The mountains are still going to be there. That is the crux of the statement. Trekking agencies like to reiterate: “Everest will be there in the next season.” So, now many tour companies, such as The Outside and Brothers Int’l Tours, have effectively put their trips on hold. Why? There’s too much chaos right now, it is too early in the season anyway, and let’s face it – nobody wants a holiday that consists of tear gas and cancelled flights.
An Interrupted Sky Before Anything
Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu stopped flying for a small moment. Flights were delayed and cancelled like Singapore Airlines SQ 442 and SQ 441. Singapore Airlines made it clear, and in their words, “you may cancel and receive a refund or reroute.” But the word was clear, if Nepal dropped the ball again, cancellations could result from further TIA ineptitude! When you hear an airport closed, you know it is not just a disruption.
Then Came the Official Word
After all of the scrambling by airlines, Singapore, for one, called on its countries tourist to avoid Nepal, unless essential. For those that were already in-country, all the MFA could do was tell these clueless tourists to “step back from crowds, keep your wits about you, follow the news from your government and others, and listen to authorities.”
But Wait—What Started All This?
The source can be summed up by a move straight out of the dystopian handbook: a social media ban. Protests erupted across Kathmandu and beyond when the government attempted to silence social media use. The frustration of social media bubbled over into something greater: claims of corruption, calls for reform, and eventually, the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
Consider the Cost
At least 19 people are dead, buildings are burnt, and the streets of the capital have become a battleground. Even going into Tuesday, even though the block on social media was lifted, demonstrators refused to back down. For years observers say this is one of the more serious uprisings in decades, for Nepal.
Dreaming of Trekking—Put on Hold
Usually at this time we would be just coming into the autumn trekking season for Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, or any of the thousands of amazing and adventurous trails around Nepal. But owners of trekking agencies are not rushing into action, this is obvious after Timothy Heng shared that his local guides have been warning about app ban and lack of communication with suppliers, providers, and clients well before there was any news in the international press. Their view is that Nepalights are best to let the country breathe, stabilize, and exhale whatever battleground they are involved with at the moment. The mountains are not going anywhere anytime soon.
The Real “Introduction” (Hidden in the Middle)
Nepal is not the same as other tourist destinations that visit for only temples and trekking—the economic structure relies on their livelihood for the economy and tourism revenue generated by Trekking, temples, and cultural tourism. That’s why this turmoil is felt more on a core level. When there is an urge to everyone (including Singapore) it is only encouraging people to be cautious about travelling and not repudiating to stop. Not every notion of “adventure” has to be risk and unsafe ‘tours’ to avoid riots!
Back to the Beginning
So Singaporeans wondering if it is a suitable time to kick start your Himalayan excursion, the answer is easy: Not yet. Stay put and defer your plan until later. Trekking seasons come and go but political instability is an unfortunate disaster that you shouldn’t take the risk of walking into!
