Solo Trekkers are allow in Khumbu pasang Lhamu Municipality

 

Khumbu pasang lhamu Municipality has reversed Nepal Tourism Board decision to ban "solo trekking" in the Sagarmatha region, including the Everest Base Camp Trek. Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality has issued a notice stating that a trekking guide is not mandatory for trekkers in this area. The board and local authorities have come to an agreement, with the board stating that it will not allow free individual trekkers (FITs) to trek across the country. This decision will become mandatory for all trekkers starting from April. The board is committed to ensuring the safety, exploration, and recovery of tourists, and has decided to stop solo trekking to make it easier to locate and rescue tourists in case of accidents.

However, the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality has said that a guide is not mandatory for trekking in the area, but it has advised trekkers to take a guide for their safety during high-altitude trekking. According to the board's decision, all trekkers must travel with a trekking guide from April, and the board will issue a trekking information management system (TIMS) card at a fixed price to all trekkers who need it. But, the local authorities will issue a trekking card costing NPR 2,000 for trekkers in the Khumbu region.

National Parks have also increased the entry fee for foreigners to NPR 3,000, while local tourists will have to pay NPR 1,000. The government has also increased the rescue insurance fee to NPR 1,000 for local tourists and NPR 4,000 for foreign tourists. The decision was made to cover the cost of rescuing injured tourists in the mountainous regions