What to do in Nepal?

[ronnie66]

I enjoyed Simrik Airlines.

Please be aware of the risk travelling with Nepal's airline companies. The track record of Nepal is not great.
Having said that taking a van or minibus to get from A to B through the mountainous area is not that safe either.

Anyway: I enjoyed the view. Flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara will give you a great view on a big part of the mountains. That was also a pretty sight. Just make sure you sit on the right sight of the plane (to Pokhara) or left (from Pokhara). A morning hike to Sarangkot to see the sunrise over the mountains is worth it.

All in all plenty opportunities to get a view of the worlds biggest mountains

 

[ozkid]

Yes. There are three lines for visa on arrival. 15-30-90 days. Select correct line otherwise it is back to the end of the line. Pasphoto and visa form completed and correct change is easiest. 25u$ or 40u$ for 30 days. I m currently in Nepal.

Hi Ronnie
thanks for the great tip - will be heading to Nepal next week so very useful info.
I had a google for the visa application form - there seems to be multiple versions of the tourist visa, including one formatted for Aust embassy, UK embassy, another made up by a tour company...which one is the "right" one??
cheers for the advice

 

[ronnie66]

Go to the Nepal government site for Visas. Select the appropriate one for your stay. Fill it in. Have correct change and passphoto. They are not to fussy about the layout or anything. Just make sure you got it completed and off you go.

 

[cmon0005]

I am going to get my visa in advance as I work very close to the melb consulate and with my 10:30pm arrival and the need for US dollars I want it to be a quick and fuss free arrival. Only issue is its a bit more expensive to do it via the consulate at 65aud vs 25US (28aud).

 

[ronnie66]

Really no need to do that. Both lines can be long and in my experience can take as much time. You can even use a creditcard to pay your fee. Or euros. Having your visa doesnt mean it is going to be a faster process. Depends on how many airlines are arriving at same time. I have been using visa on arrival for the last 4 years (10 visits) and it has been fairly smooth and it saves you a bit of money.

 

[cmon0005]

Really no need to do that. Both lines can be long and in my experience can take as much time. You can even use a creditcard to pay your fee. Or euros. Having your visa doesnt mean it is going to be a faster process. Depends on how many airlines are arriving at same time. I have been using visa on arrival for the last 4 years (10 visits) and it has been fairly smooth and it saves you a bit of money.

Now that you've said that maybe I will go for visa on arrival..do you still have to line up for immigration after visa on arrival? Or is all done at same desk?

 

[DrA]

Now that you've said that maybe I will go for visa on arrival..do you still have to line up for immigration after visa on arrival? Or is all done at same desk?

Same desk when I did it in December. But I was pretty much first off the plane and there was no queue. They had different desks depending on the length of the visa you required, so make sure you go to the right one.

 

[ronnie66]

Same desk when I did it in December. But I was pretty much first off the plane and there was no queue. They had different desks depending on the length of the visa you required, so make sure you go to the right one.

Definitely not the same desk! See earlier message from me. There are separate lines for VISA on arrival and for tourists with VISA. Also check the length of your visa (15-30-90 days) and read the little paper sign that was stuck on the front of the desk when I was there in January and February. Select the appropriate line.
And just make sure you have your documents and arrival card completed before arriving in the customs hall. Move quickly and it is a painless process. You don't need to worry about getting through customs quickly, cause you might have to wait longer to get your luggage anyway. Also try to change your mind set: it is Nepal. Things might take a little bit more time.

 

[DrA]

Definitely not the same desk! See earlier message from me. There are separate lines for VISA on arrival and for tourists with VISA. Also check the length of your visa (15-30-90 days) and read the little paper sign that was stuck on the front of the desk when I was there in January and February. Select the appropriate line.
And just make sure you have your documents and arrival card completed before arriving in the customs hall. Move quickly and it is a painless process. You don't need to worry about getting through customs quickly, cause you might have to wait longer to get your luggage anyway. Also try to change your mind set: it is Nepal. Things might take a little bit more time.

Huh. When I was there you went to the line with the appropriate length of visa, and gave them your money and they did the immigration processing right there as well. Might run differently at different times of the day or something?

 

[ronnie66]

If you have a visa already you pick a different line; just check the signs at the ceiling. They can change things quite often, but I have just returned and this to me has been the case for the past 4 years. But keeping an open mind and checking the signs on the ceiling always avoids surprises.

 

[ozkid]

update: sitting in hotel in KTM now! Thanks to ronnie for tip on photo + prefilling the visa form + $25usd in hand. Painless exercise and breezed through while other tourists stuck at queue. In fact, a good idea to bring multiple passport photos - have used them to get a local sim card from Ncell (though they did take a cameraphone shots if you don't have a photo, the data plans are cheap compared to Oz), get a multiday pass for Durbar Sq from the site office.

Everest flight tomorrow (cancelled once already), then Nagarkot. The food is nice, the sights/smells/noise can be overpowering at times, the people are kind and gracious. Great experiences.

 

[ronnie66]

Good for you. Hope the weather will allow you a great view.

 

[cmon0005]

Everest flight tomorrow (cancelled once already), then Nagarkot.

How did you book your mountain flight, through hotel?

 

[ozkid]

Lovely flight this morning. Buddha Air. Had good views of the Himalayas, and a ride in the coughpit (it was a ATR-42 from memory).
We booked through a travel guide we found whilst in town. Deepak has a good grasp of English and able to organise everything for us speedily, including transfers and bookings for other trips we are doing this week. Mount Fuji travel agency (yes a bit weird name given the location).

 

[cmon0005]

Just wondering is there a Business/priority line in KTM immigration?

 

[ronnie66]

Just wondering is there a Business/priority line in KTM immigration?

Nope. Just come prepared with all the paperwork filled in and make sure you head to the correct line a.s.a.p.
Don't worry about time. You still have to wait for your luggage.

 

[ozkid]

luggage came through very fast actually. Didn't wait at all.
Queues in Nepal - well, to me it's more like a free for all

 

[ronnie66]

My flight arrives within 15 minutes from Qatar Airways, Thai Airways and Dragon Air. Luggage took longer and queues were long. But one can be lucky or utilise your technique - which is very effective I guess. I learned to be patient when needed. I am not very well trained in free for all. Even after 10 years of work in Nepal.

 

[ozkid]

My flight arrives within 15 minutes from Qatar Airways, Thai Airways and Dragon Air. Luggage took longer and queues were long. But one can be lucky or utilise your technique - which is very effective I guess. I learned to be patient when needed. I am not very well trained in free for all. Even after 10 years of work in Nepal.

Sorry Ronnie should clarify:
I flew MH so no competition with flights when I arrived.
The quip about the queues was a general reference that most of the time I saw no organisation into orderly lines at markets, shops, temples. The traffic was a bit of a shock, edge forwards until the traffic stopped or swerved around you, so it took me a couple of days to settle into the Nepalese way of doing things. By the end of the trip I could walk through the chowks from Durbar Sq to Thamel like a native. It does take a readjustment from western civilities/sensibilities but it's fun and the endless vignettes of life in the little alleyways was amazing

 

[ronnie66]

It is okay. I am good in traffic in Nepal. Just not do much at the airport. I hear what you saying.

It is a special place. I have been working in Nepal since 2004 and still enjoy walking the little streets

Although the pollution and the noise in Kathmandu usually gets to me after a week of 4.

Glad you had a good time.