Status Update – Nov. 14, 2020

Hello and Namaste from the Himalayan capital as we enter the cool and colorful season of festivities. Autumn is a beautiful time in Kathmandu and throughout Nepal. It is the holiday season for one, and Nepali people have been in ultra festive mood since late October with the arrival of Dashain, and now Tihar just around the corner. As Dashain, Tihar is expected to be a bit low key and quiet as per Government request to avoid big gatherings to avert the spread of global pandemic COVID-19. Here’re the latest updates on tourism situation as of now:

The Numbers

The situation has been changing every day in Kathmandu and other parts of Nepal. As of Nov. 13, there have been a total of 204,242 cases with the present infected number at 38,461 and total recovered 164,592 and 1,189 deaths.

For details on the COVID 19 numbers, please log on to the official website of the Ministry of Health and Population.

Easing of Movement

As stated previously Government has allowed movement of long distance vehicles and domestic airlines from Sept. 17. Similarly, international flights were allowed as per certain regulations from Sept. 21. In Kathmandu, public and private vehicles are allowed as per odd-even regulation. Elsewhere in the country too, movement has not been restricted. Therefore, all efforts have been made to ensure that mobility in and around the country are eased. There might be instances where situations change in which case we will update through our websites or social media sites.

Trekking/ Mountaineering

As per the Government announcement on Sept. 15, trekking and mountaineering activities have resumed from Oct. 17, 2020, amidst precaution and high alert. Mountain tourism protocol for trekking and expedition was earlier released by the Government to ensure that expedition teams, trekkers, community members and service providers are safe in the mountains. Click here for the Entry Protocol for Mountaineering Expeditions and Trekking in Nepal released by the Government.

Many popular trekking routes like Everest Base Camp, Kanchenjunga, Manang, Mustang, Dolpa, Humla, Manaslu, Helambu and Rubi Valley open for trekking provided negative PCR test reports not older than 72 hours before departure are shown by trekkers for entry. PCR reports are also requested by rural municipalities, lodges, tea houses, homestays etc on the route. Click here for the latest status update of trekking areas in Nepal.

Immigration Services

The country has opened up for trekkers and mountaineers but entry is not a simple procedure as visa-on-arrival as earlier. Visitors are required to get permission to enter the country before hand from nearby Nepal Embassy or they need to contact the officials in Kathmandu. As per the entry protocol for trekkers and mountaineers released by the Government earlier.

Please log on to the official website of the Department of Immigration for other details on entry procedures.

Festival Season Still On

Yes, the Nepali people are on never-ending festival high; relaxed and happy. However, due to the pandemic, festivals are limited to individual homes and virtual celebrations. Tihar starts today, a five day festivals which begins with celebration of birds and animals ie crow, dogs and cows. To cherish every aspect of life, including seemingly mundane ones, is an important aspect of Nepali culture, and we see this important part of the culture during Kaag Tihar, Kukur Tihar and Gai Tihar.

On these days, the Nepali people celebrate the age-old bond between man and his beasts , honoring their positive traits, faith and loyalty. The main day Laxmi Puja is dedicated to the goddess of wealth and abundance. Mha Puja is another interesting celebration during Tihar by the Newar community, which celebrates the self as the divine, followed by Bhai Tika when brothers and sisters perform special rituals to celebrate the sibling bond.

Tihar will be closely followed by Chhat, Yomari Punhi, Udhauli Parva and Tamu Lhosar. The list goes on. For details and update on the festivals of Nepal, please log on to the official destination website Nepal Tourism Board

Nepal Awaits

As of now we have the Government and the private sector gearing for preparedness and proaction for COVID-safe mountain tourism. Please log on to the official youtube page of Nepal Tourism Board to watch some of the videos where our young entrepreneurs traveled to the mountains to prepare the mountain communities to follow the health and sanitation protocol for safe tourism in the mountains.

As irresistible as Nepal is for adventure lovers all over the work, trekkers and mountaineers from different parts of the world started trickling in as soon as the Government gave the green signal. Despite the relatively lengthy process with the new regulations for entry, the Himalayas have hosted a few expeditions already in the autumn of 2020 including a high-profile expedition team led by Royal family member from Bahrain to Mt. Baruntse. Efforts are still all focused on containing the spread and keeping all safe. For now, we prepare for response and recovery when we will be able to welcome visitors again with open arms.