When you plan a Nepal trip, the first question to come your head is trekking in Nepal safe? Trekking in Nepal is totally safe for every traveler from across the globe.
The political, geographical, social, etc. happenings don’t disturb in tourism industry of Nepal. There are no any armed conflicts and terrorist activities.
No matter what part of the world you belong to, you can freely explore Nepal tour natural and cultural beauties. Besides nature and culture, you have a lot of adventure sports activities of your choice. Thus, Nepal is a Himalayan nation that is a must-visit country in your bucket list.
Tourists are treated like God in Nepalese society. There is a famous Sanskrit quote “Atithi devo bhava!” (Guest is God!). In Nepali culture and tradition, every tourist is respected and warmly welcomed. The Nepalese people are simple-minded and helpful towards international traveler in Nepal.
Moreover, with the development of ICT, tourism industry of Nepal has extended to every corner of the country. The service and product cost you pay has brought a significant change in their society and lives. Tourism activity has been one their main income sources that help them meet their daily needs.
The Nepalese people want to welcome as many tourists as they can so that they can promote their cultures, traditions, festivals, and local products. Tourism activity has given them not only economic benefits but also popularity all over the world.
Thus, Nepal is safe for Nepal trekking, hiking in Nepal, city tours, peak climbing, and expeditions. Yes, just as the whole world, the COVID-19 made Nepal unsafe place for travelling. This was not because of the people, policies, and government of Nepal but a global phenomenon.
To know “is trekking in Nepal safe?” this blog has included some of the key factors that help you book a Nepal trip without any doubt.
Types of trekking in Nepal
Types of trekking in Nepal are divided on the bases of food and accommodation, trekking difficulty levels, altitude, and permission.
On the basis of food and accommodation, teahouse, camping, and service trekking are the types. Teahouse trekking is an organized trip in which you pay the entire trekking cost to the local tour operator. The trekking agency pays for your guide or guide cum porter, food, accommodation, travel tickets, and trekking permits.
In camping trekking, you have to pay a little higher cost than in teahouse trekking. You need a crew consisting of a captain, cook, waiter, and porters besides trekking guide. So, you have to bear their service, travel tickets, permits, food, and accommodation charges. However, these expenses are included in your trekking cost.
In service trekking, the local tour operator provides you with a guide or guide cum porter, accommodation, permits, and travel tickets but you have to pay for food items yourself. Nevertheless, you need not worry about this because the guide or team leader makes the required arrangement throughout the trek.
Health safety
Taking some basic health safety measures helps you remove your doubt “Is trekking in Nepal safe?” Be sure to know if you have pre-existing diseases such as asthma, migraine headache, blood pressure, diabetes, typhoid, cholesterol, etc. However, do not worry much about these diseases but take medicines and treatment regularly.
Health safety helps you overcome trekking difficulty far easily. Consider ensuring immunizations, water safety, first-aid box with necessary curative and preventive medicines, lotions, bug spray, sunglasses, sunscreen, snow glasses, etc.
We recommend you to avoid smoking and alcoholic substances while trekking in Nepal. These substances reduce your stamina that result in incomplete trip.
Acute mountain sickness (AMS)
Besides trekking regions, trail conditions, remoteness, season, food and accommodation, altitude gain also measures how safe Nepal trekking is?
As soon as you travel above 2,500m, you might develop acute mountain sickness (AMS) symptoms. Such symptoms like altitude sickness might not only hinder your trip but also result in fatality or even death.
As soon as you feel symptoms of altitude sickness, you might share it with your team leader. Before that, you have to follow the preventive measures before and while traversing through the Himalayas. Some minor and possible measures help you a lot to combat AMS.
Weather and climate for trekking in Nepal
Weather and climate of the time you are trekking in Nepal also plays a vital role in making your trip safe. The weather and climate remain stable and predictable while trekking to the Himalayas in spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November).
However, in the winter and summer, weather and climate remain uncertain and unpredictable. Snowfall in the winter and rainfall in the summer might be challenges to complete your trip successfully.
In the same way, weather and climate of the low altitude trekking destinations and the high altitude trekking routes remain different. In the low altitude places, weather remains pleasant or day warmer; morning, evening and night colder. Contrarily, weather condition of the places above 4,000m remains cold enough throughout the day.
Nonetheless, if prepared well, your trekking in Nepal is totally safe enough to give you a lifelong memory of Nepal trip.
What to wear while trekking in Nepal?
If you have knowledge of “what to wear while trekking in Nepal?” your trip will be successful. The clothes must be worn according to the altitude you reach, season you trek in, and itinerary you have booked.
In fact, if you choose low altitude trekking routes in Nepal, you don’t need highly thick clothes and heavy shoes. Likewise, trekking in the warmer seasons don’t require much thick clothes and shoes. However, we recommend you to wear the layered clothes so that you can use them according to the need.
You must be really serious about what to wear while trekking along the high altitude routes. Normally, the routes and regions above 4,000m are colder enough that need thick clothes and shoes. Snowfall is a common phenomenon in high altitude trekking routes and regions. To cope up with the freezing cold temperature, you must wear the warmest clothes and shoes.
