Topography :

From the worlds deepest gorge 'Kali Gandaki' to the highest point on earth at the Everest summit @ 8,848m

The origin of the name Nepal is uncertain, but the most popular understanding is that it derived from Ne (holy) and pal (cave). With 7 entries in "1000 places to see before you die" - P Schultz.

Location :

Located at the top of the Indian sub-continent, in Asia, land locked & straddling the Himalayas between India & China.

Area :

Nepal Land Size (Area): - Nepal has 147,181 sq km (56,827 sq. miles) - Population Density is 173 persons per sq km. In size Nepal is effectively the same size as England & Wales, which at 151, 205 sq km is just 4,024 sq km, or 2.6% larger than Nepal.

Kathmandu (altitude 2,230m) is the capital and largest city (population 700,000), one of the few cities in the world where Seven World Heritage Sites are situated within a 20 km radius. The other main cities include Pokhara, Biratnagar, Bhairahawa, Birgunj, Janakpur, Nepalgunj, and Mahendranagar. The "old" city is noted for its many Buddhist and Hindu temples and palaces, most dating to the 17th century. The city encompasses two of the most important Buddhist stupas, Swayambhunath and Boudhanath and two famous Hindu shrines, Pashupatinath temple and Changu Narayan. Four stupas around the city of Patan are said to have been erected by Charumati, daughter of Ashoka the Great, a Mauryan king, in the 3rd century BC.

Time Difference:

Population :

Population estimates vary significantly from the 1995 estimate of 23M, through 25,874,519 population for 2007, (according to world - gazetteer), more recent & probably more indicative estimates put the population at 28/9 M.

People :

Over 40 Ethnic Groups & 70 Spoken Languages & dialects.

Religion :

Hinduism ( 90%), and Buddhism (5%) - a 'Melting Pot' of both religions.

Religious Festivals :

Hindu :

Buddhist :  

Official language :           

The official language of Nepal is Nepali. As Asian languages go, Nepali has to be one of the easiest to learn, and the traveler making the effort will be well rewarded, if at the very least by the smiles & appreciation your efforts will elicit from the Nepalese you talk to.

Although Nepal was never a British colony, proximity to, and trade with India has made English fairly widespread among educated Nepalis. nevertheless learning even a few words of Nepali is fun and useful, especially outside of the tourist district and whilst trekking.

Life expectancy :

Average Pop’ :     

(growth rate)

Population :        

(aged 65+)

(aged under 15)

Total fertility rate :

Urban Population :          

Urban growth rate :  

Adult illiteracy :

54.9%     ( females 72.4 % - males 37.4 %) - huge gender bias.

Youth literacy rate: 

GNI :

Gross National Income per capita was US$ 1,675 (ppp) for 2006, according to the World Bank.

Currency :

A living and dynamic culture, where Shamanism, Pan-animism & Witchcraft are still practiced in remote regions. Temples, Shrines, monuments and monasteries are extremely active with devotees burning butter-lamps, singing hymns, chiming temple bells and playing drums.

Political-System :

National flower :

National Bird :

Climate ranges from Tropical in the low lands to Arctic in higher altitudes. Nepal's weather is governed by the monsoon. In early to mid June the rains progress from east to west, peaking in late July. However even during the monsoon it doesn’t tend to rain continuously, it is often characterised by intermittent heavy showers and wet nights, making the following days crisp, clean and fresh.

Seasons :

(December- mid February) - Generally too cold for trekking at altitude, with extreme cold at high elevations. It is possible to trek in places like the Everest region during the winter, but it is extremely cold and snow fall may prevent going above 4,000 - 4,500 meters. The Jomsom trek is a reasonable alternative, staying below 3,000 meters with expected minimum temperatures about -10°C and much better chances of avoiding heavy show. In Kathmandu, where it never snows, the days are pleasant, but can be grey and cold in the evenings & early morning - with the temperature often dropping as low as 0°C at night. However the Tarai & low lying regions tend to be very mild and pleasant.

