Cool, colourful and captivating, Nepal is popular with tourists from every corner of the globe and it’s not hard to see why. Wedged between India and Tibet, it incorporates lush subtropical forest and soaring Himalayan peaks, and is home too of course to the world’s highest mountain; the awesome Everest.

Even the weather here is crazy and unpredictable. You can be hiking up the hillside of a beautiful valley one minute, taking in the shade of a banana palm to cool yourself down, and then hiding from a snowstorm that very same afternoon.

Nepal’s social and cultural set up is every bit as mixed as its geographical one. The population of nearly 30 million belongs to a host of very different and unique ethnic groups each of which speaks a variety of languages. They inhabit everywhere from crowded, ancient cities full to bursting with stunning pagoda-roofed Hindu temples to miniature villages balanced on high up swathes of rice-farming terraces. Religion ranges from Indian-style Hinduism to Tibetan Buddhism, and the need to look after nature and the environment is something Nepalese people take very seriously. Warm, friendly and hospitable, the communities of Nepal are always ready to welcome a newcomer and offer a tasty bite to eat in the form of Dal-bhat-tarkari (a soup made of lentils and spices) or Momo (Tibetan style dumplings with Nepalese spices). Delicious!

5 Things You Need to Know About Nepal

Here are five things you may not have known about Nepal, which you’ll want to make note of before packing your bags:

Time Difference: UTC +5:45 hours
Currency: Nepalese rupee
Native Language: Nepali
Weather: Nepal’s climate is influenced by maritime and continental factors, and has four distinct seasons. Spring lasts from March to May, and is warm with rain showers, and temperatures around 22°C. Summer, from June to August, is the monsoon season when the hills turn lush and green.
Sales Tax: 13%

Flying to Nepal from Australia

Here’s everything you’ll need to know about flying to Nepal from Australia, including flight times and entry requirements.
 

Flight Times

Flights from Australia to Nepal generally take around twelve hours. You can fly direct to the capital Kathmandu from Sydney and Alice Springs.
 

Entry Requirements

All foreign nationals, except Indian citizens, are required to have a valid visa to enter Nepal. Visas can be obtained by visiting the Melbourne Consulate office or by sending all required documents by mail. Tourists visiting Nepal are eligible for Tourist Visa on arrival at the port of entry, with a few exceptions. You will also of course need a valid passport.

Airlines That Fly to Nepal

The following airlines offer direct flights from Australia to Nepal:

- Air Asia
- Qantas

10 Nepal Must-Dos

If you’ve never visited Nepal before and are wondering what the ‘must-see’ sights and attractions are, here are our top ten:

- Annapurna Mountain Range
- Mount Everest
- Poon Hill
- Boudhanath Stupa
- Golden Temple (Hiranya Varna Mahavihar)
- Swayambhunath Temple
- Taumadhi Square
- Kopan Monastery
- Phewa Tal (Fewa Lake), Pokhara
- Chandragiri Hills

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