Useful apps for Nepal: transport, maps, translation

Nepal runs on a small set of apps. For getting around cities, Pathao and InDrive are the two names to know: both let you set a pickup and see a fare before you accept, which removes the negotiation that otherwise happens at the kerb. Coverage is strongest in Kathmandu and Pokhara; in smaller towns you will fall back on street taxis, local buses or a driver arranged through your hotel.

For navigation, Google Maps handles Kathmandu, Pokhara and the main highways well enough for city use. Trekking routes are a different problem: trails, lodges and side paths are often missing or misplaced, and signal drops in valleys. Download the area for offline use before you leave, or install Maps.me, which uses OpenStreetMap data and works without a connection. A paper map or a guide's local knowledge still beats both on high routes.

WhatsApp and Viber are the default channels for anything arranged in advance — a trekking guide, a hotel in Thamel, a driver meeting you at the airport. Confirm times and prices in writing so there is a record. For money, keep your bank or card app installed and switch on travel notifications before you fly; without them a card can be frozen on the first transaction. Cash remains the practical default outside hotels and larger restaurants, so plan around ATMs rather than apps.

If your phone is unlocked, an eSIM bought before departure avoids the airport SIM queue; otherwise NTC and Ncell sell tourist SIMs at the airport and in town with your passport and a photo. Either way, carry a power bank — charging points at trekking lodges often cost extra.