Nepal Visa's...What's the deal?

If you are traveling to Nepal, then unless you are an Indian or Nepali national you are required to have a valid visa.

These can be obtained in two ways.

• 1 - Before departure
• 2 - On arrival at Tribhuvan airport, Kathmandu.

If you opt for option 1, Click on the following links depending on your country of residence...
UK  - http://www.nepembassy.org.uk/visa.php 
USA - http://www.nepalembassyusa.org/visa.php
Australia & New Zealand - http://www.necan.gov.np/services.htm
Canada - http://www.nepalembassy.ca/
South Africa - http://www.dfa.gov.za

Make sure that you leave more than enough time for them to return your passport to you.

If instead you are going to get your visa on arrival you will need to make sure you have a colour passport photo with you and the correct amount of money with you in US$. (There is an ATM at the airport, but it is often out of service so do not rely on it). And a pen - you'll be lucky to find one at the airport!! 

Once you reach the visa hall, proceed to the 'Tourist without Visa' and queue. If you are lucky and there is no queue you will be out within minutes, however, depending on how many people are on your flight you may be waiting for up to an hour. To get a jump on the queue you can download the form here immi.gov.np/download/app1.pdf. 

The maximum duration visa you can get on arrival is 3 months, although tourists are permitted to stay up to 5 months a year (150 days). So if you wish to stay longer than your three months you will need to apply for an extension which can be done in either Kathmandu or Pokhara

Current Visa fees...

Type of Visa	Visa Valid for	Fee
Multiple Entry	15 days	£20/-
Multiple Entry	30 days	£35/-
Multiple Entry	90 days	£75/-

Entry points for visa on arrival in Nepal:

1. TIA, Kathmandu. 

2. Kakarvitta, Jhapa (East Nepal)

3. Birganj, Parsa (Central Nepal)

4. Kodari, Sindhupalchowk (North border)

5. Belahia, Bhairahawa (Sunauli)

6. Jamunaha, Nepalganju (Mid-West Nepal)

7. Mohana, Dhangadhi (Kailali, Far West Nepal) 

8. gaddachauki, Mahendranagar (Kanchanpur, Far West Nepal)

Other Questions:
Where can I extend my tourist visa? Kathmandu or Pokhara, Pokhara is quicker and easier if you are in that area. 
How much time does it take to extend? Usually you are in and out within the same day, but depending on how busy it is, you can expect up to a 4 hour wait. 
I'm going to be on a rafting trip when my visa expires what should I do? Make sure you extend your visa before you go otherwise you will have to pay a fine.

If you have any questions about applying for your visa then please feel free to contact us on info@grgadventurekayaking.com 

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Top Tips on Responsible Travel

No matter what you are doing in your destination of choice, kayaking, trekking, volunteering, paragliding or simply chilling out and sightseeing; There are a few things that we can all do to avoid causing offence or harming the environment and to be a responsible traveler. Remember, your actions count. Here are up top tips to make you a more ethical traveler!!

·         Understand and respect local cultures, traditions and holy places. You would be mortified to think that you had offended anyone when you arrive so it's worth knowing some of the local cultures. For example in Nepal, it is rude to shake hands, exchange money or eat using your left hand (as this is your dirty hand), it is also frowned upon to touch children on the top of their heads and you should always take off your shoes before entering a monastery. Read more about Nepali cultures and etiquette. 

·         Buy locally - If you want to buy your own food or get some snacks, get out of the big western supermarket and buy straight from the market. It's the same produce and you will be helping small businesses survive. You will most likely get a better price and you get the fun of wandering around the markets and meeting locals.

·         Ditch the plastic- Many countries do not have recycling facilities and if your drinking 3 litres a day for 2 weeks that's a whopping 84 bottles that will end up in a landfill somewhere. Bring (or buy) a refillable water bottle and use it as much as possible. In Nepal, many shops now have clean drinking water that you can get from a jar for just 10 rupees a litre (half the price of buying a plastic bottle)

·         Ask before taking a photo- It's common curtsey. You wouldn't like someone taking a photo of you going about your day to day business, so ask. They may say yes they may say no. If they do say no, say thank you and walk away. Most people don't mind. But it's always nice to ask first.

·         Carefully think about the souvenirs you buy- Make sure the items you buy have a legal and documented history and that they aren't stolen and are safe to be exported. You should also make sure you are not supporting activities that damage the environment or are a result of illegal activity. Make sure you are not buying a souvenir made from ivory, endangered hard woods, ancient artefacts or endangered animals.

·         Respect the environment- Our main goal is to 'leave no trace'. When your trekking, stick to the paths, don't pick any flowers or damage any trees. If your camping out, consider carefully where you will put your campfire and only use drift wood so as not to encourage de-forestation.

·         Learn a little language and get involved! -  Start with 'hello' and 'thank you'. In Nepali 'Namaste' and 'Dhanybhad'. It makes a world of difference and people really appreciate it. Read our full Nepali Language Guide.

