Effectively from 1 April, 2023, No Trekkers are allowed to do Nepal Trekking without Guide, that means you must be with licensed guide who belongs to Registered Trekking Company.
Furthermore, Free Individual Trekkers (FITs) will no longer be issued Trekking Information Manangement System (TIMS) cards (Trekking Permit), and tourists will be required to book their trek through a registered trekking company and hire a guide for the duration of their trek in Himalayas.
With new provision, all trekkers are required to obtain a services of licenced Trekking Guide and to obtain TIMS (Trekking Information Management System) CARD through Legally Government Registered trekking Company under the Company Act of Nepal Government.
This decision has been taken to help mitigate adverse incidents like getting lost en-route, health issues and natural diastion and so on as well to create employment opportunities for workers in the tourism sector of Nepal and to discaurage unauthorized trekking tours operationin Nepal.
The Official annoucmennt from Nepal Tourism Board
1. Nepal Bans Solo Trekkers Througout the Country - CNN
For Details, visit at: https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/nepal-solo-trekking-ban-intl-hnk/index.html
2. No more solo treks. Guides mandatory from April 1: The Kathmandu Post
For Details, visit at:https://kathmandupost.com/money/2023/03/04/no-more-solo-treks-guides-mandatory-from-april-1
3. NTB suspends FIT provision from April 1, makes it mandatory for foreign tourist to take guides during trekking: My Republica
For Details, visit at: https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/ntb-closes-fit-provision-from-april-1-makes-it-mandatory-for-foreign-tourist-to-take-guides-during-trek/
4. Nepal bans solo trekking for foreigners, makes guides mandatory from April 1: Hindustan Times
For Details, visit at: https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/travel/nepal-bans-solo-trekking-for-foreigners-makes-guides-mandatory-from-april-1-101677911181788.html
5. Foreigners are no longer allowed to trek without a guide in Nepal: Onlinekhabar
For Details, visit at: https://english.onlinekhabar.com/trek-without-a-guide-nepal-trekking.html
6. Nepal Says Tourists Trekking in Himalayas Must Hire Trekking guides: Aljazeera
For Details, visit at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/8/nepal-says-tourists-trekking-in-himalayas-must-hire-local-guides
7. Nepal Will Ban Solo Hiking in Its National Parks: The New York Times