Nepal has always been a popular spot among all the trekkers across the globe. This is because the country is home to some of the most amazing treks in the world. Some of the most important mountains that attract trekkers are Everest, Lantang, and Annapurna. But here is some news for all the solo trekkers planning to trek in Nepal. The country has decided to ban solo trekking for foreign trekkers and mandate that they take guides with them.
Nepal Bans Solo Trekking
A senior official from Nepal’s Tourism Board has recently announced that the country has decided to ban solo trekking from April 1. Solo trekkers or independent trekkers can no longer go on treks without a guide to accompany them. The board’s spokesperson, Mani Raj Lamichhane, said that it is mandatory to take a guide and that the decision was taken with the safety of solo trekkers in mind.
He explained that they have been receiving 40–50 cases of solo trekkers being out of contact during these treks, annually. These incidents were sending out the wrong information about the country not being a safe destination for solo or independent trekkers. For this reason, they have decided to ban it and have made guides mandatory for adventure tourism.
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Creating More Employment In The Country
Mani Raj Lamichhane also mentioned that they have also decided to promote organised trekking in Nepal. He said that another reason behind this is to create more and more employment opportunities in the country. Solo trekking is done by people who plan their own trips and trek without any assistance. They are known as travellers who are extremely price-conscious.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2019, the tourism board reportedly granted approval to more than 46,000 lone foreign trekkers, according to Lamichhane. According to records, the Nepalese Association of Trekking Agencies has been advocating for a one-trekker, one-guide scheme since 2012.
The NTB reports that in 2019, about 50,000 visitors trekked in Nepal without a guide or a porter. These visitors trekked with the aid of a Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) card and a route pass. The card is a permit for foreign tourists to trek around, and the latest development bans the card without a guide.
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