Nepal has reopened its borders and lifted the ban on foreign climbers on 17 October. Tourists are starting to come back after the country went into lockdown since March.

Prior its official reopening, a VIP group has reached the summit of Mount Manaslu, the world’s 8th-highest mountain, on 14 October. This is to convey the positive message that Nepali mountains are back in business and climbers can trek and hike the peaks safely amid the pandemic.

The pandemic shutdown put over 300,000 guides, porters, hotel and restaurant employees, owners, and suppliers out of work, which is a blow to Nepal’s tourism.

Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal has announced that 10 trekking routes in Nepal are open to foreign and domestic tourists. These are:

• Kanchenjunga
• Everest Base Camp
• Mardi Himal
• Manang
• Mustang
• Dolpa
• Humla
• Manaslu
• Helambu
• Ruby Valley

Climbers must follow health and safety protocols, which include PCR negative test for coronavirus, a trekking permit, and hotel quarantine.