Independent trekking banned in Nepal – guides are now mandatory

Trekking on a trail with a guide in Nepal

Nepal has banned solo trekking in Nepal from April 1st 2023 Nepal Tourism Board, Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal have decided that from April 1st 2023 all trekkers visiting Nepal must have a mandatory trekking guide with them. Free Independent Trekker cards (permits) will no longer be given out. All trekkers must now pay a …

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Good trekking guides are in short supply in Nepal

Trekking guide on Skype while trekking

Good trekking guides are in short supply, and it’s not getting better Times are changing in Nepal and the trekking industry is no exception. The pandemic flattened Nepal’s tourism industry. With no trekkers what were trekking guides meant to do? The same as many in other services industries did around the world – they got …

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Hanuman Dhoka to Swayambunath Heritage Walk – reopened so many times it’s forgotten

Inside Hanuman Dolka Kathmandu Durbar Square, Kathmandu, Nepal

Hanuman Dholka to Swayambu Heritage walk has been around for years despite recent announcements If there’s one thing the past 10-20 years have failed at in Nepal, it’s documenting ongoing or recent events. As print newspapers moved online we lost an easy way to record events. Print newspapers are filed away in the archives or …

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Te Bahal – discover the largest Bahal in Kathmandu

Te Bahal courtyard

Discovering Nepal’s largest Monastery Courtyard: Te Bahal Looking for an interesting and free sight to visit in Kathmandu? Try a short walk to Te Bahal to discover a place few tourists venture to. Moreover, Te Bahal predates Kathmandu itself! It’s one my favorite places to visit early on a Saturday morning in Kathmandu when blessings …

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Kaskikot, an alternative short hike to Sarangkot in Pokhara

Ramparts on the Kaskikot Hike, Pokhara 30_resize

Kaskikot vs Sarangkot views Anyone who’s planning a trip to Pokhara in Nepal will probably have heard of the sunrise mountain view spot known as Sarangkot and never heard of Kaskikot. I first went to Sarangkot after my Annapurna Circuit trek – that’s mistake number one you should avoid. If you do plan to visit …

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Itum Bahal – Discovering the secrets behind Kathmandu’s largest Buddhist monastery

Itum Bahal inside the main courtyard

Itum bahal is an open monastery you can easily visit in Kathmandu Despite the many tours around Kathmandu claiming to take you to the largest monastery in Nepal most are simply drumming up “spin”. Itum Bahal has largely slipped through the fingers of tourism. In today’s world that’s a blessing. It means no crowds, no …

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Nepal needs a better trekker management system than TIMS

TIMS card from Nepal

Nepal’s current trekking management system clearly isn’t working Since January 1st 2008 Nepal’s Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) has been used to collect both independent and guided trekkers data which is uploaded in a visitors’ database which can be accessed in case of accidents and/or natural calamities. That was the idea touted by the founders …

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