ASIA NEPAL UPDATE DESTINATIONS
KE Adventure Travel – which
ABOVE: Namchee Bazaar BELOW: Phewa Lake
estimates that at least 90% of hotels, restaurants and shops are open as normal – is running all of its planned treks, climbs, bike rides and discovery tours, except for those in the Langtang, Rolwaling and Manaslu areas. Some of its tours extend into the areas the Foreign Office is advising against travel to, but the company has found that the British Mountaineering Council will offer travel insurance that covers those areas. Intrepid is also running some trips to
areas where the Foreign Office doesn’t recommend going, based on its own safety assessments, and says clients have been able to get insurance. UK managing director Michael
Edwards says: “One of the best things we can do to support the Nepali people is to help clients travel to this amazing country. While we respect the Foreign Office’s duty to advise its citizens, its current conservative warning against travel to the Everest region is now in contrast to many other government advisories and has the potential to hamper the recovery of the country’s tourism industry.”
w THE LOWDOWN So, can clients return if they wish? If they’re going to areas with no Foreign Office restrictions, then there seems to be no compelling reason why not. This will cover most non-trekking itineraries, so clients who want to experience the Kathmandu area’s cultural sights, the beautiful scenery in the lowlands surrounding Pokhara and a safari in the Chitwan National Park to spot rhinos, deer and monkeys should be fine. Some trekking routes have been
given the OK by the Foreign Office, so clients shouldn’t have any trouble with their insurance, although as always they should check to be sure. When it comes to the areas currently off-limits from a Foreign Office point of view, the organisation has been telling UK operators it plans to review the rest of its advice soon, so it’s worth keeping an eye on its website and checking with operators. Clients may decide they want to go anyway despite the advice, in which case it will be worth double-checking their insurance covers them.
gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
8 October 2015
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