Signal fades fast once you leave Kathmandu or Pokhara, so the right apps need to be set up before you reach the trailhead. Here is the short kit experienced trekkers actually use — one app per job, all downloaded and ready offline.
The short answer
Plan the trip
Real itineraries, day-by-day timings and actual costs shared by trekkers who just walked the route.
Navigate offline
OpenStreetMap-based apps show teahouse villages and trails that general map apps miss.
Check mountain weather
Wind and snow forecasts at altitude, not just the weather in town.
Stay in touch
Both are widely used in Nepal — guides and lodges often coordinate on them.
Translate
Download languages for offline use where supported, before you lose signal.
Emergencies
On remote routes, a device like a Garmin inReach works where phones don’t.
Plan with real trip journals, not old blog posts
Most trek information online is either a tour-operator itinerary or a blog post from years ago. Trails get rerouted, new roads eat into the lower sections, teahouses open and close. What you want is recent, first-hand detail: how long each day actually took, where people stayed, what it cost and what the weather was doing.
That is exactly what TripHaru is built for. Every trip is a journal from a real trekker — itinerary, timings, costs and seasonal notes — so you can compare several recent trips on the same route before you commit.
Offline maps: download before you leave town
- Organic Maps / Maps.me — free, fast, and built on OpenStreetMap, which covers popular trekking routes and villages well.
- Gaia GPS — better for topographic detail and importing GPX tracks from other trekkers.
- Download the whole region (not just the route) in case you detour or bail out to a different road head.
- General-purpose map apps often have little trail data above the road — don’t rely on them for navigation.
Mountain weather
Valley forecasts tell you little about a high pass. Use a forecast that shows wind and freezing level by altitude — Windy’s model layers and Mountain-Forecast.com are the usual choices. Check them whenever you have signal, and ask your lodge owner too; local knowledge is often the best forecast.
Staying connected on the trail
- NTC and Ncell are Nepal’s main mobile networks. Buy a local SIM in Kathmandu or Pokhara (bring your passport).
- Coverage is decent in lower valleys and patchy higher up. Carry both networks if you can — where one fails the other sometimes works.
- Many teahouses sell Wi-Fi, usually slower and pricier the higher you go. Some regions have paid Wi-Fi networks, such as Everest Link in the Khumbu.
- Charging costs extra at altitude — a large power bank saves money and stress.
Pre-trek phone checklist
- Save recent trip journals for your route on TripHaru.
- Download offline map regions and any GPX tracks.
- Download offline translation languages.
- Share your itinerary with someone at home.
- Save emergency contacts, your insurance policy and your guide’s number offline.
- Fully charge your phone and power bank the night before.
Fresh from the trail
The latest trip journals shared on TripHaru.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best app for planning a trek in Nepal?
For planning, use an app with recent first-hand trip reports. TripHaru collects real itineraries, costs and timings from trekkers in Nepal, so you can compare several recent trips on the same route.
Does Google Maps work for trekking in Nepal?
It works for roads and towns, but trail data is limited above the road head. OpenStreetMap-based apps such as Organic Maps, Maps.me or Gaia GPS are more reliable on trekking routes.
Is there mobile signal on treks in Nepal?
On popular routes there is usually signal in lower villages from NTC or Ncell, becoming patchy at higher altitude. Many teahouses sell Wi-Fi. Download everything you need offline before you start.
Do I need a satellite messenger?
On busy teahouse routes most trekkers manage without one. On remote or restricted-area routes, a satellite messenger is a sensible safety addition.