Female trekking guides in Nepal and their clients talk empowerment and equality: ‘we see women in tea houses working, but not leading trails’
- Most treks in Nepal are led by male guides, but an increasing number of female trekkers are looking for female guides, for safety reasons among others
- Hiring female guides helps empower Nepali women and give them financial independence and respect, and gives the client a different experience of the country
When Marine Annic, 35, a singer from France, wanted to trek in Nepal, she scoured the internet for female guides.
“Only a few women were proposing trekking services,” says Annic. “As a woman, I felt hiring a woman guide would bring me a nice experience, interesting conversations about Nepali culture and traditions.”
Each year, thousands of tourists visit Nepal to trek, but almost all expeditions are led by men. However, officials the Post spoke to say that enrolment of women in trekking courses at national academies in Nepal has been rising.
This is a blessing for people such as Veronika Jacenkova, 41, from the Czech Republic, who, like Annic, sought out women-led trekking companies when she visited Nepal.
“It’s more comfortable to travel with a woman because of safety factors,” says Jacenkova. “I didn’t think a trip alone [through the Langtang National Park] was safe.”
