The History of Nepal’s Trekking: How It All Began

Introduction Nepal’s Trekking.

Nepal’s, the home of the world’s highest peaks, has been a haven for adventurers for centuries. From Modern Day Trekking Mania to Ancient Trade Routes, the Nepalese trails have traveled a long way to be trekkers’ heaven. But where and how did it all start? Trekking in Nepa.

In this blog, we will discuss how trekking started in Nepal and evolved from the ancient methods of traversing over mountains to modern-day trekking.

The Origin of the Word “Trek”.

The term “trek” has  its derived position in the vocabulary from Boar language which means, tiresome and difficult travel as per spoken by Dutch colonists of South Africa. It was adopted from the Dutch term “trekken” to pull or haul. The very essence of trekking  aligns in the lap of the Nepalese Himalayas, where every traveler has a challenge to encounter to have the drizzle of the Himalayan almighty.

Ancient Trails and Trade Routes.

Even two or three generations back, decades back, long before trekking had ever been thought of as a sport, they were major trade routes in Nepal. Himalaya treks linked Tibet, India, and Nepal through the trade of salt, gold, and clothing. For centuries local traders and caravan travelers trekked the dangerous routes, cutting trails that would later become the trekking trails we use today, walked by thousands of trekkers.

Along these very same highways, the pilgrims traveled, to such sacred shrines as Muktinath, Gosainkuda and the Everest monasteries. It wasn’t tourism initially, however, but religion, commerce, and survival, mankind’s source of travel in Nepal’s range.

The Opening of Nepal’s Trekking to the World (1949 – 1950s)

The Birth of Modern Trekking (1960s – 1970s)

Colonel Jimmy Roberts is regarded by most as the father of trekking in Nepal as a planned activity. He was a retired British Gurkha officer who was a Military Attaché to the British Embassy in Kathmandu. He was already trekking the Nepalese hills for years. After he introduced Tilman on his first trek, he believed that trekking could turn tourism into a money earner for the adventure seekers.

Roberts established Mountain Travel, Nepal’s first trekking company, in 1964, and commercial trekking came into being. His dream of tented treks with Sherpas and cooks brought the foreigner to the Nepalese mountains. His first guests, a group of American women whom he described as “a sporting trio of enthusiasts,” arrived in early spring 1965.

Roberts later worked Mountain Travel with Mike Cheney and Dawa Norbu Sherpa. United States’ Barry Bishop and Allen Steck and Warwick Deacock of “Ausventure” in Australia were his first foreign business partners. They made sure to have individuals from their own country on their trips all the time, and they established Mountain Travel and encouraged other people to set up their own adventure and trekking company.

And that was the era when treks like the Annapurna Circuit and the Everest Base Camp trekking trail were the most sought after. And then came that hippie culture, free-spirited travelers in quest of spirituality flocking to Nepal’s hilly terrain.

The Trekking Boom Nepal’s Trekking. (1980s – 2000s)

Trekking in Nepal had become a commercial enterprise by the 1980s. There were tea houses and lodges on established trails as well, and trekking was made convenient. The Nepalese government utilized national park legislation to conserve the environment as well as control tourism. In 1986, there was established the Annapurna Conservation Area, a giant step towards sustainable trekking.

By the 1990s and early 2000s, trekkermen tourism flourished in Nepal. Stimulated by road infrastructure investment, improved road links and worldwide demand for adventure tourism. Trails among grew highly popular with trekking visitors who sought challenge through varied terrain and cultural experience were scarce around Langtang Valley, around Manaslu and Upper Mustang.

Modern Nepal’s Trekking and Sustainable Tourism.

(2010s – Present)

Nepal trekking is still a relaxed exercise for contemporary travelers with trekkers from all over the world showing up to take a stroll. Over-tourism, deforestation & climate change has led to the government & residents to implement sustainable tourism.

Eco-lodges, proper waste disposal and walking on the busiest trails reduce trekkers’ impact on this sensitive region in Nepal. Trekking has also been made easier for more people by glamping and luxury trekking.

And technology innovation — GPS, mobile phone coverage and an internet system for geology-based trek permits — has made it convenient and safer to trek. Nepal trekking experience is the same in exchange of all, an experience one never forgets in a life time one, trekking in the midst of the natural beauty and rich culture of Nepal.

Benefits of Nepal’s Trekking.

