On the ground

A two-day plan for your first 48 hours in Kathmandu before a trek: visa and arrival, SIM, cash, permits, gear, health and meeting a partner, with every figure sourced and dated October 2026.

What the 2018 inquiry and the 2026 police case say about inflated helicopter rescues in Nepal, how to check your cover for altitude, and what to do if an evacuation is proposed on the trail, dated October 2026.

What a Kathmandu pharmacy can and cannot sort out before a trek: basic first aid stock, why altitude drugs need a doctor, how to spot doubtful medicines and where the clinics are, dated October 2026.

Where and when teahouses fill on the Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Circuit routes, whether to book ahead or walk in, what sleeping in the dining hall means, and how arriving early, shoulder villages and a partner help, dated October 2026.

Dashain and Tihar 2026 dates, how the festivals affect buses, domestic flights, offices, permits and teahouses, and how to book around them, with sources checked October 2026.

What to do when Lukla flights are cancelled: how shared helicopter seats work, the price ranges operators publish, baggage limits, what to check before paying and where insurance fits, dated October 2026.

Why Lukla flights leave from Manthali in the busy months, when buses and shared vehicles leave Kathmandu, what sources quote for fares, and how to time the night before and the road back. Dated October 2026.

Which network holds on the Everest, Annapurna and Langtang routes, what a tourist SIM needs and costs, whether an eSIM is worth it, and where sources disagree. Dated October 2026.

Who to ask whether a trail or pass is open in Nepal: local administration and checkposts, the weather agency, the tourism board, news, lodges and agencies, with the autumn 2026 Thorong La closure as a worked example.

How foreign trekkers find a partner or group in Pokhara for Annapurna Base Camp and Poon Hill: where to meet people in Lakeside, where to get permits, what the trailhead buses cost, and how to share a guide.

Where the last reliable ATMs are on the Everest, Annapurna and Langtang routes, what withdrawals really cost, whether cards work in teahouses and how much rupee cash to carry per day, dated October 2026.

Already in Nepal with a few days to spare? How foreign trekkers can find a partner within days, which treks work at short notice, what permits need lead time, and the safety checks to run before you say yes.

A dated look at how safe Nepal is for foreign trekkers in 2026: crime in Kathmandu, trail and altitude risks, weather and transport, helicopter scams, and solo and female safety, with government advisories as sources.

Is solo trekking banned in Nepal in 2026? A dated myth-check of the guide rule: what the sources say for restricted areas, parks and conservation areas, where it is enforced, and how to trek legally with a partner and a shared guide.

A dated checklist for the days in Kathmandu and Pokhara before a trek: visa, insurance, permits, flights and buses, SIM, cash, gear, luggage and tipping, with a link to the detailed guide for each.