Nepal tours & travel guide from Singapore

Singapore passport holders can fill in the online tourist visa form on Nepal's Department of Immigration website before departure, then pay and collect the visa on arrival at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport. The submitted form is only valid for 15 days, so complete it within two weeks of your flight rather than months ahead. Print or screenshot the submission receipt with its barcode, carry a passport photo as a backup, and bring the visa fee in cash, ideally US dollars, since cash is the most reliable payment method at the counter. Pre-filling the form usually shortens your time in the queue.

Nepal visa rules depend on your passport, not your Singapore residency, so PR, Employment Pass and S Pass holders follow the rules for their nationality. Indian citizens do not need a visa for Nepal. Chinese citizens receive a free tourist visa, and nationals of other SAARC countries are generally entitled to a free 30-day visa on their first visit in a calendar year. Most other nationalities, including Malaysians, Filipinos and Westerners, can get a paid visa on arrival like Singaporeans. A small number of nationalities must apply at a Nepali embassy in advance, so check Nepal's Department of Immigration website before booking.

The nonstop flight from Singapore to Kathmandu takes around 5 hours. Singapore Airlines is currently the only airline flying nonstop between Changi and Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport, typically with a late-morning departure that lands in Kathmandu in the afternoon. Schedules and aircraft can change, so check the current timetable when you book. For peak trekking seasons (March to May and September to November), booking 3 to 4 months ahead is worth doing, since fares and seat availability tighten closer to departure, and the November to December school holidays also fill up early.

If the nonstop fare is high, the usual alternatives connect through Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok or an Indian hub. Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia and Nepal Airlines fly between Kuala Lumpur and Kathmandu, and Thai Airways flies from Bangkok. Connections via Delhi or Kolkata are another option. These routes can be cheaper, especially outside school holidays, but add several hours and a connection risk. If you are joining a trek with a fixed start date, avoid tight self-transfers on separate tickets, since a missed connection can cost you a day of the itinerary.

Nepal is 2 hours 15 minutes behind Singapore, since Nepal Standard Time is UTC+5:45 and Singapore is UTC+8. Nepal does not observe daylight saving time, so the gap stays the same all year. When it is 12:00 noon in Singapore, it is 9:45 am in Kathmandu. The unusual 15-minute offset is easy to miscalculate, so double check it when scheduling calls home, work meetings or connecting flights. The time difference is small enough that most Singaporean travellers barely notice any jet lag on arrival.

You can fly or drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara. The flight takes around 25 minutes and, on a clear day, gives Himalayan views from the right-hand side of the aircraft. The road journey covers roughly 200 kilometres but usually takes 6 to 8 hours because of the winding highway, traffic and roadworks, and it can be disrupted by landslides in the monsoon. Tourist buses are the cheapest option, while a private car or jeep is more comfortable for families. Most visitors on a short leave budget from Singapore choose to fly at least one way.

Everest Base Camp treks start with a short mountain flight to Lukla, but in peak season these flights usually depart from Ramechhap (Manthali) rather than Kathmandu. Nepal's aviation authority moves Lukla flights to Manthali during the busy spring and autumn windows to ease congestion at Kathmandu airport, which means a pre-dawn drive of around 4 to 5 hours from Kathmandu. Lukla flights use small aircraft and are very weather dependent, so delays of a day or more are common. Build buffer days into your leave, or consider a helicopter option if your schedule from Singapore is tight.

Have your passport, the visa fee in cash, the online visa form receipt (if you pre-filled it), a passport photo and your hotel address ready before joining the immigration queue. After immigration, collect your bags and look for your pre-arranged driver or use the official prepaid taxi counter rather than accepting offers from touts. Change a small amount of money at the airport for immediate costs, then use banks or licensed money changers in the city. Tribhuvan is a busy, compact airport, so expect queues in peak season and keep documents in your hand luggage.

A one-week Nepal holiday from Singapore costs your return flight plus the ground arrangements, the visa and daily spending, and the ground cost varies widely with hotel standard and activities. HSJ's shortest trek, the 7-day Mardi Himal Trek, fits a week, and its page shows the current price per person in SGD and what it includes. On top of the package, budget for the flight from Changi, the Nepal visa (USD 30 for up to 15 days), travel insurance, meals outside your package and tips.

