Nepal is safe when you're prepared. This page is the preparation.

Altitude sickness (AMS)

• Above ~2,500 m, ascend gradually: once above 3,000 m, keep sleeping-altitude gains to about 300–500 m per day.
• Build in acclimatisation days (Namche and Dingboche on EBC; Manang on the Circuit) — rest days are climb-high-sleep-low days, not idle days.
• Early AMS feels like a hangover: headache, nausea, poor sleep, loss of appetite. Tell your group. Do not ascend with symptoms.
• Worsening symptoms, confusion, breathlessness at rest or staggering are emergencies — descend immediately, even at night, with company.
• Hydrate constantly, skip alcohol at altitude, and discuss acetazolamide (Diamox) with a travel doctor before your trip.

Common scams to avoid

• Unlicensed 'guides' at airports and tourist hubs: book through registered agencies or verified contacts, and ask to see the licence.
• Gem, gold and 'export business' deals offered to tourists are a classic con — walk away.
• Inflated taxi fares from the airport: use prepaid counters or agree the fare before getting in.
• 'Milk for the baby' and similar emotional purchases around tourist areas usually feed organised rings, not children.
• Fake trekking permits or 'permit shortcuts' — permits only come from official counters (Nepal Tourism Board, park entry gates).

Food & water safety

• Never drink untreated tap or stream water — use purification tablets, a filter, or sealed bottled water.
• Dal bhat freshly cooked and served hot is the safest trail meal; be cautious with meat above Namche or far from roads.
• Peel-it, boil-it, cook-it, or forget it — applies double during monsoon.
• Carry oral rehydration salts; traveller's diarrhoea at altitude drains you fast.

Solo traveller safety

• Since 2023 Nepal requires a licensed guide in many national-park trekking areas — check each route's page for its guide rule.
• Share your route and daily check-ins with someone at home; register with your embassy for long treks.
• Solo does not mean alone: tea-house routes have a natural rhythm of fellow trekkers — leave and arrive with others on high sections.
• Trust lodges over strangers for valuables, and keep originals of documents on your body, copies in the pack.

Monsoon season (Jun–Sep)

• June–September: daily rain, leeches on mid-hill trails, landslide risk on road journeys — build slack into any schedule.
• Domestic flights (especially Lukla) delay or cancel often in cloud — allow at least 2 buffer days before your international flight.
• Rain-shadow regions (Upper Mustang, Dolpo) remain trekkable through summer.

Winter season (Dec–Feb)

• December–February: high passes (Thorong La, Cho La, Larke) may close with snow; many lodges above 4,000 m shut for the season.
• Low-altitude treks (Poon Hill, Helambu) and Terai safaris are excellent in winter — cold nights, crisp views.
• Daylight is short: start early, plan to arrive by mid-afternoon.

Cultural etiquette

• Walk clockwise around stupas, mani walls and chortens; spin prayer wheels clockwise.
• Remove shoes before temples and homes; some Hindu temple inner sanctums are closed to non-Hindus — respect the signs.
• Ask before photographing people, ceremonies, and inside monasteries.
• Dress modestly at religious sites: covered shoulders and knees.
• Use your right hand for giving and receiving; avoid touching people's heads or pointing feet at people or shrines.

Lost passport

• Report the loss at the nearest police station and get the police report — embassies require it.
• Contact your embassy or consulate in Kathmandu for an emergency travel document.
• Visit Nepal Immigration (Kalikasthan, Kathmandu) with the police report to replace your visa before flying out.