Travel essentials for Nepal
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Power & adapters
Type C, D, M adapter required
Nepal uses Type C, D and M sockets. A universal adapter is the right buy, and a power bank matters more than the adapter - load shedding and outages are common outside the main cities.
230V, 50Hz
Tap water
Not safe to drink
Do not drink the tap water. Bottled water is available but creates a serious waste problem on trekking routes - a filter bottle or purification tablets are the better answer and most teahouses will refill you.
Staying connected
Good in Kathmandu and Pokhara, variable on trekking routes - the Everest and Annapurna trails have surprising coverage in places and none in others.
An eSIM works well in the cities. For trekking, coverage is genuinely unreliable and many trekkers rent a satellite communicator instead.
Compare Nepal eSIMsHealth risks
- Altitude sickness above 2,500m - the single biggest medical risk here
- Air pollution in the Kathmandu valley in winter
- Traveller's diarrhoea from water and food
- Earthquakes - Nepal is highly seismic
Emergency numbers in Nepal
| All emergencies | 100 police / 102 ambulance |
|---|---|
| Police | 100 |
| Ambulance | 102 |
| Fire | 101 |
| Australian consulate | Australian Embassy Kathmandu - +977 1 437 1678 |
Tipping and everyday costs
Expected. Around 10% in tourist restaurants, and for a trek, guides and porters are tipped substantially at the end - budget roughly 10-15% of the trek cost.
What screening will actually let you pack
Half of what goes in the bag is decided by someone else. What you can take on a plane sets out the Australian rules item by item - power banks, liquids, scissors, aerosols - and what has to be declared at the border on the way home.
More Nepal essentials
Further reading: Power adapters by country: what Australians actually need to pack
How these comparisons are made
Plug types, voltages and frequencies come from the international electrotechnical standards data for each country, stated per destination with what that means for Australian appliances specifically - what needs an adapter, what needs a converter, and what should stay home. Read the full editorial policy.
Nepal travel essentials FAQs
What power adapter do I need for Nepal?
A universal adapter covering Type C, D and M. The voltage is 230V, the same as Australia. A power bank matters more than the adapter - power cuts outside the main cities are routine.
Planning Nepal?
We will send you the Nepal guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.