Trekking in Nepal is a beautiful aspect of tourism in the country. Previously, there was a trend of trekking in groups and alone inside several destinations in Nepal, but now, the conditions have changed – you cannot hike alone. Nepal Tourism Board has developed a law to make hiring guides for any treks inside the country mandatory. The main reason for this is to ensure the safety of travelers and hikers around the nation by mitigating the possible dangers with the help of this act. With this note, you might have already figured out why you should hire guides and porters for destinations like Everest, Annapurna, Manaslu, Langtang, and Kanchenjunga Trek.
First things first, hiring guides and porters will ensure your safety as they are the first support system during your trek. Also, they offer you the things to do and not to do around the selected regions of your hike, ensuring you successfully pass through the areas. The next thing is that your physical challenge will be mitigated by half or even more as they are very professional and offer the utmost help they can physically and mentally.
Here are some of the things that you consider for why you should hire a guide and porter for each of these treks. Read carefully!
Hire Guide and Porter for Everest Base Camp Trek
Everest Base Camp Trek is one of the adventurous treks in Nepal, which offers you the Himalayan experience of the country alongside the Sherpa culture and background. The Everest Base Camp is situated in the northern part of Nepal in the Khumbu region. Trekking in the Khumbu region of Nepal can be fun and thrilling but also dangerous. So hiring a guide and porter for Everest Base Camp Trek is mandatory to ensure your safety and proper guidance throughout the trip.
Difficulties During Everest Base Camp Trek
After landing at Lukla Airport, you will start your journey of the Everest Base Camp trek, which first takes you to Phakding and Namche Bazaar. Similarly, you will pass through places like Dingboche and Tengboche, where reaching is challenging and requires technical skills. The trails are rugged, seasonal, and rocky, requiring great physical fitness.
Similarly, the weather condition of the Khumbu region is unpredictable – which can cause several issues in trekking. If you are in a peak season, the weather will be favorable; however, the crowded routes will be problematic for finding accommodation services. And if you are traveling during off seasons like monsoon and winter, the heavy rainfall, snowfall, and cold temperatures will pop out as a drawback.
This is why we recommend hiring a guide and porter for the trek. Here are some reasons to hire a guide and porter for the Everest Base Camp Trek.
See more on: Everest base camp trek difficulty
Why Should You Hire a Guide and Porter for Everest Base Camp Trek?
Safety: Trekking in the Everest region can be challenging. As discussed above, the routes after you leave Lukla are steep and treacherous. This is the main reason why you need professional instructions and guidance. And it is only possible to get these services if you hire a guide and porter during the journey. Especially for those who need to become more familiar with the terrain and the altitude, there is a great need to hire guides and porters.
A guide can ensure you follow the correct route to the base camp. Also, you can feel it easy to navigate through some of the challenging terrains around the area.
Local Knowledge: Most places around Everest Base Camp, except Namche Bazaar, are remote. When you hire a guide and porter during the trip, they can help you know the local people, lifestyle, and culture. Your guides and porters are acquainted well with the local knowledge, so you don’t have to worry about grooming yourself in the local communities and people.
Language: If you notice, you will pass across several Sherpa villages around Everest Region. So communication can be a challenge. If you have guides and porters, they can help you communicate with the local people and involve them in cross-cultural activities.
Convenience: After you start your trek to Everest Base Camp from Lukla, you will find the routes challenging and filled with obstacles. You will be walking most of the time on rocky terrains and steep and slippery trails, which can create barriers in carrying your luggage and belongings. When you hire a porter during the trek, you will be free of carrying such bigger and heavy loads, allowing you to enjoy the most of your hike.
Hire Guide and Porter for Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Like Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Base Camp Trek is also challenging since it comprises rugged routes and terrains. Similarly, other factors like climate and weather and the time of your travel impact the most in your trek. See some of the things you consider before taking your trek to Annapurna Base Camp Trek and why you should hire a guide and Porter for an easy and successful hike to this region.
Challenges of Annapurna Base Camp Trek
When it comes to the challenges of Annapurna Base Camp Trek, you have to think about the physical challenge first. Since ABC Trek is a multi-day trek, you should be prepared with your physical abilities. Mental challenges, as do the gears and equipment, also come in the way. Here hiring a guide and porters can be very useful since they can work out to lift your problems quickly.
Besides physical and mental challenges, there come seasonal trails through which you should walk hours and hours daily. And especially if you are a beginner, you need support to complete this trek successfully. This is where guides and porters are more helpful.
Besides, traveling in the off seasons like winter and monsoon can be very hazardous and you should be cautious about the weather also. However, with the proper instructions and help of your guides and porters, you can overcome it easily. So why should you hire a guide and porter for Annapurna Base Camp Trek? Here are some of the points.
Knowledge of Routes
Your guide and porters have extensive background and experience regarding the routes to Annapurna Base Camp Trek. So they can lead you through the shortcuts and easiest routes of the region and can uplift your journey.
Listen to your guide’s instructions very carefully and be mindful of the dos and don’ts around the region. It will eventually help you to get the most out of your trip.
