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  EMH,  Enjoy  Myanmar  Holiday,  Tours  &  Travel  Group  

Website:  www.emhtours.com  

             

  NEPAL TRAVEL GUIDELINES

ON YOUR ARRIVAL

On your arrival in Nepal you will be met by a EMH

representative holding a sign displaying: “EMH Tours”.

The EMH’s Nepal representative will show you to your

transfer vehicle.

INSURANCE

We recommend you to get the right travel insurance

prior to departure.

VISA FORMALITIES

If you're visiting Nepal for tourism, you can get a visa-

on-arrival at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International

Airport and at land borders. A single-entry visa can be

for 15, 30 or 90 days. At Tribhuvan International

Airport, the fee is payable in major currencies. Land

borders only accept US dollars. Children under 10 years

of age require a visa but aren't charged a fee.

For on arrival visa, you are required to pay $25 USD per

person and provide two passport size photographs.

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Immigration check is carried out for all passengers at

the port of arrival in Nepal. The Foreigners arriving in

Nepal are required to furnish true particulars in the

Disembarkation Card (Arrival Card) as to his name and

nationality, his age, sex, place of birth and hotel

address or intended address in Nepal. For more

information:

http://www.nepalimmigration.gov.np/page/arrival-

departure-information-1

IMMIGRATION AND LUGGAGE

On arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport, you will

first go through immigration before proceeding to

collect your baggage and then pass through customs.

The immigration counter usually sees a build-up of long

queues, thus, it is advisable to approach the counter at

a fast pace. Please ensure that you have duly filled up

the Disembarkation Form before heading to

immigration. The Disembarkation Form is handed over

in the aircraft by the on-board crew.

It is common for luggage to be delayed at the airport in

Kathmandu. So, we strongly advise you to pack

indispensable things like vital medicines in your hand

luggage. It is common for luggage to be delayed at the

airport in Kathmandu. So, we strongly advise you to

pack indispensable things like vital medicines in your

hand luggage. After customs you will be greeted by our

Airport Representative, who will be holding a paging

board with your name. Please move very slowly so that

you can spot our Airport Representative in midst of the

crowd. In the rare event that our Airport

Representative cannot be located, please contact the

EMH’s Nepal Office emergency number mentioned in

the contact details. This procedure will be followed for

domestic flights as well, which however, does not

involve customs and immigration counters.

HEALTH, POLLUTION, ROADS &

INFRASTRUCTURES Vaccinations are not mandatory but you may be

required to provide proof of vaccination against certain

diseases in order to enter the country. These

requirements are subject to frequent change as

outbreaks occur and subside in different areas, and it

is therefore crucial that you obtain the very latest

information on entry requirements as you prepare for

your journey. We highly recommend that you check

with your physician to verify your particular needs.

Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO)

recommends several vaccinations for travellers going to

India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.

Guests should bear in mind that the infrastructure in

developing countries, often presents severe and even

insurmountable challenges for those with walking

difficulties or other mobility issues. Guests requiring

such individualized assistance must be accompanied by

an able-bodied companion who can provide it. It is

suggested that guests should consider taking internal

flights to avoid long and difficult road journeys. You

can contact EMH representatives for the details about

the flights.

Guests should also bear in mind that different cities in

Nepal, like Kathmandu, are much polluted and some of

the guest’s mind find it unpleasant. Use of masks is

advised. If you have any history of diseases like asthma

or other breathing related disease you should exercise

caution. It can also be quite warm when sightseeing,

but using sun protections, including wearing a hat and

sunglasses, and drinking lots of water can help

minimize the impact of the weather.

Always keep a mosquito repellent with you and be sure

to pay special attention to mosquito protection

between dusk and dawn.

Public toilet facilities are rare. You are encouraged to

take every opportunity to use a clean toilet in places

such as hotels and restaurants. Most hotels catering

to an international clientele provide western style

restroom facilities.

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CREDIT CARDS Major Credit Cards are accepted at larger

establishments in major towns and cities. When making

a purchase, we would caution you against allowing your

Credit Card to be handled outside your direct visual

supervision and recommend that you double check your

charge-slip entries and amounts.

