We advise against all but essential travel to the northern parts of the following districts of Nepal (as shown on the map): 

• Gorkha (including the Manaslu trekking region)

• Rasuwa (including the Langtang Valley trekking region)

• Sindhupalchok

• Dolakha

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On 24 February 2016 a Tara Air plane with 20 passengers on board, crashed whilst flying between Pokhara and Jomsom. On 26 February 2016, an Air Kasthamandap plane, with 11 passengers on board, crashed whilst flying between Nepalgunj and Jumla.

 

Disagreements arising from Nepal’s new constitution have led to protests and strikes in Nepal with many turning violent in the Terai districts, leading to multiple fatalities. Listen to announcements from local authorities and take advice from your tour company. British government officials in Nepal may sometimes defer travel to some districts of the Terai on official business, depending on the security situation at the time.

Protests can occur at short notice and turn violent. Clashes between protesters and police may occur anywhere, including at border crossings and along the east-west highway. Stay away from protest areas. 

Delays at border crossings have caused a severe fuel shortage which is affecting travel and provision of some emergency services. Some airlines have stopped or reduced the number of domestic flights they’re operating in Nepal until further notice. Consult your tour operator or airline before you travel.

Major earthquakes on 25 April (epicentre Gorkha district) and 12 May (epicentre Sinhupalchok district) caused extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure. Main roads across Nepal are open, but road conditions are poor.

Nepal is in a major earthquake zone and remains at risk from further earthquakes, aftershocks, landslides and flooding. You should familiarise yourself with safety procedures in the event of an earthquake; the risks to personal safety are likely to be higher in the areas to which we advise against all but essential travel.

 

 

Trekking in Nepal

 

Never trek alone. Use a reputable agency, remain on established routes, and walk with at least one other person.

 

Altitude sickness is a risk, including on the Annapurna, Langtang and Everest Base Camp treks. Read the National Travel Health Network and Centre’s advice on altitude sickness.

 

Accidents happen due to insufficient information, inappropriate equipment or overestimation of your own capabilities. Follow the advice given by local authorities and guides. Ignoring such advice could put yourselves and other mountain users in danger.

 

The following hazards exist throughout the year, especially above 3,000m: - sudden weather changes - avalanches and snow drifts - landslides and flooding - glacial crevasses and hollows - rockfall - thunder storms and lightning - altitude sickness - sun exposure

 

You should:

 

take note of weather forecasts and conditions

make sure you’re physically fit and have the necessary experience

be in a team of at least 2

inform someone of your plans

take warm clothes and wet weather gear

use sun block (SPF20 or higher) and sun glasses.

Make sure your insurance covers you for your intended activity, including travel above 3,000m, mountain rescue services and helicopter costs.

 

The Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) provides live updates on trekking conditions in Nepal. Online weather forecasts are available on the website of the government of Nepal Department Of Hydrology and Meteorology.

 

Treks can take longer than expected. Flights across Nepal, particularly in high mountain areas, can be delayed due to poor weather conditions. Keep your tour operator, guide and family informed of your situation and travel plans. In remote areas, including long stretches of the Annapurna Circuit trek, mobile phone coverage and internet services are extremely limited. Consider renting a satellite phone.

 

A valid permit and Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) card are needed to enter Nepal’s main trekking regions. See the Naturally Nepal website

 

Road travel

 

Bus accidents are common. Buses are often overcrowded, poorly regulated, poorly maintained, and driving standards are low. Road conditions are poor, especially during the monsoon or in mountain areas. Avoid travel on overnight buses. Don’t travel on overloaded or overcrowded buses. Tourist buses usually offer a higher standard of comfort and safety.

 

Every year there are a number of fatal bus accidents in Nepal. On 20 November 2014, a local bus came off the road in Jajarkot district, western Nepal. The bus fell into the Bheri river, killing 47 people.

 

On 24 October 2014, a tourist bus crashed in Nuwakot district, on its way to the Langtang trekking area, killing 14 people including 3 foreign nationals.