Getting Rid of Overload And Safety
As said earlier, Annapurna Base Camp Trek is a multi-day hike, so you might get in trouble if you carry all your heavy loads all day. If you hire a porter during the trek, you don’t have to take all the loads by yourself, and it will spare you time to enjoy the surroundings and the views of the pristine Himalayas, forests, villages, and people’s lifestyles.
Helpful in Obtaining Permits
With a guide, you can go on treks in Nepal. And it is essential to hire a guide and porter while obtaining the permits for Annapurna Base Camp Trek – you will need Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and TIMS Card. Your guide and porters can help you through the essential process of getting the license.
See more on:
- Annapurna Base Camp Difficulty
- Best Time to trek Annapurna Base Camp
- Annapurna Base Camp Trek Cost and Itinerary
Hire Guide and Porter for Manaslu Circuit Trek
To complete Manaslu Circuit Trek, you must walk through several remote villages, including Machhakhola, Jagat, Namrung, Samagaun, Dharamshala, and many more. If you compare the trails with other trekking destinations, it also comes to be challenging since most of your route is rugged and seasonal.
Starting your trek from Arughat, you should climb straight uphill through Larke Pass and Bimtang. These are the places where you can even suffer from altitude sickness. If you do not have any support and preparation, then you might get in real trouble.
And if you are traveling in the winter season, the possibility of catching altitude sickness is even higher. The air is thin with depleted oxygen levels, which can cause several other altitude-related illnesses too. It is to ensure that hiring a guide and porters will be beneficial to overcome any of these issues during the Manaslu Circuit trek.
Besides that, several other factors impact the Manaslu Circuit trek, including cost, transportation, permits, accommodation, language barriers, and weather conditions. When you hire a guide and porter for the Manaslu trek, you can get rid of these problems easily – guides can help you through the routes and the knowledge of the places, people, and culture. Similarly, porters can make your tour lightweight as they help you carry all your luggage and belongings.
The most crucial part is your safety; hiring guides and porters always comes with a notion of safety and security. In case of any emergencies, they can provide your initial support. Overall, if you hire a guide and porter for Manaslu Circuit Trek, you can be easygoing during the trek, helping you physically and mentally.
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Hire Guide and Porter for the Langtang Valley trek
There’s a reason why we push trekkers to hire a guide and porter for the Langtang Valley trek. Due to the massive earthquake of 2015, Langtang Valley was destroyed massively, costing many lives and property. The route to the Langtang Valley trek was challenging itself, and the earthquake even changed the landscape and made it more complicated to access.
Following the destructive earthquake, soil erosion and a massive avalanche hit the region, covering the Langtang Village with debris. Accessing this place was almost impossible then, but it has been slowly developing; however, the risk still prevails. The steep and slippery landscapes of the Langtang Valley trek are known to the world. Similarly, the cold and high altitude makes it more complicated to go through this hike easily. Hiring guides and porters is crucial in this region to eliminate all these issues and have a soothing trekking experience.
What are the challenges of the Langtang Valley Trek?
Uphill Rugged Route: Your Langtang Valley Trek starts once you reach Syabrubesi in Rasuwa. You must walk uphill for a few days to get to the Langtang Valley. And the route is not as you expected – it is covered with debris and features sloppy rocky terrains, which is even life-threatening. You need proper preparation and technical skills to overcome these obstacles to make the most of your Langtang Valley Trek.
High Altitude And Altitude Sickness: Langtang Valley Trek takes you to an altitude of 3400 meters above sea level, considered a high altitude for human adjustment. As your altitude elevates, you are more likely to get in contact with altitude sickness and other related illnesses. Similarly, since the mountain range of Langtang is in close contact, the temperature is freezing and frigid, which makes your breathing very hard.
How Can A Guide and Porter Help You During Langtang Valley Trek?
Hiring a guide and porter for the Langtang Valley trek is very important as they can help you in several ways. Here are some of the things where your guides and porters can come to help. Let’s explore:
Safety And Security: Hiring a guide and porter for the Langtang Valley trek ensures your safety level by double that yourself. If you fall sick or suffer from injuries or emergencies, guides and porters are the first to help you. Similarly, they can provide excellent support and guidance through the region’s rugged routes, dos and don’ts, and local code of conduct. They can also help you use the first aid kits if you need any help. Their service will allow you to be safer and more sound throughout the journey.
Local Expertise And Communication: Your guides and porters have extensive knowledge about Langtang Valley, so if you are keen on learning about the local people, lifestyle, culture, and tradition, then they can be of great help. Similarly, they can help you communicate with the people- especially if you do not know the local Sherpa language; your guides and porters can help you translate the language and eliminate the language barriers.
Obtaining Permits: To trek around Langtang Valley, you must obtain special permits from Nepal Tourism Board. You must be onboard on this trek with Langtang National Park Permit; you are allowed to enter the area. Your guide and porter can help you follow the process to buy these licenses and make you eligible for the journey.
See also: Langtang Trek Cost
Hire Guide and Porter for the Kanchenjunga trek
If you see the difficulty level of Kanchenjunga Trek, it is one of the most challenging hikes in Nepal, which features a glacial moraine, steep uphill routes, and high-altitude passes. During the trek, you might experience viewing the most scenic beauty. Still, regarding challenges, you will have to pass the difficulties like snow and ice, weather conditions, and high altitudes, eventually resulting in mental and physical lags.
