Tourist visas are given on arrival from most countries including the US, and are paid for (in US dollars only) on entry at rates between US $25 for 15 days and US $100 for 90 days. A list of the countries whose nationals must apply for visas before arrival is available via the Department of Immigration, Nepal.
Health and Safety
Typhoid, rabies and hepatitis A and B vaccines are recommended for trips to Nepal, and anti-malaria medication should be taken. The largest health risk is travelers’ diarrhea, as most of Nepal has no modern sanitation. Antibiotics and anti-diarrhea pills should be brought with just in case. Amoebic dysentery, intestinal parasites and giardiasis are common, and only bottled water is safe to drink.
Altitude sickness can be life-threatening, and occurs above 18,000 ft, with the mantra ‘climb high, sleep low’ well worth following. Rabies is endemic in mammals and if you are bitten, a series of anti-rabies shots is essential. Poisonous snakes are common at elevations below 5,000 ft and include kraits, cobras and vipers.
Nepal’s cities are relatively safe as the Maoist insurgency ended in 2006 with rebels now running the country. Flying between cities in the mountainous areas during the monsoon can be risky, although taking a plane is generally safer than traveling by road. If you’re planning on trekking or climbing in remote areas with, your travel insurance should include coverage for medical helicopter evacuations as it’s better to be safe than sorry.