Health Care	Prior to departure, travellers should check with their GP for precautionary advice on inoculations / booster jabs. Medical care is available for Westerners at clinics in the Kathmandu Valley and in Pokhara. The costs are expensive by local standards. For example, a minor motorcycle accident requiring an ambulance, a one hour consultation, dressing of wounds plus a course of pain killers and antibiotics is likely to cost around 25 US dollars. Elsewhere in Nepal, facilities are less extensive so for travelling outside Kathmandu and Pokhara - particularly if you plan to trek - it is sensible to take out insurance which includes the option to be air-lifted by helicopter should the need arise.
Altitude Sickness	Altitude Sickness or AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) is caused by ascending too quickly and without sufficient stops for acclimatisation. Without appropriate action (such as an immediate descent, oxygen mask etc.) AMS can be life threatening. The symptoms can include disorientation so trekking alone or without an experienced guide is obviously unwise. We recommend that trekkers use an established, reputable agency whose staff know about acclimatisation, can recognise the early symptoms of AMS and take prompt remedial action. You can find more details on AMS at the Summit Treks and Adventures site.