You can no longer hike alone in Nepal: Country bans solo hikers after disappearances

Solo hiking will soon be banned from Nepal’s national parks in an attempt to reduce risks for the tens of thousands of adventurers who annually flock to the Himalayan country.

The move goes into effect next month and makes guides now mandatory, according to the Nepal Tourism Board.

The decision, announced in early March comes after incidents in which tourists became lost and sometimes died while hiking alone, according to the board’s director, Mani R. Lamichhane.

“There were many cases where tourists have disappeared,” Lamichhane told the New York Times. He added that deaths among solo trekkers had given some tourists the misperception that Nepal was unsafe.

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New rules apply to tourists of all experience levels

The new rules apply to tourists of all experience levels on treks in Nepal’s national parks, such as the popular Annapurna Circuit, a 150-mile route that circles the Annapurna mountain range. Trekkers can still embark on solo hikes outside of national parks, such as around the city of Kathmandu.

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"The decision, however, will not be applicable to Nepali trekkers,” Lamichhane told The Kathmandu Post.

The tourism board has also increased the fee charged to hikers.

Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hiking in Nepal banned for solo travelers after hiker disappearances