Kanchenjunga trek is carried out in the Taplejung district, one of the most remote places in Nepal. The land topography and weather conditions here can be relatively treacherous than other treks. The highest altitude in the Kanchenjunga trek is 4620 meters above sea level, which can be considered very hard to reach, and the landscapes and weather difficulties make it more complex. By this, you might have already known when and how your guide and porter can help you throughout this trek. Here are some of the challenges of the region and solutions that hiring a guide and porters for the Kanchenjunga trek brings.
Challenges of the Trek
Fluctuating Challenging Landscapes: Kanchenjunga Trek features all kinds of land topography, from the lower and plain basins to the high altitude base camps. The most important part you should not miss while planning is planning physically and mentally while you hike through these landscapes. Hiking through them can be physically and mentally exhausting, directly and indirectly impacting your trekking experience. From the Glacial Moraine to the crevasses and straight uphill routes to the riverside banks, you will be walking through all these places that require a high level of physical fitness and mental steadiness.
High Altitude And Altitude Sickness: The main motive of the Kanchenjunga Trek is to reach Kanchenjunga Base Camp at 4620 meters above sea level. But reaching such a high altitude can be physically and mentally challenging. First, to get to the base camp, you should walk for hours and hours each day, and second thing, you might suffer from altitude sickness when hiking through such high altitudes of over 4500 meters above sea level.
Weather Challenge: The weather condition of the Kanchenjunga region is very unpredictable. That’s where your guide and porters can help you review the weather forecast and plan your itineraries accordingly. Especially if you are traveling during the off-season, the weather can negatively impact you. The weather in monsoon brings more rainfall making the trails slippery and hard to walk. Similarly, you might not even find the route during winter due to heavy rain. The cold and freezing temperature, too, plays a significant role in making your trek difficult.
How Can Guide And Porter Help You Elevate Through The Kanchenjunga Trek?
First, your guide and porters are well-experienced and certified, so do not doubt their responsibility to make you safe during the trek. They can suggest the best things you can do during the difficult time of the hike, which will help you adjust well. Similarly, if you get injured, they can help you through medications and find support around the region. They offer you a set of instructions and guidelines to follow throughout the journey, which is designed for your safety and security. So make sure that you read each one of them and follow them correctly.
When it comes to the help porters, they carry your large and heavy backpacks and luggage, allowing you to immerse deeply into the beauty of the region. It will also reduce the physical demands you need while carrying heavy loads on the trek. If you see, you can’t just have heavy loads by yourself and walk for more than 6 to 7 hours for over 10 to 15 days. This is why you need to hire porters during Kanchenjunga Trek.
Apart from that, most places are remote, and the people around them might need to be more familiar with your language, creating language barriers. Hiring a guide and porter will eradicate this problem as they stand up to act as your mentor and translator, helping you know about the people and their lifestyle deeply.
Last but not least, if you need any help obtaining permits and licenses around this region, guides and porters are the reliable way to obtain them. Similarly, they can suggest the easiest and shortcut ways to the base camp, which will be less physically demanding and time-saving.
Tips For Hiring Guides and Porters
Research And Choose A Reputable Trekking Company
Always look for a reputable trekking company for these listed trekking packages. You can find several trekking agencies that provide top-notch services on guides and porters throughout the trek. Check the trekking agencies’ reviews and credentials, research their trekking mechanics, and make wise decisions before going on the hike.
Check For Certification And Training
Hiring a guide and porter might be easy, but finding a professional one might be. You should be sure of your guides and porters’ certifications and experience. Always see whether they are certified and well-trained. You can see if they have obtained experience certificates from the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) and the Nepal Tourism Board.
Ask For References
It’s better to ask the trekking companies for references from their previous clients. You can analyze the services they provide with the help of references, which will allow you to know more about the level of guides and porters service provided by the trekking company.
Check For Insurance
Insurance should be prioritized most while you embark on any treks listed above. Look whether the trekking agencies provide insurance for their guides and porters. This will allow you a soothing and enjoyable trekking experience as you will know that your guides and porters’ insurance is covered in accidents and emergencies.
Discuss Fees And Tipping
This process should be done before you hire your guides and porters during the trek. Always discuss the fees and tipping policies with the trekking company you are bound with. It can help you eradicate misunderstandings later regarding fees and tipping.
Conclusion
The overall theme of this blog is to portray the value of hiring guides and porters during any trek that includes Everest Base Camp Trek, Annapurna Base Camp Trek, Manaslu Circuit Trek, Langtang Valley Trek, or Kanchenjunga Trek. With the help of your guides and porters, the first advantage you will get is physical and mental; the second is your security. Since there have been increasing numbers of trekkers getting lost during the hikes in remote areas, the Nepal Government and Nepal Tourism Board have acted upon this by bringing the bill of mandatory guides during any treks within Nepal. This will undoubtedly come with positive changes as it can elevate your safety level and is a significant step to boost the local economy.
