To leave or not to leave?

[vaya]

Hello,
the near future travelers to Nepal have you decided whether you go or not yet?
I am usually a bit concerned when I travel to "exotic" countries but is quite normal I think when someone doesn t know what is going to meet. After all the unknown is part of the magic when you travel, in my opinion.
But this time I cann t make my decision. I feel that I have not the adequate information. Even my instinct cannt work. Sorry if I add more anxiety to you
who are decided to travel but I am looking for opinions.
I am to leave in mid March and as I remember quite a few you are going to do so.
So, are we going?

Thanks in advance
Vaya

[Unregistered]

I'm going in Out. 06 and back in Nov. 21. Ticekts buyed. Can 't wait to leave.

[]'s

Hendrik

[yakshaver]

Difficult to give advice on this one, as everyone has different levels of of sensitivity to stuff.
This is what I gathered over the last few days, today included, which might help you decide:
1. Kathmandu has been nice a quiet for some time now, but the price of vegetables and other goods is on the rise due to the road blockade outside KTD valley. Otherwise Thamel and other areas are the best they have been in a long time.
2. Flying to Lukla and doing EBC or Gokyo is as safe as it has ever been.

3. Pokhara is safe and quiet.
4. People flying KTD to Pokhara go to ABC trek or Jomsom trek quite ok.
5. What you cannot do safely right now is taking the bus or taxi to Besi Sahar (or Chitwan for that matter), or to Jiri. Some still do it but it is not safe. So doing the AC anticlockwise as it is customarily done, or doing the Jiri to Lukla stretch in Solu, is not possible right now. Unless you want to add a few extra days, and do the AC from Pokhara, which is quite marvelous I am told, as you go through traditional lower hill Nepali villages not usually spoilt by tourists.
My prefered guide has emailed two days ago from Namche where he is with a group, saying that the Lukla Kumbu Gokyo Everest area is as good as ever for trekking
Similarly I have received direct reports from another group who flew yesterday from KTD to Pokhara and are starting the Jomsom trek today.

I don't know much about Langtang (the road to Syabru etc) at this stage.
But landing in the capital and flying to trek to either Lukla or Pokhara, this seems to be quite safe and the go at the moment.

[vaya]

Yakshaver I really appreciate the info you gave. I was preparing to do AC.
Do you know if is unsafe to take a taxi in general or specifically for the routes you mentioned?
Regards from Athens-Greece

[Weka]

Yakshaver I really appreciate the info you gave. I was preparing to do AC.
Do you know if is unsafe to take a taxi in general or specifically for the routes you mentioned?
Regards from Athens-Greece
I'll be there in a couple of weeks with the intention of doing the AC from Besisahar. I'll post if it's possible or not once I'm in KTD. Does anyone know exactly where this blockade is located?

[Linwood]

I am still going. My dream ticket (Austrian Air, US to Vienna, less than 2 hours in Vienna, then direct to KTM) evaporated, but I now depart on March 3 and arrive on March 5.

My original intention was to head for Langtang by bus, but I am going to play it by ear with the advice of my friend and guide. He was to have taken a "reserved" taxi from KTM to Trishuli today, which may be an option, but I'm not sure how safe it is. I hope to hear his impression of that road within the next few days.

My plan is to be flexible, err on the side of caution, walk anywhere that it seems safer than driving, and avoid gatherings of any sort.

If, at any point in my trip, I have some potentially useful information and an internet connection, I will post it.

Happy trails to all and let there be peace (and tourists) for the Nepali people...

Linwood

PS. If anyone has any suggestions about overnighting at the airport in Delhi, they would be most appreciated. I've already checked out www.sleepinginairports.net, which is an interesting site, although the Delhi stories are inconsistent and a little confusing.

[Weka]

PS. If anyone has any suggestions about overnighting at the airport in Delhi, they would be most appreciated. I've already checked out www.sleepinginairports.net, which is an interesting site, although the Delhi stories are inconsistent and a little confusing.
Yip. Sit on your bags or they will do the Indian rope trick!

[Lars]

If anyone has any suggestions about overnighting at the airport in Delhi, they would be most appreciated.
Delhi airport, or "Indira Ghandi Airport" actually, is not a comfortable
place to overnight. It has all stone floors and is fairly cold. There are no
comfortable sofas or such but only plastic chairs that are fine for an
hour or so but makes you really miserable after a few hours.

There are some hotels near the airport but they are probably rather
expensive. Unfortuantely the airport is quite far away from the nicer
parts of Delhi.

