Questions travellers ask

We plan private trips, treks and tours in Nepal only, across nine regions from the Kathmandu Valley to the Far West. Each trip is built for one party, with licensed guides, the stays we name and transport that suits the route: private car, domestic flight, jeep or your own two feet.

No. Prices on the site are indicative 'from' prices in US dollars per person, twin sharing, with a licensed guide and the stays named. The final price depends on dates, group size, flights and permits. We send a written quote with every line itemised before you pay anything.

Yes, and most travellers do. The trips on the site are starting points that show what works on the ground. We add rest days, swap a trek for a jeep road, combine regions and send a new day-by-day plan with the sleeping height of every night.

Since April 2023 the Nepal Tourism Board has required foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas to trek with a licensed guide. The Khumbu municipality runs its own permit system and enforcement has varied. Restricted areas such as Upper Mustang and Manaslu always need a registered agency and guide. Check current status before you travel.

For mountain views and trekking, October to mid-December and March to May. October and November bring the clearest air after the monsoon; spring brings rhododendrons and warmer high camps. The Terai parks are best from February to April. The monsoon, June to September, suits Upper Mustang, Dolpo and Limi, which sit in the rain shadow.

One planner handles your trip from the first message to the last transfer and is reachable on WhatsApp while you travel. On the ground, your guide carries a government licence and we brief them on your plan, pace and any health notes before you arrive.

Every photo on this site comes from Wikimedia Commons under a free licence. We name the author and licence under each photo and list all of them, with links to the originals, on our photo credits page.

We arrange trekking and park permits, including restricted-area permits that only a registered agency can apply for, such as Upper Mustang, Manaslu and Kanchenjunga. Most nationalities can get a Nepal visa on arrival at Kathmandu; Indian citizens do not need one. Check current status before you travel.

No. We ask every traveller to hold insurance that covers medical treatment and helicopter evacuation up to the highest altitude on their route. Many standard policies stop at 3,000 m or 4,000 m, so check the altitude limit before you buy.

Four to six days lets you see the three Durbar Squares, Swayambhu, Boudha and Pashupati without rushing, plus one day out to Bungamati, Kirtipur or Changunarayan and a night at Nagarkot or Dhulikhel. With only two days, focus on Patan and Bhaktapur for heritage and Boudhanath for an evening kora, and skip the long drives to the rim.

October and November give the clearest skies and the most reliable mountain views, with daytime highs of 23 to 26 °C. March and April are the second-best window, warmer and hazier, with Bisket Jatra in April. December and January are cold but clear and quiet. June to August is monsoon: cities are fine, views rare.

Yes, for most travellers it is. Petty theft and taxi overcharging are the usual problems. Protests and general strikes do happen, sometimes at short notice, and can close roads for a day; follow local news and your hotel's advice. Traffic is the larger daily risk, so take care crossing ring-road junctions. Check current status before you travel.

Both, if you can. Patan is closer to central Kathmandu, has the best museum in Nepal inside its palace and a dense web of Buddhist courtyards. Bhaktapur is quieter and more complete as a town, with fewer cars in its core, potters working in the open and tall temples like Nyatapola. If you must pick one for an overnight stay, pick Bhaktapur.

No permit requires one in the cities, but a good local guide changes the experience: they read the inscriptions, explain which god sits in which shrine, and take you through courtyards you would walk past. We suggest a guide for the first Durbar Square day and for Pashupatinath, then exploring on your own. Licensed guides are needed for national-park hikes.

Foreign visitors pay at each site. Kathmandu and Patan Durbar Squares have charged about NPR 1,000, Bhaktapur around NPR 1,500 to 1,800, Pashupatinath about NPR 1,000, and Swayambhu and Boudha a few hundred rupees each. SAARC nationals pay much less. Fees change often, so check current status before you travel and carry cash in rupees.

Sometimes, from rooftops on clear autumn and winter mornings, but the best views are from the rim. Nagarkot (about 2,175 m) and Dhulikhel (about 1,550 m) face the range from Langtang eastwards, and Everest can appear as a small peak on very clear days. Go October to February and be up by 6 am.

Eat Newar food at least twice. Order samay baji, chhoyla, bara (lentil patties), chatamari, kachila and juju dhau, the thick sweet curd of Bhaktapur. Momos are everywhere and best from small local shops. For a full sit-down Newar meal, Patan and Kirtipur have good family-run places; for Tibetan food, go to Boudha.

