Nepal Emergency Numbers for Tourists: Police, Ambulance, Fire and Tourist Police
Short answer: in Nepal, call 100 for police, 101 for fire, 102 for an ambulance and 1144 for the tourist police. The UK and Canadian governments both list these numbers in their travel advice for Nepal.
Emergency numbers at a glance
| Service | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Police | 100 | General police emergency |
| Fire | 101 | Fire brigade |
| Ambulance / medical | 102 | Listed as “medical assistance” by Canada |
| Tourist police | 1144 | The UK describes it as having good English language skills; Canada lists it as the Kathmandu hotline |
Sources: GOV.UK: Nepal travel advice, getting help and Government of Canada: Nepal embassies and consulates.
Other contacts listed by governments
Official pages also list local tourist police and tourism contacts, but the numbers are not identical, so check them before you rely on them:
- Canada lists a Tourist Police office in Pokhara at +977 61 462761 and the Thamel Tourism Development Council at +977 1 4700750.
- GOV.UK lists a Kathmandu tourist police number and a separate number for incidents in Thamel. The Kathmandu number it gives differs from Canada’s, so use 1144 first and confirm any other number locally.
- If a friend or relative abroad is in trouble, UK residents can call the FCDO in London on 020 7008 5000 (24 hours), according to GOV.UK.
What to do in an emergency
- Call the right service: 102 for a medical emergency, 100 for crime or danger, 1144 if you are a tourist and need English-language help.
- Contact your insurer. GOV.UK advises contacting your travel provider and insurer if you are involved in a serious incident abroad, and notes that insurers usually require you to speak to your travel provider first. See our guide to travel health insurance in Nepal.
- Contact your embassy if you lose your passport or need consular help. Your government’s travel advice page lists the contact details.
- Tell your hotel or trekking agency where you are and what happened.
If you are trekking
Mobile coverage is limited on many trails, so tell your agency your route and keep your insurance details with you. Read about altitude sickness risk before you go high, and see our trekking rules and permit guide and our safety guide for tourists. A local SIM can help; see the best SIM card for tourists in Nepal.
Frequently asked questions
What is the emergency number in Nepal?
There is no single number. Use 100 for police, 101 for fire and 102 for an ambulance.
What is the tourist police number in Nepal?
1144, according to both GOV.UK and the Government of Canada.
Does the tourist police speak English?
GOV.UK says the tourist police number has good English language skills.
Should I save the numbers before I travel?
Yes. Save them in your phone and write them down, because you may not have signal or battery in an emergency.
Numbers can change. Confirm them with your hotel, your embassy or your travel agency when you arrive. In a life-threatening emergency, get help first and sort out insurance afterwards.
