A complete, practical guide for visitors
This guide covers Kathmandu, the Terai (lowlands), the mountains/trekking, transport, health, common scams, protests and civil unrest, and emergency contacts with concrete actions you can take before and during your trip.
Quick top-line safety facts
- Tourist Police are available 24/7 and are the first stop for lost documents, harassment or scams — hotline 1144.
- General emergency numbers in Nepal: Police 100, Fire 101, Ambulance 102, Traffic 103; Tourist Police 1144/1144. Always save these.
- Protests and strikes happen periodically and can sometimes disrupt transport and services; avoid demonstrations and follow local news/embassy alerts. (Recent unrest in 2025 showed demonstrations can escalate quickly.)
- Mountain/trekking risks: altitude sickness, sudden weather, landslides/rockfall — prepare, hire guides, carry insurance that includes helicopter/evacuation. Himalayan Rescue and local agencies give practical altitude guidance.
1) Before you travel — paperwork, insurance, health
- Insurance: Buy travel insurance that explicitly covers helicopter rescue, high-altitude evacuation, and emergency medical repatriation (standard policies often exclude rescue above certain altitudes). Many trekkers have needed a helicopter evacuation for AMS.
- Permits & licensed guides: For the most popular treks, you’ll need TIMS/ACAP/other permits and, increasingly, licensed registered guides. Check permit rules for each area (Annapurna, Everest, Langtang, etc.) and confirm with your operator.
- Vaccinations & medicines: Hepatitis A and typhoid are commonly recommended; consider routine vaccines and discuss malaria prophylaxis with your doctor if going into Terai/lowland areas. Bring a travel first-aid kit, your regular meds, and altitude medication if prescribed.
- Register with your embassy: If your country offers a traveller-registration service, enrol so your embassy can contact you in an emergency. Keep embassy emergency numbers and local office hours saved.
- Digital copies: Scan passport, visa, insurance, prescriptions, and store them online (secure folder) and offline on a separate USB/phone.
2) Staying safe in Kathmandu and cities
- Pickpockets & petty crime: Thamel and tourist areas are busy — use a money belt, keep valuables zipped and in front, avoid showing large sums of cash, and use hotel safes. The FCDO and other government travel advisories explicitly warn about pickpocketing.
- Night safety: Avoid poorly lit streets alone late at night. If taking taxis, prefer booked rides (hotel-recommended or app/number), insist on meter use or negotiate a price beforehand, and note the scams.
- Common scams in cities: fake guides, overcharging taxis, shop commissions, “temple fees” or fake charity collectors. Politely decline street approaches, verify guides through your hotel or a registered agency, and get receipts.
3) Terai (lowlands) — what to watch for
- Health: Mosquito-borne illnesses (dengue, seasonal malaria in parts of Terai) are the primary health concern in lowland areas, especially in/after monsoon season. Use repellent (DEET or Picaridin), sleep with a mosquito net if needed, and consult your doctor about antimalarial drugs if you’ll be in higher-risk pockets.
- Heat & dehydration: The Terai can be very hot — drink water, avoid long midday exposure, and be cautious about street food hygiene.
- Wildlife & parks: In Chitwan and Bardia, follow park rules, use park-approved guides for jeep/boat safaris, keep distance from wildlife, and never approach or feed animals. Rangers and local guides know safe viewing distances.
4) Mountains & trekking — the most safety-heavy section
- Altitude sickness (AMS) is real: Ascend slowly, plan acclimatisation days, drink lots of fluids, and know AMS symptoms (headache, nausea, dizziness). If symptoms persist, descend immediately. Himalayan Rescue and trekking organisations have clear guidance. Carry Diamox only if advised by a doctor.
- Hire reputable guides & agencies: Use licensed guides and locally registered agencies; they know weather windows, permits, safe routes and evacuation protocols. Many treks now require registered guides.
- Gear & clothing: Bring layered clothing, waterproofs, sun protection, a warm sleeping bag rated for expected temps, and sturdy footwear. Even “short” treks can get unexpectedly cold at night.
- Weather & seasonal risk: Monsoon (June–September) brings landslides and blocked roads; winter brings heavy snow at higher altitudes. Check local forecasts and avoid risky seasons for the area you plan to visit. Recent heavy rains (Oct 2025) caused deadly landslides and flooding — take local weather warnings seriously.
- Evacuation & rescues: Helicopter rescues are available but very costly — confirm coverage in your insurance. Know the nearest rescue organisations (Himalayan Rescue Association, local NGOs) and carry a charger/power bank to stay reachable.
5) Transport safety — roads, buses, domestic flights
- Roads: Road conditions vary greatly. Avoid night travel on rural and mountain roads when possible (landslides, potholes, and limited lighting). Use reputable bus companies or private transport; seatbelts are not always available in local minibuses.
