How much the hired trekking guides must “guide” you?

How much the hired trekking guides must “guide” you?

As a solo trekker I was going to plan about 4-6 extra days into my itinerary for weather/rest/side trips/aligning with new friends. I’ve been making lists of alternates/side trips/etc and often traveling I learn something new and then want to explore that.

If the new guide rules happen, will there be guides (or porter if that’s allowed) who will be flexible? For example, I’m booking someone for 20-25 days with various possibilities of routes?

Can I still pick my tea house? Or have a lunch nap? Or start before dawn?

I don’t have a problem putting more money into the Nepali economy, but giving up the flexibility and choice would be really sad.

Can we expect more information on how much the hired guides must “guide” you?

12 replies on “How much the hired trekking guides must “guide” you?”

Great question and I think that is a concern for many…the flexibility. I think in theory you should be able to make that clear to the agency you book with and the guide….in practice idk. My few experiences with guides flexibility was difficult and an unpleasant negotiation. I think if you can be very clear up front that will help.

When I pay a guide, I decide at what time we start, where we stop and where we sleep or eat. My boss pays me and he decides what I do and when I start, that’s how things work when you pay someone.
On trekking I like to start early, around 7AM, if he doesn’t like it, will be his problem, not mine.

Do independent trekkers usually make written contracts with their Nepali guides? I want to set expectations and responsibilities early in negotiations so that everyone agrees and it’s a good fit. Is it reasonable to ask guides what insurance they cover if they become injured?
I know not every guide has great English skills and I would imagine that also creates an issue sometimes.

I can imagine situation that some experienced trekkers will just go whenever will like. What will the guide do? Physically restrain trekker, the client? There are hardly no checkpoints beyond main entry points. And you can easily say that the guide abandoned you (which happens from time to time, like during snow on Thorung La).
I am not saying to do this – but the stupid rules forced on the solo trekkers will create such situations, break friendly bonds between trekker and guide. There will be no tips and many many scams by both sides.

This is exactly the problem. I have gone on 2 treks, once with a group and once with a guide and porter. In neither case was the guide very flexible or responsive to my requests.

Thats what the problem is. They make you pay for the entire trip with extra expenses and yet don’t let you move on your own. They are the ones who should be moving with you and you need to make that sort of demand. And you can always pay more if it takes more extra days.

Every guide I’ve ever trekked with has been flexible, but it’s obviously reasonable to give a heads up of possibilities before the trip. They need to organise their own logistics and other employment, too.

There’s a big difference between hiring a guide for yourself or a small group etc, and joing a trekking group trip via an agency. You wouldn’t have the flexibility with the agency trek.

You are not buying a fixed itinerary group trek if you hire a guide or porter-guide. Just make sure that you pay food and lodging separately (not in the package) and that there is no fixed itinerary, just a general plan and a date you need to be back. You are the boss, guide is a fixer, helper and interpreter, and might be a friend at the end. Has always worked for me this way.

Rule says trekker(s) must have guide. It does not say there has to be a “package” and fixed itinerary and that the guide gets to boss everybody around. Client pays and calls the shots, simple as that.

I hope that’s how it is implemented. It says you must get TIMS from trekking agency so I wonder can you do that and then hire your own licensed guide? Will this be the case in practice? I hope.

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