Nepal uses the Nepalese Rupee, NPR, and cash is still king. Cards work mainly in Kathmandu and Pokhara at bigger hotels, some restaurants, supermarkets, and tour offices, usually Visa or Mastercard. Outside cities and on treks, assume cash only. Many ATMs charge around NPR 500 per withdrawal, and foreign card limits are often about NPR 20,000 to 35,000 each time, so small withdrawals get annoying fast. Use licensed money changers in Thamel or Lakeside for better rates than the airport. Carry small notes, and always refuse dynamic currency conversion on card machines and ATMs.

Nepal splits by altitude, not just by season. The Terai lowlands are hot and humid, often above 40°C in late spring, while Kathmandu Valley is milder, around 20°C to 35°C in summer and 2°C to 12°C in winter. Head into the high Himalaya and temperatures drop fast, roughly 6°C per 1,000 m gained. Monsoon runs June to September and brings about 80% of yearly rain, plus landslides and cloud. October to November is usually the clearest period. Spring, March to May, is warm with good trekking weather.

The biggest real risk in Nepal is road travel, especially in monsoon when landslides, floods, and bad roads can turn a simple bus ride into a long, messy day. In cities, watch for pickpockets and bag snatching around Thamel, bus parks, and airports. Some women face extra risk in tourist areas late at night, so use more caution there. Protests and strikes can block transport with little warning. Skip the Rasuwagadhi, Timure, Syafrubesi area in Rasuwa district right now. Be careful with trekking deals that look too cheap, especially if rescue talk starts too early.

Tourist buses are the backpacker default on main routes like Kathmandu to Pokhara or Chitwan. Expect around NPR 1,200 to 3,500 for tourist or VIP buses, and roughly NPR 800 to 1,000 for cheaper local or express options on Kathmandu to Pokhara. Book on BusSewa, MeroTickets, UthBus, or through guesthouses. For city rides, Pathao and inDrive save a lot of taxi arguing. Flights with Buddha Air and Yeti are fast, about 25 minutes Kathmandu to Pokhara, but weather delays are common. Shared jeeps are useful for rough trailhead roads.

Do not treat tap water as safe. Use filtered, boiled, or sealed water, and be careful with ice and washed salads if the place looks sloppy. Stomach problems are common, and Nepal also has risk from hepatitis A, typhoid, cholera, and measles. In the mountains, altitude sickness is the big one, especially on Everest and Annapurna routes. Go up slowly and do not push through symptoms. Malaria is only a concern in some lowland parts of Sudurpashchim and Karnali below 2,000 m. Medical care is limited outside Kathmandu, so insurance with evacuation cover is very important.

For a physical SIM, the two names to know are Ncell and Nepal Telecom, usually called NTC. Ncell is easy for short stays and sells tourist SIMs at Kathmandu airport, Ncell Centres, and authorized shops. Tourist packs cost NPR 595 for 7 days, NPR 995 for 14 days, and NPR 1,995 for 28 days. NTC is often better for wider rural coverage and has cheap data add-ons like 1 GB for NPR 30 and 2 GB for NPR 40. Bring your passport, and for NTC also a passport photo. Coverage is fine in cities, patchy in remote trekking areas.

Nepali is the main travel language, but Nepal is very multilingual, with many regional languages depending on where you go. English works fairly well in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Thamel, Lakeside, hostels, trekking agencies, and on popular trekking routes. At bus stations, local markets, and in smaller towns, English drops off fast. A few simple words like Namaste and dhanyabad help more than expected.

Daily life in Nepal is polite, a bit slow, and easier if you stay patient. A friendly Namaste goes further than a hard sales tone. Tipping is appreciated, especially for trekking guides and porters, but it is less serious in regular restaurants if a service charge is already there. Haggling is normal in markets, souvenir shops, and taxis without meters, but keep it light. Dress modestly in temples, monasteries, and villages, shoulders and knees covered is the safe choice. Shoes come off in homes and many religious places. First-time visitors are often surprised how quickly city tourist comfort turns into village simplicity.

Food in Nepal is simple, filling, and very backpacker-friendly. Dal bhat is the standard fuel, especially on treks, and momos are the everyday snack that keeps showing up for good reason. In cities, budget travel usually means local canteens, street momos, and cheap guesthouse meals rather than trendy cafes. A realistic backpacker budget is around NPR 3,800 to 6,100 per day including a bed, basic meals, and local transport, but trekking days cost more. In trekking areas, prices rise with altitude, so eat local and keep cash ready. Tea houses and simple lodges usually keep the food plain but reliable.