KATHMANDU, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Nepal will allow solo foreign trekkers to visit designated restricted areas by ending the group-only permit system, the Department of Immigration said on Monday.
The South Asian country has designated 15 areas across 13 mountain districts as restricted areas. In a notice published on its website, the department said the decision was to address complaints from travel trade entrepreneurs.
However, solo travel to these areas will be subject to certain conditions, including submitting applications through a trekking agency, assigning a trekking guide, and requiring the concerned agency to take full responsibility for rescue operations in emergencies, among others. ■