Trekking without a Guide in Nepal(2022 )

Nepal is recognized as a paradise destination for backpacking by several world-class travel sites. The Himalayas are considered by many as the best place to trek in the world. As one of the most popular backpacking destinations, it is not unusual at all to receive some budget-conscious travellers. Of course, money is valuable to everyone, but some trekkers would prefer to hike solo and even without a guide which may be for the sake of freedom and privacy. However, trekkers are permitted to walk without a guide (changed recently). But, trekking without a guide in the Himalayas entails several disadvantages and risks as well.

Risks Involved with Trekking

It’s a fact that on average about 15 trekkers go missing in Nepal Himalayas, annually and the death toll counts the same number as missing trekkers. That number of casualties doesn’t even count anyone climbing a mountain peak. A lot of times, when a tourist dies in the mountain, they don’t also make it to the public news. It is a sad truth that the government doesn’t want to unveil a heartbreaking report not to scare people who have been planning to visit Nepal in the future.

The majority of independent trekkers go missing primarily due to the bad weather, or they lost the trail, or they slipped off the path and falling into the deep valley. The chances of surviving for those who go missing while trekking in the Himalayas are scanty.

However, a Taiwanese trekker survived for 47 days in Nepal Himalayas and was rescued alive. Nepal is quite high in terms of elevation. Anyone hiking at a high altitude should at least reach 3,000-4,000m. At this altitude, the weather is extremely unpredictable. If something goes wrong trekkers lose their way easily.

A report from MissingTrekker.com says that high-altitude sickness caused the majority of deaths. For example, a rough estimate from the news shows that about 3-5 people die every year in the Everest Base Camp region out of a total of about 30,000 people. The death rate comes out to be about 0.01%, mainly due to high altitude sickness. If your itinerary includes enough amount of acclimatization days, even if you are not an expert trekker you can do a steep altitude trek.

Why Trek with a Guide?

A lot of recognized hiking paths in the Himalayas are accessible to navigate through your phone or maps. You can even find a street view of some trekking routes on Google. The importance of a guide is not merely to tell you directions. There are several crucial scenarios where you require the aid of a guide. In case of extreme weather conditions, when the trail is wholly covered with snow, a local guide will direct you to camp safely and sound. This cannot be guaranteed while you go trekking without a guide in the Himalayas.

Trekkers with Nepalese guide and porters on the way to Chame from Besisahar, Annapurna Circuit trek 2019.

Similarly, Expert hiking guides have gone through some advanced training regarding first aid, emergency evacuation, Itinerary management, etc. which will surely be helpful. Mountain guides are practically the ambassadors of the Himalayas.

Moreover, they could be a bridge between you and the local people and their culture. Guides can help you get to know the local people and culture of the country with the help of the guides. Trek guides have acquaintance with all kinds and categories of treks in Nepal, so you will be able to be more familiar with various trekking routes of Nepal. Language barrier will be another limitation that you will suffer when you decide to trek in Nepal without a guide. You will be able to solve this barrier with guides.

Added Benefits of Guides

There are various cultural norms and discernments that you need to know while trekking in Nepal. And only an experienced and trained trek guide can guide you about those matters. It puts you at ease during village sightseeing and visiting monasteries. Additionally, a majority of the camps have limited tea houses, which means they get overly occupied during the busy season. You can book your place in advance with the help of a local guide. This will make sure that you don’t have to spend the night in discomfort in the extremes of the Mountains which could happen when you go trekking without a guide in the Himalayas. Or sometimes even in the tent outside during freezing weather.

Another reason for taking the aid of guides is because of the issues regarding trek permits. However, individuals can get permits through the Nepal Tourism Board. But the office hours are unreliable and require preparation and sufficient nuisance in Kathmandu. They can help you quickly tackle these troublesome situations if you hire experienced and trained trekking guides.

Our Recommendation

We recommend that, if you plan for a single-day hike, you can trek without a guide in the Himalayas. However, if you’re planning a trek that lasts more than a day, we strongly advise you to get the aid of a guide. For all the reasons mentioned above, it is wise and a lot safer to hire a local guide during your trek.

Safety Tips:

• In addition to our recommendation of guides, we would also suggest you follow several tips to make your trekking even safer:
• Properly research your trek before you go.
• Avoid making decisions in haste.
• Never put yourself in danger, hoping to save some money.
• Inform where you’re going early on to your friends and family.
• Do not leave your guide.
• Don’t wander off too far.
• Hire a porter if you can't carry a heavy bag.