CURRENCY & FOREIGN EXCHANGE

The official currency used in Nepal is called the Rupee

and notes (Bills) are in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50,

100, 500 & 1000 Rupees. Banks, hotels, and authorized

money changers can exchange foreign currency for

rupees. Receipts (called “encashment certificates”)

should be retained, as these will enable you to

reconvert the balance into dollars, or any other foreign

currency, when you leave the country, provided the

receipt is no more than 30 days old. You are advised to

bring some cash in case the ATMs do not comply. Most

large cities have ATMs that accept Visa and MasterCard

as well as American Express. You are advised to inform

you bank about your travel plans to avoid declination

of your cards.

Your approximate expense per day for lunch, dinner

and entrance fee is approximately $50 USD per person

per day. All foreign nationals must pay their hotel bills

in foreign currency (Cash, Traveller's Cheque or by

Credit Card). The bill can be paid in Rupees, provided

the visitor has a receipt to show of the currency

exchange.

TIPPING It is usual to tip the waiters, porters, guides and

drivers. Tips are not included in the bills of hotels,

transport companies or any other suppliers. At hotels

and restaurants, about 10% of the bill total is usually

acceptable as a tip. For establishments that have a

service tax or charge included in the bill, a separate tip

may not be required.

An approximate guideline would be as follows:

Porters - Rs. 500 per piece of luggage

Reps at Airports - Rs. 600 per service

Drivers/Guides - Rs. 1000 per person per trip

Helper in - Rs. 800 per person per trip

Coaches

ELECTRICITY The electrical current in the hotels in Nepal is 220v, 50

Hz, AC. If you bring electrical devices that do not meet

these standards, you may need to bring the appropriate

converters and adapters. The European two pin sockets

are the most popular power sockets. For other

requirements, you may need to bring adapters.

ACCOMMODATION AND DINING

Most hotels offer a choice of cuisine in their

restaurants. In the metropolitan cities, we would be

pleased to recommend suitable restaurants outside

your hotel. Meals in remote areas and wildlife parks will

invariably be table d'hote or buffet (a la carte may cost

extra). We suggest you avoid under cooked meal OR

vegetables, eat fruit you can peel and make sure fresh

fruit has been washed in bottled water. We strongly

recommend that you drink only bottled water during

your travel through Nepal. Always wash your hands

before and after eating.

Although the hotels in Nepal are of good quality, they

may not meet the western standards. In addition, the

accommodation in some of the areas like Sarangkot is

very basic. You might not be able to access to one or

more facilities like hot water, internet and other

amenities you generally receive in hotels in the major

cities of Nepal.

Minor stomach ailments are the most common affliction

of visitors to Nepal. It is a nuisance and can dampen

your enjoyment of the trip for a few days, we suggest

you to carry water sterilizing tablets and medicines for

possible stomach upsets or indigestion. Most hotels

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have a doctor on call to attend to your immediate

medical needs.

VISITING PLACES OF WORSHIP Removing one's shoes before entering temples,

mosques or Gumbas (Monasteries) is essential. Avoid

taking leather goods of any kind (bag, belt etc) and

cigarettes into places of worship, as these are often not

permitted. Do not wear shorts or sleeveless tops in

places of public worship.

CUSTOMS & DECLARATIONS You should familiarize yourself with Nepal’s specific

required customs declarations before you travel. In

general, you are not permitted to bring live plants,

fresh fruits and other produce items into most

countries. For details please visit department of

costumes, Nepal www.customs.gov.np/en/faq.html.

Any person can bring into Nepal from a place outside

Nepal foreign exchange without any limit. However,

declaration of foreign exchange/currency is required to

be made in the prescribed Currency Declaration Form

in the following cases:

(a) Where the value of foreign currency notes exceeds

US$ 5000/- or equivalent. (b) Where the aggregate

value of foreign exchange (in the form of currency

notes, bank notes, traveller cheques etc.) exceeds US$

10,000/- or its equivalent.

CLIMATE The climate in Nepal varies depending on the location

and time of travel. In northern Nepal, the weather

during the late fall and winter months of October

through March is dry with temperatures averaging 7 to

-3 °C (45 °F) in the early morning and evening, and 15

to 20 °C (60 to 70 °F) during the day.

