# Nepal Travel Checklist 2026: Everything to Do Before You Fly _Passport validity, visa, travel insurance, SIM, cash, gear, medications, permits, airport pickup — the complete Nepal pre-departure checklist for 2026, with what clients always forget._ Passport validity, visa, travel insurance, SIM, cash, gear, medications, permits, airport pickup — the complete Nepal pre-departure checklist for 2026, with what clients always forget. Nepal is not a complicated country to visit, but there are a handful of things that cause real problems when people arrive unprepared. After helping hundreds of travelers get to Nepal, we've seen the same gaps come up again and again. This checklist covers everything — from the bureaucratic essentials to the gear details — so your trip starts the way it should. ### Quick summary - **Passport**: must be valid for at least six months beyond your departure date from Nepal. - **Visa**: obtain on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) — bring USD cash ($30/15 days, $50/30 days, $125/90 days) and a passport photo. Or apply online at [immigration.gov.np](https://www.immigration.gov.np) before you fly. - **Travel insurance**: must explicitly cover trekking/high-altitude activity and helicopter evacuation to your planned maximum altitude. Do not skip this. - **Cash**: withdraw or carry USD. Nepal ATMs cap foreign withdrawals at NPR 20,000–35,000 per transaction. There are no ATMs above most trailheads. - **SIM or eSIM**: buy an Ncell or NTC SIM at TIA arrivals (bring passport + photo). If trekking, NTC has better remote mountain coverage. - **Gear**: if trekking, confirm your layering system before you fly. Thamel has rentals, but winter or high-altitude gear should not be improvised on arrival. - **Medical**: see your doctor 4–6 weeks before travel. Discuss altitude sickness, Diamox, your current medications, and any vaccinations. - **EcoTourNepal handles**: airport pickup, permits, transport, guides, accommodation, and trek briefings — including a pre-trek consultation with a doctor on staff. ### The essential checklist #### 1. Passport validity Check this first, before you book flights. Nepal requires your passport to be valid for at least six months from your planned departure date from Nepal, not from your arrival date. If your passport expires within that window, renew it before anything else. Also check: do you have at least one full blank page for the Nepal visa stamp? Immigration officers need a full page. #### 2. Visa — plan your approach **On arrival at TIA**: the most common option for most nationalities. Process: fill the arrival form (or complete the online Tourist Visa form at [immigration.gov.np](https://www.immigration.gov.np) for a QR code receipt) → pay at the bank counter → stamp at the immigration desk. Fees in USD: $30 for 15 days, $50 for 30 days, $125 for 90 days. USD cash is the safe default — the counter accepts multiple payment methods but machine outages happen. **Pre-arrival online**: you can complete the DoI form online and print the QR receipt, which speeds up the counter step. The barcode receipt is valid for 15 days from issue. **Carry a passport-size photo**: the kiosk machines can print one but lines form. Having your own photo saves time. For travelers planning to stay longer than 30 days: start with the 30-day visa and extend at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu (or Pokhara, or via [nepaliport-new.immigration.gov.np](https://nepaliport-new.immigration.gov.np)). Extension costs $3/day with a 15-day minimum ($45 minimum). The calendar-year reset means 150 days per visa year (January–December). #### 3. Travel insurance — non-negotiable for trekkers This is the item most travelers underestimate. Standard travel insurance often excludes high-altitude activity or only covers helicopter rescue up to 3,000 or 4,000 m. If you are doing any trek that goes above 3,500 m — EBC, ABC, Langtang, Manaslu — you need a policy that **explicitly names trekking/high-altitude and covers helicopter evacuation to at least your planned maximum altitude plus 1,000 m buffer**. Uninsured helicopter rescue in Nepal costs US$3,500–10,000 depending on altitude and distance. It is not a theoretical risk — weather, injury, and altitude sickness send trekkers to helicopters every season. Commonly used policies by trekkers: World Nomads, Global Rescue, Heymondo, True Traveller, SafetyWing. Compare against your planned altitude before buying. Print your policy details and insurer emergency number. Save them in your phone. Know that the correct rescue procedure is to **call your insurer's 24/7 line first** before a helicopter is arranged, or reimbursement may be reduced or voided. ![Travelers standing at the airport departure gate ready to board](https://amplify-ecotournepal-saru-ecotournepalmediabucketf-2rwlchiydjqx.