 

On 6 October 2014, a local bus crashed in Doti district, far western Nepal, killing 30 people. The bus was reported to have been carrying three times its permitted weight and the road was in poor condition following the monsoon.

 

General driving standards are poor. Many drivers are not properly licensed, trained or insured and vehicles, including taxis, are often poorly maintained. There are few pavements outside central Kathmandu and motorists don’t yield right of way to pedestrians.

 

Other road users often ignore motorbikes and bicycles. It’s the law to wear a helmet when riding a motorbike. You should also wear a suitable helmet when riding as a passenger, and when riding a bicycle.

 

You must have an International Driving Permit to drive a vehicle in Nepal. Carry your licence with you at all times as well as any vehicle registration documents.

 

Air travel

 

Check weather conditions before travelling. Bad weather conditions in mountainous and hill regions could further increase the risk to your safety and cause lengthy delays. Airfields such as Lukla’s are among the most remote and difficult to land on in the world and are a challenge for even the most technically proficient pilots and well-maintained aircraft.

 

There have been a number of recent air accidents in Nepal.

 

On 16 February 2014 a Nepal Airlines flight flying from Pokhara to Jumla crashed in western Nepal. 18 people were killed.

 

On 16 May 2013 a Nepal Airlines flight crashed while landing at Jomsom Airport in nothern Nepal leaving 5 people seriously injured.

 

On 28 September 2012 a Sita Air Dornier aircraft flying from Kathmandu to Lukla crashed south-west of Kathmandu shortly after take-off. Nineteen people were killed including 7 British nationals. The Air Accident Investigation Commission of Nepal has issued a report of the accident. The report could not determine the exact cause of the crash but made a number of recommendations aimed at improving safety.

 

On 14 May 2012, an Agni Air flight carrying 21 passengers crashed while landing at Jomson Airport in northern Nepal. 15 people were killed in the incident.

 

On 25 September 2011 a Buddha Air flight crashed in the Lalitpur district, south of Kathmandu. 19 people died in the accident.

 

On 15 December 2010 a Tara Air flight crashed in the Okhaldhunga region, east of Kathmandu. 22 people died in the accident.

 

On 24 August 2010 an Agni Air flight crashed in the Makwanpur region, southwest of Kathmandu. 14 people died in the accident including one British national.

 

A list of further incidents and accidents can be found on the website of the Aviation Safety network. 

 

All carriers from Nepal have been refused permission to operate air services to the EU due to safety concerns.

 

In 2009, an International Civil Aviation Organisation audit of aviation safety oversight found that the level of implementation of the critical elements of safety oversight in Nepal was well below the global average.

 

A number of tour operators have decided to stop using certain airlines due to safety concerns. Specific safety concerns about Sita Air have led a number of tour operators to stop using them.

 

Crime

 

There’s a low rate of serious crime in Nepal. Watch out for pick-pockets and bag-snatching, particularly in airports, on buses and in areas popular with foreign nationals like Thamel, Sanepa and Kupondol in Kathmandu. Take care when walking around at night. Assaults and robberies are more likely to occur in the evening in poorly lit areas. Avoid walking on your own and don’t carry large sums of cash. Keep valuables in a hotel safe if possible.

 

Bars and restaurants close at midnight. Foreigners remaining in bars and clubs after hours have been detained by the police. Take care when entering ‘dance bars’ as some foreigners have been swindled or harassed.

 

Be wary of accepting drinks from strangers, and don’t leave drinks unattended. There have been incidents of foreign nationals being sexually assaulted.

 

Victims of crime should call the Tourist Police in Kathmandu on 01 4700750 or the Tourist Police headquarters on 01 4247041.

 

Local Laws and Customs

 

Penalties for drugs related offences are severe. Possession of small amounts of marijuana can lead to a prison sentence of over 5 years, usually after a lengthy and expensive legal process. An increasing number of people are being caught smuggling drugs in to and out of the country.

