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Backpack on and go: that is no longer allowed in the Nepalese Himalayan region. To make a trek there you always need a local guide or porter from now on. This decision of the Nepalese state tourism board came into effect today.
Every year large numbers of tourists come to Nepal to go hiking. In addition, about forty to fifty people go missing every year, the authorities estimate. Rescue teams often find it difficult to reach them, because there are no roads high in the mountains and communication options are lacking.
The new rules should make it easier to rescue walkers in distress. Nepal also hopes to create more jobs with it, because the Nepalese tourism sector has suffered greatly from the corona pandemic.
The ban on self-guided treks is separate from the regulations that apply to alpinists who climb high peaks such as Mount Everest. Different rules apply to them.
Safer, but more expensive
The president of the Nepal Association of Hiking Agencies, Nilhari Bastola, is positive about the new policy. “The majority of people who have died or disappeared during their trek are people who were alone, without a mountain guide and with no knowledge of the terrain. These tragedies could have been avoided with a local mountain guide.”
But not everyone thinks that way. The daily Kathmandu Post wrote in its editorial, “Many solo travelers love to explore the country at their own pace and in their own way. If you have to hire a mountain guide, the experience may be less adventurous.”
In addition, Nepal is known as a relatively cheap destination for hikers. With the obligation to travel with a guide or porter, they have to pay more for a trek.
