Hi all,
Hi,
You are welcome in Nepal. It won't be any problem to travel alone in Nepal but do not go to mountain area alone. Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, Nagarkot is good place to travel alone.
Thanks
NTP
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I found Nepal in general quite safe. There's a little bit of political uncertainty but they are very friendly to tourists and their culture is quite welcoming. Plenty of people go there so they are quite used to tourists in the main areas (eg. Kathmandu (especially the Thamel area), Pokhara and on the trekking routes.
Sure things aren't as clean or organised like the Western world, and the majority tend to live a basic village life so in many respects it's like going back in time - but you'll find the people nice and will go out of their way to help.
The culture is still a bit male dominated - but as a tourist it shouldn't matter to you (too) much. As you are female I'd recommend to cover up a little (ie cover shoulders and knees) and you'll tend to be treated more respectfully this way (or so they say).
I did a trek in the Annapurna region over 2 years ago, and I think it's probably the most amazing thing I've done on the road. Many people that go to Nepal love the country!
Hi it's a great country and you should go, but trekking completely on your own is really not a good idea for anyone female or male.
If you get injured or sick then you'll have no one to assist you and maybe hours of walking until the next village to get help. You do not necessarily need to join a group if you'd rather be independent. You could hire a porter and guide locally, but these are always/often young men so you may feel uncomfortable just hanging out with 2 local guys with maybe not that much conversational English. Maybe just pre-book the trekking part of your stay with a reputable company or join a group?
I do not want to frighten you off as most people have a lovely time in Nepal and do not encounter any problems at all.
However, this is something I feel quite strongly about as a friend of mine went trekking alone and never came back. When they found his body there was a letter in his pocket that was half written to his girlfriend and if was very disjointed and confused. The British Embassy in kathmandu assumed that he had been suffering from altitude sickness (or some sort of sickness/maybe head injury) and he may have been in a weakened state, then fallen and died alone in the valley below. His body was found many days after he died.
I know he was really unlucky and this might be a rare case, but I am sure if he had been with others they would have helped him and maybe he would have survived.
I have travelled extensively since the 80's and often alone, but I would not trek alone. I have been to Kathmandu alone and just trusted my instincts and took some care after dark, by avoiding the quiet back streets. On my last trip I also had a guide and driver to take me on a city tour to take the hassle out of getting from A to B. Once I'd found my feet agian and got my bearings I was happy to go off alone.
Thanks to everyone for getting back to me.. I will not be planning to do any of the trecks on my own, i will arrange it with a company. Is there any route you would recommend? I was thinking around Pokhara for 5-6 days. I am arriving towards the end of Oct until mid Nov so i will have just over 3 weeks in Nepal and i want to see and do as much as i can.
Starting off in Kathmandu, then to Chitwan then to do a treck.
When treckking what would you say i need to pack of the season?
Thanks
Also do you think I should go to Pokhara or go to Mount Everest, as i will not have enough time to do both? does anyone know what the journey is like from Kathmandu to Mount Everest?
Don't rule out hiking alone especially on the Annapurna. During season and even off season its the most popular hike in Nepal and chances are you'll meet someone on route, and almost certainly in Pokhara that you can team up with. If you are set on going with a group, wait until you get to Pokhara and then shop around. There are lots of Nepali's that advertise themselves as "guides" but have no experience and can often be a pain in the ass and make your hike miserable. I went alone, but met many that were at the end of their rope with their "guide"
With only 5 days you can't do the full circuit. Im told since I went they have continued with the road on the east side, so you can probably go in a shared jeep a ways up and then walk for a few days then jeep it back down. I know thats the case on the more used "apple pie" side on the west.
yeah 5 days isnt going to do much for you to try to go to Everest. Its two days bus just to get to the start of the trek, but you can fly in. But then you'd not get much out of that and really Pokhara is much more enjoyable.
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