Ace Treks

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting to Nepal

Between the two economic giants India and Nepal, there is a land locked Himalayan country which used to be taken as a ‘Yam between two boulders’. And that is Nepal (officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal). Though we can clearly see a small country between those large countries in the world map, we encounter many people around the world who don’t know exactly what and where Nepal is. 

In this duration of about 7 decades, since the official opening of this country for foreigners, millions of travelers from all around the world have visited this spectacular land. In this age of accessibility, communication and IT, there is no doubt that most of the travelers know well about Mount Everest and Lord Buddha. To give an identity, Nepal is the land of Mount Everest in the Himalaya and Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal and it is popular for the arts, cultures and architectural monuments to show its ancient and medieval civilization. 

From wherever you want to fly to Kathmandu (Nepal), you can fly either directly or with a single stop. Sometimes, you may have to choose two stops. The usual transits are at Qatar, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Malaysia, Turkey, London, Frankfurt, Shanghai, Osaka, Tokyo, Delhi, Mumbai, etc. You can book your ticket yourself, or have your ticketing agent book for you, or you may contact us for your ticket arrangements in advance.


For those traveling overland, there are also immigration points at Nepal-India border and Nepal-China border. In case of entries from both India and China, we usually recommend flights to Kathmandu than land transportation.

Yes, Nepal has excellent air connectivity with the world. Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu is the main international airport and there are other two international airports beginning their international flights recently from Pokhara and Bhairahawa. Currently, the major airlines which have flights to Kathmandu are:

Nepal Airlines
Emirates Airlines
Thai Airways
Turkish Airlines
Qatar Airways
Oman Air
China Southern Airlines
Air China
Air India
Korean Air
IndiGo
Air Arabia
Biman Bangladesh Airlines
Himalaya Airlines
Malaysia Airlines
Sichuan Airlines
Bhutan Airlines
Malindo Air
Etihad Airways
Jazeera Airways
Silk Air
Cathay Pacific
Sri Lankan Airlines

Administered by Department of Immigration and respected immigration offices, currently, there are eleven immigration (entry/exit) points in Nepal.

Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) is the only immigration point for those who come by air to Nepal. There are many other land border immigration points. However, only Kathmandu and Pokhara immigration offices serve about visa extension and issuance of special trekking permits (to restricted areas).

Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu

Immigration Office, Gautam Buddha International Airport, Bhairahawa

Immigration Office , Bhairahawa (about 8-9 hours drive and 280 kilometers away from Kathmandu)

Immigration Office, Pokhara ( 7 hours drive and 200 kilometers from Kathmandu)

Immigration Office, Kodari (about 6/7 hours drive from Kathmandu, on the Nepal-China border)

Immigration Office, Kakarvitta, (15-17 hours drive and 610 kilometers away from Kathmandu.)

Immigration Office, Birgunj (210 kilometers away from Kathmandu)

Immigration Office, Nepalgunj (12-13 hours drive and 530 kilometers away from Kathmandu)

Immigration Office, Dhangadhi (660 kilometers away from Kathmandu)

Immigration Office, Kanchanpur  (18-19 hours drive and 695 kilometers away from Kathmandu)

Immigration Office, Rashuwagadi

*Indians don’t need any formal immigration requirement except an identity at the checkpoints.

Yes, India and Nepal have very good road connectivity through their border on the east and south of Nepal. Except in some cases like ongoing reconstruction or natural disturbances, getting overland from Indian border to Kathmandu or Pokhara or Lumbini in Nepal is hassle free and comfortable.

Transportation options to Nepal (Kathmandu, Pokhara, Lumbini) are Direct Bus, Bus + Bus, Train + Bus, Train + Jeep, Direct Jeep, etc.

If you choose overland crossing from Delhi to Nepal, you can take train and then a bus. Or there are also direct bus services from Delhi to Kathmandu.

From Varanasi, you can take train or bus to the border and take a bus to Kathmandu.

No matter from which part of India you are coming, you get border crossing points and good transportation across the border to get to Kathmandu or Pokhara or Lumbini. It takes from 7 hours (from the nearest border point) to 18 hours drive (from the farthest border point) to get to Kathmandu. Pokhara is also not so different in terms of distance and time taken from the southern border.

To enter Nepal from Tibet (China) overland, there are three conventional border points – Kodari, Kerung and Hilsa. But due to some natural disturbances or weather, operation of those entry points are sometimes disturbed. So, it is good to consult with us before you confirm your booking and travel dates.

Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), in Kathmandu is the most popular and largest airport in Nepal. There are also other two regional international airports (Gautam Buddha Regional International Airport and Pokhara Regional International Airport) that have just started their operation for international flights. So, while planning to fly to Nepal, flying to Kathmandu (Tribhuvan International Airport) is the most reliable option.

Kathmandu city is not so big and the airport is not so far. Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA, Kathmandu) is about 8 kilometers from the most popular tourist hub of Kathmandu, Thamel. Most of the tourists who come to Nepal first go to Thamel. But some of them have to go to other nearby areas if they chose hotels outside Thamel. For them, it may be usually from 4 to 10 kilometers from the Airport.

If you have booked a trip package with us, we will provide you a free pick up service from airport to the hotel. If you don’t have any booking, then still you can order pick up service with us for getting from Airport to your hotel or our office for in person meeting. In every case, we send a car with a company representative to the airport who will show you your name card with our company name at the arrival. This is the most reliable way to get to your hotel hassle free.

If you haven’t booked or ordered pick up service, you may get an Airport Shuttle service to Thamel, but it’s not for sure. Usually, it’s easy and fast to take a taxi.


Please, feel free to contact us for pick-up service as soon as possible after you buy your flight ticket.

Yes, you need passport and visa to enter to Nepal. You can get on arrival visa on your passport at any border / entry – exit points including TIA, the airport in Kathmandu or Bhairahawa.

