ACCESS TO NEPAL

The Royal Nepal Airlines (RA) is the national flag carrier of Nepal with flight connections to: Delhi, Mumbai in India; Bangkok in Thailand; Osaka in Japan; Hong Kong, Shanghai in China; Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia; Dubai in United Arab Emirates and Singapore. Other international airlines connecting Kathmandu to other parts of the world are Biman Bangladesh to Dacca in Bangladesh; China Airlines to Lhasa in Tibetan Autonomous Region of China; Druk Air to Paro in Bhutan and New Delhi in India; Gulf Air to Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates; Indian Airlines to Delhi, Kolkata, Varanasi in India; Qatar Airways to Doha in Qatar; Thai International to Bangkok in Thailand.

Since Nepal has India in three sides and China in the north, coming to Nepal by land requires one to pass through India or China. The entry points to Nepal from India are Kakkarbhitta, Birgunj, Belhiya, Bhairawa, Nepalgunj, Dhangadi and Mahendra Nagar. The Kodari Pass in Nepal-China border is the entry point to Nepal from China. Tourists entering the kingdom by land must possess an international carnet.

ACCOMMODATION

Nepal has every category of accommodation facilities that range from the international standard star hotels to budget hotels and lodges. In order to have an assured quality service, it is advisable to use the facilities and services of government registered hotels, lodges, travel agencies, licensed tour guides only and engage an authorized trekking guide or porter only through a registered travel and trekking agency.

In the last few decades Kathmandu and Pokhara with the rest of Nepal has seen mushrooming of world class hotels. During spring and fall, the better hotels work at near full capacity and are booked well in advance. There are, however, plenty of less glamorous but decent hotels to suit everyone's fancies and finances.

Most hotels offer choice of: bed and breakfast; bed, breakfast and one other meal; or room and full board. Rates listed however, are for room only, unless otherwise indicated. Besides officially recognized hotels, there are a number of small lodge accommodation available between US $5 and $10 a night depending on facilities; toilets and showers are generally communal and heating is extra. These small hostelries are located in the old parts of Kathmandu and in the Thamel district.

Even in remote parts of Nepal, the coming of tourists over the years has led to the local population paying attention to tourist facilities, hence making accommodation and meals for tourists more easily available than before.

COMMUNICATION FACILITIES

Postal Services : The Central Post Office located near Dharahara Tower, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The counters are open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and provide stamps, postcards and aerograms. Post Restante is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Express Mail Service (EMS) is available at GPO and at Thamel, Basantapur and airport postal counters.

Telephone Services : Telephone, fax, telex and telegraph services are available at the Nepal Telecommunications Corporation at Tripureshwar. Hotels and private communications centers provide long distance telephone. For calling from outside, country code for Nepal is 977 and the area code for Kathmandu is 1.

Internet Services : Several Internet cafes and communication centers have opened up in the Valley and around the country in the past few years. Visitors only have to find a place they are most comfortable in to use the facilities to keep in touch with home. E-mail and Internet services are also offered by hotels.

Media : Nepali media has sped light years ahead in just a few years time and what used to be a controlled and tight knit community, is so no more. The government audio and television news networks are Radio Nepal and Nepal Television respectively. However, numerous FM radio stations and upcoming regional television stations are dominating the market. Major Nepali daily newspapers are Gorkhapatra and Kantipur, while the English dailies are The Rising Nepal, The Kathmandu Post and The Himalayan. A number of other newspapers and magazines are also available.

Electricity : Major towns have electricity and the voltage available is 220-volts and 50 cycles. Load shedding is sometimes experienced. However, most major hotels have installed their own generators.

CUSTOMS FORMALITIES

Customs : All baggage must be declared and cleared through the customs on arrival at the entry. Personal effects are permitted free entry. Passengers arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) without any dutiable goods can proceed through the Green Channel for quick clearance without a baggage check. If you are carrying dutiable articles, you have to pass through the Red Channel for detailed customs clearance.

Import : Apart from used personal belongings, visitors are allowed to bring to Nepal free of duty cigarette (200) or cigars (50), distilled liquor (one 1.15 liter bottle), and film (15 rolls). You can also bring in the following articles free of duty on condition that you take them out with you when you leave: binocular, movie or video camera, still camera, laptop computer, and portable music system.

Export : The export of antiques require special certification from the Department of Archeology, National Archive Building, Ram Shah Path, Kathmandu. It is illegal to export objects over 100 years old like sacred images, paintings, manuscripts that are valued for culture and religious reasons. Visitors are advised not to purchase such items as they are Nepal's cultural heritage and belong here.

For more information on customs matters, contact the Chief Customs Administrator, TIA Customs Office (Phone : 4470110, 4472266).

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• All foreign visitors are requested to be mindful of the date of Nepalese visa and their passport number to avoid possible problems. As such, you are requested to apply for visa extension, if you wish so, apply within the valid period of Nepalese visa.
  
  
• You are requested to get the arrival/departure stamps on your passport at the entry/exit points to avoid further legal complications.
  
  
• Living in Nepal without passport or a valid visa is a punishable offence.
  
  
• Deviation from the prescribed routes mentioned in the trekking permit will be treated as the violation of the law.
  
  
• You are advised to be aware of brokers/cheaters or any counterfeit documents of visa/trekking permit to avoid legal complications. If you are not visiting/trekking through any recognized agency, do not use mediators for visa/trekking permits. You are requested to contact the Immigration Office directly.
  
  
• Change of purpose of stay without permission is not allowed and employment or voluntary services while on a tourist visa is strictly prohibited. It will be a punishable offence.
  
  
• Be sure to register at the police and Immigration check point along the trial. It will be wise for to register your trekking destination and schedule at your Embassy or Consulate.
  
  
• If you encounter problems along the trails, inform immediately to the nearest police or Immigration post.
  
  
• You are requested to change money with recognized dealers and do not forget to take formal receipts.
  
  
• You are requested to inform the Immigration Office or Police Station for any changes in your address previously given in the visa application form.
  
  
• You are advised to be mindful to contact the Dept. of Immigration for visa transfer in case of getting new passport or travel document from your embassy.
  
  
• Passport and trekking permits should be kept by the trekkers while trekking.
  
  
• Filming in restricted areas or notified areas without permission is strictly prohibited.
  
  
• Please don't take out the visa stickers from your passport and do not try to change records printed in your passport.
  
  
• We request for your co-operation to observe the following guidelines during your stay in Nepal. Respect local traditions, customs, values and sentiments, help to protect local culture and maintain local pride.
  • Respect privacy while taking photographs.
    
  • Respect holy places.
    
  • Refrain from giving money to the children since it will encourage begging.
    
  • Respect for local etiquette earns you respect.
    
    
• If you make change in your address of residence mentioned in the visa application form or disembarkation card, must furnish to the Immigration Department, Immigration Offices or local police with a notice containing name, passport number and new address as well within seven days.
  
  
• If your stay period as a tourist is more than 120 days in one visa year and wish to visit other places for spending more than 24 hours, you have to register in the local police office of such place with your name, passport number and address as well.
  
  
• Let Himalayas change you - Do not change them, so remember, while you are on trekking.
  
  
• Protect the natural environment.
  
  • Leave the camp site cleaner than you have found it.
    
  • Limit deforestation - make no open fires.
    
  • Burn dry papers and packets in a safe place.
    
  • Keep local water clean and avoid using pollutants.
    
  • Plants should be left to flourish in their natural environment.
    
  • Help your guides and porters to follow conservation measures.

Once again, welcome to Nepal, we wish you a memorable holiday in this country, thank you.