Note from TREKT Founder Sandra BK:
As of Sep. 2012 – Trekkers in Nepal must hire at least a porter to take on trek.
I feel a personal victory with the announcement of the Nepal governments decision to not allow solo trekking in Nepal. I have been on a “never trek alone” crusade since the disappearance of American Aubrey Sacco in 2010. Our team at Hardcore Nepal (TREKT’s parent company in Kathmandu) led a rock and rope search and rescue mission scaling cliffs in Langtang to try to help find her. The search continues, but Aubrey is still missing, and no one is sure where, why or what happened to her.
Nepal is a beautiful place to travel. You will experience a culture and landscape like no where else. But going to remote areas of any country alone is never a wise idea. Nepal is no more dangerous than France, America, or Australia – but would you go off into the Outback alone for a few weeks? Probably not.
Be wise, take a guide… it’s now the law if you want to trek in Nepal Himalaya. The Trekking Agents Association of Nepal can help tourists find a guide that meets any budget.
Reposted from Trekking Agents Association Nepal
Author: Media Center
Tourists traveling to any trekking destination in Nepal 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.
According to a recent policy decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs, tourists, who want to trek solo in Nepal, must hire at least a porter or a guide. Trekkers traveling in groups are already required to take the service of government registered trekking agencies.
Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) has welcomed the decision and urged the government to include the decision in the Tourism Act for effective implementation. “The decision will help promote Nepal as a safe destination for tourists at a time when international media are questioning the safety of foreigners in Nepal,” Mohan Lamsal, general secretary of TAAN, said.
Recent murder of a Belgian trekker in Langtang National Park along with some other cases of disappearance of trekkers have created negative image of Nepal in international market, according to Lamsal.Rana Bahadur Khadka, first vice-president of TAAN, said the new policy decision means all trekkers will have to take the service of government registered trekking agencies. He said this will control illegal operation of trekking business.
According to trekking operators, the new policy change will increase budget of FITs by only around $10 per day. “This is a very nominal amount and it won´t affect tourist arrivals,” Anjan Thapa, treasurer of TAAN, said. The Ministry of Home Affairs had taken the decision earlier this month following mounting pressure from tourism entrepreneurs, diplomatic missions and kin of missing tourists.
EBC Trek Departs Kathmandu June 2013 
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