The latest editions in my Nepal guidebook collection have just been published and fully updated for August 2023 including the new edition of the best guide book to Nepal in 2023 (August). Now there’s both a complete collection of all my individual guidebooks to Nepal but also the most updated and innovative guidebook to the entire country of Nepal that you can get, anywhere in the world.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has devastated the travel industry throughout the world including Nepal, I’ve continued to keep this book updated. Nepal is officially for tourists to enter with no quarantine needed for those who are vaccinated. I’ve included a dedicated section with entry requirements.
I’m proud to say that this is the only guidebook in the world that has been kept updated throughout the pandemic. I provide quality over quantity. My guidebooks prove this. The peak season will be unlike any other with record low numbers expected. March, April, May, September, October, November through to December will be the main peak seasons for tourists. This is the best guidebook to Nepal that will help you plan ahead!
Likewise, this is the ultimate guidebook to Nepal for the very latest updates including the new mandatory trekking guide rule. New trekking permits needed. The latest hotels and restaurants reviewed. Plus, all entry fees for every sight in Nepal listed – the only guidebook in the world to have all this.
There is no other place like Nepal in the world. I’ve always believed Nepal deserved a better, more modern, up to date guidebook for travelers so they can really appreciate the country. This guidebook is written with real travelers and tourists in mind first. Nepal’s intermittent electricity, low WiFi, remoteness and poor road infrastructure can make things difficult. This book addresses all this plus shows you how to use it to your advantage.
This book has an advantage over other guidebooks to Nepal which are outdated and have the same generic layout to other countries. I’ve read these books. Some continue to contain no post-earthquake post-pandemic information while others are simply out of touch with the reality of Nepal and don’t even update hotel reviews properly. This guidebook not only covers earthquake-affected temples and areas but also their reconstruction, covers eastern Nepal and I’ve personally visited every hotel/restaurant reviewed.
This book contains absolutely no advertising or sponsored trips – everything was paid for by me just like you would
This guidebook is fully up to date for August 2023, printable and best of all it works beautifully on your tablet, laptop/desktop or mobile device without WiFi or the internet.
This is the type of guidebook I’ve wanted for my own travels in Nepal for years. This book shows you Nepal like you really will experience it – I don’t mince words, I tell it like it is so you can make the most out of your trip.
The pandemic halted tourism in Nepal for the past three years. Previously, only the 2015 earthquake came close to shutting down the tourism industry. I was there then too and I kept this book updated throughout that year. That’s one of the key differences with this book compared to other guidebooks who took nearly 2 years to update earthquake information. As an independent writer and publisher I am not hampered by corporate mandates or profit margins. Indeed three years ago we saw the sale of Lonely Planet to an investor marketing group who plan to automate their updates with computer learning – their latest Nepal guidebook is now woefully outdated with no hotels listings, no entry prices, and convoluted layouts. Not only that but during the pandemic while I kept updates coming for travelers headed to Nepal they shut their offices and laid off staff. That’s the reality of it.
In January 2022 Nepal opened its doors to the world post pandemic and in 2023 all restrictions were lifted. Today you can now get a visa on arrival. inated with a certificate to get a visa on arrival with no quarantine. Full details on how to get a visa on arrival can be found here and in this book. But Nepal increased domestic airfares, are rebuilding the Kathmandu to Pokhara road and controversially banned solo trekking. This book covers all this and more in detail.
Mandatory trekking guides are now a legal requirement in Nepal but not in all locations and maybe for not much longer. Discover where you actually need a trekking guide (legally) today. Plus where to find them (they have to be registered). Find how much you can be fined without a guide. And, most importantly, find out how to hire a reputable guide without any fuss or confusion.
I implore anyone planning to visit Nepal to exercise due diligence and support independent trekking agents, restaurants, hotels, shops, and indeed – guidebooks this year!
Now more than ever it’s important that if you want your cash to go directly to real people and not corporations or large chain booking firms you’ll need to do your research properly and make sure that you are supporting real local people and businesses. Adding to this dilemma are the strategically advertised home-stays that actually belong to hotel chains or investors, souvenirs that are made overseas, and hotels owned by non-Nepali. My guidebook has always and continues to support real local businesses that provide quality services and treat every customer with genuine care. No matter if you are are on a rock bottom budget or high end treat my guidebooks will serve you well.