INSURANCE It is always advisable to obtain good travel insurance to

cover any unforeseen incidents. Do keep a copy of your

policy separately as a safeguard.

NIGHTLIFE Nepal's nightlife ranges from traditional bars, coffee

shops, grunge or alternative lifestyle bars and

restaurants, to futuristic looking discos, clubs and

lounges. Most clubs prefer their guests to arrive in

pairs.

(a) Closing time – In most cities in Nepal, nightlife is

early to start and early to end because of the closing

times in place. While Kathmandu may have the largest

selection of nightlife venues, come 1.30 am. they're all

starting to close for the night. With a few exceptions,

the scene is similar in Pokhara have 11-11.30 pm.

closing times. Most of the night spots have Dj’s

performing to recorded music. There are special

performances on Wednesday, Friday, & Saturday.

Surprisingly, the nightlife in Kathmandu offers the most

for late night party people, since there is no curfew in

place like the other cities, enabling bars and clubs to

stay open until the early hours of the morning.

(b) Legal drinking age – The age for the legal

consumption of alcohol varies across the different

states in Nepal. In Kathmandu, it remains at 25 years,

despite on-going discussions about lowering it. Nepal's

town of Kathmandu has the lowest legal drinking age of

18.

PHOTOGRAPHY Visitors to Nepal find varied subjects for photography

however these formalities in respect of photography

need to be adhered to: Special permission of the

Archaeological Survey of Nepal, Kathmandu, is required

for use of tripod and artificial light on monuments.

Special permission is required for any photography for

the purpose of publicity and commercial use.

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Photography is prohibited in tribal areas. Taking

photographs of airports, bridges, and military

installations and from the air is prohibited. Your guide

will advise you of all known camera related fees and

rules for each city travelled.

VISITING RESTRICTED AREAS A person visiting Nepal requires, in addition to an entry

visa, special permits to visit certain areas of across the

country. The mountainous regions like Everest,

Annapurna, langtang, etc are out of bound for foreign

nationals. Travellers, who intend to visit the restricted

areas, must apply for a permit from the Ministry of

Home Affairs, at least four weeks in advance.

AIRPORT DEPARTURE TAX Airport departure tax is included in your international

tickets and does not have to be paid at the airport.

HIKING AND TREKKING The hiking and trekking trails of Nepal can be strenuous

to some of the visitors. Appropriate shoes and other

hiking gears are advised for people with no or little

hiking experience.

EATING – In Nepal, people often eat with the right

hand. The left hand is considered unclean and is

generally not used to eat or to handle food and money.

FEET – The soles of your feet pointing towards

someone is considered offensive, so care should be

taken not to do this. In the same vein, feet should not

be placed on furniture. If you accidentally touch

someone with your foot, it is common practice to

apologize. It is also customary to remove your shoes

when entering a private home in addition to places of

worship and burial.

GARLANDS – If you are given a garland of flowers,

remove it after several minutes to demonstrate your

humility.

GREETINGS – The Nepalese greeting is to put your

hands together in front of your chin (as for praying) and

incline your head forward, saying "Namaste".

LANGUAGE – The official language of Nepal is Nepali

in the Devanagari script. The individual states are free

to decide their own regional languages for internal

administration and education, so there are 18 official

languages spoken throughout the country. English is

widely spoken in India.

PERSONAL SPACE – Nepal is densely populated and

people are accustomed to being crowded. However,

except in packed buses, strangers avoid touching each

other. Cross-gender touching is especially offensive,

although it is not uncommon to see same-sex friends

holding hands or huggin.

RELIGIOUS PLACES – Most temples and monasteries

prohibit shoes inside the building and signs are

sometimes posted when this is the case. A visitor should

ask if there is any doubt and observe other visitors for

guidance. In Hindu’s temples, Priests in temple also

offer the visitor blessed food, which should be

accepted with both hands to avoid giving offense. The

food should either be eaten or given to someone else.

It is customary to enter any religious place with the

head slightly bowed.

STREET SCENES – Guests will have expectations of

poverty before arriving in Nepal, but unless you have

previously travelled to a developing country, it is hard

to suppress one's shock. You will encounter people,

including children, begging in the streets. You will see

street scenes which may be unusual, including animals

sifting through garbage in the streets. You will also see

prosperity and middle class living. Being prepared for

these different experiences will better enable you to

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enjoy your exploration through this colorful, vibrant

and hospitable country.

