Kathmandu the capital city can be described with a single word - 'EXOTIC'. It's array of Pagodas dedicated to every deity in the Hindu pantheon and Buddhist Chaityas are a sculptor's dream and architect's delight. Old and new rests parallel to each other in Kathmandu by the way of people, life, buildings and streets.

Trekking and climbing in the mountains, rafting on the turbulent rivers, safaris in the jungles and sightseeing in Kathmandu are all laid out for the visitor on a platter.

Ample Travels has compiled a set of information and itineraries with the hope that the same will be helpful for your fantastic journey.

Geography

Nepal is a landlocked country between India in the south, east and west and Tibetan Autonomous Region of China on the north, 550-miles/880 km long and 150-miles/240 km wide. The country is rectangular in shape stretching from east to west. Her 56,826 sq. miles/147181 sq. km. is divided lengthwise into three strips. The northernmost strip is the Himalaya, meaning "abode of snow". It includes eight of the fourteen highest mountains in the world. The southernmost region, which is the narrowest of the three strips, is called the Terai. It is an extension of the Gangetic plain of northern India, a jungle with elephants, rhinoceroses and tigers. Between the two outer strips lies an interface region of mountain, hills and valleys.

Entering Nepal

The capital Kathmandu is linked by air with Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbay, Calcutta, Varanasi, Patna, Dhaka (Bangladesh), Paro (Bhutan), Karachi (Pakistan), Bangkok (Thailand), Sanghai (China), Osaka (Japan), Hongkong, Singapore, Dubai, Doha, Vienna, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, London, Moscow, Doha and Lhasa, Chengdu. Similarly, Nepal is very close by overland journey's from the nearest Indian cities of Nepal border,as well as Dhaka and Tibet side of China. At present, besides the national carrier Royal Nepal Airlines, Indian Airlines, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Pakistan IAirlines, Thai Airways, Druk Air, Qatar Airways, Austrian Airlines, Gulf Air, Air Sahara, Jet Airways, Cosmic Air, have direct regular flights to Kathmandu.

Entry Formalities

Visa
Except for Indian nationals all other citizens must possess a valid visa secured from any of the Royal Nepalese embassy or Consulates abroad. Tourist visa can also be obtained at the airport or check post after filling the relevant application from affixed with two photographs and paying the visa fee. This can also be extended for a further period by paying additional cost maximum for five months. There is FREE visa for all tourists who visit NEPAL for only three days. Present visa fee is as follows but subjects to change time to time....more

Passport
A valid passport is required for all nationals but citizenship card or election commission card is also valid for Indians nationals.

Health
A visitor must has of sound health however international certificate of vaccination regarding current inoculation against cholera, typhoid and yellow fever are not required.

Custom
All baggage must be identified and have to pass through customs inspection at the port of entry. Personal effects are allowed in duty free. Dutiable goods such as Camera with 12 plates or 5 rolls of films, one bottle of liquor, 200 cigarettes, one tent and camping equipment are allowed in free of duty. Others (such as Video Camera, Tape recorder and Transistors) should be declared and will be endorsed on the passport.

Time
5 hrs. 45 minutes ahead of GMT and 15 minutes ahead of Indian Standard Time.

Climate
Climate of Nepal varies from area to area depending upon the altitude of the place. A visit to Nepal is possible around the year, but activities like Mountain flight, Jungle Safari Excursions, Ratings & Trekking are good from October till May.

Clothing
Warm clothes are required from November to February and tropical wear from March till October.

Local Currency
Nepalese currency is subdivided into 100 Paisa. The denominations of currency notes are available in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 500 & 1000 rupees. Similarly, coins are available in 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 Paisa & Rs. 1, 2, 5 , which are in circulation.

Banking Hours
Normal banking hours Monday - Friday 900 to 1500 hrs however, some commercial banks like Nepal investment bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Himalyan Bank, Nabil Bank have week long costumer service and ATM facility is available for 24 hours round the year.

Credit Cards
Visa Cards & Master Cards are widely accepted by hotels and leading travel , and trekking agents.

Religion
The major religions of Nepal are Hinduism (90%), Buddhism (6%), Islam (3%), and the rest is Christianity (1%) and include very few others.

