March 28, 2023: Foreign tourists visiting the Everest region in Nepal this spring season will not be required to hire a guide, despite hiring a guide being mandatory for trekkers in Nepal. The (Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality) Rural municipality of the Everest region has issued a notice stating that trekking guides are not compulsory for solo trekkers in the Everest area. Instead, trekkers can obtain a Trek card from the permit office for Rs 2,000, which allows them to trek solo on the Phading trail.

The Nepal Tourism Board had recently decided to stop issuing Free Individual Trekker (FIT) cards, which meant that foreign tourists would have to trek with a guide through a trekking company and get insurance before starting their trek. However, the local government in the Everest region is managing the process of issuing trek cards and has decided to permit solo trekkers without a guide.

Manoj Kumar, information officer at SNP, said that the national park has already welcomed solo travelers and that the park has not received any official notice regarding entry restrictions for solo travelers who have not hired a trekking guide.”We have heard that the federal government has introduced a mandatory provision requiring solo travelers to hire a guide. However, in the case of the Everest region, the local government is managing the process of issuing trek cards and has decided to give permission to solo trekkers without a guide”

Manoj Kumar, information officer at SNP, said that the national park has already welcomed solo travelers and that the park has not received any official notice regarding entry restrictions for solo travelers who have not hired a trekking guide.”We have heard that the federal government has introduced a mandatory provision requiring solo travelers to hire a guide. However, in the case of the Everest region, the local government is managing the process of issuing trek cards and has decided to give permission to solo trekkers without a guide”

Despite the federal government introducing a mandatory provision requiring solo travelers to hire a guide, the local government in the Everest region has decided to permit solo trekkers without a guide.

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Local cleaning river on Everest region/ File image

What is Trek Card?

A Trek Card is a permit that includes the trekker’s Name, Nationality, and Trekking routes. This card is issued by local government or authorities and is used to keep track of trekkers in the region. Trekkers are required to obtain permits for the Sagarmatha National Park and the local government’s trek card, which allows them to enter and trek in the designated areas. The trek card includes information about the trekker and is used to keep track of trekkers in the Everest region.

Nepal Tourism Board Decision

Nepal Tourism Board’s Guide Requirement Decision is Based on Trekker Safety Concerns. According to the Nepal Tourism Board, in 2019, more than 51,000 tourists came to Nepal for solo trekking. As the number of tourists coming to Nepal for solo trekking has been increasing, the rule requiring mandatory guides has become a cause for concern for tourists who want to visit Nepal.

Starting April 1, 2023, foreign tourists in Nepal will no longer be allowed to go trekking without a guide. This decision was announced by Maniraj Lamichhane, Director of the Nepal Tourism Board, as a measure to improve the safety of trekkers in the country.

The Nepal Tourism Board’s decision is based on Section 7 of the Nepal Tourism Act 1996 and Section 10 ‘A’ of the Trekking Information Management System Operation (First Amendment) Guidelines, 2010. This decision was taken due to unfortunate incidents where individual trekkers, who had purchased the Tourist Information Management System (TIMS) card, died or sustained injuries while trekking.

According to Dhananjay Regmi, CEO of NTB, the local governments should follow the instructions issued by the federal government.

“Disobeying the instructions of the federal government can result in solo trekkers having to cancel their entire trip,” He said to THT Online.

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Image: Nepal Tourism Board

The Everest region trek is a popular route that offers trekkers stunning views of snowcapped mountains, glaciers, and traditional Sherpa villages. Trekkers are required to obtain permits for the Sagarmatha National Park and the local government’s trek card, which allows them to enter and trek in the designated areas.

The national park has already welcomed solo travelers and has not received any official notice regarding entry restrictions for solo travelers who have not hired a trekking guide.