This is the checklist I wish every client had before they arrived in Kathmandu. Not a packing list for the trek (we have a separate guide for that), but the complete pre-departure checklist covering visa, insurance, vaccinations, money, documents, and all the administrative details that are easy to forget until you are standing at the airport wondering if you packed your passport photos.
Print this out or save it to your phone. Go through it two weeks before departure. Then go through it again the night before you fly.
Documents
- Passport: Must be valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date. Check this now, not a week before departure. Passport renewals take four to six weeks in most countries.
- Passport photos: Bring four passport-sized photos. You need two for the Nepal visa on arrival and may need extras for trekking permits (though your company usually handles this). Photos from a booth at home cost 5 to 10 USD. Photos at Kathmandu airport cost more and the queue adds time.
- Travel insurance policy: Print the policy document and emergency contact numbers. Save a digital copy on your phone and email it to yourself. Your insurance company's 24-hour emergency number is the most important number on this trip after your guide's phone number. Read our insurance guide for coverage requirements.
- Flight tickets: E-tickets saved on your phone and printed as backup.
- Hotel confirmation: At least your first night in Kathmandu. If you booked with a trekking company, we handle this, but carry the confirmation email.
- Trek booking confirmation: Printed or on your phone. Includes your company's emergency contact number.
- International Driving Permit: Only if you are doing a motorbike tour. Get this from your home country's automobile association before you travel (15 to 30 USD).
- Vaccination certificate: Not required for entry to Nepal from most countries, but some travellers carry their yellow fever certificate if they have transited through affected countries.
Visa
Every foreign national except Indian citizens needs a Nepal visa. The good news: you get it on arrival at Kathmandu airport. No advance application needed.
- 15 days: 30 USD
- 30 days: 50 USD
- 90 days: 125 USD
Payment in USD cash, EUR, or GBP. Credit card machines are available but sometimes not working. Bring the exact amount in cash to avoid delays. You also need a completed arrival card (available on the plane or at the airport) and one passport photo.
The visa queue takes twenty to forty minutes depending on flight arrivals. Fill out the online form at immigration.gov.np before you travel to save time at the airport.
Money
- Currency: Nepali rupees (NPR). Current rate: 1 USD = approximately 151 NPR.
- ATMs: Available in Kathmandu, Pokhara, and larger towns. Most accept Visa and Mastercard. Daily withdrawal limit: 35,000 to 50,000 NPR (230 to 330 USD). Withdraw enough for your trek before leaving Kathmandu — there are no ATMs on trekking trails.
- Cash for the trek: Standard package (meals included): carry 8,000 to 15,000 NPR for extras. Budget package (own meals): carry 40,000 to 65,000 NPR depending on trek length.
- USD cash: Bring 200 to 300 USD in small bills (10s and 20s) as backup. Dollars are accepted for visa payment, some hotels, and can be exchanged anywhere.
- Cards: Accepted at Kathmandu and Pokhara hotels and restaurants. Not accepted on the trail, at temples, or at national park counters.
Read our complete currency guide for detailed money advice.
Health and Vaccinations
Consult your doctor or a travel health clinic at least six weeks before departure. Recommended vaccinations:
- Hepatitis A: Recommended for all travellers to Nepal. Single dose protects for one year; booster extends to twenty-five years.
- Typhoid: Recommended, especially if eating outside tourist restaurants.
- Tetanus/diphtheria: Check your booster is current (every ten years).
- Hepatitis B: Recommended for longer stays or if you plan to volunteer.
- Rabies: Consider if you will be in rural areas for extended periods. Nepal has stray dogs everywhere, including on trekking trails.
- Japanese encephalitis: Consider if visiting the Terai lowlands (Chitwan, Bardiya) during monsoon.
No vaccinations are mandatory for Nepal entry from most countries. These are recommendations, not requirements. Read our vaccination guide for more detail.
Medications to Carry
- Any prescription medications you take regularly (bring enough for the full trip plus spare)
- Diamox (acetazolamide) for altitude sickness prevention — get a prescription from your doctor
- Ibuprofen or paracetamol for headaches
- Anti-diarrhoeal tablets (loperamide)
- Oral rehydration salts (ORS) — 10 sachets
- Ciprofloxacin or azithromycin (antibiotic for traveller's diarrhoea — prescription needed)
- Throat lozenges (the dry air at altitude causes sore throats)
- Blister plasters
- Hand sanitiser (60 percent alcohol minimum)
Our guides carry first aid kits with pulse oximeters, Diamox, and basic medications. But carrying your own personal supply ensures you have what you need immediately. Read our food safety guide for stomach illness prevention.
