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Things to Do in Nepal

From Kathmandu's ancient temples to Everest Base Camp - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.

Travel guide - last updated September 2026

Nepal is built almost entirely around the Himalayas - trekking is the reason most visitors come, whether that means a multi-day approach to Everest Base Camp, the longer and more varied Annapurna Circuit, or simply a lakeside town like Pokhara with mountain views and none of the altitude. Kathmandu, the capital, anchors most itineraries as the arrival point. Here are 8 places worth building a trip around.

Top attractions

The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.

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Everest Base Camp Trek

A roughly 12-14 day round trip from Lukla, reaching 5,364 meters without technical climbing gear - Nepal's best-known trek, and a serious physical undertaking requiring real altitude acclimatization.

📍 Khumbu, Everest region

🚉 Nepal has no railway to the mountains: the trek starts with the 35-minute flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, weather permitting, or a long jeep ride to Salleri and three extra walking days.

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Annapurna Circuit

A longer, more varied trek through a wider range of landscapes and villages than Everest Base Camp, often considered one of the best long-distance treks in the world for its diversity of scenery.

📍 Annapurna region

🚉 Pokhara and Besisahar are the trailheads, reached by tourist bus from Kathmandu in six to eight hours; jeeps now run up the road as far as Manang, which many walkers use to skip the first days.

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Kathmandu Durbar Square

A UNESCO-listed plaza of palaces and temples at the heart of the old royal city, alongside Swayambhunath (the 'Monkey Temple') and Boudhanath's massive Buddhist stupa nearby.

📍 Kathmandu

🚉 The square is in the old city, a 20-minute walk from Thamel where most visitors stay - Kathmandu has no metro, and taxis or the Sajha buses cover longer trips across the valley.

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Pokhara

A lakeside city with direct views of the Annapurna range, and the standard starting point for both the Annapurna Circuit and shorter treks like Poon Hill for those with less time.

📍 Pokhara

🚉 Tourist buses from Kathmandu take seven hours on the Prithvi Highway, or the flight takes 25 minutes; Lakeside is walkable, and taxis run to the Sarangkot sunrise viewpoint.

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Paragliding, Pokhara

Tandem paragliding flights over Phewa Lake with the Annapurna range as a backdrop - one of the more accessible ways to see the mountains without a multi-day trek.

📍 Pokhara

🚉 Flights launch from Sarangkot, a 30-minute jeep ride above Lakeside that operators include, and land at Khapaudi by the lake, where their vehicles collect you.

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Chitwan National Park

A lowland national park in the Terai region, home to one-horned rhinos, Bengal tigers and elephants - a complete contrast to the mountain regions, and reachable by a short flight or drive from Kathmandu.

📍 Chitwan, Terai region

🚉 Buses from Kathmandu and Pokhara take five to six hours to Sauraha, the park's gateway village, where jeeps and canoe trips into the park are arranged.

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Lumbini

The birthplace of the Buddha, near the Indian border, now a UNESCO World Heritage pilgrimage site with monasteries built by Buddhist communities from around the world.

📍 Lumbini

🚉 Buses run from Kathmandu in eight hours or from Pokhara in six to Bhairahawa, then a local bus or taxi covers the last 20km to the Maya Devi temple and the monastic zone.

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Poon Hill Trek

A shorter, easier 4-5 day trek to a 3,210-meter viewpoint over the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges - a good option for those wanting Himalayan views without the full altitude or duration of the longer treks.

📍 Annapurna region

🚉 Start from Nayapul or Ulleri, an hour and a half by taxi or local bus from Pokhara, and walk up through Ghandruk and Ghorepani - no vehicle goes beyond the trailhead.

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Planning questions

How many days do you need in Nepal?

10 days suits Kathmandu plus a shorter trek like Poon Hill. Everest Base Camp or the full Annapurna Circuit each need roughly two weeks including acclimatization days.

What's the best time to visit Nepal?

October-November and March-April have the clearest mountain views and most stable trekking weather. The monsoon (June-September) brings heavy rain and obscured views; December-February is cold at altitude but clear.

Is Nepal good for a first-time visit?

It's manageable with preparation, especially for trekking - a licensed guide and porter are widely used and recommended for Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit, and altitude sickness is a real risk worth taking seriously.

Do I need a visa to visit Nepal?

Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival at Kathmandu's airport or land borders by paying a fee in cash or card, valid for 15, 30 or 90 days; a small number of nationalities need to arrange a visa in advance instead. Check the official visa information for your nationality: immigration.gov.np.

What are some things to do in Nepal on a tight budget?

Teahouse trekking (staying in basic guesthouses along the trail) is far cheaper than organized camping treks, Kathmandu's Durbar Square and Boudhanath stupa cost little to visit, and local dal bhat meals are inexpensive and, on a trek, often refillable.

Can I rent a car in Nepal, and what licence do I need?

Self-drive rental is rare and rarely advisable: mountain roads, monsoon landslides and Kathmandu traffic make hiring a car with a driver the standard arrangement, and it costs little more. If you do drive, Nepal requires an International Driving Permit alongside your home licence, or a Nepali licence for longer stays, and traffic drives on the left. Motorbike rental is common in Pokhara and carries the same requirement. Official transport information is published by the Department of Transport Management at dotm.gov.np, with visitor guidance from the Nepal Tourism Board at ntb.gov.np.