[Trekking Guide]

Hello,
Except recent case in highway, we have everything safe and normal situation we have. I am as independent group organizer and organizing even now for the AC, ABC, Jomsom and EBC too. But Langtang and Kodari also Jiri way to EBC are very hard to get vehicle because of Maoist blockade. Anyway, please, feel free to visit Nepal without any hesitation and fear.
More information kindly visit my personal site:www.independent-trekkingguide-nepal.com
Trekking Guide

[Linwood]

OK! Something to look forward to in Delhi (grin). I'm too, um, thrifty to leave the airport, so it looks like I will just have to endure.

Thanks for the feedback Weka and Lars.

Pardon my ignorance, but what is the Indian rope trick??

Linwood

[Weka]

what is the Indian rope trick??

Linwood
http://skepdic.com/indianrope.html

[Linwood]

... and I'll have some of whatever they're having, please!

[Weka]

... and I'll have some of whatever they're having, please!
Pokhara's the place for that! Least it was in the '70's
:-)

[Unregistered]

I'll be in Nepal from 3 April to 27 April and doing the Lukla; Gokyo Lakes and EBC route; back to Lukla (4/4/05 to 20/4/05). I have wanted to do this since I was 18 (27 years). There are no guarantees in life. All we can do is hope for the best and enjoy the experience. So I hope I won't be the only tourist there...
Guy
Adelaide (Australia)

[seh]

I am heading out from the USA in three days. My friend is leaving in two days. In all honesty, I think the latest news from Nepal is as good as ever. The bandha (strike) is over, Kathmandu has been secure since Feb 1st, phone and email is restored. We are excited. Now if I can only endure the flight over there. This is my first time, so, I am totally new to this experience. I am really excited.

SEH

[Boulia]

SEH

My expectation is for ongoing strikes but this will have little impact on you apart from possible delays based my experince in going through a general strike last year. Just stay flexible and give yourself a buffer in time but most of all just enjoy every day. I don't get there till about end of March.

Please do a short post on your impressions once you get there.

[seh]

If God willing, I will post as many times as possible from Nepal. I am really looking forward to the adventure.

SEH

[vaya]

Seh,
I wish you to have an unforgettably wonderful experience!!!
Regards from Greece

[Plyn]

Hi Chaps

I returned to the UK yesterday after a month in Nepal - Yakshaver's comments on the situation are generally correct. Ktm is very much business as normal, as are the main trekking routes. Be aware though that the nationwide blockade is starting to bite and food prices are rising fast - it is only a matter of time before fuel and food start getting short in the Ktm valley. The situation will then be unpredictable. Also be aware that a dim view is being taken that many countries recalled their ambassadors and have suspended aid.

There are also indications of a backlash against the Maoists, many were killed by villagers last week and their homes burnt. The indication is that the Maoists are hardening their campaign and that local opinion is no longer the concern it once was.

Telephones and email are generally working fine, although the phone service is sometimes suspended for short periods.

Overland travel is virtually impossible, the best and generally the only way to get about is by flying (or walking). Pokhara is a little unstable, many hotels have gone bankrupt in the past week or two as the banks call in debts. There have also been a number of violent demonstrations there recently.

All in all my advice is go and enjoy yourselves, but keep your ears and eyes open.

Bill

[yakshaver]

Yes, I guess that's the picture I get. with the exception of the Maoists lifting the blocade three days ago. Transport is not proceeding as normal, and the shortage of food and fuel in the capital is being alleviated.

Let's hope this lasts. During this past blocade many tourists flew either to Lukla to do Gokyo or Everest treks, or to Pokhara from where they accessed the Annapurna region.
Now there is more flexibility.

[vaya]

Hello everybody,
take a look into this:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1427891,00.html

[Unregistered]

I dont't want looks like a cold-heart trekker, but I'm concerned with the transport problem, because I'm planning reach Jiri by bus from Kathmandu. Hope the situation gets normal till this time...

[]'s

Hendrik

[yakshaver]

Buses have been running ok on the main roads in Nepal over the last week. Let's hope this lasts. I want to do AC starting at Besisahar so I also depend on the buses. The road transport situation is back to normal right now.

[Rakshi]

Yakshaver,

my plans have dramtically changed due to the fact that my daughter will have additional exams... I will have to postpone again our trip till maybe September... :-( Lucky you going to make AC. If you spend extra day in Manang and if you go up to high gompa take our regards to Lama Doshi. I wear all the time the "magic" string on my neck which remind me good time, friends and Thorung La.

:-)