FOUR MAJOR SEASON

Autumn (Mid September to November) : following the monsoon the skies are generally very clear, the days warm and the evening cool. This makes an ideal time to trek or climb at higher altitudes. This is Nepal most popular season.

Winter (December to February) : Generally you enjoy the clear skies with crisp days but cold night at higher altitude. A great time to trek one or two week lower and mid altitude trails, where the temperature still remain pleasant and with fewer trekkers on the trail.

Spring March to Late May : This season present a flora spectacular with the blossoming of the giant rhododendron, the day are warmer which makes higher altitude trekking in particular more comfortable.

Summer June to early September : This is the ideal time for traveling in the INDIAN, TIBETAN HIMALAYA and in Nepal Upper Mustang, Dolpa Upper, Manang Nar Phu. As the regions are generally shadowed from seasonal rain. Nepal experience monsoon rains from late May through to august so this season is unsuitable for Trekking in Nepal.

Visas and Trekking Permits

Nepal extends visas to almost all nations' citizens. Indian nationals do not require a visa to enter Nepal. The Royal Nepalese Embassies or Consulates abroad and the immigration offices at entry points provide a sixty days visa upon the presentation of a valid passport, two passport size photos, and a payment of the equivalent of US$30 for Single Entry Visa and US$80 for multiple entry visa. Children below 10 years are exempted from paying the Visa Fee.

Free Visa for Tourists
From 06th August 2003 His Majesty's Government of Nepal has brought the free visa policy into effect for Tourists from SAARC Countries (India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives) as well as China. Likewise the Government has also waived the visa fees for any tourist entering Nepal for a period of three days, free visa for any national for re-entry, who have stayed at least 15 days and more in the country in a visa year (January - December).

Tourist Visa Extension
A tourist visa can be extended up to 120 days from the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu and Pokhara on request. Then after additional 30 days can be extended from the Department of Immigration on reasonable ground, which ensures one's departure from the country within 150 days in one visa year.

Tourist Visa Extension fee and additional late fee are as follows
- Visa extension without re-entry facility for 30 days: US $ 30 in equivalent Nepalese currency.
- Visa extension with multiple entry facility for 30 days: US $ 80 in equivalent Nepalese currency.
- One who has previously taken multiple re-entry facility in the same visa year will have to pay US $ 30 only.

Late fee for regularizing Tourist Visa.
- US $ 2 per day in equivalent Nepalese currency for the first 30 days.
- US $ 3 per day in equivalent Nepalese currency for the next 31 to 90 days.
- US $ 5 per day in equivalent Nepalese currency for more than 90 days.

Trekking Permit Fee

• Trekking permits are no longer required for general trekking in the Annapurna, Everest and Langtang regions.
• Lower Dolpa and Kanchanjunga - Equivalent to US$10 per person per week for the first four weeks and US$20 per week thereafter.
• Manaslu - US$75 per person per week, except September through November, which increases to US$90.
• Simikot - US$90 per person per week.
• Mustang and Upper Dolpa - US$700 per person for the first 10 days and US$70 per person per day thereafter.

Note: Trekking to Dolpa, Kanchanjunga, Manaslu, Simikot and Mustang can be undertaken through registered trekking agencies only.

Eight areas of Nepal have been designated national parks. They are Langtang, Rara, Royal Chitwan, Sagarmatha (Everest), Shey Phoksondo, Khaptad, Bardia, and Barun National Parks. Trekking in any of these national parks areas requires a park permit which can be obtained at the park entrance on payment of NRs1000.00 each. Similarly trekkers are required to pay NRs2000.00 for every trekker going into the Annapurna Region payable at the Immigration Offices. This fee is utilized for environment conservation and maintenance of the area.