Use ride apps in Kathmandu, carry cash beyond cities, and verify every trekking permit
Check Nepal's Department of Immigration rules for your passport before departure.
Many visitors can obtain a tourist visa on arrival and may complete the official online form first, but eligibility and documents vary. Use only nepaliport.immigration.gov.np because Nepal's authorities warn about fraudulent visa sites. Carry Nepalese rupees and more than one physical card. Card terminals are concentrated in larger hotels, shops and restaurants, while cash remains important outside Kathmandu and Pokhara and on treks.
Nepal Now is a new visitor QR wallet, not a replacement for cash. Trekking rules depend on the route: many protected-area itineraries require a licensed guide and an agency-issued TIMS card, with separate permits for restricted areas. Check the exact route with Nepal Tourism Board and a registered trekking agency. Arrange insurance that explicitly covers your altitude and helicopter rescue before travel.
Road and domestic-flight delays are common, especially during the June to October monsoon, so avoid tight connections. Save Tourist Police 1144 and emergency numbers offline.
Nepal's established multipurpose app for motorcycle and car rides, with coverage that varies by city.
A popular ride app that lets you propose a fare and choose among responding drivers.
A new Kathmandu Valley option for app-priced car and motorcycle rides, launched in June 2026.
A fixed-price Kathmandu ride app that is often competitive with Pathao and inDrive.
Nepal's established delivery marketplace for Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, Butwal and supported nearby areas.
Pathao Food adds Kathmandu restaurant delivery to the same account used for local rides.
A long-running Nepal restaurant and delivery app, previously branded Bhojdeals, with late-hour listings.
A new Fonepay wallet for verified international visitors to fund and pay at participating Fonepay QR merchants.
The best general map for city roads, accommodation, restaurants and saved places in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
A strong hiking map with marked routes, elevation details and offline coverage for one free country.
A free offline OpenStreetMap backup for roads, paths and points of interest without an account.
The official route and vehicle-tracking app for Sajha Yatayat buses, not Kathmandu's whole transit network.
The official Department of Immigration form for starting a tourist visa application before arrival.
The official route list and process for agency-issued trekker registration where TIMS rules apply.
Useful for short Nepali text, signs and messages when English is unavailable or Devanagari is difficult to read.
A major Nepal booking platform for participating tourist and intercity buses, seat selection and some flights.
The airline's own app for its domestic bookings, check-in, schedules and flight-status information.
The official visitor-safety page with Tourist Police contacts, locations and emergency numbers.
Nepal's official disaster-information portal for hazards, incidents, alerts and risk information.
Reliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.
One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.
Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.
Carry a passport photo and photocopy as well as the original passport; shop equipment may be unavailable.
A solid alternative; compare current prepaid offers before buying.
Strong in major cities, with weaker rural coverage.
A solid alternative; compare current prepaid offers before buying.
A solid alternative; compare current prepaid offers before buying.
The essential apps for Nepal are Pathao, inDrive, Foodmandu, WhatsApp, Google Maps.
We've curated 21 apps across 11 categories for traveling in Nepal, including 10 essential apps.
Pathao is the top-rated ride hailing app in Nepal. Nepal's established multipurpose app for motorcycle and car rides, with coverage that varies by city.
Tracked rides, official tickets and cash backups make Bangladesh easier to navigate
Prepare entry, payments and city-specific transport before a complex trip
Use two ride apps, book scenic trains early, and keep cash beyond the cities
Arrange arrival and island transfers first, then add local apps only if your itinerary needs them
inDrive in the cities, cash for daily life, and official alerts for the road north
