A Patancell travel eSIM for Nepal starts at $5.00 for 1 GB over 7 days. The product page lists the speed as LTE. Plans run from 7 to 30 days, and unlimited plans are listed separately from $15.30 for 3 days. Coverage is Nepal.
Key facts
| Country | Nepal |
| Network | Patancell |
| Speed | LTE (published on the product page; subject to carrier Fair Usage Policy) |
| From | $5.00 for 1 GB / 7 days |
| Validity | 7, 15, or 30 days |
| Install | QR code, before you fly |
What a Patancell eSIM costs
The cheapest published plan on the Nepal travel eSIM is $5.00 for 1 GB valid 7 days. A 2 GB / 15 day plan is $7.65, a 3 GB / 30 day plan is $9.90, a 5 GB / 30 day plan is $15.30, and 10 GB over 30 days is $20.40. The 3 GB / 30 day plan is the value pick: it triples the entry plan, lasts four times as long, and costs less than double. After that the curve turns: 5 GB is $5.40 more than 3 GB for two extra gigabytes, and the 10 GB plan at $20.40 is the one that carries a month of travel.
Network
The plan is sold under the operator name Patancell and the supported country is Nepal. The product page publishes the speed as LTE. That is the figure to plan around, and real speed still depends on the mast, the handset, and the carrier Fair Usage Policy. Nepal is covered as one country on this plan, and the cities and the main trekking hubs are the realistic sweet spot. The product page does not publish a coverage map, so treat high passes, deep valleys, and remote trail sections as outside the guarantee: signal follows the network’s own footprint, and mountain terrain blocks it in places no plan can fix. It does not cover India or China, so the land crossings at the Indian border and the Tibet side need their own plans.
How much data you actually need
Maps, chat, and permits saved offline sit comfortably inside 1 GB for a short city stay. On trekking routes you will be off hotel Wi-Fi for days at a time, which is where the allowance actually goes: a two-week trek with daily photo uploads is the 5 GB plan, and a month of travel with maps, chat, and backup is 10 GB. Save maps for offline use before you leave Kathmandu, because downloading them over mobile data is the fastest way to burn a bucket.
Unlimited data
Unlimited plans are listed on the same product page, from $15.30 for 3 days, $22.10 for 5 days, $29.75 for 7 days and $36.55 for 10 days. Compare them against the buckets: 10 GB for 30 days costs $20.40, which is less than the 5 day unlimited plan, so unlimited only makes sense for a short trip with heavy uploads. Unlimited still sits under a Fair Usage Policy, and on a congested trail mast a hotspot left on all day is exactly what gets slowed.
Dual SIM
Keep your home SIM for calls and bank texts. Turn on data roaming only for the Patancell line. iPhone: Settings, Mobile Data, pick the travel line. Android: Settings, Network, SIMs, set mobile data to the travel eSIM. Do this before you leave the airport Wi-Fi.
Arrival and transit
Almost every visitor lands at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) in Kathmandu, with Pokhara (PKR) as a second entry point for the Annapurna side and land crossings from India at Sunauli, Birgunj, and Kakarbhitta. Install the eSIM on hotel or home Wi-Fi before the flight, then switch the data line on after you clear arrivals. You do not need a local shop or a passport photo for this plan.
Install
- Buy the plan and open the QR code in the order email while you still have Wi-Fi.
- On the phone, add an eSIM and scan that code. Label the line “Nepal”.
- After landing, set mobile data to that line and leave your home number on for texts.
Phone compatibility
The phone must be carrier-unlocked and eSIM-capable. iPhone XS and later, and recent Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel models, qualify. A locked handset will not take the QR code. Check the lock status with your home carrier before you pay.
FAQ
Q1: How much is the cheapest Nepal eSIM?
$5.00 for 1 GB, valid 7 days, on the Patancell plan.
Q2: Which operator is on the plan?
Patancell. The supported country is Nepal.
Q3: Does it include calls and SMS?
No. It is a data plan, with voice calls only through apps such as WhatsApp or FaceTime. Keep your home SIM for calls and one-time passwords.
Q4: Is it 5G?
No. The product page lists the speed as LTE, not 5G. Real speed still depends on coverage and the Fair Usage Policy.
Q5: Can I install it after I land?
Yes, if you can reach Wi-Fi. Installing before the flight is simpler, because the QR download needs a connection and Kathmandu arrivals is a busy hall to be troubleshooting in.
Q6: Will it work outside Nepal?
No. India and China need their own plans, so a trip that crosses the border needs a second eSIM.
Q7: Is there an unlimited option?
Yes. Unlimited plans are listed separately on the same product page, from $15.30 for 3 days.
Q8: Can I share it as a hotspot?
Yes, within the data allowance. Hotspot traffic counts against the same gigabytes, and heavy sharing can hit the Fair Usage Policy.
Q9: What if the QR code fails?
Use the manual activation code in the same email. The phone still has to be unlocked.
Q10: When were these prices checked?
October 2026, against the published variation prices on travelydata.com.
Bottom line
For a week in Nepal, the $5.00 / 1 GB Patancell plan is the entry point, but the 3 GB / 30 day plan at $9.90 is the one most travellers should buy. A two-week trek with daily uploads is 5 GB, and a month of travel is 10 GB at $20.40, which is cheaper than 5 days of unlimited. The published speed is LTE.
Prices and coverage verified on travelydata.com, October 2026.
