11 Things To Know Before Visiting Nepal

Wondering what to do (and what not to do) in Nepal? If you are busy researching all of the things to know about Nepal before visiting, you have come to the right place! I learned a lot, and here I will share the things I wish I knew before visiting Nepal.

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Nepal took about a week to grow on me.

I flew into Kathmandu after spending time visiting Doha, Qatar, which is ultra-clean, modern, and manicured. The busy city of Kathmandu, on the other hand, is dusty and crowded. It was a drastic change.

There also were some inconveniences that ranged from minor to major that I ran into along the way. Money problems, infrastructure issues, and overcrowding are all things you might come up against.

Here I will cover all of the things travelers should know before visiting Nepal, such as nuances to expect and what not to do in Nepal. I believe this list will help you plan for a seamless trip!

Let’s dive in.

11 Things To Know Before Visiting Nepal

1. Power outages are abundant and common.

During my time in Nepal, I visited Kathmandu, Charaudi, Chitwan, and Pokhara. And, I experienced power outages in each and every location.

You will likely find that the power will shut off in your hotel room and in shops around town multiple times per day.

Hotels typically have a generator that will turn on shortly after the outages. But, shops and stalls may not have that option.

So, be aware that if you need solid internet access or are relying on electronic devices in Nepal, you should plan ahead. Book mid-range or nicer hotels, which are still very affordable, to guarantee that you will have a generator on site for just such an occasion.

Pro Tip: Definitely bring a portable battery for recharging cell phones or cameras for when you do lose power. I prefer the larger ones, despite their bulk, because they can charge multiple devices with one full charge. This saved me in Nepal! Get yours here!

2. Kathmandu is not easily walkable.

The most popular area that tourists stay in Kathmandu is called Thamel.

This area’s streets are filled with some of Kathmandu’s best places to visit, and they are lined with travel agencies, souvenir and clothing shops, and tons of restaurants and food stalls.

It is lively, exciting, and loud! But, it is also difficult to walk around.

There are no sidewalks in Thamel. Actually, there are often jagged ditches, instead. I even saw a local man trip into one – they are everywhere!

Furthermore, the streets are wild. They are barely two lanes wide, and cars, bikes, scooters, and tuk tuks fight against pedestrians for space. Yes – pedestrians walk directly on the streets in Thamel because there is nowhere else to walk.

When the streets are clear, no problem. But when there is any sort of street activity, prepare to feel smothered.

One of the days that I was in Thamel was during a public holiday and it was tough to walk even just several blocks.

Pro Tip: Busy and crowded streets are the perfect playground for pickpockets. The best way to combat this is to wear a protected crossbody bag or a scarf with a hidden pocket. It will take away one extra layer of potential stress!

3. You may or may not have hot water.

This is frankly a common experience of mine in many of the countries I travel to.

But, if hot water is a necessity for you, take time and read the reviews of any hotel before booking. you’ll want to make sure that you see a lot of reviews praising the fact that they have hot water, and little to no complaints about it.

In a couple of hotels I stayed in, some days there was hot water and other days there was not. This is because they used solar heating, so if you don’t have a sunny day you’re out of luck. Other times, I wonder if this was due to power outages.

Regardless, mentally prepare yourself for the possibility of a cold shower a time or two while you’re in Nepal! Or, be sure to book a hotel very intentionally.

Pro Tip: Carry these face wipes for a quick tune-up due to sweat or grime midday. I can guarantee that in Kathmandu’s dusty streets, you will thank me. Get yours here.

4. ATMs are not always working.

The ATMs in Nepal are not always in working order. I ran into a few that could not dispense money due to lack of funds or machine malfunctions.

The good news is, ATMs are plentiful. If one doesn’t work, you will likely have an easy time finding another.

However, I always recommend carrying a few larger bills in USD or Euro in case you’re in a pinch and need to exchange cash.

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5. Stores and shops open late.

I noticed that many businesses in Thamel don’t open their doors until after 10am, and I imagine that is the case elsewhere, too.

Nepal does not have a traditional “breakfast” culture. Rather, Nepali people tend to drink only tea for breakfast, and then eat Dal Bhat for a mid-day meal and for dinner.

Pro Tip: Dal Bhat and other tasty traditional foods are some of the top reasons to visit Nepal! Consider it a cultural experience through spices and tastes.

I suspect that due to this cultural norm, many of the shops may open after 10am or after the first real meal. Or, I could be completely wrong and it may have to do with Thamel’s late nights.

Regardless of the reason, don’t expect to shop around for anything early. And, note that on Saturdays, I found many shops and travel agencies were closed.