(mid February - mid April) - A period of weddings & festivals, bringing longer & warmer days. The best time for viewing wildlife in the Tarai  & Chitwan, the second best time for trekking in the mountains, although the views can often be interrupted by late morning cloud & haze. Pushing into April the rhododendron forests are in bloom.

Pre Monsoon.

(June-Aug) - Heavy monsoonal rains - the rains are generally lighter high in the Himalayas than in Kathmandu, though the mountain peaks are often lost in cloud.                                                                                                                                                                                                                

(late Sept - Nov) - the start of the dry season, clear and cool weather, after the monsoon, there is little dust in the air so this is the best season to visit the mountains.

When to visit :   

The most popular time of year to visit Nepal is October to November, the start of the dry season, the countryside is green and the air is clean and visibility of the Himalayas is at its best. Temperatures are also moderate making this the ideal time to visit. From December to January conditions are still good although temperatures can get very cold especially whilst trekking. From February to March - the second main trekking season, it starts to warm up again and traveling can be very pleasant with warm sunny days, the drawback being that dry weather and dust in the skies can reduce visibility levels in the late morning and afternoon.

Nepal occupying only 0.1% of the earth possesses some of the most outstanding bio-diversity in the world, ranging from sub-tropical Rain forests to Alpine desert.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

6500 known species of tree, shrub & wild flowers.

More than 600 indigenous plant families, or 2% of the flowering plants in the world.

best time for flowers (temperate & alpine areas) is during the monsoon season - but you will sacrifice comfort and views.

More than 319 species of exotic orchids

More than 848 species of wet land, migratory and resident birds are found in Nepal, or 8% of the world's population, (more than the whole of USA & Canada combined).

They include, giant hornbills, red-headed trogons, Cuckoo (17 species), Kingfishers, Bee Eaters, Drongos, Minuets, Parakeets, Flycatchers (30 species), Herons, Tibetan snow rocks, and many species of Pheasants, Egrets, Thrushes & Warblers (60 species.

The popular more popular bird watching spots include Phulchoki, Godavari, Shivapuri, and the different national parks like Chitwan.

Birds of prey - prevalent, especially early winter.

Golden eagle - common - especially in the Khumbu / Everest region.

Lammergeier - 3 meter wingspan (bone crusher vulture).

Big Cats - Royal Bengal Tiger, Spotted Leopard, Snow Leopard.

Indian Elephant, One Horned Rhinoceros (largest of the 3 Asian species).

Apes / Primates - Rhesus Macaque (short tails, travel in large groups on the ground, common in temples around Kathmandu), Common Langer (Black faces, long tails).

Deer - Spotted Deer (most beautiful), Sambar Deer (Largest), Montjac or Barking Deer, Musk Deer (only 50cm tall).

Wild Goats / Sheep - Himalayan Tahr (near true goat), Blue sheep.

Bear - Himalayan Black Bear, Sloth Bear.

Crocodile - Gharial crocodile (Long snout, fish eaters, found in flowing rivers), Mugger crocodile (prefers stagnant water, ambush predator, will eat anything).

Bats - noisy colonies of Flying Foxes / Fruit bats.

Purportedly there are Gangetic (River) Dolphins in Nepal - I've seen these in The Ganges in India, but have never seen or heard of them being seen in Nepal?

11 of the world's 15 butterfly families (more than 500 species)

Moths are even more numerous, with circa 5,000 species believed to exist, including the Giant Atlas Moth with a wig-span of nearly 1 foot.

The Yeti - AKA: the Abominable Snowman is said to inhabit the Himalayan region of Nepal and Tibet. The name Yeti is derived from a Tibetan word, and translates variously as "rock bear", "man-bear", "Wild Man", "Snow Man", or "Man-beast", and can be considered a Himalayan parallel to the Sasquatch.

