Foreign trekkers require mandatory permits in restricted areas

The Department of Immigration (DoI) has issued a notice on Sunday making it mandatory for foreign nationals to obtain permits from Department of Immigration before embarking on trekking in designated restricted areas across 13 districts of Nepal.

To make the process for foreign groups traveling through agencies more efficient, the department has arranged an online system for granting trekking permit. This move is intended to make the permit issuance process hassle-free, fast, and user-friendly, reads the notice. For assistance regarding trekking permit provisions, a dedicated contact number has been provided: 977- 9761423636.

The restricted areas mainly lies in remote mountain region near China border such as Lomanthang and Upper Mustang.

In a significant move, the department has decided to allow permits for individual trekkers in restricted areas. According to spokesperson the notice, this decision was made on March 21 following grievances from the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) and other related organizations. Previously, foreigners were facing inconvenience as they need to find a trekking partner before a permit could be issued.

While solo trekking is permitted, the following conditions will also apply:

Applications must be submitted through a registered trekking agency. A trekking guide must be assigned to the trekker.

The respective agency must take full responsibility for emergency rescue operations.

Finally to ensure trekker safety and effective monitoring of activities, the department has also set a limit on group sizes. Noting that large groups make it difficult for a single guide to ensure adequate safety and supervision, it has been decided that one trekking guide can lead a maximum of seven trekkers per group.