Trekking entrepreneurs in search of new trekking trails

Published On: February 7, 2021 02:31 PM NPT By: Santosh Pokharel

KATHMANDU, Feb 7: With the expansion of motorways, the trekking trails have been shortened reducing the duration of trekking. The week-long treks are now over in a few days.

Not only has the distance of the trekking trails shortened, but also the area has been polluted due to the motor vehicles.

Tourism entrepreneurs have started identifying new foot trails after the existing trails have been shortened by motorways. Trekking entrepreneurs have planned to promote and send trekkers to the routes that are not likely to be connected to motorways immediately.

Although foreign trekkers could not come at this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the entrepreneurs plan to send them to the newly-introduced trails considered new, attractive and adventurous after everything becomes normal. The entrepreneurs have started giving priority to trails where there is no settlement as the old and current trekking trails have been shortened by highways.

The Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) Western Regional Association, an umbrella organization of trekking entrepreneurs, has recently completed a promotional trek to Annapurna North Base Camp.

TAAN had carried out a promotional trek to understand whether tourists could be sent on this route in the coming days as there is no possibility of immediate access of motor vehicles. Along with this trekking trail of Annapurna North Base Camp, preparations are underway to identify other new destinations. Entrepreneurs plan to send foreign trekkers and adventurers to this new route in Nepal after the pandemic settles.

Sushil Raj Poudel, president of TAAN Western Regional Association, said, “The so-called trekking routes are being destroyed. Expansion of roads with access to vehicles led to the loss of many destinations. That is why we want to identify new, attractive and adventurous trekking trails.”

"We want to give more priority to areas without access to human settlements. Because if there is no human settlement, there is less chance of development of motorways which will contribute to the conservation of foot trails,” he said, “Annapurna North Base Camp is such a trail which is far beyond human settlement. This route is not always accessible by car.”