Nepal is one of the favorite destinations among adventurous travelers, and for very good reasons. The Himalayan Kingdom has some of the most beautiful sceneries you will ever see in your life, and a vibrant culture to enrich your soul.
It may be the majestic Mt. Everest or the fact that Nepal is the birthplace of Buddha, but the country is one of the very few nations on the globe that were never colonized. There is a lot to be said about Nepal, but all of these things are better experienced in person. From the culture to the gorgeous views and charismatic people, a trip to Nepal is one experience to remember for a lifetime.
But one question that all adventurers ask themselves before visiting Nepal is, “Is this trip going to break my budget?”. Well, judging by western standards, Nepal is a very affordable place to visit, especially if you plan everything ahead and look for good deals.
To help you out, we put together this guide for visiting Nepal on a budget, so keep reading and start planning your next visit.
Flight and Visa
The only international airport in Nepal is Tribhuvan International Airport, in Kathmandu, so unless you are going to come over land, this is the place you will be landing on.
Flight ticket prices will, of course, vary depending on your point of origin, but you can always look online for good deals, especially if you plan your trip a few months ahead. Usually, from the West Coast of the U.S., tickets vary between $600 and $1300. This is probably going to be your biggest expense on this trip.
Nepal requires visitors from nearly any country in the world to have a visa, but that’s almost never an issue, because Nepal has visas on arrival. Once you arrive at the airport, you need to get in line at the visa application office, but make sure you fill out the “arrival card” that the flight crew will be giving you on the plane.
Visas are quite inexpensive to get ($25 for a 15-day visa), and visitors from some specific countries can even get it for free, so there is no need to worry about that. Additionally, you can also fill out a tourist visa form on Nepal’s Department of Immigration website, but you will have to do so within 15 days of your arrival.
Transportation
Once you arrive in Nepal, you need to forget any preconceived ideas of how long it may take to get from point A to point B, because distances here mean something completely different. Unfortunately, Nepal’s road infrastructure is not exactly the best, which is why you will shortly understand why trekking is such a popular activity there. For example, a 200 km trip from Kathmandu to Pokhara, which you could cover in about 2 hours at home, takes between 6 to 8 hours, or even more if you are stuck in traffic.
In terms of money, public transportation is quite inexpensive, and even cabs are affordable. Most local buses are small and crowded, but there are dozens of companies that have “tourist buses”, which are larger and more comfortable than local ones.
If you want to explore the Himalayas, but you don’t want to do it on foot, you can also rent a Jeep, which may be a little pricey, but it is much safer and comfortable than other methods of transportation.
Accommodation
Nepal has a range of accommodation options, suited for any budget. They have expensive hotels for those who want to splurge and enjoy the comfort, but you can easily find cheap accommodation almost everywhere. From motels to guesthouses, tea houses, hostels and dorms, how much you will spend on accommodation depends a lot on the level of comfort and amenities you need. A double room with a private bathroom can go as cheap as $12 a night at a very decent hotel. Pretty inexpensive, right?
Some tea houses offer free accommodation if you eat both dinner and breakfast at their location, which is a very good deal. Sure, you may not be sleeping at a 5-star hotel, but Nepal is not the place for that anyway.
Food
If there is one thing worth considering a debt free credit solution, that’s Nepalese food. Food in Nepal is known for being extremely flavorful, which is why probably most of your budget is going to go on trying out their cuisine. Restaurants are very affordable, even the most touristy ones, but if you want a real taste of Nepal, look for places that locals enjoy. Sure, they may not be as put-together as big restaurants, but the food will be worth everything.
Nepalese food takes its influences from Indian and Tibetan cuisine, but dishes still have a unique flavor to them. It’s worth knowing most Nepalese people are Hindu, meaning they don’t eat beef. Most food you will find will be vegetarian, but the spices they use give everything a very rich flavor.
Useful advice to keep in mind
Nepal is a beautiful country, and there is no doubt about that. However, the country is still poorly developed and lacks a lot of the comfort you may have been accustomed to.
If you decide to travel around using taxis, make sure you ask the driver to turn on the meter. Otherwise, you may be asked to pay two or three times the price of a normal ride. Many scamming taxi drivers are looking for clueless tourists to fool, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Last but not least, it is advised you never go trekking alone, especially if it’s your first visit to the country, as there have been many reports about tourists going missing while trekking in Nepal. There are plenty of online platforms where you can find local guides or trekking companions.
