Nepal Emergency Numbers

Knowing who to call before you need them is the simplest safety habit in Nepal. The core national numbers are 100 for police, 102 for ambulance and 101 for fire, while the English-speaking Tourist Police handle visitor-specific problems such as scams, theft and lost documents. Beyond these, save your embassy, travel insurer and bank emergency lines. Write them down as well as storing them in your phone, since a lost or dead phone is exactly when you will need them most.

The core national numbers

• Police — 100. The Nepal Police, reachable nationwide for any crime or emergency.
• Ambulance — 102. Note that response times and quality vary, especially outside the Kathmandu Valley.
• Fire — 101.

These are the numbers to dial for any immediate, life-threatening situation. For lesser tourist matters, the Tourist Police below are usually the better first call.

The Tourist Police

The Tourist Police is a dedicated, English-speaking unit set up to help foreign visitors with scams, theft, lost property, harassment and disputes with operators. They have offices in Kathmandu, including near Thamel, and in other tourist hubs such as Pokhara. For most non-life-threatening problems — being overcharged, a stolen bag, a dishonest agency — they are your best starting point, and they issue the written reports you will need for insurance and to replace documents. If your passport goes missing, follow the steps in lost or stolen passport in Nepal; for stolen valuables, see theft and pickpockets in Nepal.

Medical and mountain emergencies

In cities, dial 102 for an ambulance, though private hospital ambulances in Kathmandu are often faster and more reliable. In remote areas and on treks, the national ambulance number is of little use; your travel insurer's 24-hour evacuation line is the realistic emergency contact, and helicopter evacuation is the mechanism. Carry that number and your policy details, and learn the warning signs in our altitude sickness in Nepal guide so you can act early. Be aware, too, of the helicopter rescue scam — call your insurer first wherever you safely can.

What to save before you travel

Build a short emergency card and keep it with your documents:

• Police 100, ambulance 102, fire 101
• Tourist Police (Kathmandu and your destinations)
• Your embassy — address and 24-hour emergency line
• Travel insurer — evacuation hotline and policy number
• Bank — lost-card line

Store these in your phone and on paper, so a lost, stolen or flat phone does not cut you off.

Keep perspective

Most travellers never dial any of these, because Nepal is a safe and welcoming country where serious incidents are rare. The point of saving them is speed and calm if something does go wrong. Tuck this list into your planning alongside the rest of our Nepal scams and personal safety collection, and you will be ready for the unlikely without dwelling on it.