In this years August 2023 edition of my guidebook to Nepal I’ve kept everything as up to date as I can. My maps will help you across the county, up into mountains, across jungles, and through rare cultural heritage and it includes all entrance fees to sights.
What is so special about Nepal?
For a small landlocked country, Nepal can be an epic destination with some of the best mountain treks in the world to both see from afar and trek through. Diverse and unique heritage sites lie across its ancient middle lands. While to the south are some of the greatest jungles and thriving wildlife reserves found anywhere in the world. I’ve included them all for you in this guidebook.
Never miss out on a temple in Nepal again!
The Kathmandu Valley & beyond: From the Kathmandu Valley’s grand royal cities and palaces with fascinating heritage lined backstreets to the very first mystical building (stupa) ever created that still overlooks the whole lush valley which was once a lake of the Nepali gods. The former royal kingdoms in the valley still look as they once did hundreds of years ago. In August 2023 I’ve updated the book with the very latest reconstruction news in each area for every temple including photos – so you know what to expect! There is nowhere else on earth like Bhaktapur, Boudhanath, and Patan and I’ve included them all for you in this guidebook plus equally extensive coverage of Thimi, Chabahil, Kirtipur, Bungamati, Budhanilkantha, Gokarna, Changu Narayan, Nagarkot, Panauti, Dhulikeil and everything in between. I’ve included all these extensive details with photographs of every temple. There’s also – Do It Yourself walking heritage tours and GPS tracked maps so you’ll never get lost!
Plus, exclusive detailed courtyard diagrams and every entrance ticket priced!
All this in just one chapter alone including sub regions with in Kathmandu city like Thamel, Paknajol and Lazimpat plus high-end, mid-range and budget hotels reviews, restaurant reviews, and transportation maps/fees for all areas.
Trekking in Nepal: The pristine majestic mountains of Nepal are perhaps its greatest tourist attraction. My best selling book First time Trekking in Nepal is included as a chapter within this guidebook with additional trekking advice for all the locations in the book. I’ve written exclusive up to date guides for Everest Base Camp, the Annapurna Circuit (long and short circuits), Annapurna Base Camp, Mardi Himal, Poon Hill, the new Panchase trek plus a host of side treks (including new permit fees not covered in any other book). Not ready for a big trek? Try the Shivapuri day hike in Kathmandu! These are all included alongside day by day trekking guides and cross referenced-GPS tracked maps you can zoom into. There are fantastically detailed chapters for first-time trekkers on preparation from where and what equipment to buy, where to find a guide, how to choose a guide, where are guides now mandatory,where and how to get permits, reviews of trekking agents, weather reports and so much more. I’ve trekked every trek written about in this book more than once and I’ve made it a point to bring you the very best trekking experience with this book.
If you find online information about treks confusing then rest assured this book deciphers all this confusion and makes planning a trek easy and understandable for all budgets
What many people overlook when visiting Nepal is that despite its small size there’s a lot to do there – now with all the maps in this guidebook you can zoom right in!
Pokhara: Known as Nepal’s premier resort location to the west, Pokhara offers visitors beautiful Lake Phewa to gaze out at as the Annapurna Mountains reflect down on to it. There’s a new international & domestic airport in Pokhara that opened in 2023. Just a single road leads along Lakeside with a hip vibe of restaurants, cafes and dozens of travel agents that now stretches along the north and to the south past the quiet Damside area. There are more outdoor activities in Pokhara than anywhere else in Nepal. Go trekking, hiking, walking, paragliding, horse riding, mountain biking, motorcycling, boating, hot-air ballooning, water balling or simply go shopping in the Tibetan artisan camps. I’ve included all these activities plus more along with updated hotel, restaurant, and travel/trekking agent reviews. I’ve also included details on the truly pristine Begnas and Rupa lakes along with many more day activities to help make the most out of your trip. Quite simply, everything to do in Pokhara is included in this book!
Chitwan National Park: Nepal’s most popular national wildlife park is famous for its royal Bengal tigers which are increasing in numbers every year, world-famous elephant and wildlife conservation, one-horned rhinos plus hundreds of other wild animals. I write about how you can make the most out of visiting the park plus why and how to avoid expensive tours, getting the best transport options plus hotel and jungle tour reviews. This guidebook will both help you plan your trip to Chitwan but also includes how you can save a lot of time and money. Did you know about the Mugling road delays? They are still happening in 2023 and you should be prepared. Find out how to avoid these road delays with a better itinerary that is only available in this book!
