Everest may be its most famous landmark, but there are so many more sights in Nepal that will take your breath away. Lush jungles and glacial lakes. Swinging bridges and magnificent temples. Fluttering prayer flags and snow-blanketed peaks.

Nepali culture, too, is incredibly diverse; the country is home to about 101 ethnic groups speaking over 92 languages.¹ Don’t be afraid to venture away from the tourist “Golden Triangle” of Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan! The longer you spend in Nepal and get to know its people, the more you’ll fall in love.

Here’s our quick travel guide to Nepal: the best things to do, the best places to stay and eat, and the best travel insurance to protect your adventures.

3 reasons to buy travel insurance for Nepal

1. Coverage for medical evacuations is crucial. Whether you venture to the tropical forests of Chitwan or the glacial steppes of the Himalayas, one thing is true: You are very, very far from everything. “Those trekking in remote areas of Nepal should factor the high cost of a potential helicopter rescue into their financial considerations. Medical evacuations can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Payment will be expected in cash before the medevac can take place, if there is no insurance coverage,” the U.S. Department of State cautions.² If you need a medical evacuation to the U.S., that can cost more than $50,000.³
   
   That’s why travel insurance for Nepal must include emergency transportation benefits, which can pay for your transportation to the nearest high-quality hospital following a medical emergency as well as your flight home. Read your plan first so you understand what’s covered: Your travel insurance plan excludes losses from high-risk and high-altitude (over 15,000 feet) activities.
2. Travel insurance can pay for your care in a medical emergency. Did you know that U.S. health insurance will typically not cover emergency medical expenses overseas? In Nepal, “travelers should be prepared to pay their bills in full before treatment begins or before discharge from an in-patient facility,” the U.S. Embassy in Nepal says.⁴ A travel insurance plan with emergency medical and dental benefits can reimburse the cost of your care or even advance payments to the hospital, following a covered medical emergency.
3. Insurance helps you deal with unexpected travel mishaps. Travel in Nepal can be a bit chaotic. Road conditions are poor. Earthquakes, floods, and other natural disasters occur fairly often. All Allianz Travel Insurance plans include 24-hour assistance, accessible by phone or with the Allyz® App, to help you deal with travel challenges. Plus, your trip delay benefits can reimburse you for eligible expenses during a covered travel delay, such as food and accommodations.

3 of the best travel insurance plans for Nepal

1. OneTrip Prime is our most popular plan for international trips, thanks to its generous emergency medical benefits, trip cancellation/interruption benefits, and post-departure trip protections. Kids 17 and under are covered for free when they’re traveling with a parent or grandparent (not available on policies issued to Pennsylvania residents).
2. OneTrip Premier doubles nearly all the post-departure benefit limits of OneTrip Prime, with up to $1 million in emergency medical transportation. Like OneTrip Prime, OneTrip Premier OneTrip Premier offers a fixed inconvenience payment of $100 per insured person, per day, for covered travel delays and baggage delays — no receipts required!
3. OneTrip Basic is a great choice for international travelers on a budget. It includes all the essentials for your trip to Nepal: up to $10,000 in emergency medical benefits, up to $10,000 in trip cancellation/interruption benefits, and more.

See all plan options and get a quote for your next trip.

3 of the best things to do in Nepal

1. Explore Chitwan National Park. Nepal’s oldest national park, Chitwan is renowned for protecting rare species like the Indian rhinoceros and the Bengal tiger. See wildlife on a walking safari, a jeep safari, or a guided canoe tour on the Rapti River (keep an eye out for the gharial, a large toothy crocodile).
2. Trek the Himalayan steppes. You don’t need to be a mountaineer to experience the breathtaking scenery of Nepal. Dozens of treks, varying in length and difficulty, will take you through forests and picturesque villages and into the high mountain passes.
3. Visit the Buddha’s birthplace. The town of Lumbini, in southern Nepal, is a detour from the typical tourist itinerary, but it’s well worth the journey. Explore the sacred sites by bicycle, by boat, or on a guided tour that offers insights from a Buddhist scholar.

3 of the best hotels in Nepal

Unlike elephant “sanctuaries” that exploit the animals, Tiger Tops Tharu Lodge—a luxury eco-lodge on the edge of Chitwan National Park—offers an ethical, respectful, and truly magical experience. Stay in the 12-room lodge or one of the nicely appointed safari tents. You can help harvest grass for the resident elephant herd, walk with them and their mahouts (keepers) through the jungle, or sip a cocktail at sunset while watching the elephants bathe in the river.

For a sublime wellness experience in the Himalayas, stay at The Dwarika’s. “Under the guidance of our in-house Ayurvedic doctor and naturopathy expert, meditation, yoga and astrology masters, Hindu priest and visiting monk, you will be able to find an atmosphere of complete harmony, renewal and growth,” the resort promises. Expect spacious and serene suites, organic food, and special features such as a Himalayan salt house, chakra sound chambers, and a meditation maze.

While you’re in Kathmandu, check into Kailash Boutique Hotel in the popular Thamel neighborhood. Traditional craftsmanship meets modern design in the clean and comfortable rooms. Guests praise the breakfast and the gracious staff, who are happy to help you arrange activities during your stay.

3 of the best restaurants in Kathmandu

Kathmandu is home to all kinds of restaurants, from French bakeries to sushi spots. But for authentic local food, these are a few standouts.

Craving momos? Yangling Tibetan Restaurant is acclaimed for its version of the popular dumplings. Try the pork momos, chicken momos, mutton momos, or veggie momos, all with a signature chili flavor that’s just the right amount of heat.

Raithaane is the place to taste a little something from all of Nepal’s geographically diverse regions: “dishes from the Thakali people (crispy buckwheat fries), Sherpas (potato pancakes with yak butter), and the Limbu and Rai communities (fried pork nuggets and chewy-soft lichen on rice cooked in mustard oil) often grace the menu.”⁵

For fine dining in Kathmandu, book a table at Jimbu Thakali. This restaurant celebrates the flavors of  Nepal’s mountainous Mustang region. Ingredients include buckwheat and barley; fermented greens; yak and goat meat; lentils and beans. At Jimbu Thakali, try the dhido (a thick grain porridge with condiments) and the thakali khana, a set meal of lentil soup, rice, vegetable curry or meat curry, pickles, and greens.

Ready to explore? Book your trip, get your travel insurance, and you’re good to go. See the best protection plans for international travel from Allianz Travel Insurance.

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