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/media/people-standing-in-airport-for-boarding.avif) #### 4. Cash Bring some USD cash — at minimum enough for your visa on arrival ($50 for the 30-day is the most common). Nepal's ATMs work with foreign cards but charge a flat fee of approximately NPR 500 per transaction and cap withdrawals at NPR 20,000–35,000. Withdraw the maximum each time. For treks: there are essentially no ATMs above the trailhead. Namche Bazaar (EBC route) has ATMs but they are unreliable and charge a premium. Bring the full amount you'll need for the trek in cash before you leave Kathmandu or Pokhara — this includes tips, charging fees, hot showers, snacks, and drinks in teahouses (all of which cost more at altitude). Best exchange rates: money changers in Thamel (Kathmandu) and Lakeside (Pokhara) beat airport and bank rates. Named changers include Annapurna, Goodwill, and Thamel Universal. Change a small amount at the airport only if you need taxi cash immediately. **Notify your bank** that you're traveling to Nepal. Card blocks on first international transaction are common and fixable with a phone call — but easier done before you land. #### 5. SIM card or eSIM You need connectivity immediately on arrival to use ride-share apps, confirm your hotel, and navigate. Buy an Ncell or NTC physical SIM at TIA arrivals — bring your passport and a passport photo. Airport SIM counters are accustomed to international travelers. If multiple people are traveling together: the EcoTourNepal recommendation is to split — one person gets NTC, one person gets Ncell. Different hills and remote valleys have better coverage from different providers. In an emergency on a mountain, the person with better signal in that valley is the one who can make the call. For remote worker-type trips or city-only stays: eSIM (Airalo, or Ncell's own eSIM) works well and can be activated on airport or hotel wifi. For high-altitude trekking, a physical NTC SIM is the safer choice. #### 6. Permits — what you need and what EcoTourNepal handles If you're booking through us, permits are included and we handle everything. But it helps to understand what you're getting: - **TIMS card**: issued only through a registered agency since April 2023. Required on most trekking routes; not needed in Khumbu (EBC). - **National park/conservation permits**: ACAP for Annapurna (NPR 3,000 foreigners), Sagarmatha NP for Everest (NPR 3,000 + NPR 3,000 Khumbu local permit), Langtang NP for Langtang. - **Restricted Area Permit**: needed for Upper Mustang ($50/person/day), Manaslu ($75–100/person/week), and other restricted zones. Agency-only, minimum two trekkers. ![National park permit document required for trekking in Nepal](https://amplify-ecotournepal-saru-ecotournepalmediabucketf-2rwlchiydjqx.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/media/national-park-permit.avif) #### 7. Medical prep — 4–6 weeks before you fly **See your doctor** before a trek. EcoTourNepal has a doctor on staff who does pre-trek briefings and is available for tele-consultation on the trail — but your home doctor knows your complete medical history and should be the one who advises on: - **Diamox (acetazolamide)**: the standard altitude sickness prophylactic. Common dosing is 125 mg every 12 hours, starting the day before ascent — but your doctor sets the dose based on your history and any other medications you take. - **Existing medications**: anything that affects blood pressure, heart rate, or hydration has implications at altitude. - **Vaccinations**: hepatitis A and B, typhoid, and tetanus are commonly recommended; check current advisories for Nepal at your country's travel health authority. - **Dental**: a dental issue that's fine at sea level can become serious in a remote mountain location. Fix it before you go. #### 8. Gear — what to bring and what to buy or rent in Nepal The most common mistake: overpacking clothes and under-packing the right footwear. The trekking rule is you will come back smelly — the washing facilities on trails are limited. But the