The Yeti has become a rather colorful part of the regions history and mythology. The most famous impression of which, and that which most notably shapes our perception of what the Yeti probably looks like comes from the illustration in Hergé's Tintin in Tibet.

With increasing numbers of Westerners entering the region as the push to conquer the world’s highest mountains gripped Europe, in the early 1900’s. Increasing reports came out of sightings of large, bipedal, hairy, apelike creatures in high mountain passes, and unexplained footprints.

On his attempt to scale Mount Everest in 1951, Eric Shipton took photographs of a number of large footprints in the snow, at about 6,000 m (19,685 ft). In 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reported seeing large footprints while scaling Mount Everest, and in 1959, the actor James Stewart, whilst visiting the region, reportedly smuggled remains of a supposed Yeti, the so-called Pangboche Hand, back to London.

Various remote monasteries in both Nepal and Tibet purportedly have relics of Yeti remains, including the purported Yeti scalp at Khumjung monastery, in the Everest region, and which we pass through on a number of the Everest tours.

The scientific community effectively dismisses the Yeti as a fraud supported by legend and weak evidence. Explaining away evidence of footprints as coming from known wild animals, which have been distorted by the melting snow.

I think that those trying to prove the Yeti’s existence, like the scientific community’s insistence that they don’t, miss the point completely. Like the Loch Ness Monster in Scotland, the beauty and romance of it all lies not in that they do or do not exist, but that in this cynical modern world there are many of us still believing, perhaps hoping, that they could exist, and if they do, that they are never actually found.

Sites to see :

Pashupatinath. Hindu temples and cremation ghats on the Bagmati River in Kathmandu. The main areas are closed to non-Hindus.

Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu.

Swayambunath - Monkey Temple

Nepal has long been home to wandering ascetics and tantric yogis. Consequently, the country and this area particularly, has a wealth of sacred sites:

Parping in the Kathmandu Valley is the site of several sacred caves associated with Padmasambhava, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism.

Nagarkot - A hill station one hour from Kathmandu offering excellent views of the Himalayan Range.

Dakshinkali. Hindu temple complex south of Kathmandu on the Bagmati River where it enters a gorge through the Mahabharat Range.

Popular "Lodge" trekking in Nepal includes the Everest treks, the Annapurna Region treks and those around Langtang and Helambu region, where depending upon the "Trek" chosen, you will be "Tea-House Trekking", where the day's hikes are between guesthouses at small settlements or villages. Alternatively you will be camping, all the tents are erected in advance by a team of porters & sherpas, and will be waiting for you at the end of each days trek. Food, water, beer, plus luxuries such as apple-pie, can be purchased along the way. The physical requirements range from "easy/ moderate" to quite "challenging".

Everest Base Camp Trek: Stunning scenery, Wonderful people

Annapurna Circuit: A 3-4 week trek around the Annapurna mountains.

Jonsom-Muktinath Trek: The last week of the Annapurna Circuit, done in the opposite direction. Known as the "Apple-Pie Trek" partly for crossing the apple growing region of Nepal, and partly for being one of the easier treks.

Helambu Langtang Trek: Relatively easy Trek from Kathmandu.

Island Peak Trek: The Island Peak trek in the Everest region takes in some of the most spectacular scenery in the Himalayas.

Facilities available in remote areas are less extensive than in the more popular areas. Hence the organisation to visit such areas needs to be far more extensive, including guide, porters and full support. Manaslu, Kanchenjunga, Dolpo, Mustang and Humla are in remote areas. Many of them require also special permits, which can be limited by numbers and expensive.

Jungle Safari:

Royal Chitwan National Park offers elephant rides, jungle canoeing, nature walks, and bird watching, as well as more adventurous tiger and rhino-viewing.

Mountain Biking:

1 – 10 day trips for all levels of experience, organised from both Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Bird watching:

Spiritual:         

A variety of courses are available in Kathmandu and at various temples and monasteries around the country.

