Key facts
- COVERAGE
- Nepal
- NETWORKS
- Ncell
- PLAN TYPE
- Data only
- IP ADDRESS LOCATION
- United Kingdom
- DELIVERY
- QR code by email
How it works
- 1Choose a plan and pay.
- 2Scan the QR code we email you. You can install it before you fly.
- 3When you land in Nepal, turn on data roaming for the Spidot line.
Questions about the Nepal eSIM
Which networks does it use?
Do I get a local phone number?
Can I use it outside Nepal?
How do I install it?
Will my phone work with an eSIM?
Will I have signal on the Everest Base Camp trek?
Does plan validity pause while I am trekking without signal?
Can I check flight delays for Lukla on mobile data?
Why did my data drop so quickly when I reached Namche Bazaar?
Can I share data with my trekking guide or group?
Is there coverage in Chitwan National Park?
What should I do if a teahouse has no Wi-Fi and no signal?
Can I keep using the eSIM if I extend my stay?
Nepal eSIM guide: mobile data for travellers
Nepal stretches from the plains of the Terai in the south to the highest mountains on earth along its northern border. Most journeys start in Kathmandu, with the temples and palace squares of the Kathmandu Valley, including Patan and Bhaktapur, the great stupa at Boudhanath and the hilltop Swayambhunath. From there travellers head to Pokhara on the shores of Phewa Lake, the gateway to the Annapurna region; fly to Lukla for the trek to Everest Base Camp; walk the Langtang valley; or go south to Chitwan National Park to look for rhinos, or to Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha.
In Kathmandu and Pokhara, mobile data makes everyday life easier: maps through the old city lanes, ride-hailing, messaging with trekking agencies and checking flight schedules. In the mountains, it becomes a welcome bonus where available. A Spidot eSIM gives you data in Nepal without buying a local SIM, while your own SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts. This guide explains your options, plan sizes, setup and what to realistically expect on the trails.
eSIM, roaming or a local SIM in Nepal
Nepal is a popular destination for long trips, so it is worth choosing your option carefully.
Roaming with your home SIM
Nepal is rarely included in standard roaming bundles, and roaming data can be expensive for SIMs from Europe, North America, Australia and elsewhere. Check your operator's terms for Nepal before you go, and turn off data roaming on your home SIM if you are not going to use it.
A Nepali prepaid SIM
Local SIMs are sold in Kathmandu, including near the airport and at operator shops in Thamel. Buying one usually requires your passport and a photo, and the registration process takes some time. A local SIM can be worthwhile for long stays or long treks; for many visitors it means an extra errand after a long flight, and swapping out the home SIM you may need for bank codes.
A Spidot eSIM for Nepal
With Spidot you buy a Nepal plan online, receive the QR code by email straight after payment and install it at home. Plans start from $8.90. Your home SIM keeps your number for calls and texts, and the Spidot line provides data. Most plans are data-only; if you need to call local numbers, for example trekking agencies, guesthouses or drivers, see our Data + calls plans.
How much data to plan for
Nepal trips are often long, and data use is uneven: steady in Kathmandu and Pokhara, low and occasional on the trail. Approximate usage:
- Maps and navigation: a few megabytes per hour; very helpful in Kathmandu's lanes and for following trekking routes on offline maps.
- Messaging: light; WhatsApp and Viber are common with agencies and guesthouses.
- Weather and flight updates: light, but important before mountain flights and high passes.
- Photo uploads: moderate to heavy; many trekkers wait until they reach a town.
- Video calls: several hundred megabytes per hour, realistic only where signal is good.
- Streaming: heavy, often more than a gigabyte per hour in high definition.
Typical choices
A week in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan usually fits a mid-sized fixed data plan. For a three-week trip including a trek, choose a plan whose validity covers the whole trip; you may use little data in the mountains, but you will want a comfortable allowance before and after.
Long-stay visitors, volunteers and remote workers in Kathmandu or Pokhara may prefer an unlimited plan, keeping in mind that speed may slow after heavy use. If you are unsure how much you will use, a no-expiry plan avoids losing unused data. You can check how much data is left and add more data when you have a connection.
Before you go
Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi. First check your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked, then follow the install guide for iPhone, Samsung or Pixel.
- Install the eSIM one or two days before departure and label it "Nepal".
- Keep your home SIM as default for calls and texts and set the Spidot line for mobile data.
