Nepal

TCI is Nepal’s number one destination management company. TCI derives its justly earned reputation by providing world-class quality services to its clients – travelers, tour operators and corporate houses. The TCI brand represents trust, competitiveness and excellence in service. The company has received many awards and recognition as a top achiever in the industry.

The company’s success lies in its strategic approach firmly grounded in the belief that its activities must be rewarding for all the stakeholders and partners. The company’s ability to obtain preferred rates and conditions while continuously educating suppliers on clients’ needs, new products and changing scenarios is a cutting-edge feature. It leverages the strong and country-wide infrastructure at its command, and its corporate stability. Other strong attributes of TCI are its commitment to personalized service and close working relationships with clients around the world. Working closely with leading International Tour Operators and Travel Agents has resulted in a bonding that is unique in the industry and more than meets all stakeholders’ expectations.

TCI is a recognised and approved Travel Agent and Tour Operator by the Nepal Association of Travel and Tour Operators.

Destinations

Middle Hills & Lower Himalaya

Read More

The middle hills and Lower Himalaya form the largest part of the country and also has the largest population. Occupying 68% of the country, it enjoys a temperate climate and the land here is far more fertile than in the upper Himalayan region. At the high end, the Mahabharat range reaches an altitude of around 4000m above sea level while the Churia range is lower in comparison. In this region lies the capital, Kathmandu and some of the popular tourist destinations such as Pokhara and Tansen.

Kathmandu lies cradled in a valley tucked in by lush forested hills and is by far the biggest city in Nepal. A twenty minute drive in any direction from the valley leads to various viewpoints, traditional Newari villages and hidden temples that are linked by trail-heads, make their way from one destination to the other. The Kathmandu Valley is the historic heart of Nepal and has a wealth of lesser known sights: Nagarkot and Dhulikhel offer fine panoramic mountain views.

Tarai Region

Read More

The plains of Nepal are known as the Tarai and they occupy 17% of the land, stretching from the far-west to the far-east covering the entire southern part of the country. The lowest altitude in this region is known to be 70m above sea level. With a sub-tropical climate, the land here is exceedingly fertile and produces the bulk of the food grains for the country’s population. Economically, Terai is the most productive region of Nepal. The majority of the major industries in Nepal are in this region. Agriculture is the main economic stake of the region.. Main crops are paddy, wheat, pulses, moong, sugarcane, jute, tobacco, and maize. Many agro-based industries like jute factories, sugar mills, rice mills and tobacco factories are established throughout the region.

Along this belt lie the Chitwan National Park, Bardia National Park, Shukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve and the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve which harbour an amazing variety of wildlife including endangered species such as the elusive Royal Bengal tiger, the One-horned rhinoceros and Gangetic dolphins along with rare species of birds.

Upper Himalaya

Read More

The Upper Himalaya ranges from 4,000m above sea level to 8,848m above sea level. It occupies 15% of the total area of the country and within this region lie eight of the fourteen highest peaks in the world exceeding 8000m. They are: Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu and Annapurna. The high Himalaya is extremely cold, windy and inhospitable while the region immediately below them are inhabited but the land is far less fertile than the lower Himalayas. Thus, cultivation is minimal in this region.

Useful Information

Tourists who visit Nepal must hold a valid passport and visa.

Indian nationals do not require visa to enter into Nepal.

Entry

Tourist entry visa can be obtained from Nepal Embassy/ Consulate or Mission offices abroad, or at the following immigration offices in Nepal:

  • Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu
  • Kakarvitta, Jhapa (Eastern Nepal)
  • Birganj, Parsa (Central Nepal)
  • Kodari, Sindhupalchowk (Northern Border)
  • Belhiya, Bhairahawa (Rupandehi, Western Nepal)
  • Jamuna, Nepalgunj (Banke, Mid Western Nepal)
  • Mohana, Dhangadhi (Kailali, Far Western Nepal)
  • Gaddachauki, Mahendranagar (Kanchanpur, Far Western Nepal)
Tourist Visa
  • Visa Facility
  • Duration
  • Fee
  • Multiple entry
  • 15 days
  • US$ 25 or equivalent convertible currency
  • Multiple entry
  • 30 days
  • US$ 40 or equivalent convertible currency
  • Multiple entry
  • 90 days
  • US$ 100 or equivalent convertible currency
Tourist Visa Extension

Visa extension fee for 15 days or less is US $ 30 or equivalent convertible currency and visa extension fee for more than 15 days is US$ 2 per day Tourist visa can be extended for a maximum period of 150 days in a single visa year (January – December).

Gratis (Free) Visa

Gratis visa for 30 days available only for tourists of SAARC countries.

Transit Visa

Transit visa for one day can be obtained from Nepal’s immigration offices at the entry points upon the production of departure flight ticket via Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal, by paying US $ 5 or equivalent convertible currency.

For more details http://www.nepalimmigration.gov.np/page/tourist-visa

Business Hours Within the Valley

Banks 10 am to 3.30 pm Sunday- Thursday. On Fridays, banks remain open until 12 pm only. Government offices 9 am to 5 p.m. Monday- Friday. Business offices 10 am to 5 p.m Sunday- Friday. Embassies and international organizations 9 am to 5 pm Monday – Friday. Shops 10 am – 8 pm and are usually closed on Saturdays.

