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Trekking reopened in Nepal with Covid-19 safety measures

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Trekking reopened in Nepal

Trekking reopened in Nepal with Covid-19 safety measures

Yes after been locked up at home for a small year, due to the pandemic of the Nobel virus Covid-19 has us all on the edge. Now with the vaccine on the way, Nepal has reopened its doors for tourism. Encountersnepal.com welcomes back anybody ready for an exciting trek, tour, expedition, adventure vacation or peak climbing in Nepal. Having put in place strong safety and health measures, Encountersnepal.com is ready to organize your trip to Nepal. While not every trekking trail is reopened, the most popular trekking regions in Nepal are. So if you want to come to Nepal with Encountersnepal.com how can you book your ticket to the Himalayas and get your tourist Visa? A good question as most embassies will refer to Tourist Visa on arrival. This is changed as now during the Covid-19 Pandemic you will need to request your Tourist Visa via the trekking agency Encountersnepal.com.
Rules and regulations regarding traveling in Nepal during Covid-19?
Having put out rules and regulations regarding tourism in Nepal during the Covid-19 outbreak, the ministry of Nepal hopes to make it possible again to enjoy the Himalayas in a safe and secure way!
The new terms and conditions to be followed by foreign tourists in Nepal during Covid-19 as of Oct 2020:
1. You must obtain your tourist visa before arriving in Nepal, a visa on-arrival can be organized through your travel or trek organizer.
2. The following documents should be with you at the arrival immigration service:
a. Negative report of RT (Polymerase Chain Reaction: PCR) test taken within 72 hours before arrival.
b. Visa or prior approval document (ref. Article 1) for entry to Nepal.
c. Hotel booking for at least 7 days’ quarantine in Nepal. Or 2 days if you planned a trek.
d. Insurance Coverage of at least US$ 5,000.00 (Five Thousand US Dollars) against COVID-19 per person.
3. After entry in Nepal, you are required to stay in your hotel for a period of min. 2 days.
4. During your 2 days quarantine you are required to take another PCR test on your own expenses, in order to be allowed to continue on your trek or expedition in Nepal when getting a negative RT PCR report.
5. Upon obtaining a positive RT PCR Report for Covid-19, you are required to remain in quarantine until a negative test report can be presented.
6. During your trek or expedition all rules and health protocols issued by the Ministry of Health and Population needs to be followed
A bit complex and unclear? Don’t worry Encountersnepal.com will arrange everything for you and help with obtaining the documents required for trekking in Nepal. For some these new rules and regulations might seem complicated so let’s explain them a bit clearer.
How to get a Tourist Visa for Nepal during the Covid-19 pandemic?
Normally you would get your Tourist Visa of 15-30 days upon arriving at Nepal’s international airport. The process was simple you fill in your Tourist Visa application form, ad a passport size photo and pay the fee in USD. There are E-Visa terminals and a licensed money exchange available to make the process smooth. Besides waiting a bit in line that was it. Now due to the Covid-19 Pandemic you can’t just book a flight ticket and get your Visa on arrival. Now you first need to book your trek or trip in Nepal via a trekking agency like Encountersnepal.com and let them submit your Tourist Visa in Nepal with TAAN (Trekking Agency Association in Nepal). They in turn will submit an application to the NTB (Nepal Tourism Board) who then will apply for you Tourist Visa at the immigration department. Once that all is done an official document will be given to your trekking agency who then will send it to you which you can either bring to a Nepalese Consulate or Embassy in your country to get the Tourist Visa, or upon arrival at the airport. Just don’t forget your document send by the trekking agency as without it you won’t get the Tourist Visa!
A negative PCR report of 72 hours before arriving in Nepal or a report of vaccination against Covid-19 is required and best send during your booking. This is also required to submit for your Tourist Visa so always have a copy of your PCR report or vaccination at hand! If you need a PCR report here in Nepal then of course you can count on Encountersnepal.com to help you out.
So the biggest concern on that list of new rules and regulations for tourists visiting Nepal during Covid-19 is the quarantine! The current rules as of Jan 2021 in accordance with WHO state that if your purpose of visit is to stay in larger cities, you are required to self-quarantine for at least 7 days. If your purpose is to come on a trek with Kathmandu as an in between stop than a self-quarantine period of only 2 days is required. This can be done at your hotel in Kathmandu or at your stay residence. If you are looking for a Covid-19 safe hotel inside Nepal than of course Encountersnepal.com can book your accommodation for you appropriate to your budget. If you come for a trek in Nepal for example Everest Base Camp trek 16 days package, then you are required to book 18 days where off 2 will be spend in self-quarantine.
For more detailed info you can always follow the latest updates via: https://trade.welcomenepal.com/entry-protocol-for-mountaineering-expeditions-and-trekking-in-nepal.
What are the current rules in Nepal for Covid-19?
It’s so that in Nepal the Covid-19 outbreak has been well maintained with daily population PCR tests and the vaccination on its way. This does not mean that Nepal is Covid-19 safe, and there is still risk to catch this disease. As per the government the current rules state that Nepal is not in lockdown but mouth masks are mandatory! Now Encountersnepal.com has had time to carefully prepare for your safety during any type of treks or tours in Nepal. With limited groups we risks lesser exposure not only to ourselves but also to the local areas that we visit. A safe trekking distance is maintained at all times during trekking or touring and mouth masks and hand sanitizer are provided for you. Furthermore, before your trek a safety and guidelines briefing is held to further prepare you for a safe and enjoyable trek or tour in Nepal!
And as always our Encountersnepal.com travel team is 24/7 available to update you on any further news related to travel in Nepal during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Can you book a trip or trek in Nepal now?
As stated before Nepal is officially back open for tourism so you can book a trip or trek in Nepal now! Provided you are vaccinated or can produce a negative PCR report 72 hours before arriving in Nepal, booking is just a click away via: www.encountersnepal.com. The wait is over, come and explore the mythical Himalayas of Nepal, where culture and religion made a nation!

Other info:
During your trek in Nepal itself there are a couple of check posts along the way where also Covid-19 as well as your TIMS card and permits will be checked. Having slowly but surely opened all trekking regions there might be some areas along trekking routes locked out of safety not to spread the virus. Not to worry as Encountersnepal.com has all the information at hand and can easily update you on any changes of that particular region or trekking area!
The areas that have been reopened are:
1. Kanchenjunga
2. Sagarmatha National Park (Everest)
3. Annapurna
4. Mardi Himal
5. Manang
6. Mustang
7. Dolpo
8. Humla
9. Manaslu
10. Helambu
11. Rubi Valley
What documents do you need to book a trip or trek in Nepal and apply for a Visa?
So to sum everything up again as to what documents you need to book a trip or trek in Nepal and apply for a Visa.
1) Book your trip or trek via www.encountersnepal.com
2) Send to info@encountersnepal.com copies of your:
a. Passport size photo
b. Flight ticket
c. PCR negative report / Covid-19 vaccination report
d. Copy of your travel insurance
e. In case of booking your own hotel a copy of your hotel booking confirmation
With these simple 2 points you can get ready for the ultimate vacation in Nepal, and upon arrival you can get a sim card that can be activated within 5 min. Encountersnepal.com takes care of your safety and is happy to receive you now that trekking is reopened in Nepal during the Covid-19 outbreak.