Nepal SIM Card and Internet Guide: NCell vs NTC for Tourists (2026)

The best SIM card for tourists in Nepal in 2026 is NCell, which offers a dedicated tourist SIM with 30 GB of 4G data, 100 minutes of local calls, and 30 days validity for NPR 500 (approximately USD 3.75 or INR 310). You can buy it at Tribhuvan International Airport immediately after clearing immigration, or at any NCell shop in Kathmandu. NTC (Nepal Telecom) is the better choice if you are heading to remote trekking areas where NCell coverage drops off. Here is everything you need to know about staying connected in Nepal.

Where Can You Buy a Nepal Tourist SIM Card?

The easiest place to buy a SIM card is at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, where both NCell and NTC have counters in the arrivals hall, just after baggage claim and before the exit.

Airport SIM counters:

• Location: Immediately after you exit the baggage claim area, on the left side
• Hours: Open for all international flight arrivals (typically 6:00 AM to midnight)
• Processing time: 5-10 minutes
• What you need: Passport (they photocopy the ID page and visa page)
• Payment: Cash only (NPR or USD)

Other places to buy:

• NCell and NTC shops throughout Thamel, Kathmandu (dozens within walking distance)
• Mobile phone shops in Lakeside, Pokhara
• Any town or bazaar in Nepal — even small villages have mobile shops
• Land border crossings (Sonauli, Raxaul, Kakarbhitta) — available on the Nepal side

Important: SIM card registration requires your passport. A photocopy or photo on your phone will not work at most counters. Carry your physical passport.

Activation time: NCell tourist SIMs activate within minutes. NTC SIMs can take up to a few hours in some cases — buy NTC early in the day if possible.

How Do NCell and NTC Compare for Tourists?

Both networks are reliable in cities, but they differ significantly in coverage, speed, and pricing:

Our recommendation: Buy NCell as your primary SIM for daily use in Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan. If you are trekking above 3,000 metres, consider buying a second NTC SIM — NTC has government-backed infrastructure in remote areas that NCell has not reached.

Network reality check: Neither NCell nor NTC provides reliable service on the Everest Base Camp trek above Namche Bazaar or on the Annapurna Circuit above Manang. For high-altitude treks, you will rely on tea house WiFi (NPR 200-500 per session) or satellite devices.

What Data Plans and Top-Up Options Are Available?

After your initial tourist SIM data runs out, topping up is straightforward:

NCell Data Packs (2026 prices)

NTC Data Packs

How to top up:

1. Recharge cards: Available at every shop, tea stall, and mobile counter. Scratch the card, dial the recharge code.
2. Digital top-up: Ask any mobile shop to do an "e-recharge" — they top up your number directly from their system.
3. Banking apps: If you have a Nepali bank account (unlikely for tourists), apps like eSewa and Khalti can recharge.
4. USSD codes: Dial *17123# (NCell) or *1415# (NTC) to check balance and buy data packs.

Pro tip: Buy a NPR 700 NCell monthly pack at the start of your trip. 30 GB is more than enough for 2-3 weeks of maps, messaging, and social media. Video calling and streaming will burn through data faster — connect to WiFi for those.

Is eSIM Available in Nepal?

As of February 2026, neither NCell nor NTC offers eSIM for local plans. However, international eSIM providers work in Nepal with roaming:

International eSIM options:

• Airalo: Nepal data eSIM — 1 GB/7 days for USD 4.50, 3 GB/30 days for USD 11. Uses NCell or NTC roaming.
• Holafly: Unlimited data plans starting at USD 19 for 5 days. Speeds may be throttled after heavy use.
• Nomad eSIM: 1 GB/7 days for USD 5, works on NCell network.

When eSIM makes sense:

• You arrive late at night and the airport SIM counter is closed
• You want data immediately upon landing (pre-install before departure)
• Your phone has dual SIM and you want to keep your home number active
• You are on a very short trip (1-3 days) and do not want to deal with physical SIM registration

When eSIM does NOT make sense:

• Trips longer than a week — local SIM is dramatically cheaper
• You need voice calls (most eSIM plans are data-only)
• You want the best speeds — local SIM > roaming eSIM

Our recommendation: For trips of 5+ days, buy a physical NCell tourist SIM at the airport. For overnight layovers or very short visits, Airalo eSIM is a convenient backup.

How Good Is WiFi in Nepal?

WiFi availability and quality vary dramatically across Nepal:

Hotels and guesthouses:

• Kathmandu and Pokhara: Nearly all hotels offer free WiFi. Quality ranges from excellent (10-30 Mbps at mid-range hotels) to barely functional (1-2 Mbps at budget guesthouses).
• Chitwan and Lumbini: Most tourist hotels have WiFi, but speeds are lower (3-10 Mbps).
• Trekking lodges: WiFi is available at most tea houses up to moderate altitudes. Expect to pay NPR 200-500 per device per session. Speeds are typically 0.5-3 Mbps — sufficient for messaging but not video calls.

