Nepal Choose a Guide
From our independent local female trekking guides

Nirmala is from Pokhara, a beautiful Nepali city on the shore of Phewa Lake beneath the high mountains of the Annapurna range. As the gateway to the famous treks of the Annapurna region, Pokhara is one of the centers of tourism in Nepal. Nirmala became exposed to various trades within the tourism industry growing up. After much thought about her future, and because she enjoyed learning about the culture and lifestyles of the people who visited her city from all over the world, she decided to be a trekking guide. While she has been working in the industry since 2011, Nirmala got her official license after completing the required training in 2015. As an independent trekking guide, Nirmala enjoys working with her clients and providing them with quality service. Nirmala has a background in management, and when she has free time she enjoys working with local social organizations. She wants her clients to know that “I am glad that you visited Nepal and recommend it your friends. . . this place which is full of natural beauty.” Nirmala is available for short treks in the Annapurna Region and sightseeing in the Pokhara Valley and city tours of Pokhara. In 2018, Nirmala got her official Pokhara City guide license after completing a course from Nepal Academy of Tourism & Hotel Management.

• Poon Hill (Nov 2017)
• Ghandruk Loop via Australian Camp (Oct 2018)
• Ghandruk Loop (Sep 2017)
• Ghandruk Loop (Apr 2019)
• Mardi Himal (Mar 2019)
• Mardi Himal (Apr 2019)
• Poon Hill (Jul 2019)
• Mardi Himal (Oct 2019)
• Ghandruk Loop via Australian Camp (Feb 2022)

Growing up in Lukla, the gateway to Mt. Everest, Pema has seen thousands of tourists pass through her home village. Watching her father work with trekkers, Pema knew that the industry offered good jobs that could support a family and allow her to meet people from all over the world. Inspired by these opportunities, Pema began working as a lead guide in 2007 and has since led treks in the Everest, Annapurna, Langtang, and Helambu Regions. During her time as a trekking guide she has enjoyed visiting many beautiful places and has gained friends from all over the world. She enjoys teaching others about her own Sherpa (and Nepali) culture while at the same time learning about her client’s culture and home country. Pema says “I have been loving my job and I will continue [as long as] I have energy.” When not trekking in the mountains, Pema enjoys studying English, visiting new places, reading, and watching travel documentaries. Pema is a self-described, “energetic, talkative, responsible, hardworking, female trekking guide.” She looks forward to sharing her country and culture with you.

• Mardi Himal (Nov 2018)
• Everest Base Camp via Cho La (Feb 2018)
• Langtang Valley via Gosainkunda (Sep 2018)
• Ghandruk Loop (Oct 2018)
• Tamang Heritage Trail (May 2018)
• Gokyo Valley Fifth Lake & Ngozumpa Tse (Mar 2019)
• Everest Base Camp (May 2019)
• Mardi Himal (Jul 2019)

An outdoor enthusiast, Dikki is a climber as well as trekker. She has summited Ramdhung (5900 m), Mera (6,461 m), and Manaslu (8163 m) Peaks. She has extensive training in mountain climbing, trekking, and first aid, completing courses in Basic and Advanced Mountaineering, Level One Rock Climbing, Mountain Leader Training, First Aid as well as Trekking Guide Training. In addition to her climbing accomplishments she has lead treks in Everest, Annapurana, Langtang, and Manaslu regions.

Sonam is originally from the Tsum Valley a remote valley inhabited by people of Tibetan origin that branches off the Around Manaslu Trek. In addition to being a trekking guide, Sonam has been trained in Mountain Rescue in both Switzerland and Nepal. When not leading treks, she works as a helicopter mountain rescuer, and for a small NGO called Earth C-Air (www.earth-c-air.com). Earth C-Air helps transfer mountain rescue knowledge from Switzerland to locals in the mountainous regions of Nepal. Soman became a trekking guide because she loves nature, sighting, and hiking in the mountains. She enjoys being able to meet people from all over the world and being able to learn from about the language, culture, and lifestyle of her clients. She has led treks in Manaslu, Tsum Valley, Langtang, and Annapurna Regions of Nepal. In her leisure time she likes to read, rock climb, and hike with friends and family.

Ang Chhechi grew up in the Khumbu (Everest) region of Nepal. As with many Sherpas in the Khumbu, trekking was something of a family business for Ang Chhechi. She learned about the mountains and how to guide from her father, who is also a professional trekking guide. Ang Chhechi’s interest in learning about the environment, cultures and other places made guiding a natural fit for her. In her words, “I like being a trekking guide… I want to help other people…I want to make new friends.” Ang Chhechi has been guiding since 2016 and has completed guide training course from Nepal Mountain Academy. She hopes to complete a course in rock climbing soon. She has guided trips in the Everest and Annapurna regions.

Phurwa is from the solukhumbu district of Nepal, home to the highest mountains in the world. Trekking is a family business for Phurwa, she has been working in the industry since 2012, before getting her trekking license she assisted her uncle and other relatives with their treks. After completing her trekking guide training, she has lead treks in Khumbu (Everest), Manaslu, Tsum Valley, and Annapurna Regions. Phurwa loves to visit new places and finds working as trekking guide allows her to see and experience the diverse culture of her own country as well as learning about the culture of her foreign clients. When not leading treks Phurwa is studying to complete her bachlor’s degree, she is also studying German.