Business Hours Outside The Valley

Government offices 10 am – 5 p.m. Sunday – Thursday. Fridays till 3 pm. Banks 10 am to 3 pm. Sunday- Thursday. On Fridays, banks remain open until 12 pm only. Business offices 10 am to 5 pm Sunday -Friday. Embassies and international organizations 9 am to 5 pm Monday – Friday. Shops 10 am – 8 pm and are usually closed on Saturdays.

Nepal is five hours 45 minutes ahead of GMT.

Nepal has a typical climate which varies as per its topography and altitude. There is a dry season from October to May and there is the wet season, the monsoon, from June to September. September -November, the start of the dry season, is in many ways the best time of the year in Nepal. When monsoon just ends, the countryside is green and lush. Nepal is at its most beautiful and during this season there are plenty of colourful festivals to enjoy.

Customs

All baggage must be declared and cleared through the customs on arrival at the port of 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: binoculars, movie or video camera, still camera, laptop computer, and portable music system.

Export

It is illegal to export objects over 100 years old (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. The Department of Archaeology (tel: 4213701, 4213702) at Ramshah Path near Singha Durbar has to certify all metal statues, sacred paintings and similar objects before they are allowed to be sent or carried out of the country. Handicraft dealers and travel agents are able to assist you in this process. For more information on customs matters, contact the Chief Customs Administrator, TIA Customs Office; tel: 4470110, 4472266.

Airport Tax

As per the decision of His Majesty’s Government of Nepal dated 2001/02/19, Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has announced a hike in the airport taxes at the Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) and other domestic airports, with immediate effect. The new Airport Tax is equally applicable to Nepalese as well as non-Nepalese citizens flying from Nepal.

Nepal does not require any particular immunisation for your visit. Vaccinations for Cholera, Meningitis, Tetanus & Diphtheria, Typhoid and Gamma Globulin should be considered for your trip. Please consult your physician and get a complete check -up before your departure. Most hotels have a doctor on call.

Sunshine can stronger than you are used to, heat, digestive upsets, insect bites for which you have developed no immunities, all these can spoil your trip. So please take a few basic precautions.

Carry a kit containing sunscreens and other lotions for protection from the sun, insect repellents and sting relief creams, water sterilising tablets and medicines for possible stomach upsets or indigestion. To protect yourself from mosquitoes when outdoors in the evenings, use an insect repellent on exposed skin, and wear socks, trousers and long-sleeved shirts.

Eating and drinking

Tap water is not purified for drinking. Unless you have access to a water filter, or are sure water has been boiled, it is safer to stick to bottled water. Avoid ice in your drinks outside your hotel. Avoid ice cream or food sold by roadside vendors, uncooked or undercooked foods, fruit or vegetables that cannot be peeled.

English is widely spoken, especially in areas that are used to tourists, though accents and grammar may vary considerably. Different ethnic groups have their own language or dialects, but Nepalese is the national language. The script is Devanagari. English is widely understood in urban centres.

Note that we always ensure that our clients are paired with guides who can speak their language.

Communication

Making long distance calls is easy from major cities like Kathmandu and Pokhara. Cyber cafes and communication shops offer phone and internet services in every corner. They let you receive and send fax and provide computer for internet access for a fee.

Landline telephone calls to most countries are now direct. Fax and Telex facilities are now ubiquitously available. Internet facilities are also easily available in most cities and tourist centres, in cybercafes and business centres, but free wireless connectivity is rare.

Connectivity – wireless or conventional broadband – in five-star hotels tends to be many times more expensive than cybercafes in the same areas.

The postal service is fairly spread out; you’re likely to find post offices in the most remote towns. You can usually buy stamps and leave letters for posting at most hotels.

In Nepal most shops and clothing stores have a fixed price tagged on the goods. But in case of small shops, you can bargain the prices for purchasing goods. (Do note that we’d be happy to provide you with expert shopping assistance.) You can shop at colourful, crowded bazaars, on the roadside, in air-conditioned hotel arcades and bustling modern malls.

Nepalese food is as varied as the country itself, with every region having its own specialities. The cultural diversity of Nepal has provided an ample space for the growth of a number of cuisines based on the ethnic groups and the geographical features of the nation. Hence, Nepalese cuisine encompasses a whole array of different cuisines rather than one single type of cuisine. Dal bhat– lentil soup served over boiled rice — is a staple dish of Nepal.

Snacks commonly eaten outside mealtimes include popped or parched corn, “chiura” (beaten rice), “samosa” (turnovers stuffed with meat or vegetables), biscuits (packaged cookies) and Indian-style sweets.

Beverages include – tea usually taken with milk and sugar, “jard” (homemade beer made from rice), “sarbat” (juice of sugar cane), “raksi” (spirits made in rustic distilleries). At higher elevations “chang” (millet beer).

CONTACT INFO

Mr. Deenam Lamichhane
General Manager

Jwagal, Kopundole,
P.O Box 2656, Lalitpur,
Kathmandu, Nepal

Tel: +977 1 5549577

Fax: +977 1 5552747

Email: info@tci.co.in