Beware Maoists <Giri to Lukla>

[John]

Beware!!!
I have just come back from Giri to Lukla (on the Everest Base Camp trek)
Be warned MAOISTS are there in reasonable numbers and a lot of people had to pay "donations".They range from 1000 rps to 10,000 rps (they could take cameras etc too)

I do not reccommend doing it (we flew out)

Having said this, a lot of people DO get though with no problem, its just LUCK!!!

BUT Be warned..... I was told there are few maoists BUT there are lots (incuding some villages are strongholds!!)

my advice stay away, just pay the extra and fly in (above Lukla is OK)

[Daniel]

Hello John,

that is really bad news. We were planning to do that soonish.
Do you think it does matter at all when you have a guide with you or not?

I was kind of prepared to pay a "donation" anyway. It is clear that the area is under Maoist control de facto. So they want their share of the tourists as well. You pay a NP fee that goes to the government, why should the Maoists not also get something...
As long as it is in the dimension of the NP fee and they dont take cameras or other stuff, I would have had no problems, but so...hmm...

Bye
Daniel

[rich]

thanks John

what villages in particular? Manidingma/Nuntala? Kenja?

situation just keeps on sliding.

r.

[PC]

John,

The events that you describe, did they actually occur to you, or is it something you hear from somebody else? Your story has an urban myth ring to it!

I was in the area not so long ago and even though there was evidence of Maoist activity, it was not threatning in any way.

PC

[Dil]

sksksksksk

[PC]

Richard,

It is unfortunate that media reports are often more exaggerated than factual.

It is my opinion that the Maoist have made a real effort not to impact on tourists. If you think about it, there have been no reported attacks on tourists, only stories about things that people have heard on the trails. I would like to hear a specific account, from somebody who has been involved in an incident.


I certainly did not feel threatened. There are a couple of villages on the way which were a little deserted. In places like that we did not stop. We were there in March/April.

We did see what looked like a Maoist patrol on a ridge, but I would be speculating, if I were to say that it definately was. Chances are that it was just a bunch of locals heading somewhere together.

Happy trekking

[John]

Hi (to answer above Qs)
Yes these things were mostly 1st hand reports but myth!!!

Also Latest news!!!
a bus (from Giri to Kathmandu) was blown up killing a number of people!!!!

My advice; FLY!!!
John (orginal writer)

[John]

I ALSO DO NOT ADVISE TO WALK FROM GIRI TO LUKLA

ITS NOT WORTH IT!! I MET MANY PEOPLE WHO MET MAOISTS!!

ONE WAS ROBBED



WE WARNED!!!

[Joe]

Things are the same,
Take care out there