TELEPHONE/COMMUNICATION

Telephone calls to almost all the countries are now

direct, with quality service comparable to international

standards. Direct dialing is possible between almost all

the cities/towns within Nepal. Where a direct dialing

facility is not available a call may have to be made

through an operator. Fax and Telex facilities are now

ubiquitously available.

It is also possible to send e-mail messages from a lot of

hotels and from cyber cafes at a certain cost. Postal

services in Nepal are good and stamps can be bought at

hotels. It is possible to purchase a prepaid sim card

(available as normal and micro sim) on arrival at

airports. Guests have to produce a copy of their

passport and passport sized photographs to obtain the

same. After purchase the services are started within 24

hours post verification formalities.

SHOPPING

Extraordinary patience, talent and imagination goes

into the making of Nepalese products, whether dazzling

silks, hand knotted carpets, bronze statues of Hindu

gods, jewellery, shoes / sandals, handbags, men's and

women's clothing, musical instruments or perfumes.

The list is inexhaustible and the prices reasonable.

Each region of the subcontinent has its own specialties.

The bazaars are the places to find the best bargains,

but one must be prepared to haggle. It would be

prudent to remember that if the shop / emporia

undertake to export purchased goods, it invariably

takes a much longer time for them to

reach than indicated at the time of purchase. It is

forbidden to export recognized antiques over 100 years

old. It is advisable to keep the sales receipts to

convince the Customs Officers.

EMH Tours has done an extensive research to find out

authorized sellers (and makers) of the handicraft items

all over the country. We maintain a list of such shops

per city. During or after the sightseeing tours our

Guides and Escorts might suggest you to visit such a

shop in case any particular souvenir or general shopping

interests you. This suggestion is not to be construed

upon as an insistence to visit such an enterprise since

it is at your discretion to choose to or refuse to visit our

designated shop in any city.

FOOD & DRINK Nepali food is as varied as the country itself, with every

region having its own mouth-watering specialties. It

therefore, does not always have to be “hot” nor can

any one dish be labelled a “curry”. Most dishes with a

gravy are normally called curries but are prepared with

a different 'masala' or combination of spices containing

among other things coriander, cumin, garlic, onions

ginger, turmeric. Additional seasoning which adds to

the flavour and richness of meat dishes is called “garam

masala” and is made from different combinations of a

variety of spices like cardamom, nutmeg, black pepper,

cloves cinnamon, bay leaves, saffron and mace. The

very aromas and flavours that drew to capital (Newari

foods). For an Nepalese, a drink with a meal usually

means water!

Imported wines and liquors are now available

reasonably easily though not in great variety. The

quality of Nepali wines is very famous and is almost of

international standards. Nepali beer and rum are

considered excellent, while gins and vodkas are good,

the nepali whisky is an acquired taste. Mustang is the

district known as cold desert in Nepal at present.

However, foreigners visiting Nepal can obtain liquor

permits either from embassies / missions / tourist

offices abroad or at a Government of Nepal Tourist

office at Bombay, Delhi, Madras or Calcutta.

Drinking water could be a problem in Nepal, and apart

from the flasks of water in the hotel rooms, tea/coffee,

mineral water and bottled aerated drinks, one should

use purifying tablets. If one is out sightseeing or on an

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excursion it may be a good idea to carry a bottle of

mineral water or to consume aerated soft drinks

through a straw.

CRIME & THEFT Nepal is not particularly more dangerous than the West.

Most deluxe hotels have lockers to keep ones valuables,

but one has to be cautious with valuables when outside.

Violence against foreigners is virtually unheard of,

provided basic precautions are taken like anywhere

else.

   BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE Airlines have adopted stricter policies in enforcing

number, size and weight limits. Luggage exceeding

maximum restrictions may require expensive overage

fees, frustrating and hurried re-packing at the ticket

counter, or even risk being left behind.