Read more about what we do as a company to be a responsible travel company 

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When's the best time to visit Nepal?

When you ask the question, When is the best time to visit Nepal? Most people will quickly respond the autumn season during October and November. The mountains are clear, the weather is perfect and conditions are great, not too cold in the mountains or to hot on the flat plains. However we think that every season has something to offer...

Winter. December - Feb. At this time of year the mountains are still clear, but the temperature does drop considerably. For trekking you need to make sure you have the correct gear with especially if you are going to high altitude, and rafting is still possible but the rivers are at their lowest (and coldest) at this point so choose your river wisely and make sure you ask for a wetsuit! This is however the perfect time for a trip to Chitwan and you should spot more wildlife than at other times of the year.

Spring. March-May. This is the second busiest season in Nepal. The weather starts to warm a little making it pleasant for trekking, the snow on the mountains begin to slowly melt raising the rivers. it is also a great time for wildlife watching and a great time if you want to see all the Rhododendron forests in bloom. However, it can be quite hazy during this time so you may not get the best mountain views. This is a great time to learn to kayak as the waters start to warm up and the river levels are still low enough for beginners.

Monsoon June - September - MONSOON!!! The monsoon normally starts mid June but can vary year to year and continues on until around September. You'll be amazed the amount of water that falls down, but it doesn't rain all day every day...mostly just in the afternoons. It is extremely hot, often going above 30 degrees. The whole country turns green, loads of yummy fruits and veg will be for sale in the markets, the air is clean, however, mountain views will totally be blocked, it gets very humid, roads sometimes disappear as they are washed away, trekking paths will have more leaches than normal. A pre-monsoon trip on the Sun Kosi River around mid June can be great fun! or for experienced kayakers, or monsoon itinerary really packs a punch!

Autumn. October - November. The main tourist season and start of the dry season. Temperatures are perfect, mountains are visible virtually everyday making it the perfect time for trekkers, the rivers are at perfect levels following the monsoon making it the best time of the year for rafting and kayaking. The only drawback is that this is when Nepal is at it's busiest. But that can be great fun exploring the bars, meeting other travelers, joining group trips will be most easy at this time of year. You will also get to witness some of the best Nepali festivals (Tihar and Dashain).

No matter what time of year you come to Nepal, you can guarantee you will have a great trip.


Rough guide to the conditions in Kathmandu at different times of the year. Please note that this is a guide and conditions vary a lot depending on the region you are planning on traveling to.

	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
TEMP MIN °C	2	4	7	12	16	19	20	20	19	13	7	3
TEMP MAX °C	18	19	25	28	30	30	30	30	28	27	23	19
RAINFALL (MM)	15	41	23	58	122	246	373	345	155	38	8	3

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It's the Monsoon!!!

It's that time of year again - the Monsoon is upon us! Many people are put of rafting and kayaking in the monsoon from rumours that all the rivers become unrunnable in Nepal, although this is true for several of the rivers, it is not the case for all of them. And we're here to tell you we're rafting ALL MONSOON!!!!

So join us this June-September on the Trisuli for 1-4 days activities, we've got rafting, kayaking and canyoning going from one beach camp and YOU are welcome to join!!

For Intermediate/Experienced kayakers we are now also offering our Monsoon Kayaking Itinerary, 5 days, 5 rivers, BIG volume! (Confirmed departure on the 4th August, guarenteed)

So get on the river this monsoon - it's the best way to cool down!

Trip Advisor Certificate Of Excellence 2014

We did it again! For a third year in a row GRG's Adventure Kayaking has been awarded the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence. 

We are extremely proud of all out team, their hard work and dedication, without who this simply would not be possible. And we would also like to say thank you to you. Every single one of you who chose GRG to go on your rafting, kayaking, canyoning or trekking adventure. To everyone who has taken the time to write a review of us and continued to keep GRG growing and be one of the best rafting companies in Nepal. 

Here's to another great year!

Read more of our reviews. 

Want to meet other kayakers in Nepal?

 

Recently we have been inundated with emails from paddlers looking for other paddles in Nepal. So, we thought we'd help you do just that.

You can let us know what dates you are here and what you've got planned and we can put them up on our site for you to find some buddies so that you can get out on these world class waters. Or simply tell us when you'll be out here, leave us your email address and we'll pass it on to others we know out here at the same time, simple!

If you've got a trip planned and want kayakers to join - let us know and we'll do our best to put you in touch!

p.s- we're not charging, or taking anything from this, just helping out fellow boaters!

ICF Slalom Development Course for Women Dec 2013

In December this year, Maila got invited to spend the week on the Belephi River (a confluence of the Bhote Kosi) to help run a Slalom training camp for women ran by the International Canoe Federation.

It was great to see so many women turn up for the event (Nepali and International) and it looks like they had a great time and really improved on their skills.

Here's a few snaps from the week...

