The most accessible hospital for visitors is the Patan Hospital in Lagankhel. Most hospitals have English speaking staff and in the big hotels you can ask for general practitioners. The pharmacies in Kathmandu are mainly located on New Road and offer inexpensive western medicines. It is recommended to take out travel health insurance and travel repatriation insurance. Comprehensive insurance coverage for trekkers, mountaineers and white water rafters (including a helicopter rescue flight) is strongly recommended. An individual first-aid kit should be taken with you and protected according to the temperatures on the way. Check ebizdir for more information.
Notes vaccinations
[1] A vaccination certificate against yellow fever is required for all travelers older than 9 months who plan to enter the country within 6 days of staying in an infected area designated by the WHO. Excluded are travelers who were in transit in the infected areas for less than 12 hours and transit travelers in Nepal. [2] A certificate of vaccination against cholera is not an entry requirement, but there is a risk of infection, especially in the districts of Baitadi, Dhanusha, Jhapa and Khatmandu. To protect yourself, you should practice careful drinking water and food hygiene. Since the effectiveness of the vaccination is disputed, it is advisable to seek medical advice in good time before you travel. [3] Medium malaria risk year-round, predominantly in the less dangerous form Plasmodium vivax, is most likely to exist in the lowlands and decreases northward with increasing altitude. In 30% of cases, however, malaria tropica occurs. [4] The risk of diarrheal diseases is very high nationwide. Water should generally either be boiled or otherwise sterilized before it is used for drinking, brushing teeth and making ice cubes, or it should be bought packaged. When buying packaged water, you should make sure that the original packaging has not been opened. Milk is unpasteurized and should be boiled. Always use dry and canned milk with sterile water. It is best to avoid dairy products made from unboiled milk. Only eat meat and fish dishes that have been cooked through and served hot. Pork, raw salads and mayonnaise should be avoided. Vegetables should be boiled and fruits should be peeled.
Other risks
Mosquito-borne dengue fever is found across the country in Nepal, including at higher elevations such as Kathmandu. An effective insect repellent is recommended. Hepatitis A and B occur. Vaccination against hepatitis A is also recommended for short trips, against hepatitis B for longer stays and for children and young people. Altitude sickness is dangerous for mountain hikers, especially above 3500 m altitude. If nausea, headaches or shortness of breath occur at high altitude, the first step must be to descend. Advice is available from the Himalayan Rescue Association near the Kathmandu Guest House in the Thamel district of Kathmandu. There is an increased risk of infection for Japanese encephalitis from July to December, especially in rice-growing areas in the south and in the southwestern districts and occasionally in the Kathmandu valley. Leishmaniasis, which can be transmitted by mosquito bites, occurs primarily in the lowlands. Protection is offered by skin-covering clothes and insect repellents. Epidemic outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis do occur. Risk groups should be vaccinated and large crowds should be avoided. Rabies occurs nationwide. In general, there is a high risk of rabies due to the increase in stray dogs, particularly in Dang District, western Nepal. In the event of a bite, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Tuberculosis occurs in Nepal.
Health certificate
An HIV test is currently not required for entry. Persons suffering from a serious contagious disease (such as HIV/AIDS) may have their residence permit denied or withdrawn.
Money
Currency
1 Nepalese rupee = 100 paisa. Currency code: NR, NPR (ISO code). Banknotes come in denominations of 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 NR, coins in denominations of 5, 2 and 1 NR and 50, 25, 10 and 5 Paisa. The Nepalese rupee is pegged to the Indian rupee.
Credit cards
Mastercard, Visa and some American Express are accepted in tourist areas like Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan and Mount Everest area. Details from the issuer of the relevant credit card.
ATMs
Bank cards With a credit card and pin number, you can withdraw money from ATMs in the Kathmandu valley. The Girocard (formerly ec card) with the Cirrus, Plus or Maestro symbol is accepted worldwide. It can only rarely be used in Nepal at ATMs with the Cirrus, Plus or Maestro symbols. To be on the safe side, travelers should always have an alternative source of money such as cash. Further information from banks and credit institutes. Attention: Travelers who want to pay with their bank customer card abroad and withdraw money should find out from their bank about the possibility of using their card before starting their journey.
Travelers cheques
Traveller’s checks are no longer available in Germany and Switzerland and are hardly available in Austria. Traveller’s checks are accepted by some banks and bureaux de change in Nepal in Kathmandu and at the airports.
Bank opening hours
General Sun-Thu 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Fri 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Authorized exchange offices are open 12 hours.
Foreign exchange regulations
The import and export of local currency is prohibited. The import of foreign currencies is unlimited, but must be declared (keep the receipts safe). The export of foreign currencies is permitted up to the amount declared upon entry, minus the exchange amounts. Note: The import of 500 and 1,000 Indian rupee banknotes is prohibited.
Currency Exchange
Money should only be exchanged at authorized places (banks, hotels and licensed exchange offices). Tourists should carefully keep exchange receipts as they must be presented for visa extensions or trekking permits. Tourists have to pay hotel bills, flight tickets and sometimes also trekking permits in foreign currency. It is advisable to bring enough cash with you, as credit cards and traveler’s checks are not accepted everywhere. There are numerous exchange offices in Pokhara, Kathmandu and Chitwan.