Nepal trek prices on HSJ depend mainly on the route, length and service level, and every tour page shows the current price per person in SGD for each departure. The treks on offer run from the 7-day Mardi Himal Trek, through the 11-day Langtang Valley Trek, the 12-day Ghorepani Poonhill Wildlife Trek and Gokyo Lakes Trek, the 14-day Annapurna Circuit Trek and the 15-day Annapurna Base Camp Trek, Everest Base Camp Trek and Manaslu Circuit Trek, to the 19-day Everest Three Passes Trek. Check each tour page for inclusions, and budget separately for flights from Singapore, insurance, tips and personal spending unless they are listed as included.

Trekking permit costs depend on the region. In the Annapurna region you need the ACAP conservation area permit (NPR 3,000) and a TIMS card (NPR 2,000 for foreign trekkers), roughly USD 40 in total. In the Everest region, TIMS is replaced by the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit (NPR 3,000) alongside the Sagarmatha National Park permit (NPR 3,000). Langtang National Park is also NPR 3,000, while restricted areas such as Manaslu need a separate, pricier special permit. Since 2023, foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas must trek with a licensed guide, though the Khumbu local authority applies its own rules. Your trekking agency normally arranges permits, and fees are revised periodically.

No, you pay for almost everything in Nepal in Nepali rupees (NPR), and Singapore dollars are not accepted for everyday purchases. US dollars are the most widely exchanged foreign currency and the easiest cash to carry for the visa fee and exchange. Banks and licensed money changers in Kathmandu and Pokhara may also exchange other major currencies, but rates for SGD are less reliable, so compare before changing a large sum. Keep your exchange receipts, change enough rupees before a trek, and bring clean, undamaged notes, since torn or marked notes are often refused.

ATMs are widely available in Kathmandu and Pokhara and most accept Singapore-issued Visa and Mastercard cards, but withdrawal limits per transaction are low and local fees apply on top of your bank's overseas charges. Card payments work at mid-range and upscale hotels, larger restaurants and some shops, often with a surcharge. Once you leave the cities, Nepal is largely a cash economy, and ATMs on trekking routes are few and unreliable. Before flying, enable overseas use on your cards, tell your bank you are travelling, and withdraw enough cash in Kathmandu or Pokhara before any trek.

On a teahouse trek, expect to pay extra for small comforts, and prices rise the higher you go because supplies are carried up by porters or pack animals. Common extras include hot showers, charging phones and power banks, Wi-Fi cards, water refills, hot drinks, snacks and any alcohol. If meals are not included in your package, dal bhat is usually the best-value dish since refills are customary. Carry small rupee notes, a refillable bottle with purification tablets or a filter, and a fully charged power bank to keep these daily costs down.

Nepal is generally cheaper than Bhutan for Singaporean travellers, largely because Bhutan charges a Sustainable Development Fee of USD 100 per person per night (set at that level until August 2027) on top of hotels, guides and transport. Nepal has no equivalent daily tourism levy, and you can travel at a wide range of budgets, from a 7-day trek such as the Mardi Himal Trek to two weeks on the trail to Everest Base Camp. In Bhutan, HSJ's shortest trip is the 5-day Essence of Bhutan. Each tour page shows its current price in SGD, so you can compare like for like.

You need travel insurance that covers medical treatment and emergency helicopter evacuation up to the maximum altitude you will reach. Many standard Singapore policies exclude trekking above a set altitude or treat it as a hazardous activity, so check the policy wording before buying, especially for Everest Base Camp or Kala Patthar. Helicopter rescue from the mountains is expensive and usually needs a payment guarantee before it flies. Also check cover for trip delays and cancellations, since Lukla and mountain flights are often weather delayed. Keep your policy number and emergency hotline on your phone and on paper.

HSJ's cancellation, refund and payment rules for Nepal trips are set out in the booking terms and conditions, which apply to every tour on hsj.sg, so read them before you book. Mountain and long-distance travel carries risks that sit outside those terms: flights and roads can be delayed by weather or landslides, and extra nights or flights caused by delays are usually at your own cost unless a tour page says otherwise. Travel insurance with trip-delay and cancellation cover is the way to protect yourself.

Nepal is much colder than Singapore for most of the year, especially at night and at altitude. Singapore sits around 31°C by day all year, but Kathmandu, at about 1,400 metres, averages roughly 10°C in January with nights close to freezing, and even its warmest months average in the low 20s°C. Pokhara is a little warmer. Temperatures keep dropping as you climb, so trekking lodges above 4,000 metres can be well below freezing at night even in spring and autumn. Most Singaporeans underestimate how cold teahouse rooms get, since they are generally unheated.

