Immigration eases rules for solo trekkers in restricted areas
Summary
Nepal's Department of Immigration has revised its trekking permit policy, allowing solo foreign trekkers in restricted areas with safety provisions, including accompaniment by licensed guides and arranged trips through registered agencies.
Key Points
- The Department of Immigration (DoI) now allows solo foreign tourists to obtain trekking permits for restricted areas previously limited to groups.
- Solo trekkers must be accompanied by a licensed trekking guide and their trips arranged by registered trekking agencies.
- A new guide-to-trekker ratio permits one guide to lead up to seven trekkers to improve safety and monitoring.
- Permit application processes have been digitised, allowing easier payments and applications using Nepali visa numbers or Application Submission IDs.
