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eSIM for Nepal: data in Kathmandu, Pokhara and on Himalayan treks
Mobile data in Nepal: where coverage is solid in Kathmandu and Pokhara, what to expect on the Everest and Annapurna treks, teahouse Wi-Fi, local SIM with a passport and eSIM.
Plan for your trip: Nepal · Data for your trip — See plans →
Mobile data in Nepal works reliably for travelers in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan and other towns, while in the Himalayas there’s signal only in some villages, and it drops on passes and in valleys. On the Everest Base Camp trek and the Annapurna Circuit, connectivity comes and goes, and teahouses sell slow paid Wi-Fi. The easiest way to connect is a travel eSIM installed at home: you’re online as soon as you land in Kathmandu, and you prepare for the offline days on the trek in advance.
Where does mobile signal work in Nepal, and where does it fade?
Nepal has two main mobile carriers: Nepal Telecom and Ncell. In Kathmandu, Pokhara and the larger lowland cities, both run 4G networks, and coverage generally holds along the main roads. In the mountains, coverage is uneven: towers sit near villages, and the signal vanishes in deep valleys and at altitude.
| Place | What to expect | What to do in advance |
|---|---|---|
| Kathmandu, Thamel, Patan, Bhaktapur | Data works; slower at peak hours and during power cuts | Nothing special, an installed eSIM is enough |
| Pokhara, Phewa Lake | Stable in town, weaker at remote viewpoints | Offline map of the surrounding area |
| Chitwan, Lumbini | Signal in villages, weaker in the national park jungle | Lodge and guide contacts offline |
| Everest trek: Lukla, Namche | Signal in Lukla and Namche Bazaar, sparse and unstable higher up | Warn family about days without signal |
| Annapurna Circuit | Signal in villages along the middle section, none near Thorong La | Track and agency contacts offline |
| Annapurna Base Camp, Langtang | Patchy signal in some villages | Plan on teahouse Wi-Fi |
| Mountain roads between towns | Gaps on the switchbacks | Download playlists and an offline map in advance |
Actual connection quality in Nepal depends on the carrier, the location, the weather and the power supply. During the monsoon, roughly June to September, there are outages in the mountains, and landslides sometimes damage lines. No one can promise the same connection across the whole country — that goes for a local SIM and a travel eSIM alike. It’s also worth checking which services are available before you go: in September 2025, Nepal’s government blocked 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube and X, for several days and lifted the ban after mass protests.
Is there internet on Everest, Annapurna and Langtang treks?
On Nepal’s trekking routes, there’s mobile signal in some villages, but usually none between them, in valleys or on passes. The Everest Base Camp trek starts in Lukla, which has signal; it holds in Namche Bazaar and a few villages, then gets increasingly sparse higher up. On the Annapurna Circuit, the signal drops on the approach to Thorong La pass and only returns in Muktinath.
Teahouses come to the rescue: many of them sell Wi-Fi for an extra fee, sometimes via cards with an access code. This Wi-Fi runs over a satellite or long-range radio link, so it’s slow and shared among all guests — you can send a message, but usually not make a video call. Charging your phone at altitude is often paid too, and the cold drains batteries fast.
- Download an offline map of the whole trekking area and save a GPX track of your route.
- Save screenshots of your trekking permits, insurance, and agency and guide contacts.
- Agree on a check-in schedule with family, for example a message every day or two when you have signal.
- Bring a power bank and keep your phone in your sleeping bag at night: batteries drain faster in the cold.
- Flights to Lukla are often delayed by weather, so keep the airline and agency contacts handy.
Local SIM or eSIM in Nepal?
Local SIM cards in Nepal are sold at Kathmandu airport, in carrier stores and in shops in Thamel and Pokhara. Travelers report needing a passport, and sometimes a photo or a copy of their visa — check the current procedure before your trip. A Nepali number is handy if you’re staying a long time and agencies or guides will call you.
A travel eSIM gets you online without queuing after landing or swapping cards. With MoreSim, you buy a plan on the website or in the @moresim_bot Telegram bot, pay with Telegram Stars from any country, right in the bot (bank card and SBP payments currently work with cards issued in Russia), and the QR code arrives in the chat in about 30 seconds. The eSIM works as a second line, so your home number and bank texts stay with you. MoreSim plans are mobile data only, with no phone number: you call through messaging apps where they aren’t restricted, and the data and validity options for Nepal are on its catalog page.
