A typical first trip here runs about $250 to $350 per person for 7 days at a mid-range style, before flights. Get your own number from the Budget Calculator.
- Dal bhat tarkari, lentil soup, rice, and vegetable curry; eaten twice daily
- Momos, Tibetan-influenced steamed or fried dumplings with meat or vegetables
- Sel roti, crispy rice flour doughnut, made at festivals
- Thukpa, hearty noodle soup eaten in the mountains for warmth and energy
- Chang (barley beer) and raksi (spirit), traditional mountain drinks
- Dashain (October), the most important festival; family reunions and goat sacrifices
- Tihar (Diwali equivalent), festival of lights; Day 3 honors dogs, Day 4 honors crows
- Holi, played vigorously in Nepal with colored powder and water
- Trekking culture, Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Circuit are world-famous
- Buddhist monasteries and Hindu temples coexist throughout the country
Nepali is the official language. English is spoken in Kathmandu and by trekking guides.
"Namaste" with hands pressed together is the universal greeting. Nepal is home to eight of the world's ten tallest mountains.
- Walk clockwise around stupas, mani walls, and religious monuments
- Ask permission before photographing people, especially at religious sites
- Tipping trekking guides and porters is important, it's their livelihood
- Altitude sickness is serious, acclimatize properly; don't rush ascents
Latest for Nepal
Updates for Nepal will appear here as they are published. Every update cites official sources, so you can plan on it.