Is Nepal Safe for Traveling?

Generally, when you search for the safest countries to travel to in Asia, you are unlikely to see the name “Nepal” pop up in the search results. But we assure you that Nepal is one of the safest countries you can travel to. Compared to other third-world countries, you do not hear much about Nepal having serious crimes or attacks on tourists visiting internationally or regionally. In this blog, we will be discussing all the factors of safe traveling including risks and crimes.

Weather and Natural Calamities

Extreme weather is not a thing you will experience unless you are traveling to the Himalayas during the off-season. The weather conditions are very mellow and tolerable in all parts of Nepal. You will experience the usual sub-tropical weather, however, during winter the highlands of Nepal experience heavy snowfall and extreme cold which is why it is not advised to trek the Himalayas in winter.

Likewise, you are likely not to experience any natural disasters unless you travel to the hills of Nepal during the monsoon or the Himalayas in the early winter. During monsoon, the hilly region of Nepal experiences landslides and the Terai region is susceptible to flooding. Natural disasters are a part of nature and every country experiences these things given the unfortunate circumstances. This is probably not the reason you should cancel your trip to Nepal.

Laws and cultural differences

The laws for tourists in Nepal are pretty minimal and nothing out of the ordinary. Tourists are not to take part in riots and protests, they are not allowed to take photos of army camps and other sensitive national sites, doing drugs is also a big no, and trying to convert any individual to another religion is also deemed unlawful.

Unlike the West, there is no “legal limit” to the possession of drugs. Even if you get caught with a milligram of banned drugs, you will be taken for questioning (best case scenario) or jailed for a certain amount of time (worst case scenario).

However, these are the basic laws that should be implemented and are implemented by most countries around the world. You are all good if you just stick to having fun and follow the guide’s instructions.

Another thing you should keep in mind is cultural differences. Nepal is a very modest country, the societal activities here are traditionally influenced and confined. If you have been to India, you can fully understand what to expect in Nepal as both countries are predominantly Hindu.

Basically, you should refrain from showing affection to your partner in public places. You should also not wear shorts while visiting religious or cultural sites within the country, as the people in Nepal believe in dressing modestly not only for religious and cultural activities but in general.

Moving on to the subject of inclusivity, LGBT people are not looked upon differently. The locals of Nepal are very accepting and will welcome LGBT people the same way they would any other person. Same-sex marriage was recently made legal in Nepal, and even before that blessings from LGBT community members were good for fortune. However, public display of affection is a big no whether it’s a straight couple or a gay couple.

The same can be said for religion. The Nepalese people are very welcoming of tourists regardless of their religious views and practices. However, non-Hindus might be restricted from entering sacred Hindu temples. This applies only to a handful of temples in the country, you will be able to appreciate the beauty of the temples anyhow.

Crime & Scams

Serious crimes against tourists are rarely heard of in Nepal. 99% of the local people you will meet on your journey will be hospitable and friendly towards you but this leaves the 1% who have ill intent. As tourists are known to have American dollars and Euros, expensive cameras, and smartphones, they become a target of the pickpockets. Especially if you are traveling at night in local buses.

So, we recommend you keep all your valuables safe or at your hotel. You should call the hotline number 1144 if you ever become a victim of thieves and robbers.

Sexual Assault is something that you should be aware of, especially in crowded city areas. A number of female tourists have reported sexual misconduct in places like Thamel and Sanepa. We advise you to not visit these areas in the dark by yourself, always have a company with you. You can not change the way people act, the best you can do is keep yourself safe.

Although unheard of, there are some street scams in Nepal. The scams happen especially in the major tourist hub. Street sellers, typically a one-man army, will try to sell you some type of souvenir, and once you try it on (bracelets, necklaces, rings, etc.), they will demand money aggressively as you have already used it.

Another type of scam is the helicopter rescue scam while trekking in the Himalayas. What happens is that a guide will take an inexperienced group of trekkers to the highlands. While trekking, he will purposefully make the trekkers ascend the route faster than the recommended pace, making them suffer from altitude sickness. He will then call the helicopter rescue which is his partner in crime.

Helicopter evacuation costs around $5000 and the rescue operators along with the guide pocket their part, which is a great payday for a trek guide who earns a maximum average of $20 daily.

Civil disorder

Compared to the past, civil disorder has significantly decreased in Nepal. Not to imply that Nepal has been politically stable in recent years, but you are unlikely to see riots and protests. If there are riots happening during your visit, you should not join in with the crowd; it can get really dangerous really fast.

Adventure travel and outdoor sports

Outdoor activities and adventure tourism are the main attractions of Nepal. More tourists visit Nepal for the beautiful Himalayas and adrenaline-filled rafting and bungee jumping instead of the religious sites.

Specifically, trekking in Nepal is the main activity that attracts people from all around the world. Safe to say, the trekking destinations and trails in Nepal are moderately marked and risk-free. But there are some sections in the Himalayas that can be quite dangerous during heavy snowfall. Avalanche zones are common in the Himalayas so it’s advised not to visit the highlands in winter.

To combat this, you should always have a guide with you if you are going to a dangerous trekking destination. The trekking guides are not just your reliable GPS in the mountains, they are also the bridge for communicating with the locals who often do not speak English or very little if they do.

Besides that, outdoor sports are also safer in Nepal. Activities like rafting, bungee jumping, paragliding, parachuting, hot air balloon flights, ultra-light flights, etc. are closely monitored for safety measures and accidents rarely happen in such activities. There’s always a safety instructor on board to make sure everything goes right.

Transport risks

Transportation is something that Nepal lags behind in, being a third-world, developing country. The highways are not smooth and you will experience a lot of potholes. Besides that, since the major highway connects Kathmandu (the capital city) to other cities, and goes through the hills in a winding manner, landslides can be an issue during the monsoon season.

If you are thinking of renting a vehicle in Nepal and driving it yourself, keep in mind that the road rules here are vastly different from other countries. For example, you are supposed to drive on your left-hand side as opposed to the right side which most countries prefer. And you are likely not going to find traffic lights at intersections.

Riding bikes has been on the rise. Tourists prefer riding bikes instead of cars as they are used to driving cars and want to experience something they are not familiar with. Also, the potholes-infested roads of Nepal are well-traveled by bike as you can maneuver easily to dodge the potholes. But be sure that the bikes you are riding are not modified in any way; ask the bike rental associates if there are any modifications made.

Modifying vehicles in Nepal is strictly prohibited by traffic laws. If the traffic police find you riding a modified vehicle, it will be seized and you will be stranded in the middle of the road.

Moving on to air travel; it’s not really good, to be honest. As per an official UK report, none of the airlines of Nepal meet international safety standards. Moreover, in recent days, you might have heard of flight crashes in Nepal.

Tourist Police

The major cities of Nepal have dedicated police forces to help the tourists. The standard police forces might not be fluent in English making it harder to communicate effectively, which is why you should always contact the tourist police if you need help. They are always on the road in major tourist attractions to ensure the safety of tourists, resulting in an overall safe visit to Nepal.

They are your go-to for any kind of tourist-related queries, for example, you can ask them about travel permits, visa extensions, tickets to enter certain attractions, and more.