For most trekkers, a local Ncell tourist pack is the cheapest way to get data in Nepal, and an NTC SIM is the best backup at altitude. Ncell's 14-day pack cost NPR 995 (about $7) for unlimited data and calls on 1 November 2026, against $24 for the cheapest travel eSIM we priced (Nomad, 10 GB on Ncell). A travel eSIM still earns its place if you want to land connected, skip the airport queue, or keep data on a second line while a local NTC SIM handles the hills. Avoid fixed-data eSIMs from Saily and Lotso Travel here: they cost $90 and $210 for the same two weeks.
Lotso Travel, which appears in the price table below, is run by the team behind this site. It's one of the most expensive options for Nepal, and we say so.
Your options, side by side
| Option | Two weeks costs | Network | Where you get it | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ncell tourist pack (Explorer) | NPR 995 (~$7) | Ncell | Kathmandu airport, Ncell centres; tourist eSIM online | Speed reduced after 25 GB; passport registration |
| NTC prepaid SIM | Not published officially; "comparable" to Ncell per Nepal Traveller | Nepal Telecom | NTC counter at Kathmandu airport, Thamel shops | We couldn't verify current tourist prices |
| Nomad eSIM | $24 (10 GB, 30 days) | Ncell | Online, before you fly | 10 GB cap; unlimited version slows after 2 GB a day |
| Maya Mobile eSIM | $27.99 (unlimited, 14 days) | Not named | Online, before you fly | Network not named; 10 Mbps after 3 GB a day per its help centre |
| Airalo eSIM | $70 (2 × 7-day unlimited) | Ncell | Online | The 15-day pass costs $79, so two 7-day passes are cheaper |
| Saily eSIM | ~$90 (3 × 3 GB) | Not named | Online | Expensive fixed plans |
| Lotso Travel eSIM (ours) | ~$210 (2 × 5 GB) | Not named | Online | The dearest option; buy elsewhere for Nepal |
Sources: Ncell tourist SIM and eSIM page (read 1 Nov 2026); Nepal Traveller, Jul 2026; eSIM prices from our price index, read 31 Oct 2026. NPR-to-USD conversion as given by Nepali Telecom (NPR 995 = $7.2).
Ncell's tourist packs, in detail
Ncell sells three tourist packs to non-Nepalese citizens, each with 100 SMS and unlimited calls on all networks, per its tourist page:
| Pack | Price | Validity | Data |
|---|---|---|---|
| TouristPro Sprinter | NPR 595 | 7 days | Unlimited; slowed after 10 GB |
| TouristPro Explorer | NPR 995 | 14 days | Unlimited; slowed after 25 GB (to 256 kbps) |
| TouristPro Voyager | NPR 1,995 | 28 days | Unlimited; no threshold stated |
A fair-usage policy applies to all of them. You can buy the physical SIM at Tribhuvan International Airport, at Ncell centres in major cities and entry points, and at authorised retailers; you need your original passport to register it. Ncell also sells tourist eSIMs through its online Tourist eSIM Platform (esim.ncell.com.np); its page doesn't say whether the eSIM packs are identical to the physical ones. Extra packs can be bought in the Ncell app or by dialling *123#, but only while you're on a tourist plan.
At NPR 995 for two weeks with 25 GB at full speed, no travel eSIM comes close on price. Ncell is also the network that Nomad and Airalo use in Nepal, so on coverage alone an Ncell tourist pack and those eSIMs should behave alike.
NTC: the network that climbs
The reason trekkers talk about Nepal Telecom (NTC) is coverage at altitude. Nepal Traveller's July 2026 guide describes Ncell as stronger in cities, with 4G and some 5G in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan, and NTC as the network that reaches further into the hills and "typically holds on longer at altitude", naming the Everest Base Camp trek and the Annapurna Circuit.
That matches what trek operators report on both treks. Our Annapurna Circuit guide shows Ncell fading after Chame while NTC still gives 4G in Manang, and our Everest Base Camp guide has the village-by-village picture: good on both networks up to Namche, patchy at Tengboche, and around Dingboche and Lobuche NTC is the one that sometimes still carries data or voice.
