Nepal Travel Guide
Travelling as a woman
Travel Advice
Do's and Don'ts
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Advice for female travellers
Are there any problems?
Please respect the people
Never go alone on a trekking
Contrasts to Western style style of life
Travelling alone
Clothing
Are there any problems for female travellers in Nepal?

I would hate to generalize, but can someone tell me the Nepalese response to foreign female? I am planning to stay in Nepal for a few month over the summer. From my past experience else where in the world being a foreign female traveller was not the most pleasant experience no matter how much precaution I have taken. I just want to know in general how people react and how I would be treated most likely. It will be helpful also to know taboos, don'ts etc. Shamefully I don't have much knowledge about Nepali culture and society even to imagine how it would be like. Thank you in advance.

First answer: You have to respect the people
The Nepalese are the most smiling generous people. When going to talk with someone place your hands together in a praying fashion and say "Namaste" which in effect means hello. They respond totally to this greeting and a big smile. I have been over there twice and have enjoyed every minute especially the people. The more remote you go you might find they are curious. They might try and touch you and again once the greeting is exchanged they are extremely friendly. Clothing - although you might see some folks in shorts - please for cultural respect keep your shorts/trouser below the knee. Please also be circumspect with your tops - tank tops are not really acceptable - so T-shirts, polo tops, blouses are fine. Remember the friendlier you are the more accepting they are. If you are being pestered by street sellers smile and say JAU which means go away.

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Second answer: Never go alone on a trekking

The statements above are fine but "JAU" is very informal used to indicate a higher position of the speaker towards the other person, in one word it is not polite. Might be used by grown ups towards children or by higher casts towards lower ones (unfortunately).

To get rid of sellers whose number has really grown in Thamel over the years, one better uses the more complicated word "chaaheendaynaaa" which means "nothing is needed" or "I do not feel like buying something right now",

As a female I had good experiences travelling in Nepal except the one I always have when hiking alone within the KTM Valley outside the Ring Road area ( on bigger treks I never go alone): the people gather and want to stop me to go further because it is soo dangerous for a single woman but my investigations about the danger never bring clear facts - it might be the biting dog, the tiger like "Chitwa" from the forest, the robber, the landslide, the upcoming night (at 2 pm?), the long way to the next village � I had all these answers already. All in all I think the fact that a woman walks alone disturbs the people because it is not common in Nepalese culture and of course they might be right with the above dangers. Last night a small leopard ran through the city of Kathmandu at night and was caught at last, they say it came from the Nagarjun forest....

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Third answer: Contrasts to Western style of life

First, I never heard about a rape of a female traveller in all that time but this does not mean much in a country where evaluation on facts is very poor and not all news are reported in newspapers. On the other hand I think if there WAS a number of rapes it would be reported somehow in the end and now in the upcome of internet it would be spoken about. Here some statements on Nepalese men and their psyche . I hope they will not mind it, the outcome is positive:

In my opinion Nepalese men have something that brings them in contrast to their Western counterparts. They are not confused (I avoid to say neurotic) but clear and dedicated about the basic things in life like family and making a living
( though to feed the family is getting more difficult in Nepal with every single day).

I find them gentle, sensitive, intelligent, full of humour, more intro- than extrovert and although the Hindu religion / cast / social system brings an incredible burden and discrimination against women, I found that this problem still is not so grave in Nepal as in the neighbouring southern country and its "macho-like" male population.

The problems start and began in the 50ies in Nepal with the encounter of the so-called Western culture. It had and has sad consequences : It brings feelings of being less worth than the Western counterpart, leads to submissive behaviour (minority complex in one word), brings a turn away from own Nepalese culture and craving for Western style of life, material goods e.t.c. Sometimes I feel that 23 million people are going through hell in Nepal, losing their identity and not knowing where heading to ( what about a nationalist party in contrast to all the others, what about restoration of Nepalese dignity).

Nepalese men might also get confused in questions concerning foreign women. On one hand the stories of Western women's sexual freedom, activity and experience on the other the wish to get contact to the "wonderful" Western world might bring strange behaviour, ideas and desires, but rape is certainly not the common one. Once more, I hope Nepalese people do not mind my statements, I do not find them offensive, on the contrary all in all positive.

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Fourth answer: Travelling in Nepal is safe

Women travelling alone are perfectly safe in Nepal. The Nepalese are very friendly people and many of them speak English. Nepalese very friendly towards women. Travelling alone should be possible in Pokhara without any harrassment or difficulty. Please dress appropriately at all times, long skirt, loose shirts. A appropriate dressings helps break down cultural barriers.

If you are trekking, a porter/guide is really not that much money for a westerner and you are giving someone a job.

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Clothing

A shirt is fine, sleeveless tops are not. Light trousers are o.k., please do not wear shorts or a mini skirt. .If you are female soon you willfind the wonderful long 'skirts' called 'lungi', try one.
Note that May is the hottest month in Nepal. Be aware of brief thunderstorms in the late afternoon.

Do's and Don'ts Model Trekker
Nepal

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