• Langtang Valley (Jan 2018)
• Langtang Valley (Nov 2017)
• Langtang Valley (Dec 2018)
• Around Manaslu via Manaslu Base Camp (Oct 2018)
• Around Manaslu via Tsum Valley, via Manaslu Base Camp, and via Punggen Gompa (Sep 2018)
• Annapurna Circuit via Tilicho Lake, Bus to Tatopani and trek to Poon Hill, via Kagbeni, and via Marpha (Oct 2018)
• Around Manaslu via Tsum Valley (Sep 2019)
• Around Manaslu via Tsum Valley (Oct 2019)

Lali (whose friends call her Laxmi) is originally from Panyu, a village west of Pokhara. She is both a trekking and sightseeing guide throughout Nepal. Laxmi has led many treks around the Annapurna mountains near her home including the Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Base Camp, Mardi Himal, and Khopra Danda. In addition to treks in the Annapurna Region she has also led treks in the Langtang, and Everest Regions of Nepal. As a single mother, Laxmi doesn’t have a lot of free time but she also manages to study her master’s degree in English in Pokhara. She likes being a trekking since it allows her to “visit different beautiful, historical places, cultural and geographical place with clients…” and to “meet different peoples from different places all over the world.”

• Around Manaslu via Manaslu Base Camp, via Kal Tal, and via Punggen Gompa (Mar 2019)
• Ghandruk, Khopra Ridge, & Poon Hill (Sep 2019)

Asmitah came from one of the Kshytri family that settled in the far west of Nepal, Bajhang district. She spent her whole childhood the small village of Bajhang, where her grandparents used to work for farm land. Her parents still live there and are so passionate about farming and herbal plants. She says “I'm not sure if this is why I seem to attract about adventure, trekking, hiking and outdoor activities.” At the age of 20 she began solo treks also different treks in groups. Recently Asmitah completed the trekking guide course from the Nepal Mountain Academy. She is relatively new to guiding treks but has led city tours in the past, she adds “I'm a fresher one for now…I have confidence that I could be able handle upcoming trek(s).” She says her hobbies are “reading novel /newspaper, writing articles and watching movie/series…for fun I used to go to theatres, music events and sometimes club.” Asmitah says, “As I grew up in the village area nature and adventure attracts me so much. Besides of my study / job I enjoy trekking, hiking and hang out with new peoples get to know new cultures that makes me stress free. Also, after completing my high school education, I attend eco-trekking and community tourism training that inspires me to [become a] trekking guide.”

Sandy is from the historic city of Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu Valley. Her love of traveling, exploring new places, and adventure has led her to become a trekking guide. She has completed the trekking guide training from the Nepal Mountain Academy and 3 sisters adventure company & has experience trekking in the Annapurna Region, Langtang Region of Nepal. A self declared extravert, Sandy loves music, singing, and sharing her experiences.

• Langtang Valley (Apr 2018)

Diku is originally from Kerung village in the Solukhumbu region of Nepal. She has completed trekking guide training and has led treks and guided in Nepal since 2012. She has led treks in the Khumbu (Everest), Langtang, and Annapurna Regions. When not in the mountains she likes to relax and read the paper. Diku enjoys learning new things and meeting new people.

• Around Manaslu via Tsum Valley and via Punggen Gompa (Oct 2017)
• Annapurna Sanctuary (Nov 2019)

Nim is originally from Lukla, home of the airport that serves the Everest Region. While being a female trekking guide “is not easy work,” she said she became a trekking guide because there is a lack of female guides Nepal. Many people come from all over the world to visit Nepal including to female clients, she wanted to give them an option of hiring a female guide if they preferred. Nim has completed first aid training in addition to her trekking guide training. She has lead treks in Annapurna (Thorung La, Khopra Danda), Helambu, and Everest (Cho La, Everest Base Camp) Regions of Nepal. Nim has studied French, and when not leading treks in the mountains, she likes swimming and traveling to see new places.

Samikshya is originally from Bardia Thakurdwara near Bardia National Park in Western Nepal. She has been currently studying BASW ( Bachelor in Social Work) in Padma Kanya Multiple Campus Kathmandu. And she would like to be known as an independent women. Being from a place so rich with wildlife it is no surprise that Samikshaya developed a strong appreciation and extensive knowledge of the birds and wildlife of Nepal. She started guiding near her home in Bardia BNP ( Bardia National Park), where she completed courses in both basic and then senior nature guiding. She has also completed the female trekking guide training course from NMA (Nepal Mountain Academy) Kathmandu. Samikshya has guided treks in Langtang, Rara Lake (Western Nepal) Helumbu , Annpurna (Poon Hill), Chitwan Hills, and Telpani Hills (West Nepal). Samikshaya says she became a trekking and nature guide in her words, “[Because] I love the nature, wildlife, birds, culture, and religion and I would like to be a great example of professional women guide in Nepal to encourage more female guides to come in this trekking field". In her free time, Samikshaya enjoys nature photography, visiting new places, exchange the cultural experiences and bird watching. She had finished her German language A1 and A2 courses from Goethe institute Kathmandu.

• Ghandruk Loop Australian Camp Out and Back and via Ghorepani (Poon Hill) (Nov 2018)

Chhopema is originally from the Lantang region of Nepal. She received her trekking guide training from Nepal Mountain Academy. Chhopema has guided expensively in the mountains around her home, including treks to the Langtang Valley, along the Tamang Heritage Trail, to Gosainkunda Lake, and over the Laurebina La to Helambu. In addition to these treks she has climbed Yala Peak in Langtang Valley and also led treks in the Annapurna, and Everest regions of Nepal. When asked why she became a trekking guide, Chhopema said because “I love travelling and want to meet with different people from different places” and that she wanted to “give empowerment to women.” When not in the mountains Chhopema enjoys visiting with her friends and playing sports like basketball and table tennis, and looks forward to learning yoga.