Near a sacred mountain the best rule is to behave as a guest. Pass mani walls and chortens with them on your right, do not touch prayer flags or offerings, keep noise down near monasteries and shrines, ask before photographing people, and follow your guide.
Mani walls and chortens
Buddhist custom is to walk clockwise around mani walls, chortens and prayer wheels, so keep them on your right as you pass.
Prayer flags and offerings
Do not step on or take down prayer flags, and do not remove offerings. Flags are raised to honour a mountain or a god.
Noise and behaviour
Keep voices low near monasteries and shrines. Avoid loud music and drones near sacred sites unless your guide says it is acceptable.
Photography
Ask permission before photographing monks, shrines and people. Some monasteries restrict photography inside.
Do not ask to climb
Do not ask a guide to take you onto a closed or sacred peak. Machapuchare, for example, is closed to climbing, and a trip that promises its summit would be misleading. See unclimbed mountains of Nepal.
Plan it
Back to the sacred mountains overview or Khumbila.