Zoom right into all individual trekking routes. (you can even zoom in closer than this map image of Mardi Himal in the book as it will show with crystal clarity!)
Bardia National Park: Looking for a more remote wildlife experience? I’ve spent a lot of time in Bardia. If you ever fancied yourself heading into a jungle with no tourists and coming face to face with wild royal Bengal tigers then Bardia is the place. It’s not for the faint of heart but it’s just about as real as a jungle can get! Wild elephants, rhinos and tigers roam this area along with those who dare. With a new bridge leading to the exclusive jungle area things are looking better in Bardia. There is no better guide to Bardia, how to get there and how to experience it all than the one in this book.
Lumbini: There has never been a truly in-depth guide to Lumbini and the birthplace of the Buddha before I wrote up the first one in my exclusive Lumbini guidebook. With new Buddhist monasteries being built this book is more updated than any other with the latest happenings and maps. In 2023 there are new entrance fees which are covered in this book. There’s also the new Gautum Buddha international and domestic airport. I also solve the age-old problem of transportation and getting to Lumbini easily along with reviews of hotels and restaurants plus new Terai village walks. Did you know there are now eco-friendly electric rickshaws in Lumbini! I’ve dedicated entire sections to this chapter just because it won’t let you down if you are looking for inner peace in the land of Buddha’s birth. Including new 2023 archaeological discoveries!
Central Nepal: Discover the idyllic traffic-free village of Bandipur with mountain views that rival Pokhara. Visit the legendary Gorkha where Nepal’s first king was born and explore the pristine forests here. Travel to Nuwakot which saw the fall, rise, and foundation of Nepal. Stay in a real homestay in the mountain village of Riepe.
Eastern Nepal: This was and still is the first guidebook to ever bring these locations to the world. I’ll show you the ancient fort of Sindhuli Gadi which is the place that triggered Nepal becoming a unified country before explaining the epic road or helicopter journey to the last sacred Hindu and Buddhist caves in Nepal, Haleshi Mahadev. Visit the huge Janak temple on a trip to Janakpur. Stay in Kosshi Tappu wildlife reserve before discovering the huge new Krishna temple in Itahari. Find the sacred bamboo shrine in Dharan or make your way to the highlands of Ilam for tea. Better yet make a side trip in the east to Kanyam or Mai Pokhari. Make no mistake about it, these are adventurous journeys. No other guidebook to Nepal in the world covers eastern Nepal other than this one.
These are just the highlights which with the rest of the book create the best guidebook to Nepal … Each chapter is personally written with detailed maps you can zoom right in on, photographs and guides to every location. That’s why I’ll just go ahead and say what others have said after reading it:
This guidebook to Nepal is the best in the world for a very good reason!
Nepal guidebook on your mobile showing you exactly what you are looking at!
As you’ve just read, there’s more to Nepal than just the highlights. From temples to treks and jungles everything is written with the perspective of putting the traveler’s experience first. I detail everything with clear maps, photographs, treks, and exclusive 100% original Heritage Walks that I created just for those who love culture along with 100% fully detailed treks for those who love the outdoors!
Did you know that only two of Thamel’s roads (central tourist area) are now vehicle free and not the whole area?!
Did you know that the tourist bus stop in Kathmandu moved and now drops people at a different location?
Did you know there’s a new International and domestic airport in Pokhara?
Did you know that all the trekking permit prices recently changed?
Did you know that VAT has been added to fuel prices in July 2023 so there are increases in domestic flight and transport prices?
Did you know there’s now a direct bus from Kathmandu to Bardia?
Did you know all the telephone number’s in Thamel changed recently?
All of the above questions are answered in this book!
You won’t find this sort of update information in any other guidebook guaranteed! Here’s the real insider scoop – this guidebook has all this information and more! It’s written by me in Nepal and not a random person in some office in another country. This book is for real people like you coming to Nepal who wants to know the best. From how to avoid the congested streets of Thamel to maps with the new bus locations and the very latest trekking costs.
