain could be an issue. However, for nature lovers, the monsoon is a blessing, as the higher valleys, mountains, and meadows blossom with flowers and abundant vegetation. You can trek in winter (Dec, Jan, Feb), especially in the hilly regions, yet as you reach higher elevations you can expect low temperatures and heavy snowfall. If you don’t necessarily enjoy crowds, trekking during the monsoon or winter or choosing more solitary trekking destinations could be your options. Note that due to global warming there has been a change in the regular climate worldwide and Nepal is no exception. Please be open to unpredictable weather conditions as well.