Nepal security assessment
Nepal is a mess but your personal risk-safety is the same as it ever was
Sept 2026: The world is a mess, the USA especially, and Nepal is also. However, with recent events, Nepal is now in transition and is in a period of hope. There will be ups and downs; idealism will give way to a somewhat depressing reality. However, in summary: it is politically safe to trek and travel in Nepal, there may be strikes, delays and inconveniences—there may not—but YOU have never been a target. You are safe from orchestrated political violence against foreigners, even Americans, so come have an adventure.
The risks from "natural" disasters is ever increasing, as it is all around our grossly abused planet. There are real risks of earthquakes, glacial lake outburst flows (GLOFs), cloudbursts and wildfires, and more. However, we mitigate where possible and are mindful of these. These are the increasing adventure travel risks.
Personal safety
Theft from tourists in Kathmandu passing through is very rare and I feel secure travelling and trekking with expensive camera gear on our group treks and solo in the Khumbu (Everest region). Political violence against foreigners is also very rare although you must avoid getting caught in crossfire. "Guest is God" is part of the cultural landscape, although less so than it used to be.
Kathmandu
Kathmandu is a city on the edge. The air pollution is disgustingly bad and dangerously unhealthy, #177 out of 178 capital cities, the rush hour traffic is to the point of virtual gridlock and the city can't even dispose of its rubbish satisfactorily. Despite these rather big issues, the historic old parts and the tourist ghetto of Thamel still have a chaotic charm.
Air safety
Nepal as only one main international airport (Kathmandu's TIA; for a country of nearly 30 million), which is a complete mess with international flights mixing with 18 seater small planes and helicopters. Flights are frequently delayed and the terminals are overloaded.
The safety record of small plane flights is not particularly good, however conditions are incredibly challenging, and flying is still safer than road travel.
US travel advisory
The State Department has simplified their system, here is the Nepal travel advisory.
The present future
Below is what I have previously written and the fox has now been thrown out of the hen coop. At last.
The problem is and always has been "the fox guarding the hen coop" with the politicians writing the rules to govern themselves, and they cannot see beyond short term political and financial gain, mostly for the country's loss. In spite of a revolving door of the same five corrupt and morally bankrupt prime ministers and a destructive rent-seeking government culture, the country is gradually growing with business pushing inexorably forward with a bright spot in hydropower generation for India. The economy is kept alive by remittances from overseas (approximately 10% of the population is working overseas, literally millions of people). Business is growing but not enough as the unemployment rate is horrifying, and wages are barely liveable. Administratively everything is held hostage by high level politicians despite a transition to a federal set up with seven provinces. Even the unbiased International Crisis group says the political parties "are badly run and ideologically impoverished organisations with few policy goals, unclear agendas and chronic leadership crises". Expect occasional disturbances and strikes but normally these don't have too much effect on trekking plans.