Every chapter in this book is written with insider knowledge and detail like no other book. Here’s an example: Nepal’s prized heritage is interwoven with fascinating but heavily congested and confusing streets. In this book I show you how to navigate these streets with ease and find every temple with over 500 photos from Kathmandu Valley alone and 984 photographs overall from mountain treks to jungle paths.
Discover real Nepal’s prized Patan Durbar square sunsets to the magnificent golden temple to meeting with a Kumari Living Goddess. Find out what temples are being repaired and which are under scaffolding. No other guidebook shows you so much insider information. Mine does.
Not only visit or stay in Bhaktapur and dine at the new restaurants while looking at photographs of every temple at your fingertips but stop off at the tourist free town of Thimi on the way. Known as the “middle place”, it’s a historic township virtually untouched by tourists. Travel up to nearby Changu Narayan. Know exactly what you are looking at 100% of the time with my unique easy to follow maps and photographs of every location.
Discover what treks are really like with the only guidebook that shows you day-by-day guides
Read through day-by-day village-to-village trekking guides to world famous and off the beaten path mountain treks or day hikes. Discover brand new routes with ease and see exactly what you will be encountering up high in the Himalayan mountains. Feel your adrenaline rush as you read how to tackle the hardest parts of a trek before coming face-to-face with breathtaking snow-capped mountains.
The ultimate guidebook to Nepal that changes everything!
Plan out your trip to Nepal with my exclusive personally built itineraries which detail the real journey times between cities. Discover how to budget your journey better than anyone else with the latest prices and stop off at exciting places along the way. My guidebook to Nepal gives you real insider information on travel in Nepal from where the bus park in Kathmandu has moved to (again this information is not updated in any other guidebook) to showing you how to save money with a private jeep rental.
And there’s so much more …
Every temple, trek and jungle location photographed and linked to its location on a map (132 maps)
Go in-depth with incredibly detailed updated diagrams showing you temple and shrine compound layouts (5 diagrams)
Earthquake rebuild information including destroyed, rebuilt and what temples are currently being renovated (know where to expect scaffolding, where to see traditional stone makers and where to find untouched temples)
Highly detailed interactive digital maps (click a photo or location & it will zoom in to show you the building/location)
Extensive preparation, history, transportation and culture chapters
Fully cross compatible guidebook with the ability to be printed or for digital viewing on a (laptop, PC, iPad/phone, tablet, or mobile – no internet needed)
Compressed algorithm creates an amazingly small file on your device
Interactive elements (no more endless swiping on a mobile or tablet)
The digital version works completely offline
Easy to follow exclusive Heritage Walks
Table of contents: + 617 pages, 132 color maps over 984 color photos
All areas of the Kathmandu Valley covered from Thamel, Paknajol, Lazimpat, the old southern city heritage walks, eastern city, Freak street and the markets, Boudhanath, Chabahil, Pashupatinath, Swayambhu (monkey temple), Patan, Bhaktapur, Kailashnath Mahadev, Panauti, Thimi, Kiritur, Dhulikhel, Bungamati, Budhanilkantha, Gokarna, Godavari, Changu Narayan and Nagarkot
Go beyond the Valley to the ancient crumbling fortress at Nuwakot, Gokha or on to the cable car at Manakamana
Discover the pristine vehicle free midlands of Bandipur and Riepe villages on the way to Pokhara
Explore everything there is to do in Pokhara from paragliding and hot air ballooning to meditation and relaxation
Visit the jungles of Nepal with an easy trip to Chitwan or a wild explorers journey all the way to Bardia
Trek into the Himalayas by discovering what it’s really like up there along with all the preparation needed
Daily trekking route descriptions & photographs for every single trek so you know what to expect
Take hikes to see Everest from hill stations in Nagarkot or Dhulikhel to see the Himalayan mountain range
Go where few go and visit Janakpur or make a loop from there up to the far east’s Ilam and Kanyam tea estates
Exclusive courtyard diagrams showing you were everything is with ease
Personally visited and reviewed accommodation for all budgets (high-end, mid-range and budget)
Personally visited and reviewed restaurants for all budgets and tastes
How, what and where to shop for souvenirs, jewelry, tea and more in Kathmandu
Send things home with lists & contact details of recommended courier companies
Transportation details from arriving into Nepal, new airports, to taking local or private transport throughout the country
Up to date visa information, how to get an extension and how to fill the application forms
Lists, reviews & contact details of recommended trekking agencies
The latest entrance prices and trekking permit fees
Discover how to travel to Tibet overland (includes a list of tour operators)
Get ready to travel with the best preparation chapters to visiting Nepal
Explore east Nepal with the only guidebook that covers the region
Find out about volunteering in Nepal
Understand the vast cultures of Nepal
Learn about religion & faith in Nepal
Understand the caste system in Nepal
132 zoom-in color maps and over 617 pages of fresh original content
Easy to follow guides that show and get you where you need to go
Yes, this guidebook contains all of my Kathmandu Valley guidebook plus Pokhara, Lumbini, Chitwan, Bardia, eastern Nepal and trekking in Nepal and a whole lot more including the latest entrance fees that no other book has updated.
