Travel and Visas

We recommend that you fly into Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport

(airport code KTM).

Arrival: Arrive to Kathmandu on the first Saturday of the volunteer week. Please arrive anytime before dinner, as we gather as a group for our first meal together at dinner.

Departure: Depart from Kathmandu late in the evening on the second Saturday (after 4 pm)*.

We will arrange airport transfers to/from the airport in Kathmandu.

*Depending on where you are traveling from, this trip may require an extra day of travel on both ends. Flights may require leaving your destination on Friday to arrive in Kathmandu for the first gathering on Saturday night. Please check flights before registering.

For US and Canadian Citizens

• U.S. citizens must present a passport that is valid for at least 6 months at the time of entry to Nepal. You will need to purchase a tourist visa upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu ($25 USD). More information here for U.S. passport holders.
  • For the VISA, you will need to provide the name/address in Nepal.
• Canadian citizens must present a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of departure from Nepal. You will need to purchase a tourist visa upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu ($25 USD). More information here for Canadian passport holders.
  • For the VISA, you will need to provide the name/address in Nepal. This will be provided to you in your welcome emails.
• Be sure to have one blank passport page for entry stamp.

Surf For Life highly recommends that all volunteers purchase a travel protection plan, including trip cancellation coverage. It often covers medical emergencies and evacuations. Plus, we recommend choosing a plan with 'Cancel For Any Reason' coverage. Typically it’s an add-on option, but the extra cost is worth it as coverage may reimburse up to 100% of pre-paid, non-refundable travel costs for unforeseen events that may cause you to cancel your trip.

• Visit your doctor (ideally, 4-6 weeks) before your trip to discuss vaccines or medicines you may need.
• There are currently no vaccines required for travel to Nepal. As a best practice, all travelers should be up-to-date on routine vaccines, including measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.
• Go here for more detailed travel health info from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
• Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments.
• Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging with your doctor’s prescription.

• Be sure to call your bank and let them know that you will be traveling to Nepal to avoid any holds or blocks on your cards.
• The Nepalese rupee (NPR) is the official currency.
• There are ATMs in Kathmandu, but not in Solukhumbu.