However, we recommend you to use sunglasses, sunscreen, gloves, snow glasses, and other stuffs. Similarly, if you are doing easy trekking in Nepal in the summer, don’t forget to keep an umbrella as well.
Food, water, and accommodation services during the Nepal trekking
Food and accommodation services available around the trekking regions of you go also define how safe trekking in Nepal is. Most of destinations around the Himalayas are teahouse trekking which ensures you don’t have to worry about food and lodging services.
Even camping trekking in Nepal is not much risky because you get to choose the food items and tent camps. But, yes, the trekking cost might be a little higher than teahouse trekking cost.
Food items: typical Nepali food and foreign dishes must be hygienic and full of calories. Unhygienic food might result in poor health condition that hinders your trip.
The water must be pure and drinkable; otherwise, you might have some water-borne diseases. Likewise, the beds and tent camps must be cozy and clean enough to keep you in the best of health. While in camping trekking you must choose the sites safe from wild animals and natural disasters. For this, you’d better consult with the local tour operator and the team leader.
Landscape variation of Nepal Trekking
Knowledge about the landscape variation assists you to decide whether trekking in Nepal is safe or not. You know, Nepal is divided into three physical regions: Terai, Hill, and Himalayas, on the basis of geography.
All these regions also have variation in the landscapes. Although extended in about 150,000 square kilometers, here is the lowest place Kechana Kawal (58m) to the highest point Mount Everest (8,848.86m) on Earth.
Based on altitude, low altitude trekking routes are situated below 4,000m and the ones above 4,000m are called high altitude trekking routes. In Nepal, there are hundreds of low trekking routes and tens of high altitude trekking routes.
Obviously, low altitude trekking routes are much safer than high altitude trekking routes. Altitude sickness, challenging trail conditions, lack of food and accommodation facilities, and remoteness are the main features of high altitude trekking destinations. Contrarily, while traversing along the low altitude destinations, you might easily cope up with these factors.
Especially, for the beginner trekkers, children, and senior citizens, we recommend to trek through the low altitude routes. Top low altitude trekking routes are:
- Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek/Annapurna Sunrise View Trek
- Everest View Trek
- Langtang Valley Trek
- Lowe Mustang Trek
- Dolakha Kalinchowk Trek
For the experienced ones and adventure lovers, you can try out some of the challenging trekking routes. Top high altitude Nepal trekking routes in Nepal are:
- Everest Base Camp Trek
- Gokyo Lakes Trek
- Everest Three High Passes Trek
- Annapurna Circuit Trek
- Manaslu Circuit Trek
- Upper Dolpo Trek
If you book a trip as per your experience, trekking in Nepal is safe, or else it might be challenging to complete the trip.
Flexibility of itinerary for trekking in Nepal
To travel safely in Nepal, you must be ready to adjust with the unavoidable situations that come before or while in the trip.
Trekking in Nepal in spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) are safer than the other seasons. The weather and climate of the spring and autumn are quite stable and predictable. However, sometimes natural disasters and weather might not be favorable.
Likewise, although trekking in Nepal is not much threatening even in the winter and summer seasons. But, thick fogs and mists most often result in the poor visibility. The poor visibility might obstruct the domestic flights from Kathmandu, Pokhara, and other cities. Besides this, you might not rejoice the excellent vistas of the Himalayas, green hills, and lush valleys.
Trekking in Nepal in the monsoon season is not recommended because the weather is not predictable in this time. Heavy rainfall results into flood and landslides that often disturb the Nepal trekking trails to the Himalayas. Accordingly, the thunderstorms are also common during the rainy season.
The unpredictable weather conditions might result in delay or cancellation of domestic flights. Then, your Nepal trekking tour might not be completed within the given time frame. Thus, you must always be ready for flexibility of Nepal trekking itinerary. Nevertheless, we wish you remain far away from such hindrances.
Travel insurance for trekking in Nepal
Your travel insurance determines whether or not trekking in Nepal is safe for international travelers. Travel insurance helps you a lot in health issues, natural disasters, and urgent unavoidable circumstances. After getting this done, you can do Nepal’s beautiful hiking in Nepal and Nepal trekking destinations of your choice without any dilemma.
Travel insurance for trekking in Nepal covers the following topics for your trip safety:
- Emergency hospitalization
- Pre-existing diseases
- COVID-19 risk coverage
- Treatment in home country if recommended by doctors in Nepal
- Common carrier and accidental death
- Medical and emergency evacuation
- Trip delay and cancellation
- Loss or theft of passport and baggage
- Upgrading travel ticket
- No age limit
- Coverage of personal liability and the minor child
However, travel insurance for trekking in Nepal does not compensate for the issues other than the ones given above.
Conclusion: Is trekking in Nepal safe?
This blog is one of the best answers to the question: is trekking in Nepal safe? As a foreign tourist you might not have enough information about how safe trekking in Nepal is.
Although a developing country, it is one of the top trekking destinations in the world. People here are kind, simple-minded, and helpful. They respect and take care of national and international guests as their God!
Book a trip with us so that you can have a lifelong memory of Nepal trip.