Is It Safe to Travel to Nepal in 2026?
Nepal - Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
⚠ Reconsider Travel
The U.S. State Department recommends reconsidering travel to Nepal due to elevated risks. Key factors: civil_unrest.
Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
Is It Safe to Travel to Nepal in 2026?
Nepal is currently rated Level 3 — Reconsider Travel by the U.S. Department of State. Large protests and significant demonstrations in Nepal have turned violent, causing deaths and injuries. Local authorities have declared curfews in major cities like Kathmandu and Pokhara, and additional protests could occur with little warning.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- civil_unrest
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: Large protests and significant demonstrations... have turned violent, causing deaths and injuries., Local authorities have declared curfews in major cities like Kathmandu and Pokhara, and additional protests could occur with little warning..
Active restrictions in Nepal:
- Movement restrictions in effect
- Curfew in certain areas
May not travel to areas with ongoing protests or demonstrations.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face extreme risks due to violent protests and curfews in major cities like Kathmandu and Pokhara, making it unsafe to navigate these areas alone.
Business travelers may encounter significant disruptions due to curfews and civil unrest, impacting meetings and travel schedules in major urban centers.
Families with children face extreme risks as ongoing protests and violence in urban areas like Kathmandu pose serious safety concerns, along with limited healthcare access.
Remote workers may find it challenging to maintain connectivity and safety due to curfews and unrest, particularly in major cities where they might be based.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Nepal.
Regional Safety Breakdown
Do Not Travel Zones
The U.S. State Department advises against all travel to the following areas due to extreme risk:
- Kathmandu
- Pokhara
▶Level 4 — Do Not Travel2 regions
▶Kathmandu
Curfew currently in effect due to civil unrest.
▶Pokhara
Curfew currently in effect due to civil unrest.
Nepal has 2 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Nepal has an overall threat severity of 7.5 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 7.0/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Partly Free — scored 62/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Nepalese Rupee (NPR)
Language
Nepali
Notable restrictions:
- drug possession illegal including medical marijuana
- e-cigarettes prohibited
Vaccinations
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: moderate
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Nepal
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Nepal?
▶Is it safe to travel to Nepal right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Nepal?
▶What vaccines do I need for Nepal?
▶Is Nepal safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Nepal?
More Nepal Data
Partly Free — 62/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.