First time traveller! | Asia - Indian Subcontinent - Lonely Planet Forum

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Mon, 18 Sep 2017 19:53:34 +0000

Hi,

I will be living and working in Pokhara for around 3 and a half months at the start of next year. I leave the UK of the 3rd of January and will be in Nepal until around the 17th of April.
This is not the first time I have travelled alone, however it is the first time I have travelled out of Europe and was wondering if anyone can give me any tips and advice.

I have a few questions, but welcome any advice beyond this.

Visa: I have been told that I don't need to get a visa until I actually arrive in Nepal. After reading information given on the government website I was still a little confused - do I have to fill out an online form before I arrive, or is this something that I can do on arrival?

Where to go: Accommodation has been sorted by me through the company I will be working (in Pokhara) for 3 months of my stay, however I have 17 days after that when my internship will finish and I will be free to travel around. Any recommendations of where to go that might be relatively cheap, easy to travel to and safe to travel to alone.

Trekking: I would love to fit a trek in at some point! Can anyone recommend any shorter treks around the Pokhara area (I will be working mon-fri therefore will have weekends free), and any longer ones for the time I have free in April. Something other than Everest Base Camp?

Staying in Kathmandu: I have night in Kathmandu on arrival before flying to Pokhara the next day. Can anyone recommend somewhere to stay that is fairly cheap and easy to get to?

Thanks

Edited by niajacksonowens

ONLINE

Mon, 18 Sep 2017 23:30:24 +0000

Hi Nia,

Visa: You can get a Visa on arrival in Kathmandu. You will need a passport sized photo and complete a form that is available on arrival I take it you are bending the law by coming in on a tourist visa rather than a work permit. If you are applying for anything other than a tourist visa you should obtain your visa before you leave your home country.
Where to go: You can make an interesting loop from Pokhara to Tanzen, Lumbini and Chitwan before heading to Kathmandu.
Trekking: You can trek in the Everest area without going to EBC! The trail from Jiri to Lukla offers gorgeous views a limited number of trekkers and can be done in about a week. An interesting but more remote alternative would be to fly to Tumlingtar and walk from there. You will be able to count the trekkers you meet on that trail on a single hand.
Staying in Kathmandu: There are hundreds of lodges in Thamel but I prefer to stay in the adjacent suburb of Paknajol at the Kathmandu Garden House https://www.lonelyplanet.com/nepal/kathmandu/hotels/kathmandu-garden-house/a/lod/22326a75-f861-445b-a488-cf933d585980/357144. it's a little quieter and as the name would indicate has a garden to sit in.

Eric
My Nepal Pages https://wanderingeric.org/category/nepal/

WanderingEric - New Zealand to Nepal and everywhere in-between.
https://wanderingeric.org/

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ONLINE

Tue, 19 Sep 2017 00:08:25 +0000

As Eric indicates, if you are workin (or even volunteering) you technically need a different visa.

Doesn't stop most/many from just going on a tourist visa (which is very easy to do on arrival). But be sure then not to say anything about workibg or volunteering.

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Tue, 19 Sep 2017 07:38:23 +0000

Short treks near Pokhara:
Panchase only 2 days
Siklis may include camping on the way, but a real authentic village close to pokhara
Mardi Himal BC
Poon Hill very touristy
Mohare Danda less touristy alternative to Poon Hill
Also the Begnas Tal area (possibly for a dayhike).

Edited by willemspie

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Tue, 19 Sep 2017 20:11:55 +0000

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Tue, 19 Sep 2017 20:17:41 +0000

Hi,

Thanks everyone for the info. In terms of the visa I was just going off what had been advised by several sources concerning short term volunteering in Nepal - no knowing intention to bend the law so it is very helpful that you have brought this to my attention.
Thanks!

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Thu, 20 Sep 2018 01:00:35 +0000

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