Mostly rebuilt. Kasthamandap, the Boudhanath dome, Patan's temples and many of Bhaktapur's monuments have been restored, and Kathmandu's Hanuman Dhoka palace has been under long restoration. You will still see scaffolding, props and some empty plinths in villages such as Bungamati. Visiting helps: entry fees fund heritage repair and local guides.

Plan at least five nights: two in Pokhara and a three-night Poon Hill or Ghandruk loop. Annapurna Base Camp needs 7–10 nights from Pokhara, Mardi Himal 4–6, and the Annapurna Circuit through Manang 12–16. Add a night each in Bandipur and Gorkha on the way to or from Kathmandu. With two weeks you can do one proper trek and the hill towns without rushing.

Yes, as we understand the rules. Since April 2023 Nepal requires foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas, including the Annapurna Conservation Area, to trek with a licensed guide, and checkpoints such as Birethanti ask to see one. Indian nationals have been treated differently at times. Rules and enforcement have changed several times, so check current status before you travel.

You need an Annapurna Conservation Area permit, as we understand it NPR 3,000 for most foreigners and NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals, and a TIMS card. Both are issued in Kathmandu at the Nepal Tourism Board office and in Pokhara, usually by your trekking company. Keep them handy for checkpoints. No permit is needed for Pokhara, Sarangkot, Begnas, Bandipur or Gorkha. Check current status before you travel.

October and November give the clearest mountain views and dry trails; March and April bring rhododendron blossom and warm days with some haze. December to February are cold at dawn but often clear. June to September is monsoon: Pokhara is among Nepal's wettest places, views are rare and leeches are common on lower trails, though Manang stays drier in the rain shadow.

Fly if time is short or in monsoon: the flight takes about 25 minutes to Pokhara International Airport. Drive if you want to stop at Bandipur, Gorkha or the Manakamana cable car: the 200 km road takes 6–8 hours, sometimes more around Mugling. Tourist buses are cheap and comfortable enough; a private car lets you stop for river views and fish lunches.

The Ghorepani Poon Hill loop, 3–4 nights from Pokhara, is the easiest with big views: highest point 3,210 m, good lodges, and roads at both ends. Ghandruk alone is easier still, two nights. Panchase is a quieter low option at 2,517 m. All involve steep stone steps, so some fitness helps. Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp go higher and need more days.

Poon Hill (3,210 m) and Ghandruk carry little risk for healthy walkers. Mardi Himal High Camp (3,580 m), Annapurna Base Camp (4,130 m) and Manang (3,519 m) are high enough for symptoms. Climb steadily, drink water, avoid alcohol and descend if headache, vomiting or confusion worsen. In Manang an aid post run by the Himalayan Rescue Association gives altitude talks during the trekking seasons.

Indian citizens can enter Nepal with a valid passport or a voter ID card and do not need a visa. For Annapurna treks they pay the SAARC permit rate. Hotels in Pokhara will ask for identification at check-in, and flights need a valid photo ID. Large-denomination Indian rupee notes have faced restrictions in Nepal at times, so carry smaller notes and check current status before you travel.

Yes. Lakeside is flat and walkable, boats on Phewa are calm and inexpensive, and the International Mountain Museum, Davis Falls and Gupteshwor cave suit children. Sarangkot sunrise is a short drive. For a first walk, a two-night Ghandruk trip or a day at Australian Camp gives village life without long climbs. Avoid the monsoon months, when trails and roads are slippery.

October and November are the best months, with clear skies, stable weather and good views. March to May is the second season, with rhododendrons and warmer days but more haze. December to February are cold but clear and quiet. June to September is monsoon, with cloud, rain and frequent Lukla flight cancellations.

Fly to Lukla, about 35 minutes from Kathmandu, or in peak seasons drive 4–5 hours to Ramechhap airport at Manthali and fly 20 minutes from there. There is no road to Lukla. For Solu, drive 10–12 hours to Phaplu or fly when services run. Check current status before you travel.

Since April 2023 Nepal requires foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas to trek with a licensed guide. In Khumbu, where the local municipality runs its own permit, the rule has been applied unevenly. A licensed guide also helps with altitude, lodges and flight delays. Check current status before you travel.

The Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality permit, about NPR 2,000, and the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit, about NPR 3,000 for foreigners. Climbing peaks such as Island Peak needs a separate climbing permit. Solu outside the park needs no trekking permit. Fees change; check current status before you travel.

Climb slowly: above 3,000 m, raise your sleeping altitude by no more than about 500 m a night and take a rest day every 1,000 m or so, usually in Namche and Dingboche. Drink 3–4 litres a day, avoid alcohol and tell your guide about symptoms early. If they worsen, descend.

Sherpas are an ethnic community whose ancestors came from Kham in eastern Tibet roughly 500 years ago. The name means 'people of the east'. They speak Sherpa, practise Nyingma Buddhism and live in Khumbu and Solu. Many work as mountaineering and trekking guides, but Sherpa is an ethnicity, not a job title.

Yes. A 6–8 day trip from Lukla to Namche, Khumjung and Tengboche reaches about 3,900 m and gives views of Everest from Syangboche and Tengboche. Solu offers monasteries, villages and orchards between 2,000 and 3,000 m around Phaplu and Junbesi. A helicopter flight is another option.

A 14-night teahouse trek with a licensed guide, porter, permits, Lukla flights and lodges costs from about USD 1,450 to 1,900 per person, twin sharing. Gokyo treks cost similar amounts. Better lodges and helicopter returns cost more. Budget extra for drinks, showers, charging, Wi-Fi and tips.

Solukhumbu District has two parts. Khumbu, the high north, lies mostly inside Sagarmatha National Park and holds Namche, Tengboche, Gokyo and Everest. Solu, the lower south, around Phaplu, Salleri and Junbesi, is greener, warmer and quieter, with forests, orchards and old monasteries. Sherpas call Solu Shorong.

Two nights is the minimum and three is better. With three nights you get a canoe trip on the Rapti, a full or half-day jeep drive, a guided jungle walk and a Tharu village visit without rushing. Add a fourth night if you want to split your stay between Sauraha and a quieter lodge in Meghauli or Amaltari, or add a night at Bishazari Tal for birding.

February to April is best. The grass is cut in January and February, the forest thins as it dries, and animals gather near water. Rhinos are seen on most trips from October to April. Tigers are present in good numbers but are shy, and sightings are never guaranteed even on a full-day drive. Avoid June to August, when rain and tall grass hide everything.

Chitwan is easier to reach and almost certain for rhinos, birds and crocodiles, with lodges for every budget. Bardia, in the far west, is quieter, wilder and often better for tiger sightings, but it takes a long drive or a flight to Nepalgunj. For a first trip to Nepal with limited days we suggest Chitwan; repeat visitors who want solitude often prefer Bardia.

Yes. All activities inside the park, including jungle walks, canoe trips and jeep drives, must be done with licensed nature guides, and walks usually need two guides per group. Nepal's April 2023 rule also requires foreign trekkers in national parks to use a licensed guide. Your lodge arranges guides and permits as part of the package. Check current status before you travel.

Guided walks are generally safe when you follow your guides closely, keep quiet and stay together. Rhinos, sloth bears and wild elephants can charge, and guides brief you on what to do: climb a tree, move behind a large trunk or zigzag. Do not walk alone in the park or the buffer zone forests, and avoid walking at dusk.

Fly 20 to 25 minutes to Bharatpur and drive about 30 minutes to Sauraha, or go by road, about 165 km and 5 to 7 hours via Mugling and Narayangadh. Tourist buses leave Kathmandu each morning and drop passengers near Sauraha. A private car is more comfortable and lets you stop at Devghat or the Kurintar cable car station on the way.

Yes, if you are interested in Hindu pilgrimage, Mithila painting or Terai town life. Janakpur is very different from Chitwan: crowded, devotional and full of colour. It is about 7 to 8 hours east by road, so most people fly from Kathmandu instead. One full day covers the Janaki Mandir, the ponds and a painting centre; two lets you add Dhanusha Dham.

Neutral-coloured clothes in green, brown or khaki for safaris, long sleeves and trousers against mosquitoes, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Bring insect repellent, a torch, binoculars and comfortable closed shoes for jungle walks. From December to February add a warm jacket and hat for foggy mornings. In temples in Janakpur, cover shoulders and knees and remove shoes.

Malaria was eradicated from most of the Terai in the 1950s and 1960s, and the risk to travellers today is low, but dengue and occasional malaria cases are reported in and after the monsoon. Use repellent at dawn and dusk, sleep under a net or in screened rooms, and talk to a travel clinic about your own needs before you travel.

