Tourists told not to trek alone in Nepal

[Rishi]

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[rich]

Sounds like a TAAN beat up.

[Per]

Sounds like a TAAN beat up.

Yes, this qoute is very telling:

Local media myrepulica.com reported on Tuesday that tourism entrepreneurs had organized a meeting with security officials that requested all tourists to trek in company to avoid any untoward incidents. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-11/24/content_12532229.htm

Pity, the Nepalese tourist sector is certainly going to suffer when TAAN resorts to fear mongering. It is noteworthy that myrepublica.com issues a warning for guides. Some tourists have apparently been robbed by their guides and porters.

[Escher]

Sounds like a TAAN beat up.

That was exactly what I thought when I read that article. There have been warnings of robberies around Ghorepani for years, it's even printed on some maps. Despite that and having been through there several times I have not heard directly of anyone having problems anywhere, apart from a couple of Maoist encounters and thefts from BC's at Mera and Makalu.

But then Rishi isn't high up in the TAAN hierarchy is he?!

[yakshaver]

Well, the Maoists are on the prowl for donations again. They let us go though their post somewhere past Arkhet (early on the Manaslu trek), and they corralled Santaman the guide (who was trekking with Nick who was very very slow). They asked for 2500 rupees for each tourist, and Santa managed to negociate it down to 1500. They dully issued a receipt with the number of tourists, and the trekking agency's name.

Apparently there have been some incidents of thievery on the lower reaches of the Manaslu trek as well, in the current trekking season.

[Sujoy]

As far as I know the Maoists havent been reported on the Annapurna or Everest side this year. Perhaps they have targetted Manaslu as it is not as heavily trekked as the other two?

[yakshaver]

I think there is strong support for the Maoists in Manaslu. That being said, it should not discourage peope to trek there, as it is an absolutely fantastic trek, especially one has time for the Tsum valley as well.