Licensed Guides Become Mandatory for Foreign Trekkers
| Event date | In force from 1 April 2023 |
|---|---|
| Location | Nationwide, including the Annapurna Conservation Area |
| Type | Regulation and permits |
| Issued by | Nepal Tourism Board |
| Verification | Verified |
| Status | In force; check local enforcement before trekking |
From 1 April 2023 the Nepal Tourism Board stopped allowing foreign “free independent trekkers” to walk Nepal’s trekking routes alone. Foreign trekkers must now go with a licensed guide, arranged through a registered trekking agency. Nepali citizens are exempt. The same decision raised the Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) card to NPR 2,000 per foreign trekker.
The board cited safety: a run of accidents and missing-trekker cases involving people walking alone. For the Annapurna Circuit and the Sanctuary trail, long popular with independent trekkers, it was the biggest change in years to how the region is visited.
Sources
- The Kathmandu Post — "No more solo treks. Guides mandatory from April 1"
- Expedreview — "Nepal bans solo and independent trekkers from its trails starting April 1"
Last reviewed 29 September 2026. Written in Merolog’s own words from the sources listed; where sources disagree, each figure is attributed rather than merged. Spotted an error or a newer figure? Leave a comment on this entry.