Nepal has announced that solo adventurers from foreign countries will need to hire a government-licensed guide or join a guided group if they want to explore the country’s national parks. The provision, which is set to take effect from April 1, 2023, comes after the country banned solo mountaineers from climbing Mount Everest in 2019. The decision aims to mitigate adverse incidents such as getting lost en route or natural disasters, and ensure trekkers have immediate access to the professional support system in case of unwarranted situations. The new policy will also help address challenges faced during rescue operations, given the inadequacy of infrastructure in remote mountains. The chance to explore, climb mountains, and be totally self-reliant is appealing to some people, but the flip side of the coin is that such remoteness also means that the cost of search-and-rescue operations for missing hikers is significantly expensive. The decision to ban solo travel within the country’s national parks will help address the rising trend of deadly incidents involving solo trekkers and will also help dispel the misconception that Nepal is an unsafe destination.