"The Healing Hands Centre", in Kathmandu, has monthly five-day, ten-day and one-month Ancient Massage courses.

Yoga.

Nepal Vipassana Centres

The crossing between Nepal and Tibet via Kodari is open to independent travelers entering Nepal, but only to organised groups entering Tibet.

Nepal - the birth-place of Buddha, Lumbini is the sacred site of the Buddha Shakyamuni's birth. Today it is a small village on the Indo-Nepal border. Rangjung Yeshe Institute . An international institute for Buddhist higher studies in Boudhanath, Nepal, modelled on a traditional Tibetan Shedra.

National Parks :

Royal Chitwan National Park. (932 Sq.Km.) (est.1973).

Sagarmatha National Park. (1,148 Sq.Km.) (est.1976).

Langtang National Park. (1,710 Sq.Km.) (est.1976 ).

Rara National Park. (106 Sq.Km.) (est.1976 ).

Khaptad National Park. (225 Sq.Km.) (est.1984).

Bardiya National Park. (968 Sq.Km.) (est.1988). 

Makalu Barun National Park. (1,500 Sq.Km.) (est.1991).

Wildlife Reserves :

Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve. (305 Sq.Km.) (est.1976).

Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. (175 Sq.Km.) (est.1976).

Parsa Wildlife Reserve. (499 Sq.Km.) (est.1984).

Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve. (1,325 Sq.Km.) (est.1987).

Shivpuri Watershed and Wildlife Reserve. (145 Sq.Km.) (est.1984).

Conservation Areas :

Everest :

Tibetans call it JOMULONGMA "Goddess mother of the world", in Nepal it is SAGARMATHA "head of the oceans".

In 1852 the offices of the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India, "discovered the highest mountain in the world", designated as "peak XV", the mountain was measured from x6 survey points within India, and in excess of 100 miles from Everest, the mountain was calculated as being 29,002 Ft high. With the advent of precision satellite surveying, this height has been amended by a mere 26 ft, to 29,028 ft ( 8,848m).

At 8,848m, Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world, straddling the border between Nepal and Tibet. The mountain was given its English name by Sir Andrew Waugh who named it after Sir George Everest, the Surveyor-General of India in the 1830's.

Early expeditions all went through Tibet, as it opened its borders to foreigners in 1921, whilst Nepal's frontiers remained closed.

1924: On the third British expedition George Mallory and Andrew Irvine do not return from a summit attempt. It is not known if they reached the summit although an eyewitness claims seeing them near the summit.

1953: Everest was first climbed at 11:30 am on May 29 by the New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay from Nepal.

2001: Marco Siffredi of France made snowboard becomes the first person to ever descend Mt. Everest on a snowboard (on the north side).

2003: Twenty-five year old Nepalese Sherpa, Pemba Dorjie, makes the world's fastest ascent of Everest in 12 hours 45 minutes. Only three days later, Sherpa Lakpa Gelu breaks this record in 10 hours 56 minutes.

2004: Pemba Dorjie breaks his own record, this time ascending the mountain in 8 hours 10 minutes.

2005: Apa Sherpa of Thame summits for the record 15th time. A helicopter lands on the summit of Everest for the first time!

Did you Know ?      

There is an Everest Marathon, it is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the highest marathon in the world. The race starts at Gorak Shep at 5184m (17,000 feet), close to Everest Base Camp, & finishes at Namche Bazaar. at 3446m (11,300 feet). The course is measured at 42 km (26.2 miles) over rough mountain trails. Organised every 2 years, the first race was in 1987. With an average of 70 runners, from up to 14 countries.

To date 779 runners ranging in age from 21 to 65 from 27 countries have participated in the event. Entry is limited to 75 competitors, not including a strong local entry and a British Ghurkha team.

Overall record :- 3 Hrs 50 mins - Hari Roka (Nepal)

Ladies record :- 5 Hrs 16 mins - Anne Stentiford (UK)

Veterans record :- 4 Hrs 28 mins - Ray Brown (New Zealand)

Tenzing Norgay's name translates as "wealthy-fortunate-follower-of-religion. He was the 11th of 13 children.

