Moderate riskAsia · Southern AsiaNepal Travel Health Guide
Moderate risk
Nepal carries a CDC Level 1 travel health notice. Malaria risk exists in certain areas of Nepal below 2,000m elevation. Key travel vaccines: COVID-19, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B. Yellow fever vaccine is not needed for disease protection in Nepal. However, it's required for entry if you're coming from a country with yellow fever risk, including airport layovers over 12 hours.
Compiled by Voyax Health from CDC Travelers' Health: Nepal. Editorial sections reviewed by Voyax Health pharmacists ·
Overall risk
Moderate risk
Malaria
Present
Best time to visit
October to November and March to April for trekking, with clear skies and moderate temperatures. The monsoon (June to September) brings leeches, landslides and the Japanese encephalitis season in the Terai.
Travel health in Nepal
Nepal is a trekking destination first, and altitude is the health issue that dominates: Everest Base Camp is 17,600 ft, the Annapurna Circuit crosses a pass at 17,770 ft, and acute mountain sickness affects a large share of trekkers who ascend too fast. Kathmandu itself is only 4,600 ft. Below the mountains, the food and water risks are high: travelers' diarrhea is nearly universal, typhoid is common, and hepatitis A is essential. Japanese encephalitis is a seasonal risk in the lowland Terai, malaria is low and limited to the Terai, and rabies is present in dogs throughout, including Kathmandu.
Recommended vaccines
Routine Vaccines
Make sure all routine vaccines are current before traveling, including chickenpox, tetanus, flu, MMR, polio, and shingles vaccines.
COVID-19
Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines before traveling.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for all travelers to Nepal who haven't been vaccinated. Even infants 6-11 months should get vaccinated.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for unvaccinated travelers under 60. Those 60 and older may also consider vaccination.
Japanese Encephalitis
Japanese encephalitis vaccine is recommended if you're moving to Nepal, staying a month or longer, or doing high-risk activities like rural travel or camping. Not recommended for short urban trips.
Measles
Measles cases are rising worldwide. All travelers should be fully vaccinated with MMR vaccine at least 2 weeks before travel, including infants 6-11 months.
Typhoid
Typhoid vaccine is recommended for most travelers to Nepal, especially if visiting rural areas or staying with friends and relatives.
Cholera
Cholera is actively spreading in Nepal but is rare in travelers. Vaccination may be considered for some people. Focus on safe food and water practices.
Rabies
Rabid dogs are commonly found in Nepal. Consider getting rabies vaccine before travel if you'll be around animals or in remote areas, as treatment may only be available in larger medical facilities.
Yellow Fever
Yellow fever vaccine is not needed for disease protection in Nepal. However, it's required for entry if you're coming from a country with yellow fever risk, including airport layovers over 12 hours.
Chikungunya
Chikungunya vaccine is generally not recommended. Focus on preventing mosquito bites instead.
Disease risks
Malaria
Malaria risk exists in certain areas of Nepal below 2,000m elevation. Highest risk is in Sudurpashchim and Karnali provinces where prevention medication is recommended. No risk in Kathmandu, Pokhara, or typical Himalayan treks.
Altitude Sickness
Everest Base Camp (5,400m), Annapurna Circuit (>5,000m); ~30% AMS on treks; ascend <500m/day above 3,000m.
Traveler's Diarrhea
All areas below 2,000m; high risk in Terai region.
Malaria risk
Malaria risk is limited to certain areas. Whether you need antimalarial medication depends on your itinerary — see details.
Malaria risk exists in certain areas of Nepal below 2,000m elevation. Highest risk is in Sudurpashchim and Karnali provinces where prevention medication is recommended. No risk in Kathmandu, Pokhara, or typical Himalayan treks.
Seasonal timing
When health risks peak through the year — plan around them.
Peak
Year-round
Altitude sickness
Above 8,000 ft on all major treks. Ascend no more than 1,600 ft per day above 10,000 ft with rest days; acetazolamide is widely used. HAPE and HACE kill trekkers every season.
Peak
June to October
Japanese encephalitis
Terai lowlands including Chitwan and Lumbini. Vaccination for extended stays in the Terai during monsoon.
Peak
November to March
Air pollution
Kathmandu's winter air is among the world's worst. Travellers with asthma should bring inhalers and a mask.
Water & food safety
Water
Do not drink tap water, including in Kathmandu hotels. Bottled water is available in cities and along trekking routes, but plastic waste is a serious problem in the mountains; a filter bottle or purification tablets are the better choice on treks. Boiled water from teahouses is safe.
Food
Dal bhat, freshly cooked and hot, is the trekker's staple and generally safe. Avoid salads, unpeeled fruit, and meat in the mountains, where it has been carried unrefrigerated for days. In Kathmandu, established restaurants are fine; street food is a higher risk.
Medications
Kathmandu and Pokhara pharmacies stock most medications, often without prescription, including acetazolamide and antibiotics; quality is variable. On trekking routes, availability is minimal. Bring everything for the trek, including a full altitude and diarrhea kit.
On the ground
Medical facilities
CIWEC Hospital in Kathmandu is a travel-medicine clinic of international standard, and there are good private hospitals (Norvic, Grande). On treks, care is limited to health posts and the Himalayan Rescue Association aid posts at Manang and Pheriche. Helicopter evacuation is common and expensive.
Travel insurance
Essential and specific: the policy must cover trekking to your maximum altitude (often 6,000 m) and helicopter evacuation, which can cost $5,000 to $10,000. Many standard policies cap altitude at 3,000 to 4,500 m.
Emergency numbers
Police
100
Medical / Ambulance
102
Fire
101
Tourist Police
1144
U.S. Embassy
+977-1-423-4000
Nepal travel health FAQ
Should I take acetazolamide for Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit?▼
Many trekkers do, and it is commonly recommended for these routes because the itineraries push ascent rates. The standard preventive dose is 125 mg twice daily from the day before ascending above about 10,000 ft. It supplements, not replaces, a sensible schedule with acclimatization days in Namche Bazaar or Manang.
Do I need malaria pills for Nepal?▼
Not for Kathmandu, Pokhara or any trekking region. Malaria exists at low levels in the Terai lowlands, including Chitwan, mainly in the monsoon; the CDC advises bite prevention rather than pills for most Terai visitors. Japanese encephalitis vaccination is the more relevant question for Chitwan during monsoon.
Which vaccines do I need for trekking in Nepal?▼
Routine vaccines, hepatitis A and typhoid for everyone; hepatitis B for most; rabies is strongly worth considering because dogs are everywhere, including on trekking routes, and immune globulin is only available in Kathmandu. Japanese encephalitis for monsoon-season Terai travel.
More country guides
AfghanistanModerate riskAfghanistan carries a CDC Level 2 travel health notice. Malaria risk exists in areas below 2,500 meters elevation from April to December. Key travel vaccines: COVID-19, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B.
BangladeshModerate riskBangladesh carries a CDC Level 1 travel health notice. Malaria risk exists in specific areas of Bangladesh but not in Dhaka. Key travel vaccines: COVID-19, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B.
BhutanModerate riskBhutan carries a CDC Level 1 travel health notice. Malaria risk exists in some parts of Bhutan. Key travel vaccines: COVID-19, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B.
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Build my Trip KitSources: CDC Travelers' Health: Nepal · WHO International Travel and Health. Last updated 2026-07-31. Health conditions and entry rules change — verify with the CDC, WHO and your destination’s authorities before travel. This page is informational and not a substitute for advice from a travel-medicine provider.