Insurance
Travel insurance is mandatory for trekking in Nepal. Your policy must cover:
- Emergency helicopter evacuation to at least the altitude of your trek (5,000m for EBC, 6,500m for peak climbing)
- Medical treatment abroad (minimum 100,000 USD)
- Trip cancellation and interruption
- Baggage loss
Cost: 90 to 300 USD depending on altitude coverage, trip duration, and age. Buy before you leave home. Do not arrive in Nepal without it. A helicopter evacuation without insurance costs 5,000 to 10,000 USD.
Phone and Connectivity
- Nepal SIM card: Buy at Kathmandu airport or in Thamel. Ncell is the most popular for tourists with better data coverage on trekking trails. Costs 500 to 1,500 NPR (3 to 10 USD) with data. Read our SIM card guide.
- Offline maps: Download maps.me or Google Maps offline maps for Nepal before you leave home. WiFi on the trail is slow and unreliable.
- Power bank: 10,000 to 20,000 mAh. Charging on the trail costs 200 to 500 NPR per device and is not always available. A power bank gives you three to four days of phone charge.
- Adapter: Nepal uses Type C, D, and M sockets (similar to India). A universal adapter covers everything.
Two Weeks Before Departure
- [ ] Passport valid for 6+ months? Check.
- [ ] Four passport photos ready?
- [ ] Travel insurance purchased and policy printed?
- [ ] Vaccinations up to date?
- [ ] Prescription medications packed (full trip supply + spare)?
- [ ] USD cash for visa (30-125 USD exact amount)?
- [ ] ATM card works internationally? (call your bank to confirm and notify them of Nepal travel)
- [ ] Trek booking confirmed with company?
- [ ] International Driving Permit (if motorbike tour)?
- [ ] Offline maps downloaded?
- [ ] Emergency contacts shared with family/friends at home?
- [ ] Photocopies of passport, insurance, and tickets (separate from originals)?
Night Before Departure
- [ ] Passport in hand luggage (not checked bag)
- [ ] Visa cash in wallet
- [ ] Insurance policy printed and in hand luggage
- [ ] Phone charged, power bank charged
- [ ] Passport photos accessible
- [ ] Arrival card filled out (if available online)
- [ ] Company's WhatsApp number saved: +977 9810351300
On Arrival in Kathmandu
- [ ] Complete visa process (20-40 minutes)
- [ ] Collect luggage
- [ ] Our driver meets you with a name sign in the arrivals hall
- [ ] Buy Nepal SIM card at airport counter (optional, also available in Thamel)
- [ ] Withdraw NPR from airport ATM (optional, also available in Thamel)
- [ ] Transfer to hotel (30-60 minutes depending on traffic)
Read our Kathmandu airport arrival guide for the full step-by-step process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book anything in advance or can I arrange everything in Kathmandu?
Book your trek and first night's hotel before you arrive. Everything else (SIM card, currency exchange, gear shopping) can be done in Kathmandu. Do not arrive without a trek booking during peak season (October-November) as guides and permits sell out.
How far in advance should I book my trek?
Two to three months ahead for peak season (October-November, March-April). One month for shoulder season. Last-minute bookings are possible in off-season but not recommended for popular routes.
Is Nepal safe for solo travellers?
Yes. Nepal is one of the safest countries in Asia for tourists. Solo female trekkers are common on all major trails. The mandatory guide rule (since 2023) means you always have a local professional with you on the trek. Read our safety guide for a full assessment.
What if I forget something?
Kathmandu's Thamel district has everything a trekker needs: gear shops, pharmacies, SIM card vendors, currency exchange, photography shops, and bookstores. If you forgot it, you can buy it in Thamel for less than you would pay at home. The only thing you cannot replace is your passport.
Why Book With The Everest Holiday
When you book with us, we handle the logistics that this checklist describes: airport transfers, hotel booking, trek permits, guide assignment, and gear provision. You focus on the passport, insurance, and showing up. We handle the rest.
- 320+ reviews, 4.9-star TripAdvisor rating
- Complete pre-departure briefing via WhatsApp or email
- Gear provided free: duffel bag, down jacket, sleeping bag
- Airport pickup included in every package
- TAAN certified (Member #1586)
- Every booking supports the Nagarjun Learning Center
Questions about preparing for Nepal? WhatsApp us at +977 9810351300.
View EBC trek packages | View ABC trek packages
Once your checklist is done, the next step is choosing your trek. Browse our full range of Nepal treks, or start with the most popular: Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp. We handle all permits and logistics.