Population
Nepal has almost 23 million people according to recent government data, composed of variety of races and tribes speaking different languages and dialects.

Language
Nepali is the official language, English is understood widely as spoken by majority of people in Kathmandu Valley & other big cities and most of the people in the major tourists destinations speak English.

Water
In Kathmandu, boiled and filtered water as well as mineral water is available in most of the Hotels and Restaurants. Elsewhere, it is advisable to use water sterilization tablets or stick to tea & soft drinks.

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50 cycles throughout the country.

Official Weekly Holiday
Saturday & Sunday are the official weekly holiday in Kathmandu Valley. Most of the shops dealing in Handicraft are closed on Saturday, while Museums throughout the valley remain closed on Tuesdays & other Government Holidays.

Working hours and Holidays
Majority of the offices and shopping areas remain closed on Saturday. Shops usually remain open from 9.30 a. m. to 7 p. m. but small tourist shops may open much later.

Measures
Officially Nepal has adopted the metric system. Temperature is measured in Centigrade. Weights are measured in Kilograms.

Liability: "Ample Travels acts as intermediary between the concerned airlines, hotels, transport - operators and local tourist offices providing the services. Ample Travel is therefore not responsible for any loss, injury or damage sustained by the tourists including those occurring outside the touring programs. Additional expenses incurred due to delay, accidents, natural disaster, political actions and unrest must be borne by the tourists. Program, prices, services and conditions are based on those valid at the time of printing and are therefore subject to change without advance notice before or during the tour. Participation in our tour implies the tourists agreement to the above conditions".

Temperatures (°C) in Kathmandu:

Encashment of Foreign Currency
Traveler's cheques and foreign currency notes can be easily converted into Nepalese currency with any branch of a bank authorised to deal in foreign exchange or licensed money changers.

Currency Exchange
Foreign currency rate is declared with the guidelines prescribed by Nepal Rastra Bank. Commercial banks accept the following currencies: Pound-Sterling, Euro, US Dollar, Chinese Yuan, Japanese Yen, Indian Rupees, Swiss-Francs, Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar,are widely accepted.

Purchase of Goods by Foreign Tourists
1. Shops/emporia selling goods or providing services to foreign tourist are permitted to accept payment in foreign exchange in the following manner:
a) Against internationally recognised Credit Cards.
b) By bank drafts drawn in approved foreign currencies on banks in Nepal;
c) By travellers cheques in foreign currency;

ii) Foreign tourists are permitted by Nepalese customs to take with them goods purchased in Nepal (except banned items) without any value limit, provided the goods are purchased out of funds brought from abroad. Some shops and emporia also undertake to send the goods abroad as unaccompanied baggage at the request of the tourists.

Contact Numbers After Office Hours
Mr. Lekha Nath Bhandari – Managing Director:
Tel: +977-1-4429362
Mobile +977-9815023226

Payment Condition
Full Payment must reach us at least 15 days prior to the arrival of the client. Payment should be made by Bank transfer or offline credit card bank transfer only. We do not accept company or personal Cheque.

Note: Sight seeing program may be flexible according to situation.

Cost : U.S .$ 550 Per Person

Cost includes :
All transportation from Kathmandu to Kodari and Zhangmu to Lhasa by either private mini coach or Toyota Land Cruiser, sight seeing, main entry fees, an English speaking guide, accommodation in twin sharing basis in the Hotel or Guest Houses, breakfast and necessary travel permits flight ticket Lhasa to Kathmandu.

Cost excludes:
Emergency visa charge if not applied before one week, airport tax, Nepal re-entry visa, lunch, dinner, drinks, refreshment, cancellation of flights, reconfirmation of tickets, photograph fee inside the monastery, insurance and extra costs resulted due to land slide,accident or any drastic change of the situational.

What to bring?
We make all the arrangement of transport and accommodation. If you want to have an extra sleeping bag that will be better sometimes. The climate in Tibet is usually cold so you are suggested to have a pair of warm clothes, trekking boots, sun glass, anti- sun lotion, chip stick, medicines of high altitude sickness, torch light, camera, hat etc.

Restriction:
Having photograph is strictly prohibited in Tibet without permission. You are not allowed to talk about Chinese government and their internal affair. You must not violet any rules and regulations norms and values of China.