- Domestic flights: Nepal’s domestic aviation has improved, but some operators and smaller airstrips are weather-dependent; book with reputable carriers, watch the weather, and be ready for delays/cancellations. Pilots are experienced, but terrain and weather add risk. Plan flexibly.
- Taxis & rideshares: Agree on price/route before departure if the meter won’t be used. If something feels wrong, get out in a safe, public place. Prefer pre-booked airport transfers or hotel taxis.
6) Protests, strikes and civil unrest — how common and what to do
- How common? Protests and general strikes (bandhs) occur with some regularity in Nepal’s active democracy; most are peaceful, but some have recently escalated nationally (notably in 2025). They can disrupt transport, block roads, and lead to temporary curfews. Do not assume protests are rare. Monitor local news and advisories.
- If you encounter a protest:
- Avoid it. Move away calmly. Demonstrations can change the mood quickly.
- Shelter: If you’re near your hotel, return inside; if not, move to a shop or police station.
- Don’t take photos of police operations or protesters in ways that might be seen as provocative; some groups object to photos.
- Follow local and embassy advice; embassies sometimes issue movement restrictions or curfew notices.
7) Common scams — what they look like and how to avoid them
- Fake/overfriendly guides: Someone offers “free” help and then pressures you to buy expensive services or take you to commission-paying shops. Avoid accepting unsolicited guide offers; use hotel or agency referrals.
- Taxi overcharging: Driver claims the meter is broken, insists on a meter or agrees on a price in advance and notes the license. Use apps or hotel-recommended taxis.
- Bag-pull / distraction theft: A common gang tactic is not to engage in long conversations on the street, keep valuables secured, and be wary if someone bumps you.
- ATM/card fraud: Use bank ATMs inside banks when possible; shield PIN and monitor card transactions; inform your bank of travel dates.
- “Emergency” stranger stories: Someone claims to need urgent money to help a friend — verify before giving or send them to authorities.
8) Health, medication and hygiene
- Water & food safety: Stick to bottled or purified water; avoid raw salads from street stalls if you have a sensitive stomach. Carry ORS and basic meds for traveller’s diarrhoea.
- Mosquito protection: Use repellents, long sleeves in evenings, and nets in the Terai and post-monsoon months (dengue/malaria risk). Dengue outbreaks have happened across many districts in recent years. Be cautious.
- Mental health & heat: Take rest days, hydrate, and be mindful of fatigue at altitude or in hot climates.
9) Tech & practical safety tools
- Carry a power bank and a local SIM (Ncell or NTC) for data and hotlines.
- Download offline maps (Maps.me, Google offline maps) and have contact details for your hotel and guide stored offline.
- Keep copies of emergency contacts (family, embassy, insurance, local guide, hotel) printed and in your phone.
- Consider a small door alarm or travel lock for added dorm/room security.
What to do if something goes wrong?
- Lost passport: Report to Tourist Police (1144) and file an FIR at the local police station; contact your embassy for emergency travel documents.
- Medical emergency: Call 102 (ambulance), or go to the nearest hospital. If trekking, contact your guide, operator, and insurer for evacuation. (
- Harassment or assault: Contact Tourist Police (1144) and the local police (100). Preserve evidence and seek medical care. Tourist Police can help with language and procedures.
11) Short practical checklist (print or screenshot)
- Passport + visa + photocopy; embassy contact saved.
- Travel insurance that explicitly covers helicopter rescue and high-altitude evacuation.
- Permits/TIMS printed (if trekking) and guide contact.
- Vaccination record; malaria meds if advised.
- Local SIM / emergency numbers saved: Police 100, Tourist Police 1144, Ambulance 102, Fire 101.
- Repellent, sunscreen, water purification tabs, basic first-aid, altitude meds (if advised).
- Copies of hotel and guide contacts, and your insurer’s emergency phone.
12) Helpful local & international contacts
(Keep these saved in your phone and a paper copy.)
- Tourist Police (Nepal) — Hotline 1144 (toll-free). Tourist Police offices in Kathmandu/Pokhara provide 24/7 assistance.
- Nepal Police (general emergency) — 100.
- Ambulance (national) — 102.
- Fire Brigade — 101.
- Traffic control — 103.
- Women Helpline — 1145 (if needed).
- US Embassy (Kathmandu) emergency & consular info: emergency assistance pages and contacts (check your embassy website for precise phone/email).
Also, save your own country’s embassy/consulate in Kathmandu (phone/email) before travel.
Final practical tips (realistic, not sugar-coated)
- Nepal is welcoming, but it’s rugged. The infrastructure varies, weather can change rapidly, and medical/rescue access in remote areas is limited and expensive without proper insurance. Plan conservatively.
- Respect local rules and customs they reduce the chance of misunderstandings and keep you safer.
- When in doubt, ask your hotel or the Tourist Police. They are used to helping foreigners and can direct you to trustworthy guides and services.
