Pokhara, March 24: Foreign tourists can now trek alone in Nepal’s restricted Himalayan regions, as long as they are accompanied by a licensed guide.
The Department of Immigration (DoI) has removed the earlier rule that required at least two trekkers to form a group before entering such areas. Tourism entrepreneurs had long complained that the rule discouraged visitors and created unnecessary complications for travelers.
Under the old system, solo tourists were barred from entering restricted zones even if they hired a guide.
They had to find another trekker to form a group of two, which often forced strangers to pair up only to meet paperwork requirements. After repeated requests from the tourism sector, the government has now decided to issue trekking permits to individual visitors as well.
Director General Ramchandra Tiwari said the change aims to make travel in restricted areas easier while keeping safety measures in place. Solo trekkers must still apply through a registered trekking agency and hire a licensed guide. The agency must also take responsibility for rescue and emergency arrangements if problems arise during the trek.
Officials say the previous group requirement created loopholes. Trekking agencies often placed tourists from different countries into a “group” on paper to meet official rules, even though they traveled separately. According to Tiwari, this practice weakened regulation and created confusion in monitoring trekking activities. The new provision is expected to bring clearer procedures and stronger oversight.
The department has also introduced a limit on the number of trekkers a guide can handle. One guide will now be allowed to lead a maximum of seven tourists. Earlier, there was no such limit, and in some cases, a single guide managed groups of more than 50 trekkers, raising safety concerns.
Officials believe the new rule will improve safety while also creating more jobs in the trekking sector, as smaller groups and solo travelers will require more guides and support staff.
Restricted trekking destinations include Upper Mustang in Mustang district and Nar and Phu in Manang, both located inside the Annapurna Conservation Area Project. In 2025, Upper Mustang received 4,486 foreign visitors, while 1,847 trekkers traveled to Nar and Phu.
Tourism entrepreneurs have welcomed the decision, saying the change will attract more travelers, including Indian tourists who were previously discouraged by the group requirement. Authorities expect the revised rule to make trekking easier while improving the management of tourism in the Himalayan region.
People’s News Monitoring Service
Login to add a comment