Nepal is an unspoilt beautiful country and although the Nepalese people are warm and kind, they are sensitive and tend to get upset quickly. Since Nepal is famous for eco-tourism, which means visits to countryside, trekking expeditions, etc. the Govt has basically laid out unspoken rules to make sure the country retains its natural ambience.

The following details are meant to offer advice and guidance for people visiting Nepal .

Q - What attire should I wear while visiting Nepal ?
Baggy pants or calf-length skirts with a loose top are appropriate trekking and touring wear for women. Men should wear a shirt at all times. Men's knee-length hiking shorts are fine for trekking but not when visiting temples, monasteries or homes.

Q- What about swimming in rivers & lakes ?
Nudity is particularly offensive. Whether bathing in a stream or at a village tap, men should wear shorts or underwear, women can wrap in a loongi (sarong) and douse themselves as the village women do. Only sport a swimsuit if well secluded from village eyes. Public affection is likewise frowned upon.

Q- Can we take photographs of tourist places and people ?
Taking photographs of tourist places is acceptable, although if its temples, then you may first check out to see if its allowed. Most Nepalese don't mind being photographed, but some do. Ask first, especially if photographing ceremonies or older people. Paying for a picture reinforces a hand-out mentality. Try instead to establish a friendly rapport with a few words or gestures.

Q- Do the shopkeepers cheat you when you are buying something ?
Bargain for souvenirs and trekking services but respect posted prices in restaurants and lodges. Ask around to establish a fair price: paying too much adds to inflation and paying too little denies the merchant of a fair return.

Q- What about eating out in Restaurants and tips ?
Tipping is a newly accepted custom in Nepal. Hotel, restaurant, touring and trekking organization staff members often make up for relatively meager wages with tips. But, it should only reward good work. Don't tip for short taxi rides in town or any service person you've bargain with. Groups might give a reasonable amount per day to a tip pool to be divided among the staff, generally relative to rank, for good service. (Restaurants in Kathmandu)

Q- How about Beggars ? You always find them harrassing you everywhere ?
Do not give candy, pens, trinkets or money to children but instead donate to a school, monastery or hospital.

Q- How do you interact with the people in Nepal ?
* To show appreciation and respect, use two hands rather than one when giving or receiving something, even money.
* Remember not to point with a single finger but use a flat extended hand especially to indicate a sacred object or place.
* Among Hindus, avoid touching women and holy men. The traditional palms-together "Namaste" greeting is preferable.
* Don't eat with your left hand and don't eat beef among Hindus.
* Try not to step over or point your feet at another person, a sacred place or a hearth.
* Remove your shoes when entering a home, temple or monastery (and leather items in Hindu temples) and avoid smoking and wearing scant dresses in religious settings.
* Do not offer food from your plate, nor eat from a common pot, and avoid touching your lips to a shared drinking vessel.

Q- We are going on a trek. Any advice or rules that we should know about?
In Nepal, green or eco-tourism is taken seriously and there are certain mesures that one should take whilst going trekking. Ask your trekking agent and lodge operator about their conservation policies. However, the following should normally be followed.

* Litter Free: Carry all your trash (including toilet paper, unless you thoroughly burn it on the spot) to your campsite, lodge or hotel for proper disposal. If trekking with an agency, ask the staff to designate separate places for biodegradable and others (i.e., bottles, tins, plastics, foil, batteries etc.) which should be packed out to Kathmandu or the next refuse pit. As fires are considered sacred, don't put trash in the flames until the cooking is done and always inquire first.
* Ladies : Sanitary napkins and tampons should be wrapped well and packed out. Take batteries back to your home country for safe disposal.
* Toilet Sites: Make sure your trek operator provides a toilet tent, set up at least 50 meters (150 feet) away from any water source. If you are tea-house trekking, select lodges with a well-sited latrines. Otherwise, pick a spot away from water and religious sites. Bury all excreta. In the cities and en route, public toilets are hard to find so be discreet and keep away from holy sites.
* Biodegradable Washing: When bathing or washing clothes near streams, use biodegradable soaps and a pan for rinsing. Toss soapy water away from the stream.
* Use Established Campsites: Encourage your trekking staff to camp in established campsites and to leave no trace: no trash, no tent trenches, no fire pit, and a toilet pit filled in to look as it did before digging.
* Cook with Kerosene: If you are camping, request that cooking be done on kerosene or gas, not wood. If you're stuck using wood, reduce the amount by using iodine to treat water rather than boiling it. Choose lodges that use kerosene or fuel efficient stoves, such as the back-boiler which heats water while food cooks. You can also reduce firewood consumption by ordering the same food at the same time as others.
* Solar Heated Showers: Limit your hot showers to those heated by solar energy, by hydroelectricity or by the back-boiler method.
* Warm Clothes: Bring adequate clothes rather than relying on lodge hearths for heat and never ask your trekking staff for a bonfire. See that porters will be provided shelter, clothing and shoes for high altitude treks, saving wood otherwise burned to keep warm.
* Do Not Disturb: Avoid creating new trails across switchbacks, meadows and in high fragile areas. Make sketches or take photos rather than collect flower, plants and seeds. Do not purchase items made from wild animals skins or furs. Take care while walking through farmland and always stay to the uphill side of livestock on trails.

Q- If one falls sick during a trek or in anywhere in Nepal. Are Doctors available ? Good ones ?
If in the city, then you should have no problem getting good Doctors. Your hotel would normally have one on their list. However, if trekking, the make sure that you check out with your trekking agent about the availability of a Doctor in case things go wrong and one needs medical attention.

Secondly, be careful offering medical advice to the Nepalese people, even if you are an experienced medical practitioner or nurse. It is not wise to give medicine to a sick Nepali on the trek unless you can watch his or her reaction. Most Nepalese have never been exposed to Western medicine and may react unpredictably. Encourage villagers to wash cuts with soap and boiled water, and to see their closest clinic for medical treatment.

Q- Any Safety precautions that one should take whilst trekking ?
* Trek with Others: Never trek alone; if you run into trouble or take a tumble no one will know. Trekking with an agency assures the greatest security.
* Security: Watch your gear carefully in lodges and on the trail. Don't be show off your expensive items like good cameras, laptops, jewellery, etc. and always lock your room or baggage.
* High Altitude Sickness: Find out more from your agent or the Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) about this sickness and helicopter rescue options. Always register your trekking plans with your embassy, consulate or HRA. Beware of other trail hazards, watch where you are going and don't over-extend yourself.
* Eating and Drinking: Never eat unpeeled fruit or vegetables unless you know they've been adequately soaked in solution. Drink only after water is boiled or iodized. Always wash your hands before eating.

Q- Are there any Govt.tourist offices where one can find more information on Nepal ?
Nepal Tourist Information Centers are located at different places in the country. The Department of Tourism at Brikutimandap (Ph: 256909) provide brochures and free posters on Nepal from Monday to Thursday from 9 am to 5 pm. On Fridays, it closes at 3 pm. The department stays open until 4 pm in winter. Other tourism information center locations are listed below with phone numbers.