Kathmandu Travel Answers

I'm not sure about the present situation, but when I was there in May/June of last year there were no problems at all. Our group was stopped by Maoists but nothing happened. I would just keep an eye out for the advisories, it may well settle down before you travel. All in all, I don't think there will be a problem for you. As always though, leave it up to your own conscience - will you feel safe? This is what it says on the Australian site: We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Nepal due to the unpredictable security situation and disruption of access to and from the airport in Kathmandu. Violent protests occurred across Kathmandu on 22 January 2008. Protesters have blocked road access to and from Kathmandu airport on 23 January 2008. Further disruption could occur with little or no warning. You should allow for plenty of time to get to the airport and if possible plan your travel to avoid demonstrations. Australians should avoid any unnecessary local travel until the situation becomes clearer. You should closely monitor the media and other local information sources for information about possible new safety or security risks.

This is an often asked question and there isn’t really a 100% Sure answer to it. However having said that I was in Nepal 2 years ago when there was a Lot of civil unrest, Big demonstrations in Kathmandu And an advisory notice out to say Only to visit Nepal If Absolutely Necessary and I had No Trouble. If things get a bit lively then curfews are imposed in Kathmandu and if you are there at this time you simply stay in your hotel and you will be safe. I had to get to the airport for a flight home in the middle of all this and was a bit worried, but again I had no problems and got a taxi there without incident. The Only trouble that I did have was with my insurance company as they would neither honour the policy and give me cancellation cover (As the said this would construe me cancelling the trip of my own volition) or insure me if I went – So I had to change my travel insurance company !! So this would Definitely be worth you checking on !! I was there again last year without incident and am planning on going back next month -- so obviously the situation there isn't concerning me !!! I hope that helps a little but If you need more info then feel free to drop me a line Happy Travels Rob

I have travelled back and forth between Europe and Nepal for 26 years and I always bring a good book. Even a the best of times, things might go wrong and you might be stuck. Friendly local people will always be helpful and the good book offsets the inconvenience of being stuck for a while. The travel warnings of US/UK/OZ embassies is lawyer bait and lands you in trouble only at home (as into thin air writes). A Norwegian lady was missing in Nepal and there were big headlines in newspapers here - her mom hadn`t hear from her in a week. Gone trekking..., perfectly fine,of course and sipping a brew in one lodge or the other while the media-reported disturbances were in front of the parliament gate... Easy to redicuel, just put in time and communication buffers, and leave a description of your itinerary with your embassy. Rightly, the situation is tense in Nepal and whenever you are using transportation or other infrastructure, you are at a certain risk of being delayed. It is a difference in being delayed and decapitated (like Iraq or Afghanistan). Since the state apparatus is so weak, people come out on the streets and often stop traffic to mark their grievances - just about any grievance by now. They will not be heard by the state anyway and head for the street. But they will not corner travellers or shoot tourists or even yell at them. Merely apologize for hindering your journey temporarily. THERE IS NO WAR SITUATION IN NEPAL NOW. However, there are armed clashes between political groups in the eastern lowlands, and the occasional blockage of transportation etc as mentioned. But this is of no consequence when you are out trekking in the roadless hilss and mountains. As I am often in the eastern Terai, I use both a satellite phone, an India telecom-compatible SIM card for my Norwegian cell phone and a Nepalese sim-card. If stuck, and the army or maoists or YCL or some other group pulls the plug on local telecom I can always tell somebody outside what`s up. Simliarily well conncected are most good trekking companies, so they will smell out where the next road demo will be and be prepared. Kathmandu has an increase in armed robbery (stealing family jewlery etc) and bank break-ins etc. Petty theft is always a slight problem, just take the normal precautions. Never happened to me, despite a fairly low guard on safety and happy-go-lucky choice of places to stay. The Kathmandu-Tibet road is a sandalwood smuggling corridor (India-Tibet) with everybody from maoists to police and army and local populace and who knows involved, and if something`s gone awry with a transportation, the sour party throws a road block party and halts transportation for hours until paid off. My guess is that you will see, hear and experience nothing of this kind of events. Go for it - but do bring a good book and a stomack for Nepalese tea!!! Saagar

yes sitution was preety bad around here till feb 28 but now all the problems are gone i guess. the main problem of maoist, and some rivals of them was bad in nepal till feb 28 but not they are in peace all have chosen the way of peace so i guess visiting nepal for you will never be problem now check out your country travel advice i guesss now it will be fine....huh ...write me out if you need any help ...