This book truly is the most detailed guidebook to Nepal!
Great on an iPad, iPhone, big screen, Android tablet, phone and in print!
I’ve bought many guidebooks to destinations online only to discover scraped together badly presented copies of Google/WikiTravel/Voyage. This is not the case here. I’ve written, mapped, reviewed, photographed and created every page in this premium guidebook personally.
It contains 100% genuine and original premium content written specifically for travelers.
Throughout Nepal, I personally visited, priced and reviewed over 718 hotels, guesthouses and everything in-between.
It was an intensely physical and mentally exhausting task & continues to be as they are all updated
Why do I use this method instead of simply copying them from a hotel booking site or from another guidebook? Well, I’m truly fed up of others doing this and making fake reviews.
I want to see the accommodation for myself and bring you the very best
From this huge list of hotels I separated them into high-end accommodation (USD $100+), new boutique accommodation ($60), good mid-level accommodation ($30) and great value budget backpacker accommodation ($4+). I am constantly stunned to see so many hotels in other guide books that no longer exist or on booking sites that are listed in the wrong part of town or given make up reviews to look good. I give you my recommended places to stay including contact details, prices and great booking options from more than one respected booking site! I also include hotels not included anywhere online with telephone numbers, addresses and map locations.
I took the time to place every hotel correctly on a large scalable map for you to find them easily
Every hotel reviewed in this book was paid for by me. Not a single guesthouse, hotel, restaurant, ticket office or travel agent knew they were being reviewed when I was there. This alone is not an easy task. But the result is this guidebook brings you 100% genuine reviews and factual information without exception so you will know exactly what to expect when you are in Nepal.
The most up to date guide book to Nepal
I’ve been writing guides and guidebooks to Nepal for over a decade. I know how quickly things change here. Keeping this the most up to date guidebook to Nepal in the world is something that has made it the most popular guidebook to Nepal.
Find out exactly what you can buy in Nepal and save money!
Each temple in this book is listed on a map and you will clearly see what was destroyed or being renovated with information about what was once there and if it is being restored or not.
My guidebooks have been the only guidebooks continuously updated during and since the earthquake & pandemic – they are also the only guidebooks that actually tell you entrance prices!
Yes Nepal is safe to visit and yes this guidebook will take you to the best of the best in Nepal today. If a place is still under construction, you will see it clearly here and be able to make up your own mind if you want to visit or not.
Likewise all treks, trekking stores, restaurants and hotels are constantly kept updated and independently reviewed.
What’s new in the August 2023 edition?
Plenty! Asides from the latest updates to hotels, restaurants, airports, trekking agencies , things to do, and destinations across Nepal I’ve expanded popular sections within the book! There’s also sections on the coronavirus (COVID-19), entry requirements, and hospitals where you can get PCR tests.
Kathmandu city now has a dedicated chapter to the Lazimpat area which is popular for diplomats, NGO workers and long-term expatriate residents. The Kathmandu city section also expands with a fully dedicated chapter to the little known but fascinating Chabahil area for those who want to stop off to see the “other” large stupa of Kathmandu on the way to Boudhanath.
Did you know: Kathmandu city’s long running bus station is no more?! – this is the only guidebook in the world with the new bus stops that replace it
Kathmandu Valleys border now includes an expanded chapter dedicated to Gorkha where the first king of Nepal was born and where the mighty fortress palace still stands today – yes it’s still open and a great visit despite other books saying it’s badly damaged. Only the temple area is, the rest is virtually untouched. What’s more, I’ve included a nearby forest hike too!