October to March is best, with dry weather and 20–28 °C days on the plains. December and January bring fog on the plains but very clear views in the hills. April and May are very hot, though Buddha Jayanti falls then. The June to September monsoon brings rain, mud and road delays.

Two nights in Lumbini covers the Sacred Garden, the monastic zone and a Kapilvastu day trip. Four to five days adds Ramagrama, Devdaha and two nights in Tansen. A full week lets you include Rani Mahal, Ridi and either Resunga or Swargadwari in the hills.

Beyond Lumbini itself, the main sites are Tilaurakot, likely ancient Kapilavastu; Kudan, linked with the Buddha's meeting with his father; Gotihawa and Niglihawa, with Ashokan pillars for earlier Buddhas; Ramagrama, a relic stupa; and Devdaha, his mother's home town.

Fly from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa in about 35 minutes, then drive 18 km to Lumbini. By road, Lumbini is about 280 km and 8–9 hours from Kathmandu and about 210 km and 7–8 hours from Pokhara via Tansen. From India, cross at Sunauli–Belahiya, about 25 km away.

No trekking permits or national park fees are needed. You buy entry tickets for the Maya Devi temple area at Lumbini and for some heritage sites such as Tilaurakot. Most foreign nationals need a Nepal visa, available on arrival at Bhairahawa airport and the Belahiya border. Check current status before you travel.

Yes. Tansen is about 3 hours from Lumbini and sits on the way to Pokhara. It offers a cooler climate, a well-preserved Newar old town, dhaka weaving and karuwa metalwork, Himalayan sunrises and access to Rani Mahal and Ridi, all with far fewer visitors than better-known hill towns.

Yes, they make a natural loop. A common plan is Kathmandu to Chitwan, then Lumbini, then Tansen and Pokhara, before returning to Kathmandu by road or air. Allow 9–12 days for the full loop. Each leg is 3–6 hours by car.

Yes, it is generally safe, with friendly, welcoming communities. The main risks are road travel, heat on the plains from April to June and monsoon landslides on hill roads. Use a reliable driver, carry water, stay away from fast rivers like the Kali Gandaki, and keep valuables close in festival crowds.

Wear loose clothing that covers shoulders and knees, and shoes that slip off easily, since they come off at the Maya Devi temple and in monastery shrine halls. In winter bring a warm layer for foggy dawns. Avoid leather at Hindu sites such as Ridi and Swargadwari.

April to June and September to October are the best months for Upper Mustang, with clear mornings and open lodges; May adds the Tiji festival in Lo Manthang. Because Mustang lies in the rain shadow, June to August is also possible, though flights and the Beni road are less reliable. Lower Mustang, around Jomsom and Muktinath, works most of the year.

Fly or drive to Pokhara, then fly about 20 minutes to Jomsom on an early-morning flight, or drive about 160 km and 7–9 hours via Beni. From Jomsom, jeeps reach Kagbeni in 30 minutes, Muktinath in about an hour and Lo Manthang in 6–7 hours. Flights are often delayed by wind or cloud; check current status before you travel.

As we understand it, the Upper Mustang restricted-area permit costs USD 500 per person for the first 10 days and USD 50 for each extra day, plus the Annapurna Conservation Area permit. It is issued only through a registered agency, for at least two foreigners travelling with a licensed guide. The fee has been reviewed more than once; check current status before you travel.

Yes. Upper Mustang, Lower Dolpo and Upper Dolpo are restricted areas where a licensed guide and a registered agency have long been required. Since April 2023 Nepal also requires foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas, including Lower Mustang and Shey Phoksundo, to walk with a licensed guide. Check current status before you travel.

Lower Mustang runs from the Thak Khola villages of Tukuche and Marpha to Jomsom, Kagbeni and Muktinath, and needs only the Annapurna Conservation Area permit. Upper Mustang, north of Kagbeni, is the old kingdom of Lo, with Ghami, Tsarang and Lo Manthang, and needs the costly restricted-area permit. Upper Mustang is higher, drier and more Tibetan in language and religion.

Yes. A jeep road runs from Jomsom to Lo Manthang in about 6–7 hours via Kagbeni, Chele, Ghami and Tsarang, and Pokhara to Lo Manthang is possible in one very long day. The road is rough, dusty and can be cut by landslides or river crossings. You still need the restricted-area permit and a guide. Check current status before you travel.

Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, about an hour, stay a night, then take an early flight of about 45 minutes to Juphal. From Juphal, walk three days via Dunai and Chhepka to Ringmo village and the lake at about 3,612 m. You need the Lower Dolpo permit, the Shey Phoksundo National Park permit and a licensed guide; check current status before you travel.

Tiji lasts three days in the third month of the Tibetan calendar, which usually falls in May; in 2026 it is expected on 14–16 May. Monks of Chhoede gompa perform masked dances in the square in front of the palace. Dates move each year with the lunar calendar, so confirm them before booking flights and lodges.

It is possible. Muktinath is at about 3,710 m and Lo Manthang at about 3,840 m, and flying to Jomsom then driving straight up gains height fast. Spend a night in Jomsom or Kagbeni first, drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol on the first nights. Headache that worsens, vomiting or breathlessness at rest mean you should descend.

They are the mountains directly north and north-west of Kathmandu. Langtang National Park, Gosaikunda and Helambu lie in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Sindhupalchok districts of Bagmati Province, 60 to 120 km from the capital. Manaslu and the Tsum Valley lie in Gorkha district of Gandaki Province, reached by road via Arughat.

Langtang is shorter, 7 to 8 days, with no restricted permit and a maximum sleeping altitude of 3,870 m, ideal for a first Himalayan trek. Manaslu is a 14 to 16 day circuit crossing Larkya La at 5,106 m, needing restricted permits and more fitness. After August 2026, Langtang access is disrupted; check current status before you travel.

On 26 August 2026 a glacier collapse near Langtang Lirung sent a debris flood down the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli, destroying the Rasuwagadhi border crossing, much of Syabrubesi, hydropower plants, roads and bridges into Nuwakot and beyond. More than 1,400 people were reported dead by late September and thousands missing. Check current status before you travel.

In September 2026 operators reported that the Langtang Valley trail above Syabrubesi was not directly damaged, but road access was cut and Syabrubesi badly damaged, and Nepal declared a disaster period. We only run Langtang trips when access and lodges are confirmed safe. Check current status before you travel; Helambu and Manaslu are alternatives.

Yes. Since April 2023 foreign trekkers in Nepal's national parks and conservation areas must trek with a licensed guide, which covers Langtang, Gosaikunda, Helambu and Shivapuri. Manaslu and Tsum are restricted areas that have always required a registered agency, a licensed guide and at least two trekkers. Check current status before you travel.

October and November for clear skies and stable weather, and March to May for warm days and rhododendrons. December to February suits lower treks such as Helambu and Chisapani. June to September is monsoon, with rain, leeches and landslides, except for the Janai Purnima pilgrimage to Gosaikunda in August.

Yes. Chisapani is a one-night walk from Sundarijal on Kathmandu's edge. Helambu takes 5 to 8 days on foot from the city, with no flights and a high point of about 3,650 m. Nuwakot is a one or two night heritage trip by road. All three lie away from the 2026 flood zone, though roads to Nuwakot pass through it.

The Manaslu restricted area permit, issued through a registered agency for at least two trekkers with a licensed guide; the Manaslu Conservation Area permit; and the Annapurna Conservation Area permit for the exit via Dharapani. Tsum Valley needs an additional restricted permit. Fees vary by season; check current status before you travel.

Yes. A classic 12 to 15 day trek walks up the Langtang Valley to Kyanjin Gompa, crosses to Gosaikunda via Thulo Syabru and Sing Gompa, goes over Lauribina La into Helambu and walks out to Sundarijal on the edge of Kathmandu. Road access at the Syabrubesi end depends on post-flood repairs; check current status before you travel.

Yes, especially if you have already seen Kathmandu and the Annapurnas or Everest, or want quiet. Eastern Nepal has Ilam's tea gardens, the Sandakpur view of four eight-thousanders, the remote Kanchenjunga and Makalu treks, and Kirat Rai and Limbu culture, with far fewer tourists than the west.

October and November are best for clear views and the high treks. March to May brings rhododendrons, tea plucking and good trekking with more haze. December to February is cold but clear in the hills. June to September is a heavy monsoon here, with landslides and leeches.

Fly to Bhadrapur for Ilam and Kanyam, Biratnagar for Dharan, Dhankuta and Hile, or Tumlingtar for Chainpur and Makalu. Flights take 40–50 minutes. By road, overnight buses reach the eastern towns in 10–16 hours. Check current status before you travel.