To get an on arrival visa:

Please fill up the ‘Tourist Visa application form’ either online prior to your arrival or on the Kiosk machines at the airport. Print the receipt, that is valid only for 15 days.

Fill up the ‘Arrival Card’ given to you either by the flight crew or at the entry point.

Pay your on arrival visa fee (recommended cash) at the visa fee collection counter and get the payment receipt.

USD 30    -           For 15 Days

USD 50    -           For 30 Days

USD 125  -           For 90 Days

Proceed to the Immigration desk with your online application submission receipt, visa fee payment receipt and passport.

Upon the satisfaction of the immigration officer, your visa will be processed and approved.

Usually it doesn’t take longer than half an hour but sometimes during the peak tourist season, it may take quite longer depending on the queue.

Special Cases:

Indian nationals don’t need to get visa on passport. But they need an identity.

Non Resident Nepalese (NRN) card holder (issued by MoFA or Nepalese diplomatic missions) get visa for free.

Chinese Nationals get visa for free.

Children except US citizens) below 10 years get visa for free

SAARC (South Asian Countries except Afghanistan) citizens get up to 30 days visa for free for the first time in the given visa year.

Afghan citizens can get visa for free on arrival if they request the inviting institution in Nepal to arrange paper works and get an recommendation letter from Department of Immigration.

Officials from countries with ‘reciprocal visa waiver agreement’ (China, Brazil, Russia, Thailand) don’t need to get entry visa.

Unfortunately, nationals (except the diplomatic and official passport holders) of the following countries are not issued on arrival visa from any immigration points. So, they are requested to apply for and obtain visa from a Nepalese Embassy or Consulate service nearby their country.

Nigeria                 Ghana                       Zimbabwe                 Swaziland    

Cameroon           Somalia                     Liberia                       Ethiopia                    

Iraq                      Palestine                   Afghanistan               Syria

And the refugees who are travelling with their travel document.

For visa extension or changing visa category, please contact at Department of Immigration Offices either at Kathmandu or Pokhara.

THINGS TO DO IN NEPAL

Definitely yes. Just look at a glance why Nepal is really one of the most popular, fascinating and authentic tourist destinations in the world.

Adventure travelers ask us about the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest and the country with eight highest mountains out of ten in the world. They ask us about Buddhism, Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhism and his birthplace, Lumbini. Their questions list long, about the Himalaya and the Sherpa people, the yaks and yetis, the city of centuries-old temples and monasteries including the most famous Pashupatinath and Bouddhanath, very beautiful city squares with ancient and medieval arts, architecture and culture, excellent natural reserves with thousands of floras and faunas including one horned rhinos, tigers, wild elephants and hundreds of most beautiful bird species. Many people remember world famous brave Gurkha people and so on. Our travelers love to visit Nepal for all these things.

Interestingly, everyone knows China and India and wonders about the small country located in between these giants. When they know that is Nepal, then there begins their dream of visiting this Himalayan country at the soonest.

No doubt, travelers make their different travel destinations based on their interests. But the country of Himalaya, Nepal, is a dream holiday destination that offers one of the largest ranges of holiday activities. ‘Things to Do’ in Nepal include trekking and hiking around the foothills of Himalaya, mountain peak climbing and expeditions, luxury sightseeing tours around the ancient and medieval cities, cultural tours around the villages of diverse ethnic peoples, pilgrimage for Hindus and Buddhists, nature and wildlife safari, river rafting in the rivers from Himalaya, world’s highest bunjee jumps, paragliding, helicopter sightseeing, mountain flight along the scenic mountains and so on. If you want to mountain bike along a real mountain, then Nepal is the best destination.

Among all, Everest Base Camp trekking, Annapurna circuit trekking, Annapurna Base Camp Trekking, Manaslu Trekking, Langtang Trekking, Island peak climbing, Mera peak climbing, Chitwan National Park / jungle safari, Pokhara / Fishtail sightseeing, Lumbini Buddhist Tour, Nagarkot Sunrise/Sunset View, Annapurna mountain biking, etc are the most popular trips.

Don’t these attractions prove that Nepal is definitely a fascinating holiday destination that you should choose for your next holiday? 

Yes, it’s true that this Himalayan country, Nepal, is most popular and praised for trekking, mountain peak climbing, cultural and nature tours. Let us explain why these travel activities in Nepal are most popular. 

Trekking in Nepal

No country in the earth houses more world-highest mountains than Nepal. Imagine you are standing among and walking along eight of the ten highest mountains in this planet. Not to mention, the landscape offers outstandingly unique and fascinating trekking trails to match according to the trekkers’ experience, age, fitness and interests. As all travelers cannot or do not plan for a months-long or year-long summit expeditions, trekking in Nepal is an easy, short and best value holiday activity with thrilling adventure. That’s why Nepal has been a globally acclaimed trekking destination.

If your interest is to wander along into wilderness, wilderness trekking in Nepal is a very good fit for you. But, if you want to trek through the villages and tea-houses in the well marketed trails with luxury and adventure together in mountains admired by millions of trekkers, trekking in Nepal is the best fit for you. If you want to be surrounded by the highest snow-capped peaks or see the largest glaciers in the Himalayan region (Ngozumpa, Khumbu), cinematic panoramas, delightful villages, and colourful culture, fascinate yourself sitting aside the lakes at highest altitude, and realize the eternal peace, Nepal is the best trekking destination in the world. Short trekking and hiking along the hills around major cities may also be enough for you if you have limitations to go to the mountains. A hassle free backpacker’s paradise, Nepal trekking trails offer innumerable trekking possibilities from Mount Everest to Mount Annapurna region, easy to extremely difficult, short to long and luxury to wilderness. Whatever you choose, it will be a worth spending vacation time.

