Hiring  a  Guide :  Why  You Should  Hike  With a Professional A guest(s) doesn't know where to hike in the area. ... Guests may not feel safe hiking on their own in an unknown/new area. ... Guests want to know more about the area they're hiking in. ... Families need some help motivating their kids. ... A guide can bring a local flair to the hike. Many young people come to Nepal and assume getting a trekking guide is optional. "Many trekking routes are so busy you'll feel like it's a walker's highway, no way to get lost," or so tourists post on message boards. Although this is often true, it's equally true that all mountains have risks and all cultures have unspoken rules that need to be obeyed. Trekking companies charge upwards of $75 per day, all inclusive of food and shelter. Many people wonder how a trekking company could earn that much to 'just walk around in the Himalayas' with you....

Here are a few guidelines to know how much to pay: Village Home-stay: When you get here you will be invited to countless villages to stay with your new, Nepali friends. It sounds inviting, but how much to pay? Your new friend will likely tell you it is completely up to you. It is important that you find out in advance how much he expects from you. You can ask how much the last person paid then explain to him how much your daily budget is. “My budget is up to 1,500 NRs. per day,” you can explain. “If I go to your village and pay 300 NRs. for the bus fare each way and stay there for two nights that would only leave me 1,200 NRs. per day. Would 750 NRs. be OK with you and your wife?” Be very clear in advance as to how much money is to be paid. When he looks disappointed, ask him if the toilet is inside. Seriously, how much should a person pay for a room without glass in the windows and a toilet you have to get to from outside?  That would leave you enough for...