Nepal bans tourists from hiking alone starting April 1st.

According to the newly enacted law, foreign tourists, whether solo or in groups, whether novice or experienced, must hire a licensed guide to accompany them and obtain a permit from a travel company. This law does not apply to Nepalese citizens.

“When traveling alone, there will be no one to help in emergencies,” shared Mani R. Lamichhane, head of the Nepal Tourism Association. He explained that while it's fine to travel in cities, in remote mountainous areas the infrastructure is inadequate. When tourists go missing, even authorities struggle to find them because they've traveled to remote regions. Many are found dead. This law is in place to benefit tourists.”

Accordingly, the Nepalese government issued a ban on solo hiking in 12 national parks across the country, including some of the nation's most popular trails such as the 145-mile Annapurna Trail.

This decision aims to reduce accidents or disappearances of tourists in areas with challenging terrain. Tourists are still allowed to independently explore areas outside the national park, such as around the city of Kathamandu. The new law takes effect from April 1st.

The Nepal Tourism Board stated that the ban on solo Everest climbs had been in place for some time. The new ban has been extended nationwide to prevent inexperienced tourists from climbing the mountain and to avoid accidents or disappearances.

Local tour guides say that dozens of tourists go missing each year while hiking in Nepal's rugged mountainous terrain. Search and rescue efforts are costly and sometimes impossible.

As travel costs become more affordable for tourists, mountaineering and hiking are becoming increasingly popular. In countries like Nepal, home to eight of the world's ten highest peaks, this has led to unimaginable scenes such as congestion on Mount Everest. This can be dangerous for those already exhausted from climbing, causing them to waste time in oxygen-deficient conditions at high altitudes.

In 2019, nearly 300,000 hikers traveled to Nepal, including almost 46,000 solo trekkers. They prefer to hike alone to save money or for the freedom of exploration. However, this can be dangerous for tourists due to the rugged terrain and temperature changes, making it easy to get lost or stranded.

Many travel companies agree with the Nepal Tourism Board's decision, calling it "a victory for the safety of tourists and the country's economy." Others worry that the law will increase travel costs, leading to fewer visitors to Nepal while the national economy is already severely impacted by the pandemic. According to the World Bank, tourism accounts for nearly 7% of GDP in this country, which is on the list of the world's poorest nations.

Nilhari Bastola, President of the Nepal Mountaineering Companies Association, said the new policy helps prevent accidents and could create 40,000 new jobs for locals. He argued that the ban wouldn't affect tourists' budgets because hiring a guide only costs an average of $25 to $50 per day. The one tourist/one guide policy will create many jobs, which is good for Nepal's economy.

Phuong Thao is an editor at Travellive magazine. She is passionate about traveling and enjoys capturing moments with her camera in every place she visits. Travel, art, and lifestyle are Phuong Thao's favorite writing topics.

Phuong Thao