6. Prepare to be offered drugs… often.

While walking around town in Kathmandu and Pokhara, locals would often offer out drugs to tourists. They will walk up to you and whisper offers to tourists with no shame!

I would highly advise that you don’t accept, as it is illegal to do so here. Consider this your number one things not to do in Nepal.

Not to mention, you don’t know what could potentially be mixed in with whatever you get, and having a medical emergency in Nepal is not how I would want t spend my time.

Pro Tip: Illegal activities aside, it is always a great idea to get a travel insurance quote before you go. If things go wrong on your trip, it may really help! Get a quote here.

7. Scooters are the best way to get around, by far.

In cities like Kathmandu and Pokhara, the best way to get around is by scooter.

First of all, it ends up to be much more affordable than taxis and tuk-tuks.

For example, a taxi ride from Thamel to Pashupatinath Temple, which is about 15 minutes away, will cost between 500-600 NPR, one way. A daily rate for a scooter, on the other hand, can be as low as 700 NPR.

You would save 300-400 NPR on just this trip alone!

Second of all, scooters can squeeze through the tight passageways and crowds of people on the busy streets. You can get through the busy areas much easier than a car can, and you can get places much faster than a bicycle can.

Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to haggle. Prices are quoted much higher than 700 NPR for a daily rate. This price was attained by expert-level haggling. 🤓

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8. You’ll see dogs everywhere.

Dogs are running rampant all over the cities and rural areas in Nepal.

Many of them do have homes, as indicated by the collars that some of them wear. And, many appear well fed and clean. But, you may run into some stray dogs, too.

Be aware that neither stray dogs nor dogs with owners are ever on leash. I saw exactly one on-leash dog my entire visit in Nepal.

Rather, they run the streets and stay outside for the most part. You may have dogs follow you or come up to you many times in the cities, so be aware. However, none that I encountered were aggressive or ill-tempered.

Side note, there are almost no cats in Nepal. They are a very rare sight!

9. Tourist buses are not at all “luxury.”

I took many tourist buses in Nepal between the major (and minor) cities and towns I visited. I rode from Kathmandu to Charaudi, to Chitwan, to Pokhara, and back to Kathmandu.

Each of them had the bold label on the front window of “Tourist” or “Tourist Only.”

Firstly, “Tourist Only” is not exactly true, because more locals than tourists booked these buses. So be prepared for many stops in the cities apart from the major bus terminals.

But more importantly, all of these buses are in some type of disarray. If you are expecting a luxury bus experience, you will not find it here. Chairs are broken, seats are varying levels of clean, and they are visibly old.

On the bright side, there was A/C on every single one, so at least the hot sun did not make us all melt. Just don’t buy your ticket expecting a clean or luxury experience. That is one of the best things to know about Nepal before visiting!

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10. Don’t spend too much time in Kathmandu.

Let’s get one thing straight – I do absolutely recommend spending a few days in the capital city.

There are lots of fun things to see in Kathmandu, from gorgeous temples to tasty eateries to vibrant green gardens. So don’t skip it altogether.

But, it wasn’t until exploring farther corners of Nepal that I came to really appreciate the magic of this country.

Pokhara was an incredible haven for adventure activities! It was one of my most memorable spots, hands down. I had a thrilling time bungee jumping and paragliding in Pokhara.

Chitwan National Park is your gateway to see the one horned rhino – and see many of them, I did! And, river rafting on the Trishuli River was exhilarating.

My advice is this.

Plan to spend around three days in Kathmandu to see all of the main cultural sights. They are worth seeing!

But after that, head out to the farther corners to get a better feel for Nepal’s adventure, nature, and magic.

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11. Nepal is a cash-based society.

One of the most important things to know about Nepal is that it is a cash based society.

Be prepared – even in the cities, it is tough to find anywhere that accepts credit cards. Most restaurants, shops, and hotels are cash only, with the exception of larger hotel chains.

Make sure you have an ATM card to pull cash out as needed, and carry USD or Euros to exchange. Both ATMs and money exchanges are plentiful, by the way.

I didn’t expect small souvenir shops or local eateries to accept credit cards, but I did assume that mid-range hotels would take credit cards. But, that was not at all the norm.

Expect all establishments to be cash only, and let yourself be pleasantly surprised if they accept credit cards. Note that the larger hotel chains here (like Marriott and Radisson) will take credit cards.

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I hope that this list of things to know about Nepal will help you plan ahead and be prepared!

Overall, my time was easy and fun in this adventurous country. But, these small facts and hiccups are useful to know in advance.

Is there anything you would add to this list? Let me know below!

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