Make sure to not trek alone
One of the most important travel safety tips for Nepal is that one should always make sure they are accompanied by other travellers or at least by a guide if they are going for a trek. This is due to the fact that there have been many cases of tourists disappearing when they have gone solo trekking in recent years. There are many online sites and platforms where you can find fellow trekkers planning treks in Nepal, for those of you who are travelling to Nepal alone and are looking for a trekking companion. This is one of the Nepal travel tips that you need to take very seriously.
Carry a universal adapter with you
One of the worst things to happen to any tourist on their trip is getting stuck without their electronic devices because they don’t have the right kind of plug. Therefore, one of the most useful travel tips to Nepal that you can get is to carry a universal adapter with you during your travels. Nepal uses 220V plugs, and you can easily pick up an adapter at any electronic store in your city, or even at a Duty-Free at the airport. It’ll save you time looking for an electronic store in the city.
Plan your nightlife activities early
One of the not so fun facts about Nepal is that most of the nightlife in this country ends at around 10 PM, so if you were planning to party till the break of dawn, you’ll be disappointed. If you’re looking to go out on the town, make sure to leave early and hit the bars at around 7 PM so that you can have a nice evening before you have to head back to the hotel.
Beware of money scamming taxi drivers
When you are travelling around Nepal using taxis, always make sure that you ask the driver to charge you according to the meter, and that you request this at the beginning of your ride. The taxi drivers in Nepal are known to fool tourist customers and charge them two or three times more than the actual travel rates. Therefore, be smart and make sure to travel only by meters. That being said, if you travel after 10 PM, the taxis sometimes charge you twice the meter cost, and that is normally accepted in Nepal, even with local commuters.
Be careful of shady dance bars
One of the most important Kathmandu Nepal travel tips is that you need to be very careful of the dance bars and clubs in Kathmandu, as well as Pokhara. It’s always better to travel in groups or with a local, as these bars have histories of overpricing tourists on their food and drinks, and there have also been cases of intimidation and violence, as well as harassment.
Take all the necessary vaccinations before your trip
As a precaution, it is recommended to take the required vaccinations, according to the time that you are travelling. It is always better to consult your doctor, to be more accurate, but some of the most common vaccinations include Diphtheria, Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A and Polio, if you’re travelling with children, especially. If you are now wondering how safe is Nepal to visit, it is very safe, but it always better to be safe than sorry.
Carry cash with you at all times
Of all the important tips for Nepal travellers, one of the most useful ones has to be to that you absolutely must have cash on you at all times and you cannot rely on using your card all the time. Most of the places in rural towns and villages don’t accept cards and there may not be an ATM available in the vicinity. Therefore, you need to make sure that you always have the local currency on you to avoid getting into any problems or complications.
Exchange all your local currency before you leave
Not many of you may know this, but Nepal currency is not exchanged or accepted in any other part of the world. You can only exchange your USD or INR in Nepal once you land, and you need to ensure that you exchange the money back before you leave. Not only is it not acceptable and you will lose out on your money, but it is also against the law and you might get into some legal issues as well. Therefore, to be on the safe side, make sure that you do not carry the local currency outside the country.
Tipping etiquette in Nepal
While travelling to a new country, one is always confused as to how much they need to tip there. As for tipping in Nepal, though there is no service charge included in the bill, it is normal and usual to pay around 10-15% of the bill as a tip to the waiters. If you are thinking as to what to tip the bell boys and the luggage carriers, or the taxi drivers in Nepal, a simple INR 20-30 will suffice and keep them very happy.