Peak Climbing in Nepal Himalaya

For anyone fond of adventure beyond trekking and hiking in the Himalaya, there are more than 1300 mountain peaks higher than 6000 meters in the Himalayan region of Nepal among which a few hundred peaks are open for climbing and a few dozen are most popular among climbers ranging from beginners to highly professional mountaineers. Most of the travelers may think that the peaks in the Himalaya are very high and thus are mysterious and impossible to climb. But the reality is almost of the highest mountains in Nepal have already been conquered. And the smaller peaks with the height of 5587 to 6500 meters are taken as Trekking Peaks. That means those peaks are also for trekkers who have good health and stamina with keen interest to climb. But it is quite beyond trekking, so it needs basic mountaineering skills to use a few equipments and follow the experienced and professional climbing guide.

Nepal offers excellent snow-capped mountain peak climbing experience which can be the introductory taste to prepare for climbing higher mountains as well. Those peaks and mountains also introduce the climbers to the natural setting and beauty that gave birth to Himalayan culture. After the first successful summit of the world’s highest Mount Everest (8848 meters / 29029 feet) in 1953 by New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Nepali Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, small peak climbing and high mountain expedition in Nepal have been more renowned among extreme adventures all over the world.

Mountain Expedition in Nepal Himalaya

Most probably, there is no ultimate adventure in this planet beyond having the 360 view of the world below standing on the top of Mount Everest and feel the conquest.  Since New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Nepali Tenzing Norgay successfully climbed Mount Everest in 1953, mountain expedition in the Himalayan region, especially in Nepal, has been very popular adventure aspiration. Of course, there are mountains in other parts of the world too, but it is very worth mentioning here that eight out of ten highest mountains are in Nepal. And it may not be justice to the breathtakingly beautiful and huge mountains of Nepal to compare with the mountaineering expeditions in other parts of the world.

As the most adventurous and the most demanding activity, climbing the highest mountains in Nepal has been the ultimate aspiration of professional mountaineers. It is the blessings for all the mountaineers that the Himalayan people, Sherpas, are there to boost your confidence, guide you and make you secure up to the summit. And Ace Holiday Treks has a team of professional Sherpas, guides, cooks, porters and helpers for our expedition operations.

Everybody loves his / her cultural legacy carried by the physical arts, architecture, monuments and other intangible characteristics like language and traditions continuously inherited, developed and transformed through generations. While we love our own cultural heritage the most, we are also very curious to see different cultures of people from other groups and places. Because of sociopolitical and economic / industrial development and transformation, many cultural groups have lost their original attributes. This has led travelers to be nostalgic and feel alienated in own place. That’s why our focus here is to fascinate our travelers with some natural and authentic taste of culture and traditions developed, preserved and practiced by different Nepalese ethnic groups and communities untouched by the materialistic life styles. We encourage our travelers to validate their past memories with the authentic cultural heritage and request not to touch or destroy any aspect of those properties which are meant to be transferred to the future generations.

Nepal is one of the few countries in the world with so large number of ethnic communities and native languages (about 120 ethnic groups and languages) offering the colourful cultural diversity. Our cultural heritage tours and sometimes trekking, are designed to present our travelers the most popular and authentic cultures of the wonderful ethnic communities residing in different parts of Nepal. Starting from Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur (Kathmandu valley) where we see very rich ancient and medieval architectures and religious monuments, we can continue to the hills and the Himalayas where we can revive our sense of love of any unique and authentic culture like that of Sherpas, Tamangs, Gurungs, Buddhists, Hindus and so on. Many of those cultural artifacts have been recognized as the UNESCO World Heritage sites. Our cultural / heritage trips are interesting for travelers with different interests, tastes and plans ranging from very short to weeks-long holidays and luxury seekers to adventurous.

Here is the place where you know how natural environment shapes or contributes to the society and culture and how society and culture influence nature. One of the landlocked countries in the world, Nepal has surprisingly the vast diversity in nature. From as low as 59 meters from sea level, Nepal rises up to the world’s highest altitude of Mount Everest. The Terai belt of low land of Nepal, mostly covered with tropical jungle along the river basins, is very rich with diverse floras and faunas. An ideal destination for nature and wildlife tour, Nepal’s low land national parks offer excellent opportunities for very adventurous wildlife / jungle safari, elephant ride, bird watching, hunting, jungle / nature walks, cultural village tours around and so on. May you be walking or carried by an elephant or a jeep through the dense forests, the thrilling beauty of wilderness embraces your soul during the whole safari ride as you encounter endangered wild lives including one horned rhinos, royal Bengal tiger, red panda, Himalayan musk deer, wild water buffalo, Asiatic elephant, leopards, to name only a few.

Your excitement will go extra miles with the authentic taste of local cultures around the national park areas through cultural shows and performances with the luxury of eco resorts in the wilderness. Better to have a best value experience, most of the travelers choose to customize their nature and wildlife tours joining with other tour / trekking packages. Thus, most of our packages include Kathmandu or Pokhara luxury tours before having the glimpses of wilderness. Among all, Chitwan National Park, Bardiya National Park, Koshi Tappu Wild Life Reserve and Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve are the world famous nature and wildlife destinations among nature travelers.

Where is the Himalaya? Is there any easy access to Himalaya if I go to Nepal?


The Himalaya (Himalayas) means the ‘home of snow’. It is the highest and one of the longest mountain ranges in the world and it separates the Tibetan plateau from the plains of the Indian subcontinent. It stretches from Afghanistan to Pakistan with a major share of length in Nepal, China and India, ultimately sprawling to Bhutan and Myanmar. Mount Everest, the highest mountain in this planet (8848 meters) is located in Nepal Himalaya. Moreover, eight out of ten highest mountains in the world are located in Nepal Himalaya. There are more than 1300 identified mountain peaks too in Nepal.


For the adventure travelers who want to trek along the Himalayas, there is no doubt that Nepal is the main gateway and most accessible point to explore. Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal is the starting point to the highest mountains in mid-eastern Nepal. And the wonderful city Pokhara is the starting point to the highest mountains in western Nepal.


