Stay online in Nepal from the moment you land in Kathmandu. Install a data eSIM before you fly, skip the SIM counter in arrivals, and keep your usual number for calls and texts while you use maps, ride-hailing apps and WhatsApp in the valley and on the way to the trailheads.
Nepal eSIM
Nepal eSIM plans
Every plan is data only, priced in US dollars, with no contract and nothing to return.
Our picks
Three plans we would buy ourselves, by the trip you are taking. Every plan we sell is listed below.
Short trip
10.5 GB
1.5 GB a day
7 days
A week or so away: maps, messages, rides and the odd video call.
Part of the Global (170 countries) bundle
$17.99
Buy this planLong trip
22.5 GB
1.5 GB a day
15 days
Two weeks or more, with room for photos, streaming and work email.
Part of the Global (170 countries) bundle
$29.99
Buy this plan
Also covered by Global (170 countries)
One eSIM that also works in the other countries of the bundle, for a trip that crosses borders.
See every country in Global (170 countries)
No eSIM, no charge. If your payment goes through and we cannot issue your eSIM, we refund you in full. Refund policy
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Local networks. See which ones it uses in Nepal
Which plan fits your trip
Nepal is sold on our global plans, which cover it together with more than 160 other countries in one install. They suit a trip in Nepal alone as well as one that goes on to India. The plan cards above show the days and data on sale:
- Daily data suits steady use in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan: maps, messages and photos every day.
- Fixed data suits a trek, where you are offline or on lodge Wi-Fi for days and use mobile data only in towns and villages with signal. A 30-day allowance lasts across a long trip.
See fixed, daily or unlimited for how each type behaves.
Landing in Kathmandu
Almost every international flight arrives at Tribhuvan International in Kathmandu. Install the eSIM at home while you are on your own Wi-Fi, then turn on data roaming for the eSIM line once you are off the plane. You can then message your hotel or book a ride before you reach the exit. Pathao and inDrive are the usual ride-hailing apps in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Coverage on the trekking routes
Coverage is good in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan and the larger towns. On the popular treks it is patchy: many villages on the Everest and Annapurna routes have a mobile signal, but it comes and goes between them and fades at higher altitude, on passes and at base camps. Lodges along the main routes often sell Wi-Fi by the hour or by the day, which is slow when many trekkers share it. Before you start a trek:
- Download offline maps of the route and save your permits, flight tickets and insurance details to the phone.
- Tell family you may be offline for days at a time.
- Keep the eSIM installed: it reconnects in each village with signal.
How much data do you need?
In town, a typical traveler using maps, messaging and photos uses about 1 GB a day. On a trek you will use much less, since signal is limited, so a fixed allowance usually lasts longer than the number of days suggests.
Networks in Nepal
Nepal's mobile networks are Nepal Telecom and Ncell. A travel eSIM connects to one of them as a roaming partner, which is why data roaming must be on for the eSIM line. The partner network can differ from plan to plan, so check the plan details, or ask us at support@esimlounge.com before you buy.
How to install your eSIM
Install it at home before you fly, then switch it on when you land.
Check your phone
Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier unlocked. Most phones from the last few years do.
Scan the QR code
Scan the code from your email while you still have Wi-Fi at home. It takes about two minutes.
Switch on when you land
Turn on the eSIM line and data roaming for it. Keep your usual SIM for calls and texts if you like.
Nepal eSIM questions
Is an eSIM cheaper than my own carrier's roaming in Nepal?
Usually, by a wide margin. UK, US and Australian carriers typically charge a daily pass for each day you use your phone abroad, and over a two-week trek those passes cost several times more than a plan here. Check your own plan's roaming terms to compare.
Does it work on the Everest Base Camp trek?
In many villages along the route, yes, but not everywhere. The signal comes and goes between villages and fades at higher altitude, so expect days offline and use lodge Wi-Fi as a backup.
Does it work on the Annapurna Circuit?
In the larger villages, mostly yes. On the high sections and around Thorong La pass, expect little or no signal. Download offline maps before you start.
Can I use the same eSIM in India?
Yes, if India is on the plan's list. Nepal is sold on our global plans, so one install keeps you online across the countries the plan covers. Check the list on the plan before you buy.
Will I keep my phone number?
Yes. Your usual SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts, and the eSIM carries your mobile data. Keep data roaming off on your usual SIM to avoid roaming fees from home.
When does the plan start counting days?
On most plans the days start when the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination, not when you install it. The plan details say how yours works.