Trail organisation
The Great Himalaya Trail is new. While it is possible to walk the Nepal section of it today, there is as yet no official body established to oversea the trail as a living entity. This will potentially be some kind of independent foundation who brings together all of the parties with an interest in the trail. This will include: the government of Nepal; the Nepal Tourist Board; Trekking Agents Association of Nepal; District and Village Development Committees of the areas the trail routes pass through; interested individuals or experts; International NGOs such as SNV and ICIMOD who are already working on bringing the aforementioned parties together to discuss the way forward for the GHT. As the full trail crosses international borders, the organisational structure will have to reflect this.
This will take time to achieve. In the meantime we welcome your feedback.
If you have comments, additions, corrections or questions about the content on this page, please post them here.
Will independent travel be permitted? Hiring local guides and outfitters is a great support to the local economy, and makes some segments more possible. But it’s the antithesis of independent wilderness long distance hiking. I hope to see and do the GHT independently, without guides, stopping in villages and buying resupplies, or having the packed in to pick up points. Alas, I suspect that the government of Nepal will not allow this and therefor the route will likely never see my footsteps. Is there discussion of allowing independent travel? I hope so.
[Reply]
Richard Reply:
October 18th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Hi Jack,
Independent travel is largely permitted and I believe that you could indeed fly in supplies to certain points to sustain your trip. In many places along the trail, you have to assume there is no food for sale – particularly in the far west there are big food supply issues for the local population. To save yourself headaches an outfitter in Kathmandu could probably help you with logistics.
The other issue is permits. The trail passes through some conservation areas and right now I am not sure of the requirements and if you need to be accompanied by a local guide. I will find out and get back to you. Taking a local guide for certain tricky sections is always recommended. The maps of Nepal are not always (never?) brilliant and in particular the glacial landscape is always changing. But I am sure you know this. Check back soon.
Rich
[Reply]
Comment by Jack H — October 18, 2009 @ 7:02 am
Hi Jack
There are a few regions in Nepal where you must get a trekking permit though a local company, and a couple of regions where two is the minimum number of people for a permit. After that, it is up to the company how they arrange your trek, and there are plenty of flexible companies. One day the rules might change too…
[Reply]
Richard Reply:
October 19th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Some additional information here. Though there are permits required, whether you can go unaccompanied (without local guide) is still not certain. Will endeavour to find out more. However the bigger question is how many days you can be self-sufficient for and thus if it is indeed possible to go alone.
[Reply]
Comment by Jamie McGuinness — October 18, 2009 @ 2:43 pm