Solo trekking is banned in Nepal!

[wayno]

http://greathimalayatrail.com/GHTNews.php?nId=49

Now support staff mandatory for trekkers
Author: TAAN Media Center

Tourists traveling to any trekking destination will have to take at least a support staff (porter or guide) with them from September. Government officials say the decision has been taken for the safety of tourists.



[ninjapuppet]

I can understand that if it was baltistan, karakoram etc but it seems unnecessary for experienced Nepalese visitors

[wayno]

seems the inexperienced have spoiled it for the experienced.....

[Ent]

Hi

Me think more to do with employing locals.

Cheers

[wayno]

yup, also an excuse to get more money into the economy.
despite the rising fatality rate on everest, nepal grants as many permits to climb the mountain as there are applicants , it's all money in the bank, you have to buy a permit for each and every route you want to climb, you have to specify the route for the permit.
i think this is seperate from a bond fee for places like everest , the bond is in regard to climbers cleaning up after themselves when they leave. although Ive no idea how hte govt tell who has left what mess given the sheer no of expeditions there now

http://www.trekkingagencynepal.com/climbing_permit.php

[kelvinsmar]

I also heard a news about Solo trekking is banned in Nepal. On September 2012, Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal conformed and release the news about the Sole trekking is banned. What are the main reasons to stop sole trekking in Nepal ?

trekking in india
everest base camp trekking

[wayno]

the official line is solo trekkers getting into more trouble .than groups and no one is with them to know or get help.... needless to say its bad press for nepal since the news can get featured in the western press. but it's hardly the only country where solo trekkers get into trouble... maybe they are looking at Bhutan which treats tourists as a cash cow and charges as much as they can for people to enter the country.
it would still be a small minority that get into trouble..
convenient way for the country to make money from the tourists who are spending the least. you could just as easily demand they carry a locator beacon and they could set up a trade in renting them out...

[Nick S]

Hmm money's definitely a factor there..

Note that the Everest and Annapurna regions are not included, which is where the majority of people do their first treks in Nepal.
But still I don't see why other popular places like Langtang or Manaslu should require a guide. That would almost turn me off, but its not much money in the scheme of things really..

[wayno]

all relative, not much money to westerners, reasonable money to the nepalise,
still a lot cheaper than paying the hefty fees bhutan charge to enter as a more exclusive and quieter destination for those willing to pay the large premium...

[Snowzone]

Note that the Everest and Annapurna regions are not included, which is where the majority of people do their first treks in Nepal.

Aah, that explains why I was still seeing people on the Annapurna trek without guides. Thankyou for clearing that up.