A week covers Ilam, Kanyam and Sandakpur. Ten days adds Dhankuta, Hile and Bhedetar or Chainpur. The Kanchenjunga North trek to Pang Pema needs about 18–22 days, and Makalu Base Camp about 16–20 days from Kathmandu.

Not for most of the region. The Kanchenjunga trek needs a conservation area permit and a restricted area permit, and the Makalu trek a national park permit. Since April 2023 foreign trekkers must use a licensed guide in national parks and conservation areas. Check current status before you travel.

The Kirat are indigenous peoples of eastern Nepal, chiefly the Rai and Limbu, along with groups such as the Yakkha and Sunuwar. They have their own languages, priests and the Mundhum, an oral scripture. Their festivals include Sakela and Chasok Tangnam, both linked to the farming year.

Generally yes. It is longer, more remote, with simpler lodges and fewer rescue options, and requires a restricted area permit with a licensed guide. Maximum altitudes are similar. It suits trekkers who have already done a high-altitude trek.

Yes, from Sandakpur on the Singalila ridge in Ilam district, where on clear mornings Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Kanchenjunga are all visible. Everest is far away, more than 100 km, so it looks smaller than Kanchenjunga, which fills the northern horizon.

Eastern Nepal is generally safe and friendly for travellers, including solo women. The main risks are road travel on steep hill roads, monsoon landslides, and altitude on the high treks. Travel with a licensed guide in remote areas and carry insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.

Yes, if you want wildlife and history without crowds. Bardia gives one of the best chances of seeing a wild tiger in Nepal, Shuklaphanta has the world's largest swamp deer herds, and the hills hold Rara Lake and the Khasa sites of Sinja and Dullu. The trade-off is time: flights are small and roads are slow, so allow more days than you would around Pokhara or Chitwan.

Fly. Kathmandu to Nepalgunj takes about one hour and Kathmandu to Dhangadhi about an hour and a quarter, with several daily flights. From Nepalgunj, Bardia is about two hours by road and small planes go on to Jumla, Talcha for Rara, and Simikot. By road, Kathmandu to Nepalgunj is around 520 km and 12–14 hours.

February to April is best for wildlife, because the tall grass is cut and burnt and animals come to the rivers. October to January is cooler and pleasant, though grass is taller and foggy mornings are common in December and January. From mid-June to late September many lodges close for the monsoon.

Both are excellent. The national tiger count released in July 2026 put Chitwan at 145 tigers and Bardia at 112, but Bardia sees far fewer visitors, so walking safaris and long quiet waits by the river are the norm and sightings feel personal. Chitwan is easier to reach and has more rhino. No guide can promise a tiger; plan three or four nights in Bardia for a fair chance.

Since April 2023 foreign trekkers in Nepal's national parks and conservation areas must walk with a licensed guide, which covers Rara, Khaptad and Bardia's walking safaris. Upper Humla and Limi are restricted areas, where a licensed agency, a guide and a group of at least two are required. Away from the parks, a guide who speaks the local dialect still helps a great deal. Check current status before you travel.

Allow 5–6 days for Bardia alone with flights from Kathmandu, 8–9 days for Bardia and Shuklaphanta together, and 8–10 days for Rara with Jumla. Humla and the Limi valley need 14–18 days. Always add one spare day for mountain flights, which are often delayed by cloud.

They are short take-offs and landings on small airstrips in steep terrain, flown by Twin Otter, Dornier and similar aircraft. Operators fly only in good visibility, which is why delays are common. Fly in the morning, keep your luggage light because weight limits are strict, and choose an established operator. We always build a spare day into these routes.

Simple and seasonal. In the Terai expect Tharu dishes such as ghonghi (river snails) and dhikri (steamed rice-flour dumplings). In the hills you will eat dal bhat with Jumla's red marshi rice, local beans, millet bread and buckwheat. Lodges outside Bardia rarely have menus; you eat what the family cooks, and it is usually very good.

Yes. Lumbini is about 4–5 hours by road from Nepalgunj, and Bardia–Lumbini–Chitwan is a classic overland line across the Terai. A common plan is to fly into Nepalgunj, spend three nights in Bardia, drive east to Lumbini and Chitwan, and fly back to Kathmandu from Bharatpur.