From April 1, 2023, all foreign trekkers must hire a trekking guide to trek in Nepal. Individual foreign trekkers will be prohibited from going on a trekking journey alone in all trekking regions in Nepal, including Everest, Annapurna, and Langtang. Previously, a mandatory guide was only required for trekking in the restricted areas of Manaslu, Upper Mustang, Nar Phu Valley, and Kanchenjunga.
Focusing on the safety of the trekkers, the Nepal Tourism Board has taken such a decision. There have been several incidents of foreign trekkers trekking individually in Nepal going missing, and some even have lost their lives. The most common challenges faced by individual trekkers are the language barrier and failure to navigate the trail correctly, leading to such unfortunate circumstances.
Trekking with a licensed trekking guide relieves the trekkers from such challenges as they are well-spoken in English and Nepali, making communication between the locals and visitors easier. They are also well-versed with the trekking trails and trained to react to emergencies accurately, ensuring the trekkers a safe and secure trekking journey.