So, ‘exploring the Himalaya’ is mostly all about ‘going to Nepal’ and starting your journey to the Himalaya from one of the cities of Nepal. Coupled with the natural scenery of the Himalaya, the amazingly authentic culture of the Himalayan people will definitely make you love your Himalayan journey for your lifetime.

If you start gathering information about Nepal and the touristic attractions, then the first thing you will know is this small country is actually more than a rainbow in terms of geography, nature, ethnic groups of people, culture, language, festivals, arts and architecture, religion, and everything. Definitely, the more diversity, the more ‘places to visit’ and the more ‘things to do’. Though it can never be a comprehensive list of tourist attractions in Nepal, let’s start from the most popular and ‘not to miss’ ones in Kathmandu here.

 

KATHMANDU VALLEY (7 UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES)

 

Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal. And the whole valley is comprised of three cities, Kathmandu, Lalitpur (Patan) and Bhaktapur.

 

The most popular places to visit are the historic temples and monasteries from the ancient time, city squares, palaces and statues from the medieval period and the tourist hub of Thamel. There are many UNESCO World Heritage sites in Kathmandu Valley including:

 

Pashupatinath Temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

 

Most popular among Hindus all over the world, this very old and sacred temple of Pashupatinath (Temple of the god Shiva) is located on the bank of Bagmati River in the heart of Kathmandu. According to the legends, this temple exists since 4th century B.C. and the new temple was built during the 14th century. Now Pashupatinath temple area has dozens of other temples and monuments to see or worship.

 

Bouddhanath Stupa (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

 

On the eastern part of Kathmandu, there is one of the largest stupas in the world, Bouddhanath Stupa which dates back to 6th century or earlier. A sacred pilgrimage site for Buddhists and those who praise Buddhism, Bouddhanath is very famous for meditation too.

 

Swayambhunath Temple / Stupa (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

In the mid-west of the bowl shaped Kathmandu valley, there is a conical hill and on the top of the hill is a holy shrine most popular among tourists as the Monkey Temple.

Kathmandu Durbar Square (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

This is a royal palace square of one of the three Kingdoms in Kathmandu Valley during the medieval period. Later it was taken over by the first King of modern Nepal who unified the whole country as it is now. Kathmandu durbar square is very rich in arts and architectures showcased in the palaces, temples, courtyards and the statues.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Next to the Kingdom of Kathmandu was the Kingdom of Bhaktapur and the Bhaktapur Dubar Square is the royal palace of Bhaktapur Kingdom with many temples around. Bhaktapur is also much more popular for arts and craftsmanship and as a handicrafts shopping market among the tourists.

Patan Durbar Square (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

The centre of Lalitpur city (then Lalitpur Kingdom) is the Patan Durbar Square. The Royal palace with marvelous Newari arts and architecture and the temples are the most prominent attractions in Patan Durbar Sqare.

Thamel

Thamel is the most popular tourist hub in Nepal where almost every tourist arrives on the first day of their Nepal visit and departs from on the last day of their trip. There is everything a tourist needs like hotels, restaurants, pubs, cultural shows, curio shops, travel and trekking companies, courier and cargo companies, spas and saunas, vehicle hires, and everything.

There are dozens of other temples, monasteries, stupas and day hiking trails in Kathmandu that you can choose from.

NAGARKOT

 

Close to Kathmandu, Nagarkot is the most accessible and popular sunrise and sunset viewpoint with stunning views of the Himalayas. You can drive an hour or go for a short trek along the pine forests and villages to get to Nagarkot.

 

POKHARA VALLEY



A city 200 kilometers west from Kathmandu, Pokhara is the second largest but very beautiful city with amazing natural surroundings of lakes, forests, mountains, rivers and trekking routes. Pokhara is also the gateway and centre for the trekkers to Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Manaslu. Praised by the tourists for the cleaner environment and quietness than in Kathmandu, Pokhara is not only the trekkers hub but also the centre for the luxury travelers to spend some days with relaxation there. Most popular in Pokhara are:

Phewa Lake and Lake Side

Mahendra Gufa (dark but spacious cave on the north of the city)

Davi’s Falls

International Mountain Museum

Gorkha Museum

World Peace Pagoda

Seti River Gorge

Gupteshwar Mahadev Cave

Pokhara Regional Museum

Bindhya Basini Temple

Bhimsen Temple

Machhapuchchhre (Fishtail) Mountain

Varahi Temple

Tibetan Refugee Camp

Sarangkot View Point

Chitwan National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

This is an amazing reserve of nature and wildlife. At the altitude of about 100 meters above sea level, with tropical monsoon climate, Chitwan National Park is usually an unexpected destination for travelers. Elephant safari (rides), Jungle safari (Jeep Safari), cultural village tours and wild lives are the most prominent attractions in Chitwan National Park.

Lumbini (Unesco World Heritage Site)

The birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama (Lord Buddha - the founder of Buddhism), Lumbini is a world famous pilgrimage site located about 250 kilometers west from Kathmandu. The Major attractions are:

Maya Devi Temple with ancient stone relief from 2nd century AD

World Peace Pagoda

Ashoka Pillar

Buddhist temples

the Japan Peace Stupa

Bodhi Tree

Lumbini Museum

Lumbini International Research Institute

Great Drigung Kagyud Lotus Stupa

Royal Thai Buddhist Monastery

Tibetan Rabten Monastery

Myanmar Golden Temple

Lumbini Crane Sanctuary

Zhong Hua Chinese Buddhist Monastery

Panditarama International Vipassana Meditation Centre

Drubgyud Choling Gompa

Dhama Janami Vipassana Centre

Mother Temple of the Graduated Path to Enlightenment

Korean Buddhist Temple

Vietnam Phat Quoc Tu temple

Nepal Vajrayana Mahavihara Temple

Manag Samaj Stupa

Sri Lankan Monastery

Gautami Nun’s Temple

Sokyo Gompa

       Linh Son Monastery

EVEREST REGION

Not to mention, Mount Everest region has the world’s best trekking trails where trekkers experience devotion, prayers, adventure and everything. From Everest View Trek, Everest Base Camp Trek, Everest Best Camp - Three Pass Trek to Everest Gokyo Lake Trek, there are from easy to extremely difficult options you can choose from.

