Nepal Tourism Board finalizes new guidelines for trekkers

Andy CrisconiHimalayan Trekking Tours

On March 31, the NTB officially issues new guidelines for all foreign trekkers

The Nepal Tourism Board has passed new guidelines, requiring foreign trekkers visiting Nepal’s national parks and conservation areas to have a guide or a porter for their entire journey. Government-registered trekking companies can arrange guides or porters to accompany all foreign travelers. The guidelines also state that foreign visitors (via their local trekking company) must also obtain a trekkers’ information management systems (TIMS) card before beginning their trek.

The new rules will go into effect on Saturday, April 1, 2023:

According to the new guidelines, a trekker found traveling on designated trails without a guide or TIMS card faces a Rs12,000 (USD $90.00) fine and will be required to turn around, not being permitted to continue on their designated route.

The guidelines contain a list of 44 trekking trails in a dozen districts (below) where trekkers must be accompanied by a guide or a porter AND must obtain a TIMS Card.

All major trekking routes in these areas are impacted by the new rules:

Kangchenjunga
Makalu
Everest
Rolwaling
Helembu / Langtang
Ganesh Himal
Manaslu
Annapurna
Dhaulagiri
Mustang
Dolpo
Humla