Safety and Security

All U.S. citizens who travel to Nepal should enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (“STEP”) to register their planned itinerary with the U.S. Embassy, and to monitor the security situation before traveling. 

U.S. government employees must seek approval before traveling outside of Kathmandu Valley.

BANDHS:

• Bandhs (general strikes) are a common form of political agitation and force schools and businesses to close as well as stop traffic.
• They are unpredictable, and may include violent incidents and can occur with little  any notice. 
• Individuals not complying with the bandhs may be harassed by organizers/supporters.
• Avoid all unnecessary travel where bandhs are occurring.
• If you plan air travel to or from Nepal during a scheduled bandh, please note transportation may be affected.  Usually bandh organziers allow specially marked buses operated by the Nepal Tourism Board to travel between the airport and major tourist hotels.
• If you must travel during a bandh, you can check with the U.S. Embassy, with local police by dialing “100,” or with traffic control by dialing “103.”  The police can advise which routes and forms of transportations are most appropriate.  
• Consult the U.S. Embassy Kathmandu website for security-related messages for U.S. citizens, as well as the Nepal Ministry of Tourism for the latest security information.

IEDs:  In the past, there have been periodic small-scale improvised explosive device (IED) incidents in various parts of the country, particularly during periods of heightened political tension.  These reported incidents were not directed toward westerners or western interests.

Crime:  Although still relatively low, crime in Kathmandu and throughout the country has risen in some categories. 

Financial Crimes and Theft: 

• Criminals use sophisticated scams, such as ATM skimming, particularly in Kathmandu. 
• You should consider only exchanging money only at banks and hotels.
• Valuables, including passports and cash should be stored in the hotel safety deposit box and not carried.  The Nepal Tourist Police recommend that you carry a copy of your passport when going out.
• Pick-pocketing and bag-snatching may occur at major tourist sites, including the Thamel district of Kathmandu.
• Avoid walking alone after dark, carrying large sums of cash and wearing expensive jewelry. 

Violent Crimes:

• There are reports of sexual assaults involving foreigers, including in the popular tourist districts of Thamel and Bouddha in Kathmandu.
• Foreigners have occasionally had sedative drugs placed in their food or drink by individuals who seek to rob or otherwise take advantage of them.
• Nepali police forces may have limited resources to deter and investigate crimes.  Their services are not up to Western standards.  Many cases reported to the police remain unresolved.

Political-Related Violence:  Violent political activity remains higher in the Terai, the southern plains region of Nepal bordering India, than the rest of the country.  Demonstrations have on occasion turned violent, although these activities generally are not directed at U.S. citizens..

Scams:  See the Department of State and the FBI pages for information on scams.

Victims of Crime:  If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime abroad, you should contact the local police and the U.S. embassy.  We can:

• help you find appropriate medical care
• assist you in reporting a crime to the police
• contact relatives or friends with your written consent
• explain the local criminal justice process in general terms
• provide a list of local attorneys
• provide our information on victim’s compensation programs in the U.S.
• provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical
• support in cases of destitution
• help you find accommodation and arrange flights home
• replace a stolen or lost passport

The local equivalent to the “911” emergency line in Nepal is “100,” which is manned 24/7 by the local police.  While many Nepali police officials understand and speak English, when calling the emergency number, you should speak slowly and enunciate so that your message gets across to the official clearly and without misunderstanding.  Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime.

See our webpage on help for U.S. victims of crime overseas.

Domestic Violence:  U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the Embassy for assistance.

For further information:

•  Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. 
• Call us in Washington at 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
• See the State Department's travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts.
• Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. 
• See traveling safely abroad for useful travel tips.