We couldn't find NTC's current tourist prices on an official NTC page, so we haven't put a number in the table. Nepal Traveller says its packs "sit in a comparable range" to Ncell's.
Where an eSIM is still worth it
The local SIM wins on price, but a travel eSIM has three practical advantages:
- You land connected. Install it on Wi-Fi at home, switch it on as the plane lands, and you can order a ride or message your trek operator before you reach the SIM counters.
- No paperwork or queue. Tourist SIM registration takes your passport and, at busy times, a wait in the arrivals hall after a long flight.
- It frees your physical SIM slot for NTC. Most recent phones take one physical SIM and one eSIM at the same time. A travel eSIM (or Ncell's own tourist eSIM) for data plus a physical NTC SIM for the high villages gives you two networks on one phone, which is the best coverage you can carry in the Khumbu or on the Annapurna Circuit.
For that eSIM, the choice in our data is simple:
eSIM prices · Nepal
14 days at 0.5 GB a day (7 GB)
| Provider and cheapest fit | Price |
|---|---|
| Nomad10 GB · 30 daysNetwork: Ncell | $24 |
| Maya MobileUnlimited · 14 daysNetwork not named | $27.99 |
| Airalo2 × Unlimited · 7 days, 3 GB/day full speedNetwork: Ncell | $70 |
| Saily3 × 3 GB · 30 daysNetwork not named | $89.97 |
| Lotso TravelOurs2 × 5 GB · 10 daysNetwork not named | $209.98 |
Public USD prices checked 31 Oct 2026. Lotso Travel is run by the team behind this site. Full data and method: price index; change the trip length in the calculator.
Nomad ($24 for 10 GB on Ncell) for light use, Maya Mobile ($27.99 for 14 days unlimited) if you'll use more than about 15 GB or stay longer. Airalo's Ncell unlimited works but costs $70 for two weeks. Lotso Travel, which our team runs, isn't competitive in Nepal; Maya or Nomad is the better buy there.
Check your phone takes an eSIM and is unlocked before you rely on any of this: our phone checker covers the regional traps.
A plan that works for a trek
- Before you fly: install a Nomad or Maya eSIM; download offline maps (Maps.me or similar) for the whole route.
- At Kathmandu airport: buy an NTC SIM for the physical slot (passport needed), or an Ncell tourist pack if you'd rather not carry an eSIM at all.
- On the trail: expect signal in villages, not between them. Above Namche on the EBC route, lodge Wi-Fi such as Everest Link is often more reliable than either network (details in the EBC guide).
- Beyond any mast: no phone service works on high passes and in remote valleys. iPhone satellite SOS isn't offered in Nepal, so if you'll be out of reach for days, carry a satellite messenger. inReach vs ZOLEO vs SPOT compares the cost.
Questions people ask
Which SIM is best in Nepal for trekking, Ncell or NTC?
Ncell is stronger in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan; NTC (Nepal Telecom) reaches further into the hills and "typically holds on longer at altitude", according to Nepal Traveller's July 2026 guide, which names the Everest Base Camp trek and the Annapurna Circuit. Many trekkers carry both.
How much is a tourist SIM in Nepal?
Ncell's tourist packs, listed on its own site, are NPR 595 for 7 days, NPR 995 for 14 days and NPR 1,995 for 28 days, each with unlimited data (slowed after 10 GB or 25 GB on the shorter packs), unlimited voice and 100 SMS. NPR 995 is about US$7. We couldn't find NTC's current tourist prices on an official page.
What do I need to buy a SIM card in Nepal?
Your original passport, which the counter scans, and usually a passport photo (counters at Kathmandu airport will take one for a small fee) and your visa or entry stamp. Ncell and NTC have counters side by side in the arrivals hall at Tribhuvan International Airport.
Does Ncell sell an eSIM to tourists?
Yes. Ncell's tourist page offers a tourist eSIM through its online Tourist eSIM Platform (esim.ncell.com.np), alongside the physical tourist SIM sold at Kathmandu airport and Ncell centres. The page doesn't say whether the eSIM packs match the physical ones exactly.