- Download offline maps of Kathmandu, Pokhara and your trekking region, plus a hiking map app with the trail.
- Save your trekking permits, insurance details, agency contacts and emergency numbers offline.
- Download music, podcasts and books for long bus journeys and evenings in teahouses.
- Turn off data roaming on your home SIM.
Arriving in Nepal
Most international visitors arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Some flights also serve Pokhara and Gautam Buddha International Airport near Lumbini. When you land, turn off flight mode, choose the Spidot line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it. Our data roaming guide shows where to find the setting.
Arrival can involve visa formalities and queues. Once you are out, data lets you message your hotel or trekking agency, check your transfer or book a ride. Most visitors stay in Thamel or nearby, a short drive away.
Arriving overland from India
Travellers coming from India often cross at Sunauli–Bhairahawa near Lumbini or at other border points. Near the border your phone may stay on an Indian network. If you have an India plan installed too, switch your mobile data line to the Nepal plan once you have crossed.
Coverage in the cities, valleys and mountains
Nepal's dramatic terrain shapes coverage more than anything else. Your Spidot plan connects through Ncell.
Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara and the Terai
Kathmandu, Patan, Bhaktapur, Pokhara, Chitwan's Sauraha and towns in the Terai generally have good coverage. Thick-walled old buildings can weaken signal indoors. Power cuts are less frequent than in the past but can still affect Wi-Fi in guesthouses, so mobile data is a useful backup.
On the trekking routes
Popular routes in the Annapurna and Everest regions have coverage in many villages, at least on the lower and middle sections, but it is not continuous. Expect gaps between villages and in deep valleys, and weaker or no signal at higher altitudes. More remote treks, such as Upper Mustang, Manaslu or Kanchenjunga, have longer stretches offline. Many teahouses sell Wi-Fi, often via satellite and with limited speed.
Safety in the mountains
Do not rely on mobile data as your safety plan. Trek with a licensed guide where required, register your trek, carry insurance that covers helicopter evacuation at altitude and share your itinerary. For remote areas, many trekkers carry a satellite messenger.
Data on buses, flights and jeeps
Tourist buses connect Kathmandu with Pokhara and Chitwan, and local buses and shared jeeps reach trailheads. Journeys are long and roads are winding, with patchy signal along the way. Domestic flights, including the famous flight to Lukla, are short but highly weather-dependent, and delays are common. Data lets you check updates with your airline or agency.
Ride-hailing and taxis in the cities
Ride-hailing apps operate in Kathmandu and Pokhara and are popular with locals and visitors, including motorbike rides. Taxis are widely available too; agree the fare before getting in.
Sharing data with a hotspot
You can usually share Spidot data with a laptop or a fellow trekker's phone through your phone's personal hotspot. It is handy in guesthouses where Wi-Fi is slow or during power cuts. All devices draw from the same allowance, so turn off automatic photo backups and app updates; they tend to kick in as soon as you reach a village with signal.
Using public Wi-Fi safely
Wi-Fi is common in hotels, cafés and teahouses, sometimes for a small fee. Use it with care:
- Use mobile data for banking, payments and important logins.
- Confirm the network name with staff before connecting.
- Avoid entering passwords on sites without a padlock.
- Turn off automatic connection to open networks.
- Log out of shared computers in hostels and travel agencies.
Practical tips for Nepal
A few points help a Nepal trip run smoothly:
- Money: the currency is the Nepalese rupee. Cards are accepted in many Kathmandu and Pokhara businesses, but cash is essential on treks and in small towns. ATMs are scarce on the trail.
- Language: Nepali is the main language, and English is common in tourist areas.
- Charging: teahouses often charge for device charging at higher altitudes. Bring a large power bank and keep it warm at night.
- Cold: batteries drain quickly at altitude and in the cold. Keep your phone inside your sleeping bag at night.
- Respect: walk clockwise around stupas and ask before photographing people and ceremonies.
Nepal on a multi-country trip
Nepal is often combined with India, and sometimes with Bhutan, Tibet or Southeast Asia. Spidot does not sell a regional Asia plan, so use one eSIM per country. Most eSIM phones can store several eSIMs, and you switch the mobile data line when you arrive.
See our plans for India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand and China. If you continue to mainland China, note that some international apps and websites may be blocked there. Install all plans at home before travelling.