Australasia to Nepal 40–80% OFF
Cheap flights discovered by AI^✨

Yes, the Nepal Tourism Board continues to strictly enforce the ban on solo trekking (FIT) in national parks and conservation areas as of late 2025. You must hire a licensed guide or porter-guide through a registered trekking agency to obtain your TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management Systems) card. While some rural municipalities in the Everest region previously pushed back against this, checkpoints across the Annapurna and Manaslu circuits now universally require a guide. Fines for non-compliance can reach NPR 12,000 (about €85), and you may be turned back at entry gates. Budget an extra €25-35 per day for a guide to ensure you don’t face issues on the trail.

As of late 2025, international connectivity to Pokhara (PHR) remains extremely limited despite government incentives. While a few regional charter flights from China and occasional services from Bhutan operate, major carriers like Qatar Airways or Flydubai have not yet shifted regular scheduled flights from Kathmandu to Pokhara. For European travelers, your best entry point remains Kathmandu (KTM). You will still need to transfer to a domestic flight (25 minutes) or take a tourist bus (7-9 hours) to reach Pokhara for the Annapurna circuit.

All Nepali airlines are currently on the EU Air Safety List (the “blacklist”) due to safety oversight concerns, preventing them from flying into European airspace. Consequently, no European carriers fly directly to Kathmandu either due to perceived market risks and logistics. You must connect via a hub—typically Doha (Qatar Airways), Dubai (flydubai/Emirates), or Istanbul (Turkish Airlines). Turkish Airlines is the only carrier that flies from the European continent (Istanbul) directly to Kathmandu, effectively serving as the sole “direct” link for many European travelers.

Ncell usually offers faster 4G speeds in Kathmandu and Pokhara, but Nepal Telecom (Namaste) provides superior coverage in remote trekking regions like Everest and Annapurna. For a trekking trip, buy a Nepal Telecom SIM at the arrival hall in Kathmandu Airport—bring a passport photo and a copy of your passport. A 20GB data pack costs around €5-8. While Wi-Fi is available in teahouses, it often costs €3-5 per day and is notoriously slow, so having your own data connection is a reliable backup for maps and communication.

Air quality in Kathmandu is often hazardous, especially in winter (December-February) when the valley traps dust and vehicle emissions. The AQI frequently exceeds 150-200, which can cause respiratory irritation (“Kathmandu Cough”) even for healthy travelers. Bring N95 masks for your time in the city, especially while sitting in traffic or walking in dusty areas. Plan to head out to the hills (Nagarkot, Pokhara, or trekking routes) as soon as possible, where the air is pristine and clear.

Nepal uses a mix of plug types: Type C (Europlug), Type D (Old British 3-pin), and Type M (South African 3-pin). Most hotel sockets are “multi-plugs” that accept Type C (standard European 2-pin), so your phone chargers from France, Germany, or Spain will likely work directly. However, the fit can be loose. Bring a universal travel adapter to be safe, and a small power bank is essential for trekking, as teahouses often charge €2-5 per hour to charge devices in common rooms.

Nepal is conservative regarding religious sites; dress modestly when visiting Hindu temples (like Pashupatinath) or Buddhist stupas (like Boudhanath). Shoulders and knees must be covered for both men and women—avoid tank tops, short skirts, or tight athletic shorts. Leather items (belts, bags) are strictly prohibited inside many Hindu temple inner sanctums. Always remove your shoes before entering any shrine or monastery, and walk clockwise around stupas and temples as a sign of respect.

Our AI-based tools monitor pricing across 150+ airlines 24/7, specifically looking for unadvertised drops on routes from European hubs to Asia. Routes to Kathmandu often see sudden price dips when carriers like Qatar Airways or Turkish Airlines adjust inventory for empty seats. We detect these “Superdeals”—often 40-60% below market rates—and our team manually verifies them for reasonable layovers before alerting you. You then book directly with the airline using the link we provide. Signing up for our free newsletter gets these verified alerts sent straight to your inbox.