Cafes and restaurants:

• Thamel and Lakeside are packed with cafes offering free WiFi with a purchase. Quality is usually decent (5-15 Mbps).
• Co-working spaces in Kathmandu (like Jetha Workspace and Nepal Communitere) offer reliable high-speed WiFi for NPR 500-800 per day.

Public WiFi:

• Kathmandu and Pokhara have some free public WiFi zones, but they are unreliable and insecure. Avoid accessing banking or sensitive accounts on public networks.

Digital nomad reality: Kathmandu is increasingly popular with remote workers. A mid-range hotel (NPR 3,000-5,000/night) with fibre WiFi, supplemented by a NCell SIM as backup, provides a workable setup. Video calls work in cities; expect interruptions if your hotel's connection is shared among many guests.

What About Phone Calls and Messaging Apps?

Most travellers in Nepal rely on data-based messaging rather than traditional phone calls:

Messaging apps that work well in Nepal:

• WhatsApp: The most widely used app in Nepal. Works perfectly on data.
• Viber: Very popular among Nepalis. Your hotel, taxi driver, and tour guide will likely use Viber.
• Messenger (Facebook): Common among younger Nepalis.
• WeChat: Useful if interacting with Chinese travellers or businesses.
• Telegram: Growing in popularity.

When you need actual phone calls:

• Calling Nepali landlines (hotel front desks, restaurants, airlines)
• Emergency services (100 for police, 102 for ambulance)
• Confirming trekking permits and travel arrangements

International call rates:

• NCell to India: NPR 5/min
• NCell to UK/US/Australia: NPR 10-15/min
• NTC rates are similar
• Using WhatsApp/Viber calls over data is free — always the better option when WiFi is available

VPN note: Nepal does not restrict VPN usage. If your work requires a VPN for security, it will function normally on both NCell and NTC connections. Speeds may drop slightly when using a VPN.

What Connectivity Should You Expect While Trekking?

Trekking connectivity has improved significantly in recent years, but remains patchy above certain altitudes:

Annapurna Circuit / Annapurna Base Camp:

• NTC coverage up to Manang (~3,500m) and along the southern approach to ABC
• NCell coverage up to Chhomrong and intermittently beyond
• Tea house WiFi available at most stops (NPR 200-500)
• Best connectivity: Ghorepani, Chhomrong, Manang

Everest Base Camp Trek:

• NTC coverage up to Namche Bazaar (~3,440m), intermittent above
• NCell coverage to Lukla, weak beyond
• Everest Link (paid WiFi network) covers Namche to Gorak Shep — NPR 1,500 for 5 GB
• The most reliable option above Namche is Everest Link

Langtang Valley:

• NTC coverage to Syabrubesi, intermittent in the valley
• Tea house WiFi available at Lama Hotel, Langtang Village, and Kyanjin Gompa

General trekking tips for connectivity:

1. Download offline maps (Maps.me or Google Maps offline) before leaving Kathmandu
2. Download entertainment, books, and podcasts — you will have long evenings without internet
3. Carry a power bank (10,000-20,000 mAh) — charging at tea houses costs NPR 100-300 per device
4. Send a daily check-in message to family from the last point of connectivity
5. For emergencies, satellite communicators (Garmin inReach, Zoleo) work everywhere

Quick Setup Checklist for Arriving Tourists

Here is your step-by-step connectivity plan for Nepal:

Before departure:

• Check your phone is unlocked (locked phones will not accept Nepali SIMs)
• Optionally pre-install an Airalo eSIM as backup
• Download offline maps, translation apps, and entertainment
• Note down important numbers: hotel, embassy, emergency (100/102)

At the airport:

• Buy NCell tourist SIM at the arrivals counter (NPR 500, passport required)
• Wait for activation (2-5 minutes)
• Test data by loading a webpage
• Send a WhatsApp message home to confirm your number

During your trip:

• Check data balance weekly: dial *17123# (NCell) or *1415# (NTC)
• Top up as needed at any mobile shop
• Use hotel WiFi for heavy data tasks (video calls, uploads)
• Switch to NTC if heading to remote areas (buy second SIM in Kathmandu)

Staying connected in Nepal is affordable and straightforward — as long as you set up on arrival and manage expectations in the mountains.

Book a Nepal hotel with verified WiFi on BookGarum →

Related reads:

• Nepal Visa Guide for All Nationalities
• Nepal Currency and Money Exchange Guide
• Getting Around Kathmandu: Transport Guide
• Nepal Packing List: Complete Guide