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There are
many parts of Nepal into which the entry of foreigners
is strictly controlled. Many treks that may be suggested
on a map are in restricted areas for which you may need
to procure special permit and a licensed trekking guide
who will accompany you throughout your trek. The term
"restricted" is used here to refer to places that are
closed to trekkers, or open to trekkers only when
escorted by a licensed trekking guide.
There are
many reasons why the restricted areas exist. In most
cases, it is a hangover from a time when the border with
China was more sensitive than it is now. Environmental
groups, particularly the Nepal Nature Conservation
Society, are pressuring the government to keep some
places closed for ecological reasons to avoid both
cultural and environmental degradation. Because trekkers
require assistance when something goes wrong (accident,
illness or theft), the government restricts some areas
because it doubts that it could fail to provide the
security that trekkers need. There are also political
reasons for some restrictions. In the 1970s, for
example, the Jomsom trek was closed because a major
foreign-aided military operation had been mounted there
in support of the Khampas in Tibet.
There are
many influences on the decision to open or close certain
parts of Nepal to foreigners. Recent changes have
liberalized both trekking and climbing, and there is
considerable pressure to open more areas to trekkers.
You should check with a trekking agency or the central
immigration office before planning such a trek.
Permits &
Formalities
A trek to a restricted area must be arranged as a
fully equipped organized trek through a registered
trekking agency only. The trekking agency arranges the
permit through a series of applications, guarantees and
letters, a process that requires about two weeks and can
be started only 21 days before the arrival of the group.
You may not trek alone; there must be at least two
trekkers in each group. For some areas there is a limit
to the number of trekkers per season. |