Entering the country :

Passports must be valid for at least six months after the departure date. Visas are required by all but Indian Nationals. We recommend that Visas are obtained from your local consulate before traveling, especially if you are considering making an additional trip outside the country to Tibet or the Taj Mahal in India. Single entry tourist visas can be obtained from the entry points of Nepal (Two passport size photos are required for any visa application on arrival). At time of writing a Single Entry visa is valid for 60 days from the date of entry and currently costs $30US, whilst a Multiple Entry visa is valid for 150 days in a calendar year and costs $80US.

Kathmandu International Airport (Tribhuvan) is 6.5km to the east of the city, it is the only international airport in Nepal. Two month single entry tourist visas are available on arrival, however we recommend that all Visas are arranged prior to your departure from your home country. Money can be changed as well, but these services are only available directly after scheduled arrivals. Taxis to the city are available (journey time approximately 20 minutes). There is an airport departure tax of 1600Rs payable in rupees on departure (approximately £12.00).

Upon leaving the airport, all 'representatives' of the tourist industry are required to remain behind railings, at a distance from the front door. However this does not stop a large, generally affable, but to the uninitiated possibly intimidating crowd, from waving large signs and yelling in an attempt to encourage you to choose them as your taxi/hotel/luggage carrier.

Taxis are available. As always, negotiate the price beforehand with the driver. A taxi ride to Thamel should not exceed 150 NRS. Perhaps a preferable option, is to order a taxi at the pre-paid booth inside the airport, which costs 300 NRS. This is more than twice the meter rate, but it saves the hassle of long negotiations, which actually can be fun, but which you don't necessarily want after a long flight.

Money / Banks :

There are a variety of banks and money changers in Kathmandu, Pokhara and in some of the other major cities, that will allow you to change currencies or retrieve cash from ATM, credit cards or Traveler’s cheques. You may be charged a service fee. There are quite a number of ATMs that are open round the clock. Outside of the major cities, there are few, if any such facilities, so be prepared. Be sure to keep all currency exchange and ATM receipts as they are required at the airport bank to convert back to your original currency. If you don't have them, they will refuse to convert your currency but they will suggest going to the Duty Free shop upstairs, even though it isn't a licensed money changer.

Taxis in Kathmandu are plentiful and safe. There are two types of taxi -- "private", which pretty much run from the airport to your (upscale) hotel; and "10 Rupee", which don't leave until they are full.

Car rental.

Car rental in Nepal is almost unheard of, even if possible, road conditions and erratic local drivers would make this make this an adventurous choice.

Domestic flights linking major towns, radiating from Kathmandu, are generally reliable, although mountain destinations such as Lukla can be subject to weather conditions.

Good for short jaunts, especially for the tourist sites around Kathmandu, if you don't have much luggage and don't mind being  bounced around a bit. Bargain before you get in, and don't be afraid to walk away and try another.

These come in two types. One is a three wheeled electric or propane powered micro-bus for 10-12 passengers. They run in different routes around the city and cost 5-12 NRS. The other type is a newer Toyota van running the same routes at a higher price and a bit faster and safer. Be prepared for a crowd.

Tourist Bus.

Book a few days ahead at a Kathmandu or Pokhara (Big Canvas Adventures can book for you). A few steps above local buses (no goats, and everyone gets a seat).

Local Bus.

Although the system can be extremely confusing, they are cheap. They tend to be crowded, both with people and domestic animals such as chickens, ducks and goats. Some buses will not depart until full to a certain quota.

Another choice is to rent a motorcycle. These can be rented in the Thamel area at relatively low cost. T really get into the spirit, hire yourself a "Royal Enfield Bullet", which are still made in India.

On Foot.

Roads are penetrating further and further into the rural areas, yet still, many destinations can still only be reached by foot.

