WiFi & Mobile Communications
WhatsApp - The essencial communication tool
Because Whatsapp is so easy to use, and so essential for keeping our travelers connected and informed, we now strongly urge our travelers to use it. It’s free and travelers that opt not to use it, may find we are unable to offer some of our travel services like airport pickups, hotel transfers, etc.
Be sure to download the iPhone or Android Whatsapp app before you begin your journey to Nepal. It is a vital, and fun, way to connect with the Far Xplorer staff and your fellow travelers.
Free Wifi - Where you will find it
On-arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu
In all hotels, even most hotels in the higher regions of the Himalayas (For trekking lodges there may be a small fee)
Virtually all restaurants in Kathmandu and Pokhara
International Roaming - 4G and 5G in Nepal
It’s hard to believe, but there is better cellular coverage in Nepal than most of North America. Most mobile service providers in the USA, UK, and Australia offer good plans for International Roaming while in Nepal. For the USA that includes: T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T. Most plans will offer mild amounts of data roaming suitable for staying connected to family at home.
Warning: Some of our past travelers have been charged as much as $900 for roaming charges for a 14 day trip. Be sure to check with your provider before using local networks.
Purchasing a digital eSIM card for your phone
The easiest solution to ensure you have ample data to upload photos, check email, and scroll as we all do, you may wish to purchase an “embedded” SIM card for your phone. This is a simple digital subscription for mobile services within Nepal using Nepal Telecom cellular service.
To determine if your phone has this capability, dial *#06#. If you see the “EID” field listed on your screen, you are good to go to get eSIM service. Next you will need to visit a provider. We use HolaFly.com
The cost for 2.5GB of data is $30 USD. Many of our travelers find 12GB allows for more than enough data to upload photos and spend ample time online. The process to enroll takes just 5-10 minutes. Click on the images below to access a quick Youtube video for a tutorial on using Holafly eSIM cards.
Local Mobile Service with a Nepal NCELL SIM Card
If you would like to use your mobile phone for higher volumes of data (uploading photos, etc) you will need to purchase a local SIM card hand install it into your phone. It’s a very easy process that takes only a few minutes and costs very little. When you arrive, the best time to purchase a local SIM card is just before you exit the airport. There is an NCELL office right after baggage claim. You can’t miss it. There is a chance it will have a long que, but it usually goes quickly.
To purchase a local SIM card you will need:
Insure your phone has a SIM card slot as the latest phones may not
2x2 Passport photo, printed, to attach to the application
Passport
$15 for the SIM card
SIM cards are sold with optional talk time and mobile data packages. If you purchase the largest option, it will be less than $20 and be more than sufficient for your entire trip. Be sure to have the agent install and activate your SIM card! And don’t lose your current SIM card!
Satellite GPS Messenging Devices (Spot, inReach, Zolo)
Many travelers bring satellite messaging devices to Nepal and they are allowed in the country. Just be aware that you will likely have good cellular coverage for about 65% of your travels, maybe even 90%. There isn’t much need for satellite messaging.
If you bring one and use it to track your route, we ask all travelers to not publish their GPS files publically. We have agreements with many small villages and communities to ensure their little hamlets remain quiet and untouristed. We want to respect their privacy by not encouraging too many visitors to stumble into their home villages.