Current Travel Advice
A peace agreement between the Government of Nepal and the Maoists was signed in Kathmandu on 21 November 2006 thereby ending 11 years of conflict in Nepal. The two sides agreed a permanent ceasefire, which is being monitored by the UN.

Following the largely peaceful elections on 10 April 2008, a Constituent Assembly was sworn in on 27 May.  On 28 May the Constituent Assembly declared Nepal a republic. There were several bombs in Kathmandu in protest at the change to republicanism. In  September, the new Maoist-led coalition government finally took office with an agenda to deliver change. 

Tensions between political parties in Nepal remain significant, with the potential for violent clashes or extremely disruptive strike action. These clashes have, in some cases, resulted in injuries and deaths of party activists and candidates. Equally, there are other interests groups who use similar tactics to pursue their objections. For example, in January 2008, there were widespread demonstrations in Kathmandu and a number of other cities against government increases in fuel prices.  Many of these demonstrations became violent, with tyres burnt and vehicles, including those of foreigners, attacked.

The situation in the Terai (southern region) remains difficult, with political tensions over the region’s demand for significantly increased autonomy and serious problems in delivering law and order.  There are a number of militant groups operating in the Terai, as well as the tensions between political parties found in other parts of the country.

Trekking in Nepal often involves travelling to very remote areas. The availability of phone (including mobile phone reception) and internet services are extremely limited. It is likely that during a trek a traveller will be unable to contact their family and friends for a long period of time.

 

Treks often take longer than their expected duration by one or two days. In many cases friends and family become worried if they do not hear from a traveller when expected.  

Advice for Trekkers:

Make sure that your insurance covers you for the altitude you are due to be trekking at.

• Always use a reputable trekking company.
• Take a guide.
• Never trek alone.
• Make sure someone at home has a copy of your itinerary.
• Register your route at the entrance to the parks/conservation areas (We at NTA will do that for you).
  
• If your plans change try and call or email home to let people know you are all right.
• Be aware of the symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS).

Following these simple procedures ensures that trekking in Nepal will be a safer and rewarding experience. Making family and friends aware of the itinerary prevents undue worry especially when travelling in such a remote part of the world.

Local Travel

Major street demonstrations, disturbances and road blockades occur frequently in Kathmandu and elsewhere in the country, in particular in the Terai, often at very short notice.   In the past, such events have suddenly turned violent.

Transport can also be severely disrupted; roads and highways could be blocked.  You are therefore strongly advised to avoid all demonstrations and large gatherings and remain vigilant at all times.

Since January 2007, at least 170 people have been killed in violent riots in the Terai.  The riots and roadblocks in the Terai caused severe unrest and spread rapidly.  Transport was severely disrupted and passengers  were stranded throughout Nepal.  The riots and roadblocks in the Terai prevented fuel, cooking gas and other essential supplies reaching the rest of the country.

Transport usually operates freely in the Kathmandu valley, except during times of major demonstrations.  Traffic in Kathmandu normally flows reasonably well though there are sometimes major jams during rush-hour in the city.  Access to the valley from the Pokhara direction has improved with the widening of the road at the major checkpoint entering.

As stated above, the situation outside the Kathmandu valley remains unpredictable.  It is therefore important that you keep a close watch on the local media for advance notice of upcoming developments.  Your hotel or guesthouse will also be able to advise you and your Embassy website carries up-dated local security advice.

If you are concerned about the areas you are travelling to, please contact your Embassy in Kathmandu on arrival for up-to-date adviceon the security situation, which can change rapidly.

News from BBC

Nepal deal on national government

The Maoists have threatened more protests A group of Nepalese political parties has agreed to form a "national government" a day after Maoist Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal resigned. After a meeting in Kathmandu, members of the Communist UML party agreed to head the government. The parties have been given five days by Nepal's President Ram Baran Yadav to form the government. Mr Dahal, best known as Prachanda, resigned after the president opposed his decision to sack the army chief. The Maoists boycotted the all-party meeting. They said unless the president apologised, they would not let parliament function. Correspondents say Prachanda's resignation has pushed Nepal into a fresh political crisis following an election win by the Maoists last year. 'Agreed' "We want the Maoists to join the government too. But if they don't join, we can still form a majority government," senior Nepali Congress party leader Ram Sharan Mahat told the BBC. UML leader Jhala Nath Khanal said that the Maoists "gave us the offer to lead the government and we have agreed". Security around the presidential palace in Kathmandu was stepped up as Maoist ctivists held a number of street protests across Nepal. Hundreds of policemen were deployed around the president's palace and police have detained 40 protesters. "We have been holding protests in different parts of the Kathmandu valley on Tuesday afternoon," the AFP news agency quoted Uma Subedi, secretary of the Maoists' youth wing, the Young Communist League, as saying. "We will launch regular protests until the president takes back his decision," she said. On Monday, Prachanda said in his TV address that he was stepping down "for the protection of democracy and peace" in Nepal. "The move by the president is an attack on this infant democracy and the peace process," he said. His resignation followed months of worsening tensions between the ex-rebels and the military. Correspondents say that the expectation now is that the Maoists will sit in opposition in parliament. There is no suggestion that they will abandon constitutional politics. The Maoists want their fighters, who are currently restricted to United Nations-supervised camps, to be integrated into the regular Nepali army. But the army has refused to take on the fighters, who number about 19,000 hardened guerrillas, arguing that they are politically indoctrinated. Correspondents say that the crisis is the most serious in Nepal since its 10-year long civil war between the army and the Maoists came to an end in 2006.