There used to be an old-fashioned street cable-car that ran from Kathmandu (near the stadium) to Bhaktapur, this is currently closed due to 'non-existing maintenance' and the fact that none of the drivers paid for the power.

Nepal has no internal train system.

The Nepali national meal is daal bhaat tarkaari (spiced lentils, boiled rice, and vegetable curry). This is served in most Nepalese homes and teahouses, two meals a day at about 10am and 7 or 8pm. If rice is scarce the grain part may be cornmeal mush called Ato, barley, or chapattis (whole wheat 'tortillas'). The meal may be accompanied by dahi (yogurt) and a small helping of ultra-spicy fresh chutney or achar (pickle). Traditionally this meal is eaten with the right hand. Curried meat -- goat or possibly chicken -- is an occasional luxury.

Many dishes are Tibetan in origin and not very spicy. Some dishes to look for include momos, a meat or vegetable filled dumpling - often served with beer, and Tibetan Bread and Honey a puffy fried bread with heavy raw honey, great for breakfast.

Pizza, Mexican, Thai and Chinese food, and Middle-Eastern food can all be found in the tourist districts of Kathmandu and Pokhara. If you are on a budget, sticking with local dishes will save a lot of money.

Many small restaurants are not prepared to cook several different dishes; try to stick with one or two dishes or you will find yourself waiting as the cook tries to make one after another on a single stove.

Raksi is a clear and fiery liquid, similar to saki or cheap tequila. It's also the Nepali word for 'drunk', and rightly so. This is by far the cheapest drink in the country. It is often served on special occasions in small, unbaked clay cups that hold less then a shot. It works great as a mixer in juice or soda. Note that it may appear on menus as "Nepali wine".

Jaand (Nepali) or chyaang (Tibetan) is a cloudy, moderately alcoholic drink sometimes called Nepali beer". While weaker than raksi, it will still have quite an effect. This is often offered to guests in Nepali homes. Unfortunately it is likely to be mixed with unsafe water.

Beer in Nepal has seen a lively industry. Some local beer's are now also exported, and the quality of beer has reached quite international standards. International brands are popular in the urban areas.

Water is problematic due to lack of sanitary facilities and sewage treatment. It is safest to assume water is unsafe for drinking without being chemically treated or boiled, which is one reason to stick to tea.

Minimizing gastrointestinal problems - Since most of Nepal still gets along with minimal modern sanitation, these are endemic. They range from self-limiting attacks of diarrhoea where dehydration is the main risk, through to more persistent and unpleasant illnesses, so take precautions.

Drink only water that has been properly prepared, bottled water or juice or beverages made from water that has been thoroughly boiled and filtered.

Tea or coffee from cafes catering to tourists are 'generally' safe. Cholera and typhoid, are not uncommon, as such appropriate vaccination prior to departure is strongly recommended.

Brush teeth with prepared drinking water and avoid water entering the mouth when showering.

Salads, especially in the wet season, should be treated as a suspect.

Wash hands regularly and especially before eating.

Thoroughly wash fruit and vegetables for raw consumption using boiled and filtered water. Also consider peeling them.

Look for freshly-cooked food and avoid anything that has been cooked and then left sitting around without refrigeration.

Get vaccinated. You potentially may be exposed to typhoid, cholera, hepatitis, malaria, and possibly even rabies. Review your travel plans, & vaccination requirements with your doctor before departure.

When trekking carry iodine or other chemical means of treating water and be sure to follow directions, In trailside teashops, although glasses may be washed in questionable water, tea is made by pouring boiling water through tea dust into your glass. The chances of disease-causing organisms surviving are small but not zero.

Altitude sickness.