On a trek, preparation matters more than your choice of SIM: where there are no towers, neither a local card nor a travel eSIM will get signal. For a broader comparison across Asia, see our guide to eSIM vs local SIM in Asia.
How to get mobile data in Nepal, step by step
Getting online in Nepal takes seven steps: two at home on Wi-Fi, four after landing in Kathmandu, and the last one before you set off on your trek.
- At home, check that your phone supports eSIM: the @moresim_bot bot has a compatibility check.
- Buy a Nepal plan, install the profile over your home Wi-Fi and name the line “Nepal”.
- After landing in Kathmandu, turn off airplane mode.
- Select the Nepal eSIM for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it: most travel eSIMs run on a local carrier’s network as roaming.
- Turn off mobile data on your home SIM, but keep the line itself on if you’re expecting bank texts.
- If the network doesn’t appear within a couple of minutes, toggle airplane mode again.
- Before setting off on your trek, check your remaining data and top up in the bot if needed.
Nepal and India: which plan for two countries?
If Nepal is part of a route with India or other Asian countries, each country needs its own plan: as of October 2026, the MoreSim catalog has no regional plans for Asian countries. Many travelers enter Nepal from India overland, for example via the border crossing near Lumbini, or fly on to Delhi and Varanasi. A Nepal plan only works in Nepal, so for two countries you install one plan per country and switch your data line at the border.
It’s easiest to install both profiles at home: the days start counting on first connection in the destination, so the second plan doesn’t use up its validity early. For details on India, see our India guide; for regional and worldwide plans, see our guide to global eSIMs.
How much data should I get for Nepal?
How much data you need in Nepal depends on your itinerary. If you spend most of the trip trekking, you’ll use little mobile data: there isn’t signal every day, and what you use goes on messages and weather forecasts. Most of it goes in Kathmandu and Pokhara before and after the trek, plus automatic photo uploads, which kick in as soon as your phone finds a network.
- A week in Kathmandu and Pokhara with maps and messaging — a small plan will do.
- A two-week trek with a couple of days in town — modest data, but the plan’s validity has to cover the whole trip.
- Turn off automatic cloud photo uploads before the trek, or they’ll eat your data in the first village with signal.
- If you run out before the plan expires, top up without a new eSIM: use “Top up data” on the eSIM card in your account or in the bot’s app, if top-ups are available for that plan.
Plan sizes and durations for Nepal are shown on the country’s catalog page. If something doesn’t connect on arrival, MoreSim support is reachable via /support in the bot, a ticket in your account and email.
FAQ
Is there internet on the Everest Base Camp trek?
On the Everest Base Camp trek, there’s mobile signal in Lukla, Namche Bazaar and some villages, but higher up it gets sparse and unstable, and on passes and in valleys there may be none at all. Many teahouses sell paid Wi-Fi, and it’s slow. Expect patchy connectivity and let your family know in advance.
Does mobile data work on the Annapurna Circuit?
On the Annapurna Circuit, there’s coverage in many villages along the lower and middle sections, including Manang, but on the approach to Thorong La pass and on the pass itself there’s usually no network. After the pass, the signal returns in Muktinath and the Kali Gandaki valley. Save your track and contacts offline.
How can a tourist buy a SIM card in Nepal?
Local SIM cards in Nepal are sold at Kathmandu airport and in Nepal Telecom and Ncell stores. Travelers report needing a passport, and sometimes a photo or a copy of their visa. Check the current rules before your trip. If you only need data, you can install a travel eSIM at home and switch it on right after landing.
Which carrier has better coverage in the Nepal mountains?
Nepal Telecom and Ncell coverage in the mountains varies from valley to valley, and there’s no way to say in advance which one works better where. A travel eSIM on roaming usually connects to one of the local networks. On remote treks, plan around teahouse Wi-Fi and offline preparation rather than a particular SIM.
Can I use one eSIM in Nepal and India?
A Nepal plan only works in Nepal. For a route that includes India, install one plan per country and switch lines at the border: as of October 2026, the MoreSim catalog has no regional plans for Asian countries. It’s easiest to install both profiles at home in advance.
How much data do I need for a trek in Nepal?
You need less data on a trek than you might think: there isn’t signal every day, and watching video isn’t practical. Most of your data goes in Kathmandu and Pokhara before and after the trek. Estimate your own scenario with our data guide and leave some headroom: a MoreSim plan can be topped up in the bot without a new eSIM.