ANNAPURNA REGION

One of the most popular trekking trails in the world and specially in the Himalaya region, Annapurna region offers a varieties of trekking options from short to long and easy to moderate and difficult ones. Some of the most popular trekking options are Annapurna Circuit Trekking (Apple Pie Circuit named after the fried apple pie along the route), Annapurna Base Camp Trekking, Ghorepani Poonhill Trekking, Jomsom Muktinath Trekking, Tilicho Lake Trekking and Upper Mustang Trekking. Available activities are trekking and tour, peak climbing and mountain expedition.

RARA LAKE AND NATIONAL PARK

Rara is the biggest lake in Nepal. It is located in Mugu district at the altitude of 1990 meters from the sea level. Rara National Park, surrounding the beautiful Rara Lake, is an home to a vast reserve of floras and faunas. Off the beaten pat Trek to Rara Lake is one of the most ‘Authentic Cultural and Natural Travel Experience’ in Nepal.

LANGTANG REGION

Langtang region is an amazing trekking region with beautiful landscapes, mountains, monasteries, rhododendron forests and culturally authentic villages.Available activities are trekking and tour, peak climbing and mountain expedition.

MANASLU REGION

Manaslu region, the home to the thnic Gurung and Tamanag people, offers myriads of options of trekking and cultural tours. The beautiful trail along the Budhi Gandaki River bank extends upto the Larkya la Pass and makes a circuit around the villages from where the world famous Gurkha warriors come from. Available activities are trekking and tour, peak climbing and mountain expedition.

OTHER TREKKING REGIONS

Kanchenjunga Region

Dhaulagiri Region

Ganesh Himal Region

Upper Mustang Region

Dolpo Region

Makalu Region

Whenever we talk about the cultural and natural heritage, we consider ‘authenticity’ as the most important characteristic of the destination. Though Nepal is not immune to liberal economy, increased connectivity and modern trends of development, there are many areas in Nepal where the travelers can experience really authentic tastes of nature and culture. Traditional village settlements,  pilgrimage sites, ethnic people, their culture and costumes and the natural environment surrounding the villages make travelers feel tranquil and amused at the same time. Travel to these authentic places can be both luxurious and quite adventurous according to the needs and preferences of the individual traveler or group.

 

Please go through ‘ACTIVITIES’ for detailed information on all activities possible and the trip packages available. If you didn’t find activities, places, trips or other information you need, contact us for very personalized travel solutions.



Here is a very short list of activities and services we have here in Ace Holiday Treks.


 

Trekking and Hiking in Nepal

Luxury Tours Sightseeing

Cultural Heritage Tours

Pilgrimage / Religious Tours

Nature and Wildlife Tours

Mountain Peak Climbing

Mountain Expedition

Multi-Activities tours

Helicopter Tour along Himalaya

Mountain (Everest) Flight

Adventure Sports

Rafting

Bunjee Jumping

Paragliding

Zyp flying

Mountain Biking( Cycling)

Special Interests

Village tours

Home stay

Educational (school/college) excursions

Volunteering

Internships

Company Incentive Holidays

Honeymoon tours

Cororporate / business tours

Yoga and Meditation

Photography and Videography, etc.

A camping trek simply is a trekking during which you depend on tents / camps and all your own logistics. In the areas where there are no teahouses (lodges, hotels), camping trek is the only alternative. And even in some areas with teahouses, you can prefer camping to escape from the busy and crowded hotels and interact with nature and local culture. For camping treks, you need to be an organized group with our field staffs (trekking guide, Sherpa, cook, porters, etc). Our field team supports for and arranges all the logistics including necessary camping equipments and gears, cooking stoves, foods and water and fuels. It is a different experience for trekkers as they stay and dine under the tents and use mattresses and sleeping bags for their bed.



Different from teahouse treks, as we have to carry the necessary logistics and also your belongings, we need more staffs and preparation. They fix the camps / tents at safe, secure and beautiful places with necessary comfort to camp. As said many times, Nepal is a very safe place to trek and travel, camping trek is also very safe and secure way of adventure.


During the camping treks, trekkers wake up early in the morning, drink a cup of tea / coffee and have breakfast and start the trek. After 3-4 hours trek, they have lunch and again continue for another 3-4 hours trek to reach to the next camp.

It is a type of camping trek in the regions in which there are no teahouses, lodges or hotels and the difficulty level is very high in terms of walking, arranging and outsourcing logistics like trekking gears, fuels, food and water. Wilderness or off the beaten path treks are for the trekkers who prefer to win over the way through commonly unseen, unspoiled and unexploited off the beaten paths to high mountains and glaciers, hidden valleys and extreme remoteness and unbelievably diverse ecosystems of those areas.



Characterized by the perfection of extreme adventure, demanding much more permission and logistic supports than in a normal camping trek, this kind of trekking is supposed to be the ultimate way to feel the thrilling experience of embracing truly beautiful nature offered by the earth.

TRAVEL GUIDE

Yes, almost everyone feels very comfortable with Nepal’s climate and weather in all seasons of Nepal. There is not such harsh climate and weather anytime. It may be surprising and also wonderful for you to know about the weather variation in this small but diverse geography of Nepal. From the lowland of almost sea level to the highest mountain peak in the world, weather and climatic variation in Nepal is something very interesting. Nepal’s climate ranges from tropical to arctic depending upon topography and altitude. For instance, the southern plain lowland called Terai is hot and humid. The hilly region at the middle is very pleasant all year round. Mountain region on the north has low temperature and thin air.

