Nepal
Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
Southern Asia · NPL
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Nepal
Nepal is a high-reward trip for travelers who want Himalayan scenery, historic cities, and trekking that can range from short walks to major expeditions. It works best as Kathmandu plus one mountain region or trek rather than a rushed attempt to combine everything.
Popular For
Things To See
- Kathmandu
- Pokhara
- Chitwan National Park
- Lumbini
- Everest Region
Best Months
Best Months For Winter Travel
Know Before You Go
- Spring and autumn are the cleanest broad trekking windows.
- Kathmandu plus one mountain or wildlife leg is usually enough for a first visit.
- Weather and trail conditions vary sharply with altitude, so route choice matters.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Nepal.
Guidebooks
Lonely Planet Nepal
Lonely Planet
Complete guide featuring Kathmandu, Pokhara, trekking regions, and Himalayan cultural sites.
View on Amazon →
Everest: A Trekker's Guide
Kev Reynolds
Specialist Cicerone trekking guide for the Everest region with detailed route maps and logistics.
View on Amazon →
Lonely Planet Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya
Lonely Planet
Dedicated trekking guide for Nepal's Himalayan routes with trail maps, ratings, and logistics.
View on Amazon →Tours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Nepal.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Kathmandu
- Population
- 29,911,840
- Area
- 147,181 km²
- Region
- Southern Asia
Languages
- Nepali
Currency
Nepalese rupee (₨)
NPR
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
25.2
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 23.2
- Restaurants
- 17.4
- Rent
- 2.9
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Kathmandu (27.72°N, 85.32°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
83/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 100/100
- Lived safety
- 50/100
This traveler-facing score is lower than the legal protections score because lived-safety context is weaker, based on broader traveler safety and development conditions.
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionMarriage
- Adoption recognition✅
- Anti-discrimination laws✅
- Employment protections✅
- Legal gender recognition✅
- Conversion therapy ban✅
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.622
Medium human development
- 5-year change
- +0.026
- 10-year change
- +0.052
- Trend
- improving
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.858
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.487
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.592
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (4)
- 🏛️
Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha
Inscribed 1997
- 🌿
Chitwan National Park
Inscribed 1984
- 🏛️
Kathmandu Valley
Inscribed 1979
- 🌿
Sagarmatha National Park
Inscribed 1979
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 23.6%
- Forest cover
- 41.6%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 30
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 38
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
40/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
77/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
The advisory level decreased to 2. Advisory Summary was updated. Exercise Increased Caution in Nepal due to civil unrest. Advisory summary: The nationwide demonstrations that began in September 2025 have stopped, and the security situation is stable. However, demonstrations and local unrest can still happen, particularly in cities. Demonstrations can start with little warning and may quickly turn violent. Stay away from large crowds and follow the instructions of local authorities. Emergency services Medical services have limited ability to handle regular and emergency care. Review the Health section of the Travel Guidance on this page for more information. Hospitals in Kathmandu are usually better than in other areas, but they can be crowded, may lack some equipment or medicines, and often ask that you pay before treatment. Medical treatment of foreigners is not paid for by the Government of Nepal. Bring the medicines you need, get travel health insurance that covers medical evacuation, and understand you might need to go to another country for serious treatment. Natural disasters Nepal regularly experiences earthquakes, floods, and landslides. Earthquakes can happen suddenly with little warning, including in the Kathmandu Valley. During the monsoon season from June to September, heavy rain can cause flash floods and landslides. These can block roads, damage buildings, and make it hard to get help in an emergency. Review our information on Weather and Natural Disasters in Nepal. If you decide to travel to Nepal Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Nepal. Check local media for breaking news. Be prepared to adjust your plans. Avoid demonstrations and crowds. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest Travel Health Information for Nepal Whether you’re a first time or frequent traveler, use the International Travel Checklist. We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverage. Make sure your insurance includes medical evacuation coverage.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data