Nepal eSIM providers at a glance

ProviderDataDurationPriceHotspot
Airalo Top pick1 – 20 GB7 – 30 days$4.50 – $25YesDetails →
Yesim Cheapest1 – 50 GB3 – 30 days$1.50 – $30YesDetails →
Saily Privacy1 – 20 GB7 – 30 days$3.49 – $24.99YesDetails →
Drimsim Long expeditionsPay-as-you-goNo expiry~$4/GBYesDetails →

Prices above are the entry tier as of the last refresh — head to the provider for current numbers before checkout.

Detailed provider reviews for Nepal

Airalo

Best overall for Nepal

Airalo's Nepal plans connect to Ncell, which has the best reach into the trekking regions. Activation at Kathmandu (KTM) airport is reliable. Per-gigabyte cost is mid-range but for trekkers who care about having any signal at all in the lower Annapurna or Khumbu valleys, the Ncell routing matters more than saving a couple of dollars on a smaller plan.

1 GB
$4.50 · 7 days
3 GB
$8.50 · 15 days
5 GB
$11.50 · 30 days
Pros
  • Runs on Ncell — best reach into trekking regions
  • Reliable activation at Kathmandu airport
  • Long enough validity for slow trekking schedules
Cons
  • More expensive per GB than Yesim
  • Won't get you signal above 4,000m on most routes
Visit Airalo →

Yesim

Best value

Yesim's $1.50 1 GB starter is the cheapest entry and enough for a Kathmandu-Pokhara week without trekking. The 5 GB at $7.50 covers most two-week trips comfortably. Network performance via Ncell has been good in cities and at lower trek elevations in my testing — same network as Airalo, just cheaper.

1 GB
$1.50 · 3 days
5 GB
$7.50 · 14 days
10 GB
$12.00 · 30 days
Pros
  • Cheapest plans for Nepal
  • Same Ncell network as Airalo at lower cost
  • 10 GB option for working remote from Pokhara
Cons
  • Less responsive customer support
  • App slightly clunkier
Visit Yesim →

Saily

Privacy-focused option

Saily's NordVPN integration is useful in Nepal mainly for accessing home streaming services and added security on guesthouse and tea house Wi-Fi. The 5 GB at $11.99 with 30-day validity is fine for a longer trekking trip. Connects to one of the main Nepali operators and works across Kathmandu, Pokhara, and the lower trek routes.

1 GB
$3.49 · 7 days
3 GB
$7.99 · 30 days
5 GB
$11.99 · 30 days
Pros
  • Built-in VPN for streaming and security
  • 30-day validity even on smaller plans
  • Clean app interface
Cons
  • More expensive than Yesim
  • Smaller maximum plan than Airalo
Visit Saily →

Drimsim

For long expeditions

If you're combining Nepal with India for a longer Himalayan trip, or if your trek schedule is uncertain (weather delays, slower acclimatization), Drimsim's no-expiry balance is convenient. At ~$4/GB it's pricier than fixed plans for Nepal alone, but useful for trips where you genuinely don't know when you'll exit the mountains.

Pay-as-you-go
~$4.00/GB
No expiry
Balance never expires
Pros
  • Credit doesn't expire — good for delayed treks
  • Same balance works in India and elsewhere
  • No need to predict trek duration
Cons
  • Higher per-GB cost than fixed plans
  • Less polished app
Visit Drimsim →

How much data do you need in Nepal?

Nepal data needs split sharply between city stays (Kathmandu, Pokhara, Lumbini) where you'll have full 4G and modest needs, and trekking routes where you'll have intermittent signal at best. Most travelers spend a few days in Kathmandu and Pokhara before heading into the mountains, and the city portion drives most of the data usage.

For a one-week Kathmandu-Pokhara loop with no trekking, 3 GB is enough. A two-week trip combining city time with a short trek like Poon Hill or Mardi Himal, plan on 5 GB. A full Annapurna Circuit or Everest Base Camp trek over 2-3 weeks, you'll only intermittently have signal — 5 GB is still plenty because the trek itself is mostly offline.

