Local Operators

How to choose from so many local operator trekking companies? Want to find the right one who really follows the principles of sustainable tourism, is super reliable and knows the GHT intimately?

And then, how best to communicate and negotiate with them to get a fair and reasonable price?

At the end of the day, GHT trekkers rely heavily on responsible trekking companies and what the Himalaya needs more of them!

We’re here to help you find companies who are doing the right thing
and know what they’re doing.

But we want to be very clear, we do not organise treks. We want to provide you with independent, accurate information, so you can decide what is best for you. The companies on this page have signed a GHT Affiliate Marketing Agreement for Local Operators, you can read a copy of the agreement here (LINK) and see an example of a client service contract here (LINK). Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Not sure about the credentials and capacity of trekking companies? Please reach out as we have nearly 30 years of working with many companies and are happy to share our thoughts.

The quality of your trek is likely to depend a great deal on the quality of the trekking outfitter (agent) that you choose to use.

GHT Trekking is About Mountains AND People

Yes, the mountains are spectacular, but it will probably be the people who draw you back to Nepal time and again. Nepali people live life ‘immediately’, they have been accused of wearing their hearts on their sleeve and lacking foresight, but they are disarmingly openhearted and hospitable. For them, the opportunity to make a friend today is more important than what might or might not happen tomorrow.

Choosing a Trekking Company, Guide and Crew

Trekking with a guide and a crew is a wonderful opportunity to develop a better understanding of Nepal. Once you have identified your ideal operator, it’s then time to build relationships with your guide and crew, and it is really worth the effort to take a little time to make the right choice. If you are on a fully organised trek, the guide is already chosen for you but please take the time to read this section anyway.Finding a guide can be difficult in peak season, but if you arrive before the rush of groups in mid October or April you should be able to find a good candidate within a couple of days. Your local trekking operator will know guides with knowledge of a specific area or issue and the ‘grapevine’ will do the rest.

The criteria that we use to assess companies are simple and transparent:

1. The company continually successfully organises remote area treks incorporating sustainable practices with openly available client feedback.
2. The company has started or has accomplished a sustainability award or certification from an independent third party, for example Travelife.
3. The company actively engages at their own cost with community groups along the GHT, including establishing GHT Check-In Points, and openly publishes such engagements.
4. The company sets a minimum standard for client terms and conditions (including refunds and cancellations), and data privacy to the European Union Package Travel Directive (PTD) and related directives.
5. Mandates that appropriate travel, medical and rescue insurance is required for all clients.

Tips for Choosing a GHT Local Operator

1.Use Open Questions

Guides sometimes present their trekking or climbing history in a scrapbook or simple resumé, and it is important to ask for and check references from the outset. Perhaps choose a modest local teashop as a place to meet for a snack or lunch as a ‘get-to-know-you’ session. Try only to ask open questions as most Nepalese will almost certainly answer, ‘yes’ rather than lose face. It is surprising how many ‘guides’ will assert knowledge of places they have heard about second or third hand.
So, your first question could be, ‘What is it like in … ?’ If they have been there before, how many times, how long ago, and have they been the senior member or guide of the group each time? Perhaps your guide’s home village is in or near the region you wish to trek, and if so, perhaps you can take the time to visit their home? Such opportunities are a great way to really get to know what life is like in rural Nepal.

2. Relevant Experience is Essential

Your guide’s general experience is also important. A long history of leading groups to different regions proves a deep level of competence. Having taken ‘a few groups teahouse trekking in the Everest region’ should not inspire confidence. There are a few formal technical mountaineering and climbing courses run by the Nepal Mountaineering Association, which are world class in standard, and qualifications are evidence of genuine skill and ability. However, you should be cautious of the Trekking Agency Guide Identity Card for which very little training
or few qualifications are necessary.

3. How Much do they Pay?

Rates of pay for guides vary depending on experience, level of responsibility, trek difficulties and demands. You may not get to negotiate with many guides as they will insist on using a particular agency to organise your trip, but you should be aware of their pay rate and that it is fair and reasonable, and without ‘creative’ deductions by the local operator. Pay rates have generally become more transparent since the Nepali government recommended
minimum wages and conditions for guides and crew.

IMPORTANT! When trekking with a crew you are undertaking to look after the welfare of your staff, so also ask your trekking company, and IPPG and KEEP about your responsibilities.

Check out our comprehensive review of all trek costs – see How Much Do Treks Cost – and make sure you are negotiating a fair price and not paying too much!

Remember, you are a team on the trail!

Guide Communication Skills

Some guides can speak multiple languages and dialects from Nepal (there are more than eighteen ethnic groups each with a distinct language), which can make bargaining and trail finding much easier. You should also test the first-aid knowledge of your guide; many have only a very basic idea. After you have asked all your questions and developed a good idea of how well you get along together, you can discuss plans for the trek

Deciding Responsibilities

Before you start buying food, booking tickets and employing staff you need to get the rules of the trek agreed. Some common issues you should be completely clear about:

• How do you organise a rescue? Is the trekking agency going to organise a helicopter if needed? You might need to obtain details of a rescue organisation before you depart. Leave a copy of everyone’s insurance details with the agency.
• Who decides on rest days? Is your itinerary rigid or could you take an extra day here or there to rest and explore a place?
• If there is an injury, who treats the patient? The crew are considered your responsibility as well as that of the guide and agency.
• Does anyone in the group have any special dietary needs?
• Is anyone in the group on medication? Are there any other pre-existing medical conditions that the guide or agency should know about?
• If equipment is damaged or lost who pays for the repair or replacement?
• Will you be happy if the crew drink alcohol or smoke in camp? If you have a little party or celebration, who is paying for the drinks?

Cooks, Kitchen Crew and Porters

Once you have a clear understanding about the roles of the agency, guide and your own responsibilities it is time to select a cook, sherpa assistants if necessary, kitchen crew and porters. Normally your agency and guide handle all the recruiting and planning, but you can be involved too.

Cooks vary greatly in skill

It is amazing that cooks can vary so much in skills, from almost as bad as the extremely comical Pong described in WE Bowman’s The Ascent of Rumdoodle, to five-star hoteltrained cooks who produce seven- to eightcourse gourmet meals.

Your guide should be able to find a cook who can cater for your tastes; if you have special dietary
requirements don’t be afraid to ask for a sample meal to check their skills. Your cook will normally
select the kitchen crew, who tend to be staff they have worked with in the past. The kitchen crew may also lend a hand when pitching tents or dismantling camp if necessary.

Porters carry the heaviest loads, normally up to 25kg, but sometimes they might elect to carry a double load for short periods and extra pay. You should not encourage double loads. Local authorities often check porter loads. You will have trouble continuing your trek if the loads are considerably over 30kg and/or your staff are too young. As the majority of staff on any trek or expedition are porters, it is important to take some time in their selection.

Sherpas (big S) or sherpas (small s)

The Sherpa people of the Solu-Khumbu (the Everest Region) have developed a reputation for enormous energy and skill at assisting Himalayan climbers. In recognition of this senior role,