Is Nepal open for trekking?
Trekking in Nepal will be allowed from 17 October 2020 as stated by the government spokesperson and Foreign Minister. The Covid-19 Crisis Management Committee (CCMC) recommended opening treks in Nepal and a decision was made on cabinet meetings. The cabinet also decided to allow domestic flights, intercity buses, hotels and restaurants to reopen from 17 September. COVID lockdown Nepal was ongoing for the past six months but it has been relaxed from 13 September in Kathmandu Valley where shops are reopened for limited times on certain weekdays.
Public transports, taxis and private vehicles were also allowed on odd-even days. Limited international flights to Nepal resume from 1 September as long as the total number of arriving passengers daily did not exceed 800. Due to COVID in Nepal today foreigners are still not allowed to travel to Nepal, and all passengers must have RT PCR negative reports done 72 hours before departure. Though travel restrictions were being eased, planes, hotels and restaurants will have to observe strict protocols on separation and masks. Domestic airlines will have to follow strict hygiene rules on check-in, ramp buses, and on-board aircraft. But already before this notice, two expeditions had been granted permission for climbing in Nepal Himalayas. One was a special permit for Mt. Barun Tse expedition which was already left for base camp. Another is a 15-member Bahraini military team for Mt. Manaslu expedition which arrived Kathmandu on 16 September.
