Nepal: Carnet vs. Temporary Importatation
 

Finding it a struggle to get a definitive answer of whether a carnet is required to bring a bike into Nepal overland from China. Lots of mentions say it is accepted, but not whether mandatory.

Just been digging in the Nepal Customs site. And in their tariff document found the following.

Vehicles of personal use brought in by tourists under a carnet
shall be allowed to stay in Nepal continuously or now and then
for a period of 6 months during the span of 12 months (one
Year) from the date of the first entry into Nepal without payment
of import duty.

So that's saying a carnet is accepted. But here's the more interesting part:

The temporary importation of vehicles such as motorcars,
station wagons, land rovers, jeeps, trucks, tractors, lorries, vans
and motorcycles including their trailers except those brought
under a carnet shall be charged customs duty as follows:
..
(b) Import duty shall be levied on vehicles, having no carnet,
imported temporarily on the following rates:
..
Motorcycles and Scooter Rs. 100 per diem,
..
Vehicles thus imported with the payment of temporary
import duty shall not be permitted to stay in Nepal for
more than 30 days in a year.

So if understand it, I can bring my bike overland into Nepal, spend the 2 days needed to pack for a plane to Bangkok, and only pay 200NPR (which is little more than a quid). Significantly cheaper than a carnet.

The document is available here: Normal Tariff

Have I understood it right? Missed the smallprint somewhere?

How do you propose to enter Nepal overland from China ? Have you looked into this aspect of your trip ?
UB.