International Rafting Federation Guide Assessment

All the guides at Mango Tree Resort getting certified for Grade IV/V Guide/Trip Leader

Maila and a few of our other staff are currently on the Marsyandi River getting their International Rafting Federation (IRF) Trip Guide and Leader for Grade IV/V River  and assessment. Followed by some of our junior staff getting their Grade III qualification. This is one of the highest qualifications a rafting guide can get and is essential for them keeping up to date with the international industry standards.

The IRF is an important body in the rafting community and strives to maintain and promote international standards of rafting and safety across the globe both commercially and recreationally.  When we heard that Mark Hirst, an exceptional guide himself was running a course in December we jumped at the chance to get some of our guides on it.

There are no laws in Nepal stipulating which qualifications Nepali Rafting Guides need to get, some don't have any! But we like to keep all our guides qualifications up to date and current  by getting them to do a variety of different courses.

Big thanks to Mark for running the course and congratulations to our own Lama and Maila getting awarded their Grade V Trip Leader! Only 4 from the whole course got it so it's a great achievement for them. 

The best DAY TRIPS in Nepal!

Short of time but looking for adventure, well then look no further as we have plenty of adventures for you!

Trisuli Rafting - Just three hours from Kathmandu this is a great little river for people traveling to or from Kathmandu, Chitwan and Pokhara - why sit on a bus for 8 hours when you can raft half or it!!? Perfect for beginner rafters, families, or people looking for a big of fun, but nothing too hardcore! We highly recommend this day trip as a different way to travel to your next destination.

Canyoning - The sport of abseiling down waterfalls. This is just an hour from Chitwan National Park but can also be easily reached from Kathmandu. Spend your day cliff jumping, abseiling and swimming in these beautiful gorges.

 

Bhote Kosi Rafting - Up for more of a challenge? Then we suggest a day trip on the Upper Bhote Kosi. 2 hours north of Kathmandu, close of the Tibetan border, this river runs continuous Grade IV/V.

Fancy joining one of our day trips? Email us now for more information.

What to do AFTER your incredible rafting trip...

So you've just finished your 4 day kayak clinic on theTrisuli or once in a lifetime raft down the Sun Kosi, what's next? Here's a few of our suggestions what you should do in Nepal after your rafting trip.

1 - Go on Safari

Take some time out and chill out in Chitwan National Park. Join one of our safari tours and go on an elephant back and walking safari in the jungle. Keep your eyes peeled for the famous one horned Rhino, Deer, Hog, Monkeys and more. We recommend the 2 night 3 day package to get the most out of your jungle experience. 

2 - Do a Bungee Jump!

Nepal boasts the second highest bungee jump and the HIGHEST canyon swing in the world. If your an adrenaline junkie why not head up to the bridge to take the jump?!

 

3 - Chill out in Pokhara

Pokhara is nothing like Kathmandu. It is peaceful, surrounded by the Annapurna mountains and a great place to spend a few days. Take a boat out on the lake, have a massage or try one of the many cocktail bars. You will feel like you are in a real holiday destination in Pokhara.

 

4 - Go on a trek in the Himalaya

Most people come to Nepal specifically for trekking and you can understand why. We have some of the most beautiful mountains in the world in Nepal. Whether you have 1 day or a month spare there are plenty of trekking options for you. Ask us for suggestions.

 

5 - Go paragliding

Due to the lake in Pokhara, Nepal is actually one of the safest destinations for paragliding. Soar with the eagles with a mountain backdrop, can you think of a better way to spend a morning?

 

6 - Visit the birthplace of Buddha

Legend has it that Buddha was born in Lumbini close to the Indian border. If you have the time this is a remarkable place to visit. Take an afternoon walk/cycle around the many temples in the area. One of the most peaceful spots in Nepal

 

7 - Biking in the Himalaya

As well as rafting and trekking, there is also some amazing mountain, downhill, single track, we've got it all! From a day trip out of the Kathmandu Valley to a week long expedition in the mountains, there's something for every level.

 

8 - Visit a few of the many Hindu and Buddhist temples.

In Kathmandu especially, there are many religious temples for you to discover. Pashupatinath, Boddhnath, Bhaktapur Durbar Square and the Monkey Temple are some of the few to give you an insight to the bright and colourful culture of Nepal.

 

9 - Go Canyoning

Abseiling down waterfalls! Jumping, climbing, scrambling and shimming down some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world. Need I saw more. It's worth the trip just to see the 100m water wall at the top of our canyoning site! Probably our second most favourite thing to do next to kayaking!

10 - Go rafting!!!

Well...come on now, we are water people! There are over 6000 rivers in Nepal and although we don't run all of them commercially, there are many rafting and kayaking trips that you can join. If you loved your first trip why not join us for another. Get in touch now to book your next rafting/kayaking adventure!

If you fancy doing any of these activities, then please visit our website for further details www.grgadventurekayaking.com or contact our office in Kathmandu info@grgadventurekayaking.com and we'll be happy to answer any questions you may have.