After a seven-month lockdown during which the country was closed to visitors, Nepal will reopen for tourism later this month. While it’s still not fully open to all tourists, it is open to mountaineers and trekkers who have taken prior permits for climbing.
Speaking to AP News, Rudra Singh Tamang, the director-general of Nepal’s Department of Tourism said: “We are not opening the country for all visitors and only mountaineers and trekkers who have taken prior permit will be allowed to come to Nepal. We are opening to a sector of visitors who we know we can handle and manage.”
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It won’t be a walk in the park to enter, but for those keen to climb Mt. Everest it will be worth it. Local guides must also take COVD-19 tests and prove they have been living in an infection-free area for 14 days.
Requirements to Enter Nepal:
- Visitors must get a special visa before arrival through Nepal travel and trekking agencies.
You must submit proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours before arrival.
Visitors must have proof of a hotel booking for a 7-day quarantine in Nepal.
You must bring proof of insurance that covers COVID-19 of at least US $5,000.
On Day 5, you must take an additional PCR test at your own expense before going on your expedition.
Nepal’s tourism industry employs around 800,000 people and the country relies heavily on tourism. Tamang added: “We are trying to revive the tourism industry that was badly hit by the pandemic, but we are not taking any changes or any risks. We did a test run just recently with a foreign expedition team and now have a good idea how to manage the adventure tourists.”