From the traveler’s and from the the Nepalese economy and citizens’ point of view, there’s a long list of advantages of trekking in Nepal:

• Health and Wellness – Trek is an excellent way to exercise, improving cardiovascular health, stamina and mental well-being.
• Cultural Exchange – Trekkers get a chance to enjoy Nepal’s multicultural cultures and also learn about Nepali and also local citizens and spend some time living in the Himalaya regarding acclimatization.
• Biodiversity trekking – The trekkers are usually able to catch glimpses of a whole lot of plants and animals in an area seemingly covered with Rhododendron and red pandas and snow leopards patrolling the edgescapes.
• Big Adventure and self-expansion types — The demanding climate tested adventurers to test their mettle, toughening their characters more resourceful and self-conscious.

Economic Impact of Nepal’s Trekking.

Trekkers earn millions of dollars and local employment in:

• Employment – Dozens of people are finding work in the trekking business like porters, guides, hoteliers (lodge owners), and travel agents (tour operators).
• Income to Local Communities – Trekkers are respectful guests to the locals’ economy (tea houses, transport operators, and handicraft sellers).
• Foreign Exchange Receipts – Treks are accountable for attracting numerous foreign travelers to Nepal which are the source of foreign exchange in the form of hard currency to the Nepalese economy.
• Better Infrastructure – Due to increased tourism new roads, telecom cables, & health centres have reached rural parts of Nepal.

We prefer sustainable tourism policy and responsible practice in the perspective of keeping Nepalese nature and culture intact for future generations along with preferable living since there is economically but also there is economic gain.

Conclusion in Nepal trekking.

After all, Nepal’s trails have had time to develop, too, from the ancient trade routes to more recent successful treks. Trekking is a lifestyle in Nepal, and Nepal’s geography has history, nature and adventure all jumbled together. Trekking is easier on the body than climbing and involves something more than the mere thrill of adventure and because of this trekkers are superior to climbers in Nepal nowadays.

Sir Edmund Hillary has quoted, “Nepal is the only country in the world, which is, in my view, half-way between the world trekking oases and besides it is indeed an awe-inspiring trekking country in the world.” From the merchant’s cart of old to the modern-day conqueror, trekking in Nepal is an indeed a distinctive experience. Contact us today at Happy Mountain Nepal, Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok. 

FAQs

1. What is the history of trekking ?

Trekking was incorporated as a business enterprise in the 1960s when the very first Nepali trekking business, Mountain Travel, was initiated by Colonel Jimmy Roberts. However, even in the early centuries, there existed pilgrims, merchants, and tourists who trekked over the trails of Nepal.

2. Who was the earliest foreigner to trek Nepal?

It was in 1949 that the British climber Bill Tilman first foreigner to enter Nepal. He trekked to places like Helambu and Everest after obtaining permission from the king of Nepal.

3. Why the significance of trade routes in trekking history?

The traditional trade routes joined Nepal to India and Tibet, and salt, gold and cloth were exchange on the routes. The same routes were subsequently used by present day trekkers as trekking trails.

4. What was the earliest company in Nepal trekking?

Mountain Travel was the earliest trek company in Nepal, founded by Colonel Jimmy Roberts in 1964. It was the earliest to market porters, Sherpas, and tented camping as led treks.

5. How did trek become popular in Nepal?

The conquest of Everest and other Himalayas in 1953 put the rest of the world on Nepal’s trail. The 1960s counterculture and adventure travel in the 1980s boosted trekking tourism.

6. What are the most popular trekking trails of Nepal?

Most popular trails are: Everest Base Camp Trek, Annapurna Circuit, Langtang Valley Trek, Manaslu Circuit and Upper Mustang Trek.

7. How has trekking affected Nepal’s economy?

Trekking is also one of the nation’s biggest earners, with guide, porter, and lodge work all tracking directly back to it keeping Nepal’s tourism economy going.

8. What are the threats in Nepalese trek?

Some of the likely threats to Nepal’s trekk routes through environmental degradation are climate change, over-tourism, deforestation, litter and trash pollution. Among them is the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) that prevents them from doing so.

9. How has technology revolutionized in Nepal trekking?

This is the way technology has revolutionized Nepal trek:

GPS, mobile network connectivity, and internet-based permit systems enable the new trek.

10. The future of Nepal trekking: What next?

Planning of green tourism, ecotourism lodging, and policy-based trek to conserve Nepal’s natural and cultural resources.