 

Women should avoid wearing shorts and sleeveless tops where this might be seen as inappropriate, eg temples and other holy places. Remove shoes before entering certain holy places. Non-Hindus are not permitted in some temples.

 

You should carry your passport with you at all times. Leave a photocopy in a safe place or with friends and family.

 

Health

 

 Medical treatment is expensive at western travellers’ clinics in Nepal. Healthcare is poor in most places outside the Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara. It may be difficult to get rapid helicopter evacuation if you fall ill or suffer a serious accident in a remote area of the country. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad, repatriation and evacuation by helicopter (presently costing between £1,000 and £2,000 per flying hour).

 

There have been confirmed cases of cholera in Kathmandu, Nepalganj city in western Nepal and in Doti, Bajhang and Gorkha districts.

 

There have been some cases of avian influenza (bird flu) among birds and poultry in parts of the country. The risk to humans is believed to be very low, but as a precaution you should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with birds, and make sure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.

 

If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 102 and ask for an ambulance. You should contact your insurance/medical assistance company promptly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.

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Entry Requirements

 

Visas

 

You will need a visa to travel to Nepal.

 

To apply for a Nepalese visa i you should contact the Nepalese Embassy in your home country.

 

Visas are available on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport and at some land borders. You can pay in pounds sterling/dollars/euro at the airport. Bring two passport-sized photos with you. If you wish to stay for more than 60 days you can extend your visa up to 30 days by applying to the Nepalese Department of Immigration at Kalikasthan, Kathmandu (telephone: +977 1 4429659).

 

You must have a valid visa in your passport to leave Nepal. If your visa has expired you will have to arrange an extension at the Department of Immigration, before your departure.

 

Overstaying without authority is serious and you can be detained or refused permission to leave until a fine is paid.

 

Passport validity

 

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months when you submit your application for a visa.

 

The Nepalese authorities have confirmed they will accept British passports extended by 12 months by British Embassies and Consulates under additional measures put in place in mid-2014.

 

Volunteers

 

If you are planning to volunteer in Nepal you should research the legitimacy of any organisations you are planning to use. The Social Service Council of the Government of Nepal maintains a list of legitimate volunteer organisations email: info@swc.org.np.

 

Genvisec has received reports of volunteer opportunities at orphanages which are profit orientated organisations rather than charities. If you are volunteering at such an organization, you could be contributing to child exploitation. Contact the Nepali Central Child Welfare Board for confirmation before signing up to volunteer for such organisations.

 

Medication

 

If you are planning to take medication into Nepal you should bring the prescription. For further details contact the Nepalese Embassy.

 

Emergency Travel Documents

 

Emergency Travel Documents are accepted for entry, airside transit and exit from Nepal.

 

Earthquakes

 

Earth tremors are common across Nepal. Lack of adequate emergency preparedness, medical facilities and emergency equipment will increase the impact that an earthquake could have.

 

The British Embassy would only be able to offer limited Consular assistance in the days immediately following a severe earthquake in Kathmandu Valley due to the likely impact on local infrastructure and inaccessibility of many places. The British Embassy would be unable to provide food, water, shelter or medical assistance in a crisis.

 

Check with your tour operator to find out what contingency plans the operator may have in place in the event of an earthquake. The British Embassy would seek to help British nationals to leave as soon as possible following a major natural disaster. However, Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) may be unusable following a large-scale earthquake, as will Nepal’s road network. It could take some days for it to become operational. .

 

The National Society of Earthquake Technology - Nepal (NSET) provides advice on what to do in the event of an earthquake.

 

Monsoon season

 

Monsoon season Travel in the rural areas, especially in western Nepal, during the Monsoon season (June - September) can be hazardous. Monsoon rains cause flooding and landslides that can cut off some towns and villages for days at a time. Take care and check access routes before setting off. The Government of Nepal Meteorological Forecasting Division provides weather updates (in English).