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Nepal

5 destinations & festivals · 2 etiquette rules

Photo: SristiAwasthi21 · CC0

Before you go

Read before you go

Red lineSafety

Nepal: you must hire a guide to trek in national parks

  • Get a trekking permit and TIMS card
  • Hire a local guide or porter
  • Trekking alone in national parks and conservation areas

Breaking the rules can mean a fine or expulsion from the protected area; above 3,000 m there are risks from weather, avalanches and altitude sickness all year.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Nepal travel advice

TabooTemples & religious sites

Nepal: temple etiquette

  • Wear clothes that cover your knees and shoulders in temples
  • Take off your shoes when asked
  • Wearing shorts or a vest at holy sites
  • Entering areas reserved for Hindus

It offends worshippers; some areas of Hindu temples are closed to non-Hindus.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Nepal travel advice

Places & local life

Landmarks, hidden gems & local life

Steamed momo in Nepal

FoodKathmandu, Nepal

Nepali momo

Steamed dumplings from Nepal and Tibet, whose name may come from northwest China's 'momo'.

Snow peaks reflected in Phewa Lake (Machapuchare and the Annapurnas)

Classic landmarkPokhara, Nepal

Phewa Lake, Pokhara

A lakeside town reflecting snowy peaks, Nepal's most relaxed blend of culture and scenery.

Maya Devi Temple, Lumbini

Classic landmarkTerai plains, Nepal

Lumbini

Birthplace of the Buddha, foremost of Buddhism's four great pilgrimage sites.

Boudhanath Stupa and the Buddha's eyes

Classic landmarkKathmandu, Nepal

Boudhanath Stupa

A circuit under the Buddha's eyes, the spiritual centre of Tibetan Buddhism.

The buildings of Kathmandu Durbar Square

Classic landmarkKathmandu, Nepal

Kathmandu Durbar Square

A royal palace square of Newar woodcarving, a microcosm of Hindu–Buddhist fusion.