7 Questions to Ask a Nepal Trekking Agency Before You Pay a Deposit
A copy-paste due-diligence checklist — licensing proof, guide certification, porter welfare, evacuation protocol and payment security — before you wire money to Nepal.
Key facts
- Since a revised provision took effect on March 31, 2023, every foreign trekker on a TIMS-covered route must be accompanied by a licensed guide arranged through a government-registered trekking agency — you cannot get a TIMS card without one.
- TAAN, the industry's own trade association, has over 2,100 member agencies; membership requires the agency's actual government trekking licence as one of seven submitted documents, so it's a real (if voluntary) filter, not just a logo.
- In 2026, Nepal's Central Investigation Bureau charged 32 people in a $19.7 million fake-helicopter-rescue scheme involving guides, hospitals and helicopter operators — evacuation protocol is now a genuine question to ask, not a formality.
- Legitimate agencies need Nepal Rastra Bank (the central bank) foreign-exchange authorization to legally receive your payment from abroad.
Do you need a guide to trek in Nepal? Since 2023, on almost every popular route, legally yes. But the deeper question — the one that actually protects your money and your safety — is which agency you hand that booking to. Here are the seven questions worth asking before a single dollar of deposit leaves your account, and why each one matters.
| Ask this | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Can I see your Department of Tourism trekking licence number? | Every legal operator has one. An agency that hesitates or can't produce it isn't registered to operate. |
| Is your guide individually licensed, and where were they trained? | Guides need a government-issued licence; ask if it's through TAAN or the Nepal Mountaineering Association's Basic Mountaineering Training. |
| What exactly is itemised in this quote? | Permits, guide and porter wages plus their insurance, lodging, meals, transport and emergency coverage should all be listed — not bundled into one vague number. |
| How much does my porter carry, and are they insured? | TAAN's recommended limit is 20–25kg per porter with a minimum daily wage around NPR 2,400; the agency, not you, is responsible for their insurance, food and shelter. |
| What's your evacuation protocol if I get sick at altitude? | Given 2026's fake-rescue scandal, ask which hospital and helicopter operator they use, and confirm the decision to evacuate is yours and the doctor's — not automatic. |
| What deposit do you need, and how do I pay it? | A registered agency holds Nepal Rastra Bank foreign-exchange authorization and takes payment to a company account or by card — a request to wire funds to a personal account is a red flag. |
| What's your refund policy if weather or altitude forces a change? | Get cancellation and itinerary-change terms in writing before you pay anything. |
What this means for trekkers
None of this is exotic — it's the same due diligence you'd apply before wiring a deposit to any small business abroad. The difference in Nepal is that the licensing system exists specifically so you can check: the Department of Tourism issues the agency licence, TAAN's membership process cross-checks it, and the TIMS system itself won't issue your permit without a registered agency attached. An operator that can answer all seven questions cleanly, in writing, before you pay is doing exactly what the system is designed to make transparent. One that goes vague on licensing, porter welfare or how the deposit gets paid is telling you something too.
What this means before you pay
Ask for the licence number and the guide's certification in writing, get an itemised quote, confirm porter insurance, ask the evacuation question directly, and pay into a registered company account. If an agency can't answer cleanly, that's your answer before you book Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Base Camp, or anywhere else in Nepal.
We've also covered what the 2026 fake-rescue scandal actually means for trekkers buying insurance if evacuation coverage is your main concern.
Every check in this piece is one we expect to be held to ourselves — our licence, guide certifications, safety record and tiered pricing are laid out on our Nepal trekking agency page.
Source: Nepal Tourism Board TIMS provisions; Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal.
Cover photo: Arijit Dey via Pexels (Pexels License).
Source: Nepal Tourism Board
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