Nepal Travel Guide from Bangladesh: Visa, SAARC and Nagarkot Sunrise

Kathmandu is barely ninety minutes from Dhaka by air — often quicker than the drive to the airport in Dhaka traffic. That makes Nepal one of the easiest short trips going: a long weekend is enough, the visa treats Bangladeshis better than almost anywhere nearby, and the Himalaya are visible from a city you can reach before lunch. What the trip costs depends on your dates, hotel and group size, so we quote it rather than print a number here.

💡 Checked in September 2026, against the Embassy of Nepal, Dhaka and the Nepal Tourism Board. Tell us your dates and we'll quote the flight, hotel and visa together.

Visa: on arrival, and free for many Bangladeshi travellers

Bangladeshi passport holders can get a Nepal visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, at Pokhara International Airport, at Gautam Buddha International Airport in Lumbini, and at the land border crossings. Nepal's online pre-registration form at nepaliport.immigration.gov.np lets you fill in the same on-arrival visa in advance to skip the queue — it isn't a separate visa. The Embassy of Nepal in Dhaka also issues a pre-arrival eTA for travellers who'd rather land with the visa already done.

The fact that changes most people's plans: as a SAARC country, Bangladesh gets one free 30-day tourist visa per calendar year — 1 January to 31 December. If this is your first Nepal trip of the year, staying 30 days or fewer, the visa costs nothing. A second trip in the same year, or a longer stay, is charged at the standard rate.

Visas on arrival are stamped on the spot, though queues build up in peak season — the online pre-registration saves the wait. Through the Dhaka embassy it's 2 working days, collection 4:00–5:00 pm. Either way, carry a passport valid 6+ months, a recent light-background photo, your return flight and hotel booking, and the fee in US dollars cash or by card if you're not using the free SAARC allowance. Full details are on our Nepal visa page.

How many days are enough?

• Three days: Kathmandu's temples and squares, with one evening up at Nagarkot.
• Four days, our package: Kathmandu plus an overnight in Nagarkot for the sunrise — enough to see the valley without rushing.
• Six or seven days: add Pokhara and its lakeside pace, reached by a short domestic flight or a scenic drive.

Getting there and getting around

Dhaka–Kathmandu is one of the shortest international flights out of Dhaka, flown directly in well under two hours. In Kathmandu, taxis and ride-hailing apps cover the city easily; the road up to Nagarkot is best done by private car, which is how our package moves you between the two.

What to see

• Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath (the Monkey Temple), Pashupatinath and Boudhanath stupa — all inside the valley.
• Nagarkot, for the sunrise — see below.
• Phewa Lake and Sarangkot in Pokhara, if you extend the trip.

The Nagarkot sunrise: worth a buffer day

Nagarkot is the reason most people add a night to a Kathmandu trip: on a clear morning, the Himalayan range lights up gold before sunrise; on a cloudy one, you see fog and nothing else. It's genuinely weather-dependent — more reliable October to April than during the monsoon — so treat it as a highlight to hope for, not a guarantee, and don't book a flight home that leaves no room to try again if the first morning is a washout.

Food

Momos, thukpa and dal bhat are everywhere and easy on a Bangladeshi palate. Halal meat is available in Kathmandu's tourist areas and at hotels used to South Asian guests, though it's worth asking rather than assuming at smaller local eateries outside the city.

When to go

October and November give the clearest skies and best mountain views, alongside Nepal's main festival season. March and April bring mild weather and rhododendrons in bloom. December to February is cold but usually clear. June to September is the monsoon: valleys turn green, but clouds hide the peaks, Nagarkot included.

Our Nepal package

Our Kathmandu & Nagarkot 4-day package is a group departure that runs once 12 travellers have signed up — a better fit for a family gathering or an office trip than a solo booking. Round up your group and we'll lock in the dates; it's built around the free SAARC visa where it applies, the short flight and the Nagarkot night, and we handle the paperwork whichever way you apply. For general advice on cash, cards and spending abroad while you gather your group, see our money tips for Bangladeshi travellers guide.

What to carry

• Passport valid 6+ months, a recent light-background photo, and printed return flight and hotel bookings.
• A recent bank statement — Nepal publishes no minimum balance, but it's worth having on hand.
• Warm layers even in spring: mornings at Nagarkot are cold.
• US dollars cash or a card for the visa fee, if you're not on the free SAARC allowance.

Have 12 people ready to travel, or want to check if your dates qualify for the free SAARC visa? Tell us your dates and group size for a quote.