Permanent snow lines are around 5,500m (18/19,000 ft), hence both Everest and Annapurna base camps and the majority of the high passes in the Himalaya are usually higher than Mount Blanc (the highest mountain in the Alps at 4,808 m, French for white mountain, lying on the French / Italian Border), or Mount Whitney ( the highest point in the USA at 4,421m (14,505 ft). This puts even experienced mountain climbers at risk of altitude-related illness, that can be life-threatening. Risks can be minimized by choosing routes that don't go quite so high, such as the Pokhara-Jomsom trek, and have properly planned itineries which manage the increase in altitude each day and include acclimatisation breaks in the trek, and by sleeping not more than 1,000m higher per day. According to the "climb high, sleep low" mantra, it is good to take daytime conditioning hikes that push acclimation, then to return to a lower elevations again at night.

Altitude sickness is potentially very dangerous, however serious cases are very rare. To avoid acute mountain sickness visitors should ascend slowly and have rest breaks built into their itinery to acclimatise fully. Advice can be obtained from the Himalayan Rescue Association in Thamel, Kathmandu.

As the name suggests. Altitude sickness is caused by exposure to altitude & low atmospheric pressure, the only sure cure is to descend and reduce your altitude, so long as this is done promptly, recovery is nearly always immediate.

Hypothermia is a risk, especially if you are trekking at altitude. Night time temperatures frequently fall to -10C in the mountains generally, and can get considerably colder in the exposed high passes. Either be prepared to hike *and* sleep in these temperatures (and make sure your colleagues, guides and porters are similary prepared), or choose a trek that doesn't go quite so high.

All mammals are potentially vulnerable, Nepal has a high population of feral dogs, and they all potentially could have the disease. Do not pet dogs, cats or pigs no matter how cute. If bitten or exposed to saliva, seek immediate medical attention.

Poisonous snakes are not un-common in certain areas of Nepal, yet despite this they are rarely encountered, they prefer the warm weather at elevations below 1,500m. Hence on most of the treks, they will simply not be around. Even in the terai & low lying areas, they hibernate throughout the winter months, and shy away from people at most other times.

Fortunately malaria doesn't occur at altitudes above 1,000m, hence much of Nepal, certainly most of the mountain treks and Kathmandu are free of it. Malaria risk does exist in the low lying Terai districts and Chitwan National park, particularly between April & October.

There is no equivalent to The National Health service in Nepal. All medical attention is on a "Private" basis and needs either to be paid for up-front, or have evidence of an insurance policy that will meet the potentially substantial costs.

Medical treatment can be expensive at Western clinics. The most convenient hospital for visitor care is Patan Hospital in Lagankhel, although the standard of healthcare is low outside the Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara. Pharmacies in Kathmandu, mainly along New Road, offer a wide range of Western drugs at low prices.

When trekking, there are a few reliable medical posts in the hills, including the Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) posts at Pheriche and Manang, and the Khunde Hospital which are all staffed by Western doctors. However, most accidents or illnesses will occur in the absence of reliable medical care. If you find yourself ill or injured in the mountains, you will need rescuing to some extent.

All along the Indian border. Travelers are also exposed to risks of contracting cholera, hepatitis A, tuberculosis and typhoid fever. Vaccinations are necessary. All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated; treated or bottled water should be used.

In the rare instances of more serious medical problems, emergency helicopter rescues can be arranged. Helicopter evacuation may not be immediately possible, due to altitude or difficult terrain, In which circumstances it may be necessary to transport the patient to a place where it is possible to land the helicopter. Helicopter rescue services will rarely come to your aid without you either making a cash deposit or a promise in Kathmandu. The cost of the flight can be as high as USD 2,500 per hour. Again, make sure you have insurance covering emergency helicopter rescue.

Social Responsibility :

For visitors from the UK and Europe, hiring guides and porters is very affordable and an extra few dollars can make a big impact in the life of a guide or porter, & their families.

Etiquette and norms :

Nepal is predominantly a Hindu country, although differing ethnic groups in the mountainous region, such as the Sherpas who live mostly in the Solu Khumbu, are Buddhist. Temples and religious sites are found throughout the country and should be respected.

