The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this publication assesses Nepal at Level 2, indicating travelers should exercise increased caution due to the potential for isolated political violence.

Overall Crime and Safety Situation

The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu does not assume responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of the persons or firms appearing in this report. The American Citizens’ Services unit (ACS) cannot recommend a particular individual or location and assumes no responsibility for the quality of service provided.

Review OSAC’s Nepal-specific page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password.

Crime Threats

There is moderate risk from crime in Kathmandu. Much of the criminal activity affecting Nepal is street crime, such as bag snatching and pickpocketing, particularly in the tourist areas of Thamel, Pokhara, and the Annapurna region.

Expatriates are potential targets due to their perceived wealth and possible lack of area expertise and security awareness. The welcoming and kind nature of Nepalis can often give people a false sense of security, which those with ulterior and unscrupulous motives may exploit.

Burglary and violent crime (e.g. assault, murder) occasionally occur throughout the country.

• In 2016, a criminal group targeted eight schools in Kathmandu with incendiary devices for supposedly failing to contribute to a political party. These groups may claim to support a political cause or claim affiliation with a political party, but often are criminal in nature.

• In 2015, a Nepalese man robbed and murdered a U.S. citizen in Pokhara. The victim had been staying in the assailant’s home as part of a home-share agreement.

There appears to have been an increase in traditional criminal activities by organized criminal gangs, such as smuggling and targeted assassinations of business or labor leaders. These activities are usually targeted against Nepali citizens and residents.

Cybersecurity Issues

In 2016, authorities uncovered a ring of criminals skimming card data at ATMs in tourist areas of Kathmandu. For more information, review OSAC’s Report, The Overseas Traveler’s Guide to ATM Skimmers & Fraud.

Other Areas of Concern

Trekking has security and safety challenges due to the isolation and lack of emergency response. Groups of young men have robbed trekkers, even on popular trails. The safest option for trekkers is to join an organized group and/or use a reliable company that provides an experienced guide and porters who can communicate in Nepali and English. Never trek alone.

Transportation-Safety Situation

For more information, review OSAC’s Report, Security in Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights.

Road Safety and Road Conditions

Traveling Nepal’s roads remains one of the country’s greatest risks to the safety of travelers. Many roads outside Kathmandu are narrow, unpaved mountain lanes. During monsoon season, rain and mudslides often wash away sections of road. Congested roads strain to support heavy truck and bus traffic, whose drivers may have little regard for safety. Serious accidents happen frequently on rural roads due to hazardous conditions, poor mechanical state of the vehicles, and a lack of adherence to traffic rules. When accidents occur, they can be catastrophic due to overcrowding of buses and the mountainous roadways.

Driving in Kathmandu can be dangerous. Motor vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, and animals – all traveling at different speeds – congest narrow roads. Traffic is poorly regulated, and the volume of vehicles on the roads has increased significantly in recent years. Drivers often ignore traffic lights, signs, and regulations even in the most congested sections of downtown Kathmandu. Many drivers are not properly licensed or trained, and aged vehicles can be poorly maintained. Sidewalks and pedestrian crossings are nonexistent in some areas, resulting in pedestrians frequently walking in the roadways. Poor lighting can make nighttime driving particularly dangerous. In general, drivers do not yield the right of way to pedestrians. Demolished walls and building facades litter many roadways, forcing pedestrians further into the street and into the flow of traffic. For more information on self-driving, review OSAC’s Report Driving Overseas: Best Practices.

Public Transportation Conditions

Public transportation vehicles have questionable safety measures. They are often overcrowded and operated carelessly. Avoid public buses and microbuses. Taxis are safe; select those that appear in good working condition. Taxis must use metered fares, though most drivers prefer to negotiate fares in advance; either insist on the use of a meter or negotiate a fare in advance.

Aviation/Airport Conditions

Weather can often delay domestic flights, particularly in mountainous areas. Airport security and screening at some of the domestic terminals can be rudimentary at best.

Terrorism Threat

Local, Regional, and International Terrorism Threats/Concerns

There is moderate risk from terrorism in Kathmandu. There are no reports of transnational terrorist organizations operating in Nepal. However, due to the open border policy with India and few immigration controls, Nepal could be, and has been, used as a transit point for terrorists.

Indigenous groups have been responsible for a number of terrorist acts, many of which have relied on placements of small-scale explosives. Not all incidents have involved functional devices, with some failing to detonate. The majority of incidents related to elections, either targeting polling stations, candidates, or voters. Devices sometimes detonated during the night or off-hours when injuries were unlikely, while at other times, assailants targeted candidate vehicles directly, incurring casualties. The use of explosives is routine to political competition; however, they are also associated with criminal activity, including workplace disputes and extortion.

Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence

There is considerable risk from civil unrest in Kathmandu. Provincial and federal elections in 2017 saw limited, sporadic violence by groups opposing candidates/outcomes, or the general process. Groups seized polling places, called for bandhs (general strikes), and used Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). There are sporadic reports of IEDs detonating well past election dates.

Civil Unrest

While groups will often call bandhs in advance, protests, demonstrations, and disruptions can occur without notice, including in the Kathmandu Valley. These events have blocked major roads or intersections; demonstrators have attacked vehicles passing nearby. Effective bandhs will force the closure of businesses/schools and disrupt vehicular traffic, often approximately from sunrise to sunset. Some groups enforce the observance of bandhs through violence and intimidation. Vehicular travel through bandhs is not recommended.

Post-specific Concerns

Environmental Hazards

Nepal is located in a seismically-active area. In 2015, major earthquakes struck the greater Kathmandu Valley and surrounding regions, resulting in over 8,000 deaths and 20,000 injuries. The damage from these earthquakes can still be seen around Kathmandu Valley. Another large-scale earthquake would further destroy infrastructure and buildings throughout the country. Emergency services are inadequate to deal with a crisis of this magnitude.

During the annual monsoon season (May-September), heavy rains can cause flooding. In recent years, the Koshi River in southeast Nepal has been prone to flooding, resulting in a substantial loss of life and property. Travel by road during the monsoon season can be hazardous, as many roads in Nepal are unpaved and can wash away.

Pollution is a serious health concern, particularly in cities, with the Kathmandu Valley experiencing some of the worst pollution in Nepal. Find information on air quality in Kathmandu on Air Now’s website.

Critical Infrastructure

Because Nepal relies on run-of-the-river hydroelectric facilities, load shedding of electricity may occur during the dry season (November-April), resulting in rolling power outages (brownouts). Electricity in Kathmandu has become more reliable of late; however, daily power outages still occur. Outages outside the Kathmandu Valley can last 14-16 hours per day during peak season.

Economic Concerns

Local markets are flooded with counterfeit goods; vendors will often claim certain items are made of high-end materials when they are not. Be alert to the authenticity of the goods you purchase. 

Personal Identity Concerns

Occasional harassment of female travelers has been reported.

While certain portions of the population may espouse conservative views, Nepal’s constitution guarantees LGBTI rights and protects the community from discrimination. Nepal’s LGBT protections are among the most progressive in the world.

Drug-related Crimes

Despite strong legal provisions prohibiting drug consumption, possession, and transport, drugs are openly sold in Kathmandu, especially in areas frequented by tourists. Although Nepal is neither a significant producer of nor a major transit route for narcotic drugs, domestically produced cannabis, hashish, and heroin are trafficked through Nepal every year.

Do not carry or store any packages from a stranger; there have been instances in which packages concealed contraband material or drugs, and police arrested the foreigner who accepted the package for possessing the illegal substance.

Police Response

Security and law enforcement agencies are hindered by a lack of resources and training and varying levels of professionalism. Response to a crime may take an extended period or may not occur at all. 

How to Handle Incidents of Police Detention or Harassment

U.S. citizens harassed or detained by local police should contact the U.S. Embassy's Consular Section/American Citizen Services at +977-1-423-4068 or +977-1-423-4120 (business hours). For assistance after-hours, call +977-1-423-7266 or +977-1-423-7269. Based on the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, and customary international law, an arrested U.S. citizen has the option to request that the police, prison officials, or other authorities alert the U.S. Embassy, and have communications forwarded to the U.S. Embassy.

Crime Victim Assistance

U.S. victims of crime should dial 100 (the equivalent of 911 in the U.S.). The individual should also report the incident to the U.S. Embassy's Consular Section/American Citizen Services.

Reach the Nepal Police’s Tourist Division at +977-1-424-7041. Reach the Nepal Tourism Board at +977-1-423-1631 or +977-1-422-5740.

The Nepal Police Operation Center’s 24-hour line is +977-1-441-1549 or +977-1-441-2780.

Police/Security Agencies

The Nepal Police (NP) and the Armed Police Force (APF) are the primary police agencies.

The NP wear blue marked uniforms and are routinely seen directing traffic and patrolling streets. They are the primary criminal investigative agency for law enforcement.

