Sports and leisure activities Nepal

Budget & Tips

As of March 1, 2023, a guide is mandatory for all treks in Nepal. A major revolution that will generate the employment of 40,000 new guides. Don't forget to include it in your budget.

What's very local

In Nepal. While young Nepalese play cricket and soccer, the less young indulge in more strategic games such as carrom, or Indian billiards, or Bagh Chal, a typically Nepali game in which two players face off: one is the guardian of 20 goats, the other the wild master of 4 tigers. To win, the tigers must chase the goats, but the goats must block the tigers... quite an art!

Bhutan. Archery is considered an art, and is the national sport. Tournaments are held regularly. The Bhutanese are also very fond of khuru, a game of darts that is very popular with young people.

Your documents please

In Nepal, for the classic treks (Everest, Annapurna and Langtang), you need a TIMS (Trekkers Information Management System) card, which can be obtained at www.timsnepal.com. This costs around Rs. 2,000 for individuals and Rs. 1,000 per person for groups. For some treks, you need a special permit, which costs more, plus park entry fees. This is the case for Kangchenjunga and Lower Dolpo, Tsum Valley, Manaslu, Upper Mustang and Upper Dolpo. You need to apply to an authorized agency. Be aware that a trek crossing two regions requires two different permits (and therefore two applications)!
As for rafting, which is very popular, there are no safety rules. We advise you to choose a professional agency and a guide with first-aid training (Swiftwater Rescue Technician qualification, for example).

To be booked

You can enjoy all kinds of outdoor sports in Nepal: paragliding (Sarangkot is the country's best-known site), rafting, canyoning... Remember to book in advance with an operator.