Safety While Traveling In Nepal

Trekking in the mountains is a rewarding and unforgettable experience. However, it is important to keep your safety in mind. Weather conditions can change any moment and in case of an accident, medical help is not always easily available so going with a safe guided operation like Escape Trekking Adventures will ensure you are well looked after.

We have a full health safety management systems in place which include a full set of Safe Operating Procedures, many say they have safe operating procedures but his is captured in one document of 2-3 pages hardly descriptive enough to provide safe processes of practises. Escape Trekking Adventures have pages and pages of operation procedures.

Escape Trekking Adventures don’t take any short cuts to safety. we simply wont trade off safety to cut costs of our operations and if you see treks being offered by some operators at low prices that seem to be to good to be true, beware they are to good to be true. Our operations are managed in a low cost, low overhead way, but to carry all the necessary safety equipment this requires costing to be passed on to our clients. We believe our treks are as low as commercially can be run.

We have listed what we do on our treks to make sure you understand our high levels of safety and quality we offer.

• A commercial satellite phone carried on every trek for emergency use and updates to Australia.
• We also carry a handheld VHF for emergency use and communication.
• Gamow bag for all our high altitude (portable decompression chamber the same used on MT Everest to treat altitude sickness the ultimate in mountain safety).
• We carry a satellite beacon that allows family and friends back home to track the progress of the group online via Google earth. This is for safety and peace of mind for those back home (Australian led trek only).
• We always have a porter/s and guides who is trained and qualified in first Aid.
• Excellent nutrition to enable the guest the best chance of success.
• High levels of safety and safety equipment.
• High levels of equipment used whilst on the mountains.
• Adequate extra days to acclimatise to the high altitudes which is most important. Please don’t under estimate the extra time required to make this a safe trip.
• Well trained and competent crews to escort the guests.
• We carry a comprehensive group First Aid Kit for emergency use (including stretcher).
• Regular updates are made from the mountains by the Head Guide to our Australian office and updates are sent to the next of kin of each trekker, to update on the safety and progress of the trekkers.
• All trekkers are required to have Personal Travel Insurance cover (including air lift cover)
• Each trekker is required to have a personal First Aid Kit. As a part of an optional gear pack we include the Equip Pro 1 first aid kit.
• Risk Management Strategy is in place and is reviewed annually.
• Emergency Procedures in place for the protection of trekkers and porters.
• Support staff and office in Kathmandu to assist in any issues arising out of a trek.
• Public Liability Insurance cover (20 million Dollar)

Other things to bear in mind during your visit especially if you plan to stay on your own outside our itinerary.

Be wary of deals offered by gem dealers (especially in Thamel district, Kathmandu) that involve you buying stones to sell for a ‘vast profit’ at home. The dealers’ stories vary, but are usually along the lines of the dealer not being able to export the stones without paying heavy taxes, so you take them and meet another dealer when you get home, who will sell them to a local contact and you both share the profit. Travellers falling for this ruse is not as unusual as you might expect.

Other scams include young kids asking for milk; you buy the milk at a designated store at an inflated price, the kid then returns the milk and pockets some of the mark-up (you can prevent this by opening the milk).

Be wary of kids who seem to know the capital of any country you can think of; a request for money will arrive at some point.

Then there are the ‘holy men’ who will do their best to plant a tika (a red paste denoting blessing) on your forehead, only to then demand significant payment.

Credit card scams are not unusual; travellers have bought some souvenirs only to find thousand of dollars worth of Internet porn subscriptions chalked up on their bill.