Overland Nepal Travel

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Currency to display:

Visiting Nepal

Give a brief overview of what it's like to visit. How easy is the border, how safe is the country, are there great things to see and do, etc.

Entering Nepal with a Car or Motorbike

Correct as of: (October 2017)

Required Paperwork

Customs tax payment at the rate of 115 Nepalese rupees per day. Max 25 days issued at the Sonauli border from India. Visa on arrival is available at many land crossings from India. Registration papers from the vehicles country of origin.

Process at border

Sonauli:

Very much an open border. You need to find the visa office and customs office on your own. There is little/no security, no baggage scans, no vehicle inspection and it's fairly disorganised. Firstly get your stamp to exit India. This is a small office about 3km before the Sonauli border - it honestly doesn't look remotely legitimate but they will stamp your exit from India and were easy to deal with. Secondly drive into Nepal and almost immediately on the right hand side you will see the immigration office where you can get your VOA. Then walk across the road and go to the customs office to pay the road/customs tax on your vehicle. After all of this you're on your way no more questions asked. Takes about 2 hrs in total.

Cost of entry

115 Nepalese rupees per day

Permitted length of stay

You are required to pay a customs tax upon entry at the border at the rate of 115 NRP per day. At the Sonauli entry point from India they will issue a maximum of 25 days though this took some convincing after being initially informed it was a maximum of 10days. On a tourist visa you can stay in Nepal a max of 150days of the year. Visas for 15days/30/90 are issued at the Sonauli border.

You may extend customs tax at the customs desk within the arrivals section of KTM airport only. You need to enter through security and there is a small desk near baggage claim - ask the guards/airport staff to go to international customs and mention or show your customs papers. Some people you ask will have no idea and may tell you to go to department of customs in the city or at the domestic airport however this is wrong - at international arrivals terminal only!

With carnet du passage you may extend your road/customs tax up to 6months.

Without CDP your vehicle may stay only 30days in the country, no exceptions.

With an international number plate you draw a significant amount of attention from the police - especially if you are entering conservation areas that require permits to enter. If stopped at one these checkpoints they will always ask to see your customs tax and there are(reportedly) very serious/expensive consequences for failure to present current tax documents.

Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country

Describe if/how a vehicle can be stored, and for how long.
Also mention if the owner / temporary importer can leave the country while the vehicle is in storage.

Exiting with a vehicle

You should have your customs tax stamped however if you do no plan to return in the same vehicle again you can just go and get your passport stamped out and skip going to customs.

Driving in Nepal

Recommended books for Overlanding in Nepal

Lonely Planet Nepal (travel Guide)
Lonely Planet Nepal (travel Guide)
by Lonely Planet, Bradley Mayhew, Lindsay Brown, Stua...
From $14.64 on Amazon
Work Less To Live Your Dreams: A Practical Guide To Sa...
Work Less To Live Your Dreams: A Practical Guide To Sa...
by Dan Grec
From $click on Amazon
Overlanders' Handbook: Worldwide Route And Planning Gu...
Overlanders' Handbook: Worldwide Route And Planning Gu...
by Chris Scott
From $22.49 on Amazon
Adventure Motorcycling Handbook: A Route & Planning Gu...
Adventure Motorcycling Handbook: A Route & Planning Gu...
by Chris Scott
From $click on Amazon
Nepal Handbook (footprint Nepal Handbook)
Nepal Handbook (footprint Nepal Handbook)
by Robert Ferguson
From $14.07 on Amazon

Travel insurance for Nepal

World Nomads offer the most flexible Travel Insurance at the best prices for multi-country / multi-year trips. You can buy, extend and claim online, even after you've left home.

Vehicle insurance requirements

Yes or No if insurance is mandatory, and what kind is acceptable.

Cost of vehicle insurance

State the price of insurance and a time period.

Where to purchase vehicle insurance

Describe where insurance can be purchased.

Driving license

State the kind of driving licenses required. i.e. International Driving Permit.

Driving side of road

Left.
Unknown if LHD vehicles can be driven in Nepal.

