Solo female travel in Nepal: night rides, trekking, dress and help

What the UK, German and French advice says about women

The UK Foreign Office (FCDO), whose advice was updated on 1 October 2026, describes a low rate of serious crime in Nepal but is specific about women: they have been sexually assaulted in tourist areas such as Thamel and Sanepa in Kathmandu, so be cautious, especially when alone after dark.

The German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt), whose page has been unchanged since 19 October 2026, says there have been isolated attacks on trekkers walking alone in the past and that women travelling alone have been raped. It advises women in particular to be careful after dark and not to go out alone.

None of the three advises against travel to any part of Nepal; France places the whole country under heightened vigilance. Flood notices are in our health and safety guide, and other governments may draw their lines elsewhere, so read your own.

Prices and times checked 8 November 2026

Landing at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan airport

For a late landing, book the first night at a hotel that sends a car; the Nepal Tourism Board says major hotels arrange night taxis. Without one, use the airport's pre-paid taxi service or book an inDrive cab in its app on arrival. From 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm, Sajha Yatayat's east-west night bus also stops at the airport (see the next section), the alternative to a private car.

Outside the terminal, the Nepal Tourism Board says, taxi drivers, travel agents and hoteliers offer their services; France advises against the agencies that approach tourists there. Nepal Police, which has a Tourist Police unit at the airport, asks you to note the number of any car you take. A local SIM from the arrival halls, which you will want for a ride app, needs a spare passport photo.

After dark: rides, bars and buses between towns

The Nepal Tourism Board says it is safe to walk around the city from morning to late evening, until the shops close. After that, ride back rather than walk, in Kathmandu and Pokhara alike: the UK says assaults and robberies are more likely in the evening in poorly lit areas and advises against walking on your own at night. Kathmandu's taxis carry a roof sign and a black licence plate, and no tip is expected.

In Kathmandu, Pathao's cars run across the valley; if a driver drives dangerously or behaves rudely, Pathao says to ask him to stop somewhere safe and call 9801908500. In Pokhara, use inDrive, which also runs in Kathmandu and Bharatpur and has 24/7 chat support and an SOS button in its app.

Since mid-April 2026, Sajha Yatayat has run Kathmandu Valley night buses from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm, approximately every 20 minutes, on two corridors that meet at New Road: north-south via Lagankhel, Bir Hospital and Budhanilkantha, and east-west from Thankot via Kalanki and Baneshwor to Tribhuvan International Airport. Sajha says each bus has CCTV linked to a central control system, municipal police presence and live tracking in its Sajha Plus app.

Thamel, Kathmandu's tourist district, is relatively safe but the scene of frequent scams and numerous pickpockets, France says. In bars, the UK advises being wary of drinks from strangers and never leaving one unattended; its advice for women adds that rape drugs also work in coffee and tea, so if you feel strange, sick or drunk after only a small amount, tell a trusted friend or phone the local police. Book your ride back before the evening starts.

Between towns, travel by day: France advises against travelling on the roads at night, and the UK against travelling by bus at night or on overloaded or overcrowded buses. Germany advises only marked tourist buses, which the Nepal Tourism Board says serve Pokhara and Chitwan, and warns that floods and rockfalls can bring short-notice road closures and local night-driving bans. Our Nepal transport guide compares buses and domestic flights.

Prices and times checked 8 November 2026

Trekking: a licensed guide, never alone

This is the decision that matters most: do not trek alone, as the UK, Germany and the Nepal Tourism Board all advise. Since 31 March 2023, the Nepal Tourism Board says, trekkers in specific protected areas must walk with a licensed guide and carry a TIMS card issued by a trekking agency, NPR 2,000 (NPR 1,000 for SAARC citizens); France applies the licensed-guide rule to all trekkers in Nepal, and Germany advises trekking in groups.

Choose a government-registered agency before you fly, as Nepal Police asks, not one that approaches you at the airport or a self-styled guide in the tourist districts, both of which France advises against. The UK warns that very cheap deals may be scams, and Germany says trekkers with unlicensed porters who had no proof of insurance have repeatedly been extorted. With the TIMS card and the Annapurna Conservation Area permit (NPR 3,000 per entry for foreigners, NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals), a foreign adult other than a SAARC national pays NPR 5,000 in permits; the guide's fee comes on top, and no official page gives a day rate for it. Our trekking permits guide shows which routes need which.

Tell family or friends that you will be out of contact. The UK says mobile coverage is limited in remote areas, including long stretches of the Annapurna Circuit, suggests renting a satellite phone, and asks for insurance that covers mountain rescue: a helicopter evacuation usually costs between £1,000 and £2,000 or more per flying hour. Tourist Police posts on the trails include Lukla, Ghandruk, Ghorepani, Chame and Jomsom.

What to wear, at temples and on the street

France sets the strictest line: men and women alike should wear clothes that cover the whole body. The UK asks visitors to avoid shorts and sleeveless tops in temples and other holy places, and the Nepal Tourism Board asks for decency in dress, so loose trousers or a long skirt and a top with sleeves cover all three. The UK says public displays of affection are seen as inappropriate, whatever your sexuality or gender.

Take off your shoes at temples where asked. Some temples are closed to non-Hindus; at Pashupatinath, the trust that runs it says non-Hindu visitors may not enter the main sanctum and watch from the surrounding ghats. Ask before photographing inside a temple or a ceremony. Use your right hand to pay, give and receive, and, the Nepal Tourism Board says, accept a handshake offered by a man or a woman but never offer your hand first.

Choosing a room and keeping your hotel informed

Book a hotel or lodge that is registered with the government, as Nepal Police advises, and for a late arrival one that can send a car. Make it your check-in point: Germany advises telling your hotel or relatives your planned departure and arrival times and your route.

In the room, the Nepal Tourism Board says to lock your room and your bags and keep cash and expensive items out of sight; the UK suggests the hotel safe for valuables and checking the fire exits and whether there is a working fire alarm. Our where-to-stay guide compares the areas of Kathmandu and Pokhara.

If something happens: the numbers to save

Save these before you land.

• 1144: the Tourist Police, toll free, with good English.
• Tourist Police offices: head office at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, 01-5347041; Thamel 9851289453; the airport 9851289450; Pokhara 061-462761.
• 100: the police.
• 1145: the National Women Commission's toll-free hotline, which runs 24/7. Its website is in Nepali.
• 102: ambulance. The UK says there is no central public ambulance service, so in an emergency call the nearest hospital.
• 101: fire. 1234 is the government's toll-free emergency line in Nepali.

Prices and times checked 8 November 2026

After a sexual assault: reporting and treatment

The FCDO's guidance for victims in Nepal, last updated on 10 June 2025, suggests calling the Tourist Police on 1144 first, or going to a police station, as soon as possible so forensic evidence can be kept. You can ask for a female officer, depending on availability, but there is no guarantee of one or of a private place to wait; very few officers speak English, and an interpreter may take time. Ask for a police report, with an English translation if needed. If you travel with a hotel or trekking company, its representative may go with you to hospital.

Not all hospitals in Kathmandu are equipped or recognised to treat survivors of sexual assault. Government hospitals are mostly free but overcrowded and not always private; private hospitals are somewhat better, paid by you or your insurer. HIV post-exposure medication (PEP) must be taken within 72 hours, and emergency contraception, also within 72 hours, is sold over the counter at pharmacies.