How safe is Nepal for Solo travelers

Nepal for Solo travelers

Solo trips are a great means of soul searching and self-discovery. Nepal is a relatively safe country for solo travelers. Although Nepal has a conservative society, you can find general openness to other cultures. However, travelers should be cautious and take necessary care while traveling alone.

There are various tours and trips around Nepal that are ideal for solo travelers. These trips range from a high altitude trekking adventure like “Annapurna Circuit Trek” to a leisure tour like Everest helicopter tour. You can also take jungle safari trips in the wildlife of Chitwan National park.

If you are trekking alone in the Himalayas, you should be extra careful as trails can get quite dangerous. There are some things you should consider before you head off on your Nepal tour. These tips will save you from a bad experience and keep you safe during the tour. This beautiful Himalayan nation welcomes you with wide arms.

But how safe is Nepal for solo travelers? You might wonder. Read on to know more about this and other information in detail. 

Things to Consider When Traveling Alone in Nepal

Get a Travel insurance 

Travel insurance is not a legal requirement but is essential for safety. Trekking in rugged landscapes of remote areas in the Himalaya of Nepal comes with a risk of a landslide or avalanche. Besides that, cramps, muscle sprains, and damage to ankles from bad footing are also common problems.

Hence, you need to pay special attention to your safety. Insurance should include evacuation or helicopter rescue, as it is quite expensive. Many adventures like peak climbing. Bungee jumping, rafting, and others also require insurance. 

Purchase a local SIM card

Obtain a local sim card while you are in Nepal. Coverage is not available in rural areas but you can find them in cities and urban areas. You can connect with your family and friends, and stay in touch with them whilst traveling. Your family and friends will know your expected route and itinerary in advance.

Hire a guide or travel in a group

Get a professional guide for your travel. If you can’t afford a guide you can find other travelers and join them for safety. Most travelers will often welcome another addition to their group. This is especially true for high altitude treks. Guesthouses have common rooms where you can meet travelers.

Rent your gears

If you are a solo traveler, chances are that you will only bring necessary stuff. Hence, if you go on a trekking adventure, you might require certain gears like hiking boots, trekking poles, crampons, ice axes, and other trekking gears. Similarly, if you go on a fishing trip you will require fishing rods, fishing reels, lures, and other fishing gears. However, you don’t have to worry as you can rent these gears at a reasonable price in Nepal.

Things to Avoid When Traveling Solo in Nepal

Avoid flashing your wealth

There are some things to avoid while traveling solo in Nepal. You should avoid flashing around large amounts of cash or showing off that you are wealthy. You will make yourself a target of crime and unwanted behaviors if you show off your wealth.

Avoid traveling alone after dark

If you are traveling alone after dark, get a taxi or bus back to your accommodation. The cities are generally safe. But dark alleys and side streets can be dangerous to walk at night.

Avoid scams in name of charity

Socializing and making new friends is always fun. While some are real, others are mere scams to get you to donate large sums of money. And, there are cases of scams in the name of charity which you should avoid.

Avoid offending locals with taboo subjects

Nepal is a religious country with a majority of Hindus. Both the Hindu and Buddhist religions are very particular with their rites and customs. You should not violate some sacred customs or break some religious taboo. Make sure you show generally acceptable behavior when interacting with the devout people, and avoid insulting them.

Avoid shady hotels and accommodation in Nepal

Personal safety in Nepal largely depends upon where you stay and eat. There are thousands of hotels, hostels, teahouses, and guesthouses across the country. Most of them are well kept, well run, and safe. Besides the solo travelers would like to stay in a hostel or guesthouse. 

However, you should still be careful of shady guest houses as there might be some wrong activities going on. Hotels and guesthouses listed on sites such as TripAdvisor and customer reviews are helpful in choosing your stay in Nepal. Good 3-star hotels, hostels, and guesthouses are generally safe.

Avoid unhygienic foods

Decent restaurants offer good food and excellent service in Nepal, at a reasonable price. Good guest houses often serve local foods, though international cuisine such as pizza, pasta, burgers, and others are also available.

The street food that is present in almost every street corner in Kathmandu and Pokhara. While they are tasty their preparation is not always sanitary. More popular cafes and restaurants are clean and safe to eat.

Tips for Solo Female Travelers in Nepal

A solo female traveler must be additional cautious to stay safe in Nepal. While it is generally safe for solo female travelers to travel around Nepal, you should avoid certain things. Trekking as a solo female is not recommended and so is having a male guide. Not every guide is a danger, but it is better to be safe and try to trek in a group.

Nepal is a conservative country, and the way you dress is important. Avoid low-cut tops, short skirts or shorts, and other revealing clothing. Take care when you go out at night in Nepal. Nightlife in Nepal is exciting, and you can have a good time. However, there is a huge stigma attached to women entering bars and nightclubs alone. Hence, try to find a group of people to go with at night.

The Final Say

A solo trip is all about enjoying your own company. It will make you understand yourself better and help you discover yourself. This is one of the incredible aspects of traveling alone. Safety concerns are always there while solo trekking. But if you are aware and cautious you will be safe.

Sebastian

Sebastian was born and raised in the busy city of Abbottabad. As a journalist, Saad Mushtaq has contributed to many online publications including the PAK Today and the Huffing Post. In regards to academics, Saad Mushtaq earned a degree in business from the Abbottabad UST, Havelian. Saad Mushtaq follows the money and covers all aspects of emerging tech here at The Hear Up.Thanks