Is Nepal Safe to Travel? COVID -19 Impacted Nepal Trekking

1. Is Nepal Safe to Travel? COVID -19 Impacted Nepal Trekking

Many people raise a question about is Nepal safe to travel? Nepal trekking and climbing are badly affected by COVID-19 coronavirus in spring 2020. All Nepal trekking and climbing are shut by the coronavirus outbreak in the world. All peak climbing permits issued and going to be issued are suspended for spring 2020. Almost trekking and travel companies and tourism industries faced the real problem of COVID-19. Many people raise the question that Is Nepal Safe to Travel? COVID -19 Impacted Nepal Trekking? It really impacts the Nepal tourism industry and lost billions of dollars for national income. Tourism and foreign remittance are the backbones of the Nepalese economy.

Nepal has a total of 139,200 people infected by COVID – 19 among 96,800 people recovered and 765 were death cases till date. Most of the victims were back from India.

Coronavirus COVID-19 has turned out to be a global pandemic. The cabinet meeting of the Nepal government has taken a quick decision about prevention and control. On the one hand, all incoming tourists arriving in Nepal since 14 March 2020 have to stay in self-quarantine for 14 days. On the other hand, Nepalese have to stay at home quarantine for 14 days if they are entering Nepal from abroad.

2. Nepal tourism board on the suspension to issue for all trekking permits in Nepal to prevent COVID -19.

Nepal tourism board has decided to suspend trekking permits to all areas since 20 March until further notice. Now Nepal trekking is open since 17 October 2020.

Regarding the COVID-19 government precaution, the Nepal government has precautionary measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Monitoring the recent global pandemic COVID-19 as a precaution guided by WHO reports and recommendations.

3. How about an international flight? Coronavirus latest update from 20 March

Coronavirus latest update from 20 March 2020 with international flight and tourists coming to Nepal. There is a restriction on international flights. Either Nepalese or foreigners coming to Nepal from 20th March 2020 till 18 April 2020 midnight are restricted.

Even though there are restrictions on direct international flights to Nepal till the last week of July 2020, flights are suspended excluding charter flights. All passengers coming to Nepal through direct flights, having either transit or taking the first flight, are restricted. They are going to their own countries from Europe, West Asia, Gulf countries, Turkey, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, and Australia, which are subject to arrival restrictions in Nepal.

Therefore, this urgent notice is circulated to foreign diplomatic missions, Nepalese diplomatic missions, and all international airline companies operating flights to Nepal.

After 17 October 2020, tourists are allowed to enter Nepal with a PCR negative report before 72 hours at Kathmandu airport.

4. What about trekking permits and TIMS card?

If you already arrived in Nepal before 14 March 2020 and want to do trekking, it is allowed. You can get a TIMS card until the deadline of 20 March 2020; after that, no more trekking is allowed until further notice. Similarly, restricted area trekking permits have been almost closed since mid-March and will not be issued until further notice due to COVID-19. Those who have already arrived in Nepal from 14 March to 19 March can get trekking permits and TIMS cards. You can go to the TAAN headquarters office, Malegaon, by submitting the following essential documents:

Nepal visa copy
Passport copy
Reasonable contact person in Nepal
Nepal immigration entry stamp copy
Copy of verifying medical health certificate

Since October 2020, Nepal is open for foreigners for trekking and adventures.

5. What about Everest Base camp trekking?

Everest Base Camp trek is the main transit for the Everest region trek. Everest region trek has different trekking routes via EBC trek. All hotels in Namche Bazar are closed from 20 March 2020 onwards until further notice due to the awareness and danger of spreading coronavirus. Not only Everest but most of the hotels in different trekking regions are currently closed for the trek.

Finally, we all have to think that "prevention is better than cure". So stay safe to all who will visit next season 2020 in Nepal.