 

 

There are four climatic seasons:

 

 

Spring : March, April, May

Temperature200 C to 300 C (680 F to 860 F)

Colourful, odd shower of rain, heat gradually increases until monsoon.

This is very good season for trekking and travel in Nepal.



Summer : June, July, August

Monsoon months – occasional thunderstorms, hot temperature, moisture-laden wind and frequent rainfalls.

This season is not as good as Spring and Autumn for trekking and travel. But except rain and occasional natural disasters, trekking and travel is possible.

 

 

Autumn : September, October, November

Dry climate, pleasant temperature, clear skies

200 C to 300 C (680 F to 860 F)

Best season for trekking, travel, tour and all other adventure activities in Nepal

 

 

Winter : December, January, February

Cold mornings and evenings, quite sunny hot afternoons

150 C to 200 C (590 F to 680 F)

Except in high mountains, this is also comparatively a good time for trekking and travel in Nepal.

 


Because of the diversity in geography, climate and weather, Nepal has it’s own climatic seasons:



Nepali Seasons

 

Spring (Basanta)      : April-May      


Summer (Grishma)  : June-July      


Monsoon (Barsha)   : Late June-Mid September       


Autumn  (Sharad)    : September-November      


Winter  (Hiund)         : December-January      


Windy  (Shishir)       : February-March

 

 

Temperature of three prominent touristic sightseeing areas:

 

 

 Place

  Summer (May, June, July)

  Winter (Dec, Jan, Feb)

  Max (°C)   

  Min (°C)   

  Rain (mm)   

  Max (°C)   

  Min (°C)   

  Rain (mm)   

  Kathmandu   

  28.1

  19.5

  312

  19.3

  3.0

  15.4

  Pokhara

  29.7

  21.3

  829.7

  20.3

  7.7

  26.3

  Chitwan

  33.0

  25.3

  404.0

  24.1

  8.3

  13.8

 

Based on the climate and weather, festivals and cultural events and all other touristic environment, there are two best seasons for trekking, travel, tour and all other activities in Nepal. The best of the best months are September, October and November in autumn. And the other are March, April and May in Spring. Other months are not as good as these months but tourists come all year round as it is not so adverse and bad in other months too.

 

September and October are special because of the wonderful natural environment and enchanting festivals (especially Vijaya Dashami and Deepawali, the festival of lights) of the majority Hindu people. For adventure activities like trekking and peak climbing, these months are not snowy and cold to go to the mountain regions.

 

During the seasons other than Autumn and Spring, travelers prefer luxury sightseeing tour, low altitude hiking, village tour, nature and wildlife tour, mountain flight, etc.

If you have never arrived at Kathmandu Airport, then it may be quite crowded and confusing for you. Yes, it’s not as sophisticated as the airports in the developed countries. When you are at the arrival gate in the airport, it may be a new world for you, but there will be our representative for your service. Even if you don’t have anyone, don’t worry! Kathmandu is crowded but a very safe and secure city for tourists. There is almost no risk, especially for foreign tourists, though there is no place with zero crime in this world. The taxi may not be as spacious as your luxury car and the roads may not be as technologically regulated as in your country. But Nepali people are very friendly and respectful towards the foreigners and their hospitality is of most welcoming nature for all. There is very negligible crime rate, specially with foreign tourists.


In case of our valued clients, we are with them almost all round the trip from the airport to the airport. In addition, Tourist Police in Kathmandu is always alert, attentive and responsive towards the safety and security of tourists. During the trip, our management staffs are in regular contact with the travelers, tour and trekking guides and other field staffs. Though it’s not necessary to be worried, it is recommended that travelers take some precautions themselves too for their own confidence. For instance, it’s better not to trek or travel alone, not to take your valuables and huge sum of cash with you everywhere, better ask your guide and staffs before going out alone, better not to leave your guide and your group, etc. Very important, don’t engage in any discussions with unnecessary individuals or groups and don’t believe them about anything.


Except very occasional cases, in terms of your safety, Nepal’s travel and trekking routes are among the safest places in the world.

The world knows that on 25 April, 2015, a devastating earthquake of 7.9 richter scale hit the beautiful Himalayan country, Nepal, especially the western and central Nepal. After the loss of thousands of innocent people and damage of billion dollars private and public infrastructures by the main shock, Nepalese people continuously endured aftershocks with further destructions and loss for next few months. Districts of Gorkha, Kavrepalanchok, Dhading, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Sindupalchok, Dolakha, Ramechhap, Okhaldunga, Makwanpur, Sindhuli, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur were declared as the crisis-hit districts and the rescue, relief, reconstruction and reconstruction works went accordingly.




The devastating natural disaster destroyed most of the schools, hospitals, public service offices, security posts, private houses and very importantly the historic monuments in those areas. The destroyed historical buildings include the city squares, Temples, Stupas, historic towers, etc. Except in few areas and only for the time being, 2015 earthquake had no other effects on Nepal's adventure tourism including trekking and hiking, peak climbing, nature and culture tours, etc.




Since after one year of the earthquake (February, 2016), there is no more aftershock. And the reconstruction process has almost been complete with huge investment of the government and the most resilient Nepalese people with the help of the international communities. If you come as a tourist, then you will see only a few structures still under reconstruction. Beside that, you will see everything very fine.


 

Specially for the adventure travelers, it is to be noted that almost no Himalayan region (trekking and tour trails) was hit by the earthquake. For instance, there is almost no effect now at Annapurna region, Everest region, Langtang region, Manaslu region, Dolpo region, Mustang region, etc.


Even those areas which were badly hit by the earthquake have now been almost completely recovered and well functioning to serve for our travelers. Thus, it is now very safe and secure to travel and trek in Nepal.