• The APF usually wear blue camouflage and are often seen providing security for government or critical infrastructure facilities. The APF would often be the responding agency for emergency situations.

Medical Emergencies

Medical care is limited and generally not up to Western standards; medical facilities are often overwhelmed because of insufficient resources. Local medications are of varying quality, and supply is not always sufficient. Clinics in Kathmandu can address some routine medical complaints, and can perform basic emergency surgeries. Emergency medical services, especially in public hospitals, are of poor quality compared to that available in the United States. Ambulances are available, but often consist only of a van with stretcher and driver, and do not generally have any medical equipment or personnel onboard.

Serious illnesses often require medical evacuation (medevac) to the nearest adequate medical facility in a neighboring country. Serious illnesses and injuries suffered while hiking in remote areas may require evacuation by helicopter to Kathmandu. For more information, refer to OSAC’s Report, Medical Evacuation: A Primer.

Contact Information for Available Medical Services

For medical assistance, refer to the Embassy’s Medical Assistance page.

Available Air Ambulance Services

For domestic necessity, CIWEC, or Grande International Hospital will coordinate a helicopter rescue from the hills to Kathmandu.

For air ambulance out of Nepal, there are many providers.

Domestic and international air medevacs from Nepal only happen during daylight hours.

Insurance Guidance

Serious illness or injury may require medevac to the nearest adequate medical facility (e.g. Singapore, Bangkok, or New Delhi), or to the United States. Illnesses and injuries suffered while trekking often require a helicopter rescue. The cost for a helicopter rescue from remote areas to Kathmandu is typically $3,000-$10,000. Medical evacuation to the U.S. may cost in excess of $50,000. If a patient has medevac insurance, the insurance company will coordinate the air ambulance. For someone without medevac insurance, the treating hospital in Kathmandu can help coordinate, but the patient will have to pay cash before the ambulance will head to Kathmandu; the cost varies from $50,000 to $100,000. Consider emergency evacuation insurance before any travel to Nepal.

Some clinics and hospitals in Kathmandu accept credit card payment, but others accept only cash. Prepare to pay their bills in full before treatment, or before discharge from an in-patient facility. Consult with your medical insurance company prior to travel to Nepal to confirm whether your policy applies overseas and will cover emergency expenses.

Country-specific Vaccination and Health Guidance

Nepal’s geography and sanitation concerns make tourists and residents alike susceptible to many ailments.

Altitude sickness in the Himalayas can affect even the most seasoned climbers and trekkers. In its most severe forms, it is a life-threatening illness; treat it immediately by descending to a lower altitude and seeking medical assistance. Flying to Lukla or Lhasa (in Tibet) brings travelers to high altitudes with no time for their bodies to adjust. Physical training or fitness has no impact on altitude sickness susceptibility. For more information, refer to OSAC’s Report Traveling in High Altitude.

Diarrhea and other gastro-intestinal ailments are the most common health problems for travelers, especially during the summer monsoon months. Diarrhea is rarely life-threatening. However, if symptoms persist or if you have special health concerns, contact a medical professional. Following the below tips should help prevent gastro-intestinal problems:

• Avoid buying food/beverages from street vendors or other unhygienic establishments.

• Avoid eating raw/undercooked meat/seafood.
• Avoid eating raw fruits/vegetables, unless they have a thick peel and you have peeled them yourself.
• Drink bottled carbonated beverages or water that you are sure has been boiled/treated with iodine/chlorine. Be aware that water bottles in remote locations are sometimes refilled with tap/stream water. Make sure the seal on the bottle is intact before you open it. For more information, refer to OSAC’s Report, I’m Drinking What in My Water?

The CDC offers additional information on vaccines and health guidance for Nepal.

OSAC Country Council Information

Nepal’s OSAC Country Council meets on an irregular basis. Interested private-sector security managers should contact OSAC’s South and Central Asia team with any questions.

U.S. Embassy Location and Contact Information

Embassy Address and Hours of Operation

Embassy of the United States of America, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu

Hours of Operation: 0800-1700 Monday - Friday

Embassy Contact Numbers

Embassy Operator: +977-1-423-4500

24/7 Marine Security Guard Post One: +977-1-423-7266 or 7269

Website: https://np.usembassy.gov/

Embassy Guidance

The U.S. Department of State encourages U.S. citizen travelers to Nepal to enroll in the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) prior to their travel. Doing so provides the U.S. Embassy with emergency contact information, and allows travelers to receive emergency and security messages sent to U.S. citizens in Nepal.

Additional Resources

Nepal Country Information Sheet