Worth knowing: Tea houses on the major treks (EBC, Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Base Camp) often sell Wi-Fi vouchers via Everest Link or AirLink for $3-8 per session. These work where mobile signal doesn't, especially at Namche Bazaar, Dingboche, and the higher EBC stops. Budget for both — your eSIM handles cities and lower trek altitudes; tea house Wi-Fi handles the high altitude messages home.

Battery is the bigger concern than data on treks. Charging stops at tea houses cost $1-3 per device, more at higher elevations. Bring a power bank.

Network coverage in Nepal

Ncell and Nepal Telecom (NT) are the two main operators. Ncell generally has better urban speeds and surprisingly good reach into parts of the Annapurna and Khumbu regions — the network puts towers in unexpected places. Nepal Telecom has wider rural coverage in non-trekking areas. Most travel eSIMs run on Ncell.

Kathmandu, Pokhara, Lumbini, and Chitwan are fully covered with 4G LTE. On the Annapurna Circuit, you'll have signal in Tatopani, Jomsom, Manang, and at most lower villages — coverage thins above 4,000m. On the Everest trek, Lukla and Namche Bazaar have signal; Tengboche, Dingboche, and Gorak Shep are spotty to nonexistent. The Annapurna Base Camp trek has signal at most lodges along the route.

Tips for using an eSIM in Nepal

Pathao and inDriver are the main ride-hailing apps in Kathmandu and Pokhara, both work with travel eSIMs. They're significantly cheaper than tourist taxis and the apps are widely used by locals too. Outside the two main cities, transport is arranged via guesthouses, local buses, or hired drivers.

For trekking permits (TIMS card and Conservation Area entry), you can apply in Kathmandu or Pokhara at the relevant offices — bring passport photos. Guides and porters are often arranged through agencies before you head to the trail. WhatsApp is the standard communication channel for these arrangements.

Maps.me with downloaded Nepal files is essential for trekking — Google Maps has limited trail data above the populated valleys. The app also works offline, which is the only way to navigate above 3,500m where signal is thin.

For weather forecasts on treks, the Mountain Forecast app is useful when you have signal — load the relevant pages whenever you have bars and reference them for the next few days of trekking.

Why an eSIM works for Nepal

Tribhuvan International (KTM) has Ncell and Nepal Telecom kiosks selling tourist SIMs, and the prices are reasonable. The downside is registration: you need passport photocopies and the activation can take an hour. After a long international flight from Europe or the Gulf, that's the last thing you want before heading to your Thamel hotel.

An eSIM activates before you land, gets you straight into a Pathao to Thamel, and means you're already coordinating with your trekking agency on WhatsApp before you've showered. For most short-stay trekkers, the time saved is worth more than any small price difference.

Frequently asked questions

Partially. You'll have Ncell signal at Lukla, Namche Bazaar, and (intermittently) Tengboche. Above Dingboche and toward Gorak Shep, mobile signal is essentially nonexistent and trekkers rely on Everest Link Wi-Fi vouchers at tea houses for messaging. Plan accordingly: your eSIM handles the lower trek and the start/end city days; tea house Wi-Fi handles the high-altitude check-ins.
Better than EBC. Ncell has surprisingly good coverage along much of the lower Annapurna Circuit — Tatopani, Jomsom, and Manang all have signal at most tea houses. Coverage thins above Manang as you approach Thorong La pass, and is gone at the pass itself. Annapurna Base Camp also has signal at most of the main lodges along the route.
Yes, for messaging family above 3,500m where mobile signal disappears. Everest Link and AirLink vouchers cost $3-8 per session and work at most established tea houses on the major treks. They're slow (don't expect to stream anything) but enough for WhatsApp messages, weather checks, and the occasional photo upload. Budget for them on top of your eSIM.
5G rollout in Nepal is still in early stages. Ncell and Nepal Telecom have begun deploying 5G in parts of Kathmandu and Pokhara but it's not yet widespread. Most travel eSIMs default to 4G LTE for compatibility, which is fine for everything tourists need to do.
Yes, Pathao works fine with travel eSIMs and is the cheapest way to get around Kathmandu and Pokhara. It offers both car rides and motorbike rides — the bike option is dramatically cheaper and faster in Kathmandu's traffic if you're comfortable with it. Both pay in cash typically.