What is it that you consider while choosing your best value destination? Distance? Connectivity? Price of the trip? Quality of service? Nature? People? Expertise of your travel service provider? Safety?.....



May it be anything else or all, if you select a few best value destinations in the world for your next holiday based on a thorough research, it’s for sure that your bucket includes Nepal.



Despite being much cheaper than most of the other travel destinations in the world, Nepal offers the largest array of attractions with beautiful nature, culture, people and travel activities. Nepal has the quality and the people have the warm heart to accommodate all types of travelers from the budget backpackers to the luxury travelers.



It’s not only our self declaration, there are many testimonials to refer. To name the most recent and most reliable one, according to the world’s renowned travel guides such as Lonely Planet, Nepal is the number one Best Value destination. Lonely planet notes that even the natural devastation of April 2015 and COVID pandemic couldn’t keep Nepal down for long. To get completely recovered and stand as it used to in the past, Nepal is now in need of income and that is possible through tourism.



Welcome to the Himalayan paradise. Let’s help the people of Nepal rebuild their country. 

Yes, the trekkers and travelers need different permits and entry fees depending on their travel / trekking trips.

 

For sightseeing tours to different monuments, temples, stupas, etc. the entrance fee usually ranges from 5 to 15 US dollar.

 

For Peak Climbing permits and fees, please contact us for more details.

 

The trekkers need TIMS card and Trekking Permit for the region where they go for the trekking.

 

TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System) card is issued to maintain fully systematic and computerized database of trekkers and their routes. This database is used to monitor for safety and security of the trekkers, for search and rescue in case of loss, sickness, injury and natural calamities. This database is used only by the travel agency, security forces, concerned government organizations and diplomatic missions. All the organized groups (company organized trekking groups) get their TIMS card at their trekking agency after paying for their trip and upon submission of passport copy and two passport sized photographs.

 

Trekking permit (also called national park/conservation area permit), is the entry permit to enter into the trekking trails. It may be a “trekking permit” or a “national park / conservation area entrance card”. For our organized traveler(s), we process for the permits ourselves.

 

Trekking Permit / Conservation Area Fees

 

 

 

Upper Mustang                                        USD 500 per person  (for the first 10 days)

USD 50 per person /Day  ( beyond 10 days)

 

 

Upper Dolpo                                             USD 500 per person  (for the first 10 days)

USD 50 per person /Day  ( beyond 10 days)

 

 

Gorkha Manaslu                                      September – November                                                                                                                 

                                                                                USD 100 per person / week

USD 15 per person / day (beyond 1 week)

                                                                       

 

December – August           

USD 75 per person / week

USD 10 per person / day (beyond 1 week)

 

 

Humla                                                      USD 50 per person / week

USD 10 per person / day (beyond 1 week)

 

 

Taplejung                                                  USD 20 per person/week (for the first 4 weeks)

USD 25 per person /week (beyond 4 weeks)

 

 

Lower Dolpo                                             USD 20 per person/ week 

                                                                 USD 5 per person /day  ( beyond 1 week)

 

 

Dolakha                                                    USD 20 per person/ week

 

 

Gorkha Tsum Valley Area                         September – November     

USD 40 per person / week

USD 7 per person / day (beyond 1 week)

                                                                       

 

December – August           

USD 30 per person / week

USD 7 per person / day (beyond 1 week)

 

 

Sankhuwasabha                                      USD 20 per person/week (for the first 4 weeks)

USD 25 per person /week  ( beyond 4 weeks)

 

 

Solukhumbu                                             USD 20 per person/ week (for the first 4 weeks) 

USD 25 per person /week  ( beyond 4 weeks)

 

 

Rasuwa                                                    USD 20 per person /week 

 

Manang                                                                    September – November

                                                                                  USD 100 per person / week

USD 15 per person / day (beyond 1 week)

  

                                                                                December – August           

USD 75 per person / week

USD 15 per person / day (beyond 1 week)

 

 

Bajhang                                                                 USD 90 per person / week for the first week

                                                                               USD 15 per person / day (beyond 1 week)

 

Mugu                                                                      USD 100 per person / week

USD 15 per person / day (beyond 1 week)

 

 

Darchula                                                                 USD 90 per person / week

USD 15 per person / day (beyond 1 week)

Usually, early in the first day of your trip (usually the day after your arrival), you drive or fly to a trekking starting point or a transit. If time allows, you start trekking the same day. If it’s late, then you take rest at a hotel or teahouse.

 

Then the remaining days are almost same in terms of your activities. Early in the morning (around 5-7 am), you wake up, take shower and have breakfast at the teahouse. After breakfast, you start your trekking. How fast and long you trek depends on the altitude variation and the geography of the trail. Usually, you walk for 2-3 hours before you stop at a teahouse (hotel) on the way for your lunch. After your lunch, you continue your trek for another 2-3 hours and end your trekking for that day to rest at a teahouse. In the evening, you can roam around the place depending on time and the attractions available. In your hotel, you have lots of choices to drink, eat and do depending on the hotels, your trip package and interests.

 

In some cases, you have to wake up very early (2-3 am) to hike up to a sunrise viewpoint or trek to some extra trails. In some trekking, you have to take rest for a day or two for acclimatization, rest and sightseeing.

 

For specific schedules and itineraries of particular trekking trips, please go through specific trip page or feel free to contact us.

Trekking in Nepal is very different than in other regions in the world. We claim it very different in terms of geography of the trail (from the plain lowland to small hill and peaks and ultimately to the world’s highest mountain passes), ethnic people, their village settlements and cultures, floras and faunas on the way, etc. Though trekking in the Himalayan region is so adventurous, it is also very friendly and comfortable in terms of the services we get on the way.