On the Domestic front, many carriers require Checked

Baggage not exceeding a weight of 15 kgs per person in

the Economy class. Only one piece of hand baggage per

person is permitted. Airlines revise luggage policies

frequently and often without notice; therefore, it is

advisable to check with the Airlines beforehand about

it. EMH Tours cannot be held liable for variance in the

weight limits listed by Airlines. It is also important to

note that restrictions for luggage number, weight and

size may vary with the same airline based on the class

of service you select. First and Business Class ticket

holders may have different restrictions than Economy

Class travellers.

AIR NEPAL First Class: 40Kgs

Executive Class: 35Kgs

Economy Class (Y, B, M & H): 20Kgs

Economy Class (K, Q, V, W, G, L, U, S, T, X & N): 15

Kgs

JET AIRWAYS

Jet Airways and JetKonnect have revised the free

baggage allowance to 15 Kgs in Economy for travel

within India for tickets issued / reissued on / after June

5, 2013 for travel effective June 5, 2013.

Spicejet: 15 Kgs

Indigo: 15 Kgs for Economy

GoAi: 15 Kgs

GoSmart & GoFlexi: 35 kgs on GoBusiness

WHAT TO PACK

In Nepal, delicate fabrics do not stand up well to

laundering facilities except at deluxe hotels. Plain

cotton or cotton and synthetic blend clothing is the

most practical and is the coolest in summer. It is best

to avoid synthetic fabrics that do not “breathe”. A hat

with a wide brim will help protect you from the harsh

sun. During the fall season, a collapsible umbrella

comes in handy. Other items you may consider packing

are sleeping bag, sweaters, light jackets, sunscreen,

camera charger, loo paper, binocular, walking sticks,

hiking boots are necessary.

We advise you not to dress in shorts, mini-skirts or tank

tops unless you are on a pools. In small towns and

cities, people may tend to stare if you expose too much

skin. Most Neplese dress in modest clothing. To respect

Neplese sensitivities when in public, we recommend

that women wear skirts below the knee or longer or

relatively loose slacks. Avoid wearing sleeveless

blouses and tight pants.

Young women and teenage girls, especially those

dressed in tight or short dresses, may attract

undesirable attention. Men should avoid going shirtless;

trousers are preferable to shorts. However, shorts and

sleeveless tops and blouses are perfectly acceptable

attire in the warmer, tropical areas. When visiting

places of worship, women are not allowed to enter with

bare shoulders, short pants or short skirts; a long skirt,

dress, or slacks are recommended.

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A scarf is acceptable to cover shoulders if a woman is

wearing a sleeveless top. Head covering is required at

some of the places. Men should also dress appropriately

for a holy sanctuary. Shorts are discouraged. All visitors

will be required to remove their shoes in temples and

monasteries.

LANGUAGE English is widely spoken, especially in areas that are

used to tourists, though accents and grammar may vary

considerably. Nepali is the most widely spoken

language in the country, but it also has regional

variations and accents. There are totally 15 major

languages 544 dialects spoken in Nepalese addition to

English.

Useful phrases in Nepali:

1. Hi or Hello » Namaste

2. Please » Kripaya

3. Thank you »Dhanyabaad

4. Yes »Ho

5. No » Haina

6. Where can I find » Kaha Paucha

7. want water » Malai pani chaiyo

8. Where is the toilet » toilet kaha cha

9. Are you open tomorrow » Bholi tapai kholnu huncha

10. Is this very far » k yo dherai tadha cha

11. How much is this » Yo kati ko ho

12. This is too expensive » Yo dherai mahango

13. How are you? » Sanchai hunu huncha 14. Sorry » Maaf garnus

15. What is your name? » Tapai ko name k ho?

16. My name is »Mero naam….

17. I don’t understand » Maily bujina

18. See you » Pheri bhetumla

19. Ok » Huncha

20. What » Hajur?

21. Where » Kahan?

22. How » Kasari?

23. Who » ko?

24. Why »Kina ?

25. Right » Daya

26. Left » Baya

27. One» Ek

28. Two» Due

29. Three » Teen

30. Four »Char

31. Five » Paanch

32. Six» Cha

33. Seven » Saat

34. Eight » Aath

35. Nine » Naau

36. Ten » Dus

37. One hundred » Ek ssaya

38. One thousand » Ek hajar