In spring, pack light layers for warm days in Kathmandu and Pokhara plus a proper warm jacket for mornings, evenings and treks. City afternoons turn warm by April and May, so breathable T-shirts, light trousers and a thin fleece are enough, while early March evenings still feel cold to someone used to Singapore. On treks, carry a thermal base layer, fleece, a down or synthetic insulated jacket, a waterproof shell, a warm hat and gloves, since high-altitude nights stay below freezing. Late spring brings pre-monsoon showers, so a packable rain jacket is useful everywhere.

For the monsoon, pack quick-drying clothes, a good rain jacket and footwear that copes with mud and puddles. Kathmandu and Pokhara are warm and humid, so Singapore-style lightweight clothing works, but cotton jeans stay damp for days. Bring a compact umbrella, sandals with good grip for city streets, and dry bags for your electronics. On lower trails, leech socks and long trousers help. If you trek higher, you still need a fleece and insulated jacket for cold, damp evenings. For Chitwan, add strong insect repellent and breathable long sleeves.

Autumn calls for layers: comfortable daytime clothes for the cities and genuinely warm gear for evenings and treks. Days in Kathmandu and Pokhara are pleasant and sunny, but temperatures drop quickly after sunset, especially from late October, so a light fleece or jacket is enough in the city. On treks such as Everest Base Camp or Annapurna Base Camp, pack thermal base layers, a fleece, an insulated down jacket, a windproof shell, a beanie, gloves and a four-season sleeping bag, because nights at high lodges are well below freezing by November.

In winter, you need proper cold-weather clothing even if you only visit the cities. Kathmandu days can be sunny and mild, but mornings and nights drop close to freezing and most buildings lack central heating, so pack thermal tops and leggings, a warm fleece, a down jacket, a scarf, a beanie and warm socks to sleep in. Pokhara is slightly milder. For winter treks, choose lower routes and bring gear rated for well below freezing, including a heavy down jacket, insulated gloves and a winter sleeping bag. Chitwan has pleasant days but chilly, foggy mornings.

Buy the items that must fit you well in Singapore, and rent or buy bulky cold-weather gear in Kathmandu. Hiking boots, socks, base layers and a comfortable daypack are worth getting at home, since boots need breaking in and fit matters. Down jackets and sleeping bags are expensive in Singapore and rarely used again, so many Singaporean trekkers rent them in Thamel, Kathmandu's trekking hub, or ask their trekking company whether they are provided. Thamel also sells trekking poles, gloves and fleeces cheaply, but check quality carefully, as many items are copies of branded gear.

For most multi-day treks in Nepal, wear waterproof, ankle-supporting hiking boots that you have already broken in. Nepali trails involve thousands of stone steps, loose rock and, at altitude, snow or ice, so running shoes are only suitable for short, low routes. Walk several long sessions in your new boots in Singapore, for example on the MacRitchie or Bukit Timah trails, before you fly. Pack light camp shoes or sandals for teahouse evenings, several pairs of merino or synthetic hiking socks, and blister plasters. In Kathmandu itself, comfortable closed walking shoes are best for uneven streets.

At temples and monasteries in Nepal, cover your shoulders and knees and be ready to remove your shoes. Light long trousers or a long skirt with a T-shirt or blouse works well, and a scarf is handy to cover up quickly. Leather items such as belts are not allowed inside some Hindu temples, and non-Hindus cannot enter the main Pashupatinath temple, though you can view the complex from outside. Remove hats inside shrines, walk clockwise around stupas and prayer wheels, and ask before photographing people or rituals. Slip-on shoes save time on a full day of temple visits.

For Lukla flights, the limit is usually around 15 kilograms per person in total, commonly split into about 10 kilograms of checked baggage plus 5 kilograms of hand carry. Excess weight may be charged or sent on a later flight. Domestic flights to Pokhara usually allow more, though still far less than a typical international allowance. Most trekkers leave a suitcase with city clothes at their Kathmandu hotel and take only a duffel bag for the porter plus a daypack. Pack warm layers, water, snacks, medicines and valuables in the daypack you carry yourself.

