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Visit Nepal
Rules for visiting Nepal change. These notes cover the essentials — but for live fees and quotas, always confirm on the official government source linked in each item.
Last reviewed: June 2026. Fees, quotas and permit rules change frequently — treat the official Department of Immigration (immigration.gov.np) and Nepal Tourism Board (ntb.gov.np) as the source of truth.
Most nationalities can still get a tourist visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport and major land borders, issued for 15, 30 or 90 days. Bring USD in cash for the fee and a passport valid at least six months. Always confirm the current fee bands and the short list of nationalities that must apply in advance on the official Department of Immigration site before you fly.
Official source: immigration.gov.npFrom roughly mid-June to mid-September the monsoon brings heavy afternoon rain, leeches in the hills and frequent cloud at mountain airstrips. Flights to Lukla and other mountain airports are regularly delayed or cancelled, so build buffer days into any trek that depends on them. Lower-altitude and rain-shadow regions such as Upper Mustang stay trekkable through the monsoon.
Official source: ntb.gov.npTourist visas can be extended for a minimum of 15 days, up to a maximum stay of 150 days in a visa year, through the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Start the application on the immigration portal to save time at the counter. Check the per-day extension fee and overstay rules on the official source, as they are adjusted from time to time.
Official source: immigration.gov.npThe post-monsoon window from October into November brings the clearest skies and sharpest mountain views of the year, and it is when most trekkers arrive. Trails, teahouses and Lukla flights are at their busiest, so book guides, permits and mountain flights well ahead. Spring (March–April), with warmer days and blooming rhododendron, is the second-best window.
Official source: ntb.gov.npOn any high trek, climb gradually — a common guideline is to gain no more than 300–500 m of sleeping altitude per day above 3,000 m and to build in acclimatization days. Watch for headache, nausea and breathlessness, and descend if symptoms worsen. Carry insurance that explicitly covers helicopter evacuation, and never push a sick trekker higher.
Official source: ntb.gov.npNepal Tourism Board rules require trekkers in many national-park and restricted areas to use a licensed guide and to carry the appropriate permits (such as TIMS plus the relevant conservation-area or restricted-area permit). Solo, guide-free trekking has been curtailed on a number of popular routes. Confirm exactly which permits and guide rules apply to your specific trek with the Nepal Tourism Board.
Official source: ntb.gov.npRestricted regions including Upper Mustang, Manaslu, Upper Dolpo and Humla require a special Restricted Area Permit, a registered agency, a minimum group size and a licensed guide. These cannot be issued to fully independent solo trekkers. Plan these treks through a registered trekking agency and verify current per-week fees on the official immigration and tourism sites.
Official source: immigration.gov.npTrekkers are encouraged to carry travel insurance that explicitly covers high-altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation, and to share their itinerary with their lodge or agency. Check your own government's travel advisory before departure and note local emergency numbers. The Nepal Tourism Board publishes current safety notices and seasonal advisories.
Official source: ntb.gov.npNepal's two biggest festivals, Dashain and Tihar, fall in autumn and shift each year with the lunar calendar. Government offices and many businesses close for days, intercity buses and flights fill with people travelling home, and Kathmandu empties out. It is a wonderful time to witness the celebrations, but book transport and rooms early and expect some services to pause.
Official source: ntb.gov.npBeyond TIMS, most trekking regions sit inside a protected area that charges its own entry permit — Annapurna (ACAP), Sagarmatha, Langtang, Manaslu and others each have a fee. Buy these at the Nepal Tourism Board offices in Kathmandu or Pokhara before you set out, as some checkpoints will not issue them on the spot. Keep the receipts; they are checked at park entry posts.
Official source: ntb.gov.np