About General Election of March 05, 2026
Q: When has Nepal’s general election scheduled?
Following the Gen-Z youth protests and the subsequent dissolution of Parliament, the interim government announced on 12 September 2025 that general elections would be held on 5 March 2026 to elect 275 members of the House of Representatives. Of the total seats, 165 members will be elected under the first-past-the-post electoral system, while the remaining 110 members will be elected from a single nationwide constituency through party-list proportional representation.
Q: What was the protest about?
Nepal is a developing country facing persistent challenges of corruption and inefficiency in governance. In recent decades, remittances sent by young Nepalis working abroad – primarily in harsh conditions, have become the backbone of national economy. Politics in Nepal is largely dominated by a gerontocratic leadership, and the country has experienced prolonged political instability for decades. Compared to many other countries, Nepal’s physical development has lagged behind, leading to growing frustration and disillusionment among the youth.
In the first week of September, the government decided to impose a ban on social media platforms unless they were registered under Nepali law. This decision, however, triggered widespread anger among the youth population, who are more accustomed to and dependent on social media even for day to day life.
Under the banner of Gen-Z movement, several thousand youths protested on the streets of Kathmandu and other major cities. The government used excessive force against demonstrators, particularly after some protesters attempted to vandalize and set fire to the Parliament building. During this clashes, dozens of protestors were reportedly killed, including schoolchildren, and more than a thousand were injured.
This violence led to widespread frustration and anger among citizens. On the following day, 9 September, protests escalated further, resulting in the torching of major state institutions, including the Parliament, the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister’s office and residence, the President’s office and residence, as well as private homes of mainstream political leaders and various business complexes.
Q: How is the situation after this all then?
The country remained in chaos for about two days following the protests of 8th and 9th September. There were widespread uncertainty as major state institutions were set on fire, and the prime minister, other ministers, and senior political leaders were either in hiding or under the protection/or control of the Nepal Army.
However, with mediation by the Nepal Army, the situation was brought under control and gradually stabilized. An interim government was formed on 12 September 2025 under the leadership of former Chief Justice Madam Sushila Karki (2016-2017). With this appointment, Karki became the first woman in Nepal’s history to hold both the positions of Chief Justice and Prime Minister.
This government, with a commitment to holding parliamentary elections on time, is now functioning smoothly and political parties are taking active participation.
Q: How are tourism activities after the protest and now?
There was a significant immediate impact of protests and chaos on tourism, as some visitors who were planning to visit Nepal in early September canceled or postponed their travel plans. However, tourism picked up considerably once the situation calmed down within a week, and everything returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.
One of Nepal’s greatest strengths is the respect its people show to visitors. So, the tourism activities bounced back into normal in the latter months.
Q: Is it safe to travel to Nepal during elections? Do elections in Nepal affect trekking and climbing activities?
In general, elections in Nepal are peaceful, and minor clashes rarely affect travel plans. This time, with the Nepal Army overseeing election security, travel will definitely be even safer.
On election day, vehicular movement is restricted, so you may need to stay in place (if you are in a city) or travel without a vehicle. However, in the mountains while you are in a trekking or climbing, elections have no impact. You can freely walk, trek, or climb. Remote Himalayas, national parks, small hamlets, and trekking routes remain calm and far from political activities.
We monitor the situation carefully and closely to keep your travel plan smooth and we adjust itineraries if required to ensure your safety and comfort.
About Helicopter Scam in Nepal Himalayas
Q: I recently read about Helicopter rescue scam in Nepal? What is it about?
Yes, you have heard correctly about the helicopter rescue scam in Nepal’s Himalayas. As a responsible company, we were deeply concerned about this issue and repeatedly raised it with the relevant authorities in an effort to stop such unethical practices.
Essentially, some rescue companies were issuing fake or inflated rescue bills and claiming unacceptably high amounts from insurance companies while trekkers and climbers became ill. Sometime, these companies even forced trekkers to take helicopter services on the way back, and later converted those charter flights into rescue flights. The large number of exaggerated claims put significant pressure on insurers, which led to a sharp increase in insurance premiums for travelers visiting Nepal’s Himalayas.
This situation not only made travel to Nepal more expensive, but also unfairly portrayed the country as a dangerous destination for adventure tourism.
Few years back the government of Nepal probed into the case, and requested the Central Investigation Bureau to further investigate. As per this, now CIB put some company owners into net.
A few years ago, the Government of Nepal probed the case and requested the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to conduct a further investigation. As a result, the CIB has placed few rescue company owners behind bars and is continuing its investigation into other suspected wrongdoers.
Q: Were tourists directly affected by the helicopter rescue fraud?
The straight answer in no. You were not affected by the fraudulent rescue practices, rather in some cases you lessen the travel cost, and walk short-cut, and return to the city by helicopter.
But it has been affected every of us viz. our company and our clients. Large number of insurance claims with rocketing prices put insurance companies into pressure to increase insurance premium to travel into Nepal Himalayas.
The short answer is no. Tourists were not directly affected by the fraudulent rescue practices. In fact, in some cases, travelers benefited by shortening their trek and returning to the city by helicopter, which even reduced their overall travel time and costs.
However, the broader impact was felt by all of us – both trekking companies who operates their services genuinely and ethically and travelers. A large number of inflated insurance claims, with rapidly escalating costs, put significant pressure on insurance providers. As a result, insurance premiums for traveling in Nepal’s Himalayas increased substantially.
Q: What does it affect my travel plan in future then?
We have never engaged in such fraudulent practices. We strictly adhere to ethical standards and place strong emphasis on smooth logistical support, careful planning, and sound management of our treks and climbs. This approach significantly reduces the need for rescue flights.
As a result, our trip costs have always been transparent and fair, often slightly higher than those of some fraudulent companies that later seek to profit by inflating insurance claims.
Looking ahead, we believe that insurance premiums for travel in Nepal can be significantly reduced once trust in safety in the Himalayas is fully re-established. In the meantime, travelers can benefit by choosing the right company that offers proper services, ethical practices, and genuine care for client safety.
