Nepal imposes ban on mountain trekking without a guide

The Himalayan country’s tourism board is seeking to boost the employment of mountain guides, increase income from visitors and improve safety

Independent trekking is about to be banned from Nepal’s protected mountain regions and national parks, in a move designed to boost employment and increase safety for tourists visiting the country’s Himalayan range.

From April all foreign trekkers, whether solo or in a group, must be accompanied by a licensed guide. The announcement was made by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) in early March, and applies to cyclists as well as hikers.