For Chitwan, pack for heat and insects rather than cold. The lowland Terai is much hotter than Kathmandu, very hot before the monsoon and humid like Singapore. Bring lightweight long-sleeved shirts and long trousers in neutral colours such as khaki or olive for jungle walks, a sun hat, sunglasses and strong insect repellent. Closed shoes are better than sandals on safari walks. From December to February, add a fleece for cold, foggy early mornings on jeep or canoe safaris. A small pair of binoculars helps with birdwatching and spotting wildlife.

Nepal uses 230V at 50Hz, with Type C, D and M sockets depending on the building, so your Singapore Type G plugs will not fit. Bring a universal travel adapter; most Singapore chargers for phones, laptops and cameras already handle 230V. Power cuts are much less common in the cities than they used to be, but smaller towns and trekking lodges may have limited electricity, and teahouses often charge a fee to charge devices. Pack a power bank, and keep it inside your sleeping bag at night at high altitude, since batteries drain quickly in the cold.

Nepal is generally a safe destination for Singaporean travellers, with petty crime, road conditions and mountain hazards the main risks rather than violent crime. Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises travellers not to trek alone, to use reputable agencies and stay on established routes, and to take care during the June to September monsoon, when flooding and landslides can close roads. Political demonstrations occasionally occur in Kathmandu, so avoid crowds and follow local news. For trekking, the biggest risk is altitude sickness, so choose itineraries with acclimatisation days and licensed guides. Register your trip on MFA eRegister before you leave.

No, Singapore does not have an embassy in Nepal. Consular matters for Singaporeans in Nepal are handled by the Singapore High Commission in New Delhi, India. If you lose your passport or face an emergency, contact the High Commission or MFA's 24-hour Duty Office in Singapore. Before travelling, register your trip on MFA eRegister so the ministry can reach you during a crisis, and keep digital copies of your passport, visa and insurance policy. Your hotel or trekking company can also help you contact local police and hospitals.

The best way to avoid altitude sickness is to ascend slowly, include acclimatisation days and descend if symptoms worsen. Above about 3,000 metres, raise your sleeping altitude gradually and use rest days to climb high and sleep low. Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol early in the trek, and tell your guide immediately about headaches, nausea, dizziness or breathlessness at rest. Coming from sea-level Singapore, fitness does not protect you, and fit young trekkers are affected too. Ask your doctor in Singapore about preventive medication such as acetazolamide, which requires a prescription.

No, tap water in Nepal is not safe to drink, so drink only boiled, filtered or treated water and use it to brush your teeth too. Unlike Singapore, the mains supply is not treated to drinking standards. Hotels and restaurants usually provide filtered water, and on treks many teahouses sell boiled or filtered water, which is cheaper and creates less plastic waste than bottles. Bring a refillable bottle with a filter or purification tablets. Stick to freshly cooked, hot food, go easy on raw salads and ice early in your trip, and carry oral rehydration salts in case of stomach upsets.

Halal food is available in Kathmandu, but options are limited outside the capital and on trekking routes. Kathmandu has a long-established Muslim community and several halal restaurants and butchers, particularly around the Jama Masjid near Ratna Park, and some hotels can arrange halal meals on request. Pokhara has a few options. On treks, halal-certified meat is generally unavailable, so Muslim travellers usually choose the vegetarian dishes that dominate teahouse menus, such as dal bhat, vegetable noodles, potatoes and eggs. Tell your tour operator in advance so meals and hotels can be planned around your needs.

Nepal's biggest festivals are Dashain and Tihar, which usually fall in October and early November, following the lunar calendar. Dashain is a family festival when many businesses close and transport gets busy as people travel home, while Tihar, the festival of lights, fills towns with oil lamps and marigold garlands. Other highlights include Holi in March, Buddha Jayanti in spring at Lumbini and Boudhanath, and Indra Jatra in Kathmandu around September. Festival dates shift each year, so check the calendar if you want to join the celebrations or avoid holiday crowds and closures.

Nepal can work well for elderly parents if you choose a sightseeing itinerary rather than a trek. Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan can be enjoyed with short walks, travelling in an air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver, and Pokhara's lakeside gives views of the Annapurna range without any hiking. Be aware that heritage sites have uneven steps and cobbles, pavements are limited, and many older hotels lack lifts. Avoid overnight stays at high altitude for anyone with heart or lung conditions, and check with their doctor in Singapore before travel. Flying to Pokhara saves a long, bumpy road journey.