Mandatory items in vehicle

State any mandatory items that must be carried in the vehicle. (i.e. safety triangle, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, etc.)

Roads

General Road quality

Give a brief description of the general road quality. Mention if one way streets are common.

Road signs

Briefly describe the overall quality & existence of road signs for directions and hazards.

Toll roads

List the frequency and approximate price of toll roads.

Bribery in Nepal

Briefly describe how common bribery is and whether it should be expected, and the best way to deal with it.

Checkpoints

describe the frequency of checkpoints (police or military and what to expect.

Traveling with pets

List the entry requirements and anything else required to travel with a pet.

Gas price in Nepal and Diesel price in Nepal

Last updated: October 2012

Currency and unit to display:

Gasoline Grade Price
Unleaded €1.16 EUR per Liter[1]
Diesel €0.90 EUR per Liter[1]

Gas and Diesel Availability / Frequency

Briefly describe if gas shortages are known to occur.
Also state the approximate average distance between gas stations. This is a very rough estimate.

Gas and Diesel Quality

Discuss if gasoline / diesel considered "clean" or "dirty", and generally high or low quality.
State the sulfur content of diesel, if known.

Safety and Security Considerations

Driving at night

Discuss driving at night and if it should it be avoided. Mention why.

Vehicle parking

Discuss if vehicles can be parked on the street, if they are considered "safe" at night. If vehicles can not be parked on the street, list the other options that exist.

Special driving considerations

A List of special things to be careful of (i.e. Unsigned speed bumps, abnormal road rules, people or animals on the road, etc.).
List any roads that are not recommended to drive for safety or other security reasons.

Security advisories and information

Camping in Nepal

Describe if organized "pay" camping is common. List the facilities commonly found at these campsites.
List the approximate average price range of camping in organized campgrounds.
Also discuss the possibility of "wild" or "roadside" camping. How common is it? Is it considered safe, or a bad idea.

Camping guide books

List and link to books specifically for camping.

Drinking water

Describe if the regular tap water is safe to drink. If not, describe where safe water can be purchased and the approximate average price range.

Navigation

Paper maps

Reise Know-How are amoung the best paper maps. Purchase paper maps before arriving in Nepal

Nepal
Nepal
by Reise Know-How Verlag
From $14.95 on Amazon
Nepal (national Geographic Adventure Map)
Nepal (national Geographic Adventure Map)
by National Geographic Maps - Adventure
From $8.69 on Amazon
Lonely Planet Nepal (travel Guide)
Lonely Planet Nepal (travel Guide)
by Lonely Planet, Bradley Mayhew, Lindsay Brown, Stua...
From $14.64 on Amazon
Lonely Planet Nepal (travel Guide)
Lonely Planet Nepal (travel Guide)
by Lonely Planet, Bradley Mayhew, Lindsay Brown, Stua...
From $14.64 on Amazon

GPS Maps of Nepal

Review different GPS companies, quality and coverage (Tomtom, Garmin, OSM, Tracks4Africa). (with links to each).

GPS co-ordinates for camping, propane, gas, repairs, etc. in Nepal

  • iOverlander is a website and iPhone application designed by Overlanders, for Overlanders. It contains GPS co-ordinates and reviews for camping, hotels, propane, water, mechanics, borders and much more.

Link to sites that have a list of GPS co-ordinates (or directions) for camping locations (including "wild" campsites), propane filling, gas stations, repair shops, places of interest, etc.

Special Overland Travel interests

List any special items / places that are popular with Overlanders

Vehicle Maintenance

Dealers

4x4s / Trucks

Motorbikes

Local Garages

Add known good mechanics here.

Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Nepal

Buy
Describe how a foreigner can buy a vehicle. List any difficulties or limitations on where the vehicle can be driven.

Sell
Describe how a foreigner can sell a foreign-plated vehicle, or list not possible.'

References

Links to the source of any information - blogs or discussion forums, etc.

  1. 1.0 1.1 World petrol prices, gas prices, diesel prices|MyTravelCost.com

Helpful External links

[everest base camp trek guide ]