 

When we trek along any touristic, popular trekking trails in Nepal, we find very beautiful hotels and lodges. Those are called teahouses. Those teahouses excellently serve you for your hygienic breakfast, lunch, dinner and provide you very comfortable bed. Trekking to these regions without need of camping or home stays are thus called Tea House (Lodge) Trekking. Most popular tea house trekking regions are Everest, Annapurna, Langtang, Helambu, Manaslu, Mustang, etc.

 

During tea house trekking, our trekking guides arrange for all the hotels, foods and beds for our trekkers. Don’t worry about hygiene of food and comfort of your accommodation, it’s almost excellent. So, tea house trekking is a very comfortable and hassle free way of trekking along the popular trekking trails of Nepal leaving you free and confident to taste the authenticity of your destination.

As a very popular adventure travel and trekking destination, Nepal has hundreds of very distinct places to visit and activities to do. Among those, the most popular trekking and travel destinations and activities can be heard and seen most frequently. Travel companies and websites always focus on those most popular and best selling activities in Nepal. As a highly professional, experienced adventure travel and trekking agency, we thoroughly undertake researches on how to make a package trip the most rewarding for our tourists and publish and recommend those trips more than others. Most of our clients book those finalized trips as it is and they find those trips excellent. But, sometimes our packages may not be perfect for you.


Now, let us suppose that you have done a particular trip in a different style, you have quite different interests, you want to visit different places around the same route, you are fond of different activities, you want to change or alter the itinerary and route, you want to walk slower or faster, you want different kind of accommodation and food, you want to shorten or lengthen the trip, you have special needs, and so on. Then how can you adjust to the popularly published and already designed trips?


In such situation, actually you don’t have to buy the trip exactly as it is. But we request you to write us all your interests, activities, places, duration, type of accommodation and foods, expected budget, group size, trip style, special needs and everything. According to your situation and based on the possibilities, our team evaluates and finalizes the trips and asks for your final approval. That is a “Tailor Made” or “Self Customized” or “Self Designed” trip.

There is not a concrete formula to grade the difficulty of trekking or other activities. A trek may be very easy for someone young, experienced, healthy and strong physically and mentally. And, the same trek may be very difficult for others who are not experienced and don’t have very strong physical and mental state. That’s why the grading mainly depends on the individual trekker or traveler. But still, it’s necessary for us that we take into consideration various factors to give an overview of the difficulty level of a trekking. For example, those factors can be the duration of the trip, daily walking distance and time, geographic structure, altitude, climate and weather, required logistics, preparation and experience, availability of good foods and accommodations, etc. The average of those factors gives us the idea of tentative difficulty level of any trekking or other activity. The stronger you are, the more difficult treks are the best adventures for you.

 

Easy Treks:

Short in duration (usually 3 to 10 days)

Short walking distance and time (3-5 hours)

Maximum altitude below 3000 meters

No need of experience and training

Easy and well maintained trails, no need of technical equipments

Frequently available foods, accommodation and stops for rest.

 

Moderate Treks:

Usually longer than a week

Daily walking distance and time (5-7 hours)

Rough and tiresome trekking trails, but still no need of technical equipments

Altitude of about 4000 meters with rare cases of high altitude sickness

Experience and physical / mental strength and fitness are good advantage…

 

Difficult Treks:

Usually longer than 10 days

Average walking distance and time 7 hours per day

Very rough and sometimes snow covered trails

Trails and high passes of altitude 4500 – 5500 meters, you may need technical equipments

Possibility of difficulty in breathing and high altitude sickness

Need strong physical and mental fitness and experience of moderate treks

Need to be caution, positivity and knowledge on possible difficulties…

 

Extremely Difficult Treks:

Usually above 5000 meters

Multiple high passes with extremely difficult trail and geography

You may need training and experience of rock / ice climbing, walking on glaciers

Technical knowledge of using ice axe, crampons

Before you go, better you take some training before, share experiences and decide…

 

As our expert team of operators, guides and support staffs are excellent to operate any of these kinds of treks, please feel free to contact us with your choice and your special needs of support.

 

In case of luxury / sightseeing / cultural / heritage / nature and wildlife tours, there is not any difficulty.

 

In case of adventure sports, those may not be very difficult but you must have to be prepared very well.

 

In case of peak climbing and mountain expedition, please contact us for the details.

Places and activities for adventure tourism (specially trekking, peak climbing, sightseeing tours, peak climbing, etc.) are usually strange for travelers / trekkers. Though there are various things that the travelers can do themselves, at the same time, there are very important things (trekking trails, safety and security, foods and accommodation, interpretation, people and culture) to consider while trekking or traveling. There are many cases where travelers forgot or didn’t know the right trail / path, lost their belongings, got sick or injured, need evacuation, etc. Even in normal situation, it’s very comfortable for the travelers to have someone very knowledgeable, experienced and helpful with them during their trekking and travel. So, we always strongly recommend that our trekkers / travelers not to hesitate to hire a guide in every activity. In our packages, we provide guide ourselves. If you have to take a bag that you can’t carry yourself, you should hire a porter / helper too.


 

If you have a guide with your group, he does everything from guiding the path, arranging foods and accommodation, interpretation of the places and attractions, taking care of your security, paying the bills, and everything. In short, you don’t have to do anything at all yourself. It means you can have hassle free travel experience.


 

You need different kind of guide for different activities, like trekking guide for trekking, tourist guide for sightseeing / luxury tour, rafting guide for rafting, climbing guide for peak climbing, etc.



Our guides are very experienced and formally trained / licensed (from Nepal government agency) personals responsible for handling all normal and abnormal situations during your travel. They are the native Nepalese from the mountains or the foothills. Usually, we provide you with English speaking guides, but in special cases and upon request, depending language and availability, we may provide guides who speak your language. Please contact us to know if we can provide a guide who speaks your language. 

 

All guides have necessary experience and training to handle everything possible (including first aid and evacuation) to occur during your trekking / travel activities. 

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Art representing various natural and cultutal heritages of Nepal