Photo: Boudhanath Stupa · Sumitbhatt222 · CC BY-SA 4.0
First-Timer Guide 🇳🇵Nepal: What to Know Before You Go
Destination Intel / Nepal
A typical first trip here runs about $350 to $475 per person for 7 days at a mid-range style, before flights. This is an estimate from PINYA hand-reviewed prices, not a live price. Prices last reviewed July 2026. Real cost moves with your dates and exchange rates. Get a tailored number in the Budget Calculator, or have The Crown price your exact trip.
Culture, Food and Etiquette
- 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
Best Time to Visit
Nepal's weather varies sharply with altitude; autumn and spring bring the clearest skies and are the popular trekking seasons, while the summer monsoon is wet and winter is cold at altitude.
- Peak: October to November, March to April
- Shoulder: December, May
- Off season: June to September, the monsoon
Source: dhm.gov.np
Getting Around
- Domestic flights reach Pokhara and the mountain regions.
- Buses and hired jeeps cover the road network, which is slow in the hills.
- Treks are done on foot, usually with a licensed guide.
Source: travel.state.gov
What moves the cost: The autumn and spring trekking peaks are the busiest and priciest, while the monsoon and winter cost less.
Common Questions
Do US citizens need a visa to visit Nepal?+
Source: travel.state.gov
Is Nepal safe for first-time travelers?+
Source: travel.state.gov
Latest for Nepal
Updates for Nepal will appear here as they are published. Every update cites official sources, so you can plan on it.