Trail organisation
The Great Himalaya Trail Development Programme is lead by the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) of the Government of Nepal. MoTCA are leading working groups which include Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN) with the assistance of SNV, the Netherlands Development Organisation.
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.
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Comment by Jamie McGuinness — October 18, 2009 @ 2:43 pm
If you have Suggested Itinerary will be very useful.
[Reply]
Comment by Rishi Pd Nepal — September 4, 2010 @ 12:27 pm
I fell same Suggested Itinerary I was looking
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Comment by Tsum Valley trek — September 4, 2010 @ 12:28 pm
you still need to suggest the trails and its itineraries, trained local cook and guides, improve the local restaurant/facilities and building restaurant/guest house where needed between the two distance villages or trekking camps. More will be post soon.
[Reply]
GHT Admin Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 9:41 am
Thank you,
You may be interested too in these documents:
http://bit.ly/eyfrVW
[Reply]
Comment by Passages Nepal P. Ltd. — April 24, 2011 @ 8:42 am
To the GHT Admin.
I want to thank you for providing such an interesting web site. I’m particularly happy about the High Route Map.Compliments to Robin Boustead for his research and for including little known areas such as Kangchenjunga to Sherpani Col,Sun Kosi to Tilman’s Pass and Phogaon to the Mugu Karnali. Good work.
It’s all very inspiring to go there.
Best wishes
[Reply]
Comment by Eddy De Wilde — August 17, 2011 @ 4:52 am