How self-guided walking holidays in Asia can make hikers feel like travellers, not tourists
Going guideless has been popular in Europe for some time, but now the trend is extending to places like Nepal and Japan as travellers become more independent and confident braving the great outdoors alone
Would you go trekking in the Himalayas without someone to show you the way?
For those who think that travelling with a guide – and possibly a tour group in tow – is not really getting away from it all, the self-guided trek is emerging as a viable option in some unexpected destinations.
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Australian travel company World Expeditions recently announced an 11-day self-guided trek in the Everest region of Nepal. Costing HK$10,235 (US$1,300) per person, the trip is available any time from October to mid-May next year and runs from Namche Bazaar (the so-called Sherpa capital of Nepal) up to the Thyangboche Monastery in the Khumbu region.
“There are stunning views of Mount Everest on the trail and opportunities to interact with locals in some of the villages in the region,” says Sue Badyari, the company’s CEO, adding that self-guided treks allow costs to be kept to a bare minimum.
Though treks like these are designed to appeal to confident hikers looking for flexibility and independence, World Expedition’s role is less hands-off than you might expect. For example, travellers are not just provided detailed point-to-point route maps of trails linking the company’s network of eco-camps and lodges in the region, but also have their luggage carried for them. Park entrance fees, trekking permits, transfers and internal flights are arranged, and sleeping bags and warm jackets are supplied.