Discover the little know mountain village of Bandipur with no traffic at all! There are more details than anywhere else on Bandipur in this book!
Further along between Kathmandu and Pokhara, the mountain viewing township of Bandipur gets an expanded chapter with details you simply won’t find anywhere else including the soon to be running cable car. Looking for that remote village to stay with locals? I’ve added a chapter to nearby Riepe Village including a nice hike around the area! Pokhara‘s new cable car and outdoor actives have been included.
Along with seven other popular treks the trekking section now includes the much requested day hike from Kathmandu known as Shivapuri.
This was the first guidebook to Nepal and remains the only book to include Eastern Nepal’s Haleshi Mahadev and Sindulhi Gadhi. I’ve expanded the chapters to the mountain tea gardens of Ilam and Kanyam. Mai Pokhari get’s an inclusion including a hike around the pond there. The huge new temple in Itahari is gets included along with the little known town of Dharan with its hillside natural temples or stop of at the wildlife park Koshi Tappu. There’s also a huge new chapter on the Jaki temple and Janakpur!
Includes places not written in any other guidebook!
This is the first and still the only guidebook to include eastern Nepal. From one of the most important and fascinating Buddhist and Hindu sites, the caves and shrines at Halaeshi Mahadev, to the ancient fort at Sindhuli. It is also the only guidebook to Nepal that gives you the exact entrance ticket price to all locations. Extensive hotel and restaurant reviews, along with being the only guidebook that covers the mandatory trekking guide rule extensively.
From budget travel options to premium travel, it’s all included.
So much more detailed than anything I’ve ever bought from LP. – Sang, TripAdvisor
My chapters on places like Thimi, Janakpur or Panauti are not just relegated to a half page of text like in other guidebooks. I deliver you the best of all locations with exclusive information, photographs of all the attractions, maps, and places to visit that most tourists never discover.
A guidebook written by someone who wanted to travel Nepal properly from the start
As you may know from reading on this website when I first arrived in Nepal I struggled to find a good guidebook to the country. That was the truth. It’s been that way ever since with outdated text, disengaged reviews and typical overly passionate writing that made everything sound great when in realty it was generally less than stellar. Moreover great places to visit were only given a passing remark.
I think it is a disservice to write things like “resorts in Bardia are pricey and not suitable for those watching their budget”. This is incorrect. Alongside premium resorts there are cheap budget resorts in Bardia and it’s a lot easier to get there than anyone makes out!
The fact is Bardia does indeed take 16 hours to reach by bus but you can find a budget resort for under USD $10 per night! Moreover, Bardia is actually better than Chitwan for a raw immersible jungle experience! It’s also the best location to see wild tigers in Nepal and not Chitwan!
When I travel around Nepal there’s no doubt I want to save time and money getting around without doubling back on broken roads. It’s actually very easy to get from Pokhara – Kathmandu – Chitwan and Lumbini but I could never find this information easily anywhere! So I researched, traveled, visited, photographed, mapped and wrote out all the transport options in this guidebook myself.
Whether good or bad, we are living in a digital age of high pressure and big profits. This often leads to mainstream book publishers cost-cutting and not being able to include additional information. Moreover many online guides are filled with sponsored content by travel agencies looking to make bookings. Worse yet, many travel agents pose as tourists to try and sway you to a certain company. You can see this for yourself when you visit their websites. This is where I as an independent publisher fill the void and bring you what’s been lacking in guidebooks to Nepal for so long.
Your book has been a breath of fresh air … so honest and easy to understand – Michael, USA
My 100% honest online guides to Nepal speak for themselves. My individual guidebooks have proven to be the best in the world for many years. My print guidebook to Nepal is a national best seller. Now you can take all that trust, factual information and honest feedback in this complete guidebook to Nepal.
This is Nepal’s best guidebook
This guidebook has been written by a real traveler just like you, tested by other travelers LIVE on the streets, mountains, jungles, flat-lands and cities of Nepal and updated in August 2023 and is now available to everyone worldwide.
If you are going to be in Nepal then this is the best guidebook you can have.
There’s a personal 100% free update guarantee with every digital copy. If you buy the book and are not traveling to Nepal for the next 6 months or even a year from purchase then just drop me an email before you fly out and I’ll send you a free updated copy. More details on the Nepal guidebook.