Local courtesy:   

Many Hindu temples do not allow non-Hindus inside certain parts of the temple complex. Be aware and respectful of this fact, as these are places of worship, not tourist attractions.

Ask permission before entering a temple, many Hindu temples may refuse entry, Buddhist temples are generally less restrictive. Remove your shoes before entering a place of worship.

Never enter a Hindu temple wearing leather (shoes, belts etc.).

When visiting a temple or Buddhist stupa always walk around it in a clockwise direction; do not touch the images or the offerings and do not step on any sacred designs on the ground. Always pass religious sites and prayer flags on the left; this goes for the stones seen on the trails with writings on them.

Ask permission before photographing religious sites, ceremonies or worshippers.

Being a non-Hindu makes you moderately low caste, but not an untouchable. Avoid touching containers of water; let someone pour it into your drinking container. Likewise avoid touching food that others will be eating. Make sure you are invited before entering someone's house. You may only be welcome on the outer porch, or in the yard.

Circumambulate temples, chortens, stupas, mani walls, etc. clockwise.

Greet people with a warm Namaste with palms together, fingers up. Show respect to elders. Be friendly, & be patient.

Feet are considered dirty. Don't point the bottoms of your feet (or your bum!) at people, or at religious icons. Be sensitive to when it is proper to remove your hat or shoes.

Public displays of affection are frowned upon.

Wash hands before and after eating. Touch food only with the right hand. The left hand is considered unclean because it is used to wash after going to the toilet. It would be insulting to touch anyone with this hand. The left hand can be used to hold glasses, bowls, and probably eating utensils. Outside the main cities, be prepared to eat rice meals with your (right) hand as Nepalis do, or bring along a fork and spoon.

Haggling (bargaining) is common in Nepal. If you don't haggle, it is highly likely that you will pay too much, because vendors expect a bit of haggling and state their prices higher than what they expect to receive. Some points to keep in mind, when haggling over prices, smile, laugh, and be friendly. Be prepared to allow a reasonable profit. Don't insult fine craftsmanship, it's much better to lament that you are too poor to afford such princely quality.

E-mail is widely available in Kathmandu (especially in Thamel ) & Pokhara. Availability in the remainder of Nepal is sporadic, however Namche, in the Everest region, has several internet cafes that use satellite connections, but the cost is much higher than in Kathmandu.

Mail can be received at many guesthouses or shipping offices if you arrange ahead.

Phone calls are best made from any of the international phone offices in Kathmandu.

Voice over Internet (VOI) is usually a fraction of the cost of a normal call.

Nepal's cities are much safer than most. Even pickpockets are rare. Still, don't flash cash or make ostentatious displays of wealth, out of respect for the non-materialistic reality of the people.

Be cautious about transportation. Roads are narrow, steep, winding and frequently crowded. Seatbelts are an aberration.

Nepal, is one of the safest countries in the world, petty theft & pick pocketing does sometimes occur at tourists sites, although crime against tourists is generally low; Violent crime is extremely rare. Common sense suggests a few precautions, keep money & valuables out of site, keep away from dimly lit backstreets at night and if alone.

Any perceived "dangers" must be put into perspective and compared with those found in other popular destinations around the world. Jamie McGuiness, a respected guidebook writer states "Trekking sensibly in Nepal is still Much safer than trekking-traveling around the USA or Italy, the incidence of theft-robbery in Nepal is still far, far lower than tourist-friendly New Zealand!"

Electrical plugs :

The standard Nepalese electrical outlet is a three-pronged triangle, but most have been retrofitted to accept US and European plugs.

British Embassy

GMT:
Mon-Thurs: 0230-0645/0745-1115
Fri: 0230-0730

Local Time:
Mon-Thurs: 0815-1230/1330-1700
Fri: 0815-1315

12a Kensington Palace Gardens,

London. W8 4QU.

Tel: + 44 (0)207 229 1594 / 6231.

Fax: + 44 (0)207 792 9861