Guides in Nepal

Nepal is a country famous for its mountains, flora, and fauna relying heavily on guides and porters to accompany tourists. 

During the COVID crisis, many Nepalese youth including guides left the country for foreign employment, however, as the economy started to recover Nepal started attracting tourists again, once again creating tourism-related job opportunities. 

Since April 1, 2023, the Nepal Tourism Board has made guides/porters mandatory on treks making these professions more lucrative than ever. In 2019 there were 17,164 licensed guides in the country. 

There are 700 nature guides registered with Chitwan National Park out of which 400 are actively engaged. A guide's income ranges from Rs. 1,500- Rs.2,000 per day (around $12).

It should be noted that the GDP per capita of Nepal is $1336 annually, an average Nepali makes less than $4 per day and the guide salary is three times more than the Nepali average. 

Some tour guides earn $100 per day. If a guide works regularly they could earn up to Rs. 60,000 per month. 

There are also gender dynamics in the tour guide industry, generally, guides in Nepal are predominantly a male profession, but this is changing as well. In Gauri Shankar, trekking guides are now predominantly women. 

In Simi Village, Dolakha women are trained to be guides under the unique Rolwaling Eco-tourism Development Project that aims to reduce poverty by boosting grassroots tourism. A unique culture has developed as women go out as guides and men stay working the farm. 

Dawa Yangzum Sherpa (27), Rolwaling Valley received certification from the International Federation of Mountain Guides Association after completing a tough course of mountain guiding that took a five-year-long examination process. 

Dawa Yangzum is South Asia’s first female IFMGA-certified guide. There are 6,000 IFMGA certified guides worldwide and less than 1.5% are women. 

She had completed the 350 km Everest sky race and became second in the female competition in 2010. She was the first Nepali to complete rescue ranger at Mt Rainier and climbed various peaks. She is one of three Nepali women to climb Mt. K2 (8,611m.) 

The profession of guides still has a lot of threats and challenges. In April 2014 Everest was hit by the deadliest Avalanche killing 16 Nepali sherpa guides. 

The accident initially announced a payment of $400 to the victims’ families to cover funeral costs. The event outraged sherpas who sometimes ply the risk of as little as $1,000 per season while the Nepal government receives $10,000 royalty from every Everest climber. 

This event caused guides to boycott, forcing hundreds of foreign climbers to call off their bids to climb the mountain. 

Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality refused the policy of making trekking guides compulsory and continued Solo Travel to the Everest area. Therefore, there is also a political dimension that is bubbling in the area of Tour Guides. 

As a whole Nepal continues to need guidance to promote tourism as a potential career.