memories are worth it, and lightweight packing makes every hour on the trail easier. **What to bring from home**: your footwear (broken-in, waterproof trekking boots for anything above 2,500 m), your personal medications, any technical gear you rely on (GPS, satellite communicator), and your base layers if you have good ones. **What to rent or buy in Thamel**: down jacket, sleeping bag, trekking poles, gaiters. Thamel has everything. Rental costs approximately NPR 100–200/day per item. For custom items — a down jacket with your measurements, logo, or design stitched in — we can connect you to the factory suppliers with at least one week's lead time. **Adapters**: Nepal uses Type C and Type D plugs (the round-pin European and Indian types). Bring a universal adapter. **Power banks**: charging at high-altitude teahouses is paid per device and not always available. Bring a charged power bank. #### 9. Airport arrival — what to expect at TIA After landing: visa process → baggage claim → customs. The visa queue can be 30–90 minutes depending on flight timing. After clearing customs, exit through the arrivals hall. Do not accept unsolicited offers from people inside the terminal for taxis, tours, or hotels. Prepaid taxis are available at a desk inside arrivals for approximately NPR 700–1,000 (~$5–7) to Thamel. Ride apps (Pathao, InDrive, Uber) require walking out to the main road — app taxis cannot enter the airport compound. If you're booking through EcoTourNepal: your pickup driver will be waiting in arrivals with your name on a board. The vehicle includes light snacks and water. Luggage loading is handled. You go straight to your hotel. ### What EcoTourNepal handles on your behalf For clients traveling with us: airport pickup, all permits (TIMS, national park, restricted area), intercity transport, accommodation, guides, and a pre-trek briefing that covers health, gear, cash needs, and what to expect on the trail. The briefing includes a consultation with our on-call doctor. What you still need to arrange yourself: passport, visa (we can advise but cannot apply on your behalf), travel insurance, and your own international flights. For anything on this checklist that feels unclear — insurance coverage, visa timing, gear for a specific route — [reach out before you fly](/contact). Getting these details right is much easier from a keyboard than from a Kathmandu hotel two days before your trek starts. ## FAQ ### Do I need a visa before arriving in Nepal? Most nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival at TIA. You can also complete the Tourist Visa form online at immigration.gov.np before flying to speed up the counter process. Bring USD cash and a passport photo regardless. ### How much cash should I bring to Nepal for a two-week trip with trekking? Bring USD for the visa ($50 for 30 days) plus your planned trek spending. There are no reliable ATMs above trailheads, so carry all trek cash before leaving the city — budget roughly NPR 2,000–3,000 per day for teahouse extras, tips, and incidentals. ### What travel insurance do I need for Nepal trekking? You need a policy that explicitly covers trekking/high-altitude activity and helicopter evacuation to at least your planned maximum altitude. Standard tourist policies often exclude above 3,000–4,000 m, which is inadequate for EBC, ABC, or Manaslu. ### What does EcoTourNepal handle vs what do I need to arrange myself? EcoTourNepal handles airport pickup, all trekking permits, intercity transport, accommodation, guides, and a pre-trek doctor briefing. You handle passport, travel insurance, international flights, and your personal gear. ### Should I buy a SIM card at Kathmandu Airport? Yes. Ncell and NTC counters in TIA arrivals are set up for international travelers. Bring your passport and a passport photo. Getting a SIM at the airport means you have connectivity immediately for ride apps, hotel confirmation, and navigation. ### How far in advance should I see a doctor before a Nepal trek? 4–6 weeks before departure, which allows time to address any issues and for vaccinations to take effect. Discuss altitude sickness prevention (Diamox), your existing medications, recommended vaccines, and any dental work that should be addressed first. ## Next step - **Plan a Custom Nepal Trip:** /contact - Talk to a Nepal Travel Expert: /contact --- Canonical: https://www.ecotournepal.com/blog/nepal-travel-checklist-before-you-fly Last updated: 2026-06-19