This new regulation applies to all international tourists of all experience levels on treks in Nepal’s national park.
The mandatory ban on solo trekking will be effective from 1st April 2023, making it a compulsion to hire a guide in order to maintain the safety standards and the welfare of the visitors.
Trekkers can still avail the enjoyment of solo hikes outside of the national parks, around the city of Kathmandu.
The eight’s world tallest mountains are situated at least partially in Nepal, which is a country located between the borders of India and China. Every year, death incidents are increasing rapidly, inclusive of avalanches, blizzards, and high-altitude sickness.
The director of the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) named Maniraj Lamichhane has confined that the regulation will commence on 1st April.
“This decision has been made for the tourists’ benefit. While going on solo treks, tourists often get lost and might face insecurities. In order to mitigate that we have come to the decision to put a ban on solo treks. Starting from April 1, guides are mandatory for adventure tourism,” Lamichhane said.
According to the Nepal Tourism Board, around 50,000 international tourists trekked without hiring a guide in Nepal during the year 2019. These tourists trekked by obtaining a route permit and a Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) card.
TIMS card is the basic requirement permit obtained by international tourists to go on adventure tourism, with the recent decisions also put a ban on the TIMS permit without a guide. “Tourists would have to trek via a trekking company,” added Lamichhane.
The cost of obtaining TIMS cards has increased to Rs 2000 per person as compared to people who travel in large groups who paid Rs 1000 and Rs 2000 who travel alone.
Previous year around 22,000 solo trekkers were recorded, causing the number to still be less than before the pandemic. Lamicchane added that this new regulation will uplift the travel industry in Nepal.
