NMA reschedules its guide training after opposition
NMA reopens applications for professional guide course weeks after suspending it amid objections from mountain guides
The Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) has reopened applications for its Summer Skill Course under the Professional Mountain Guide Training 2026 programme, which was suspended last month after opposition from mountain guides.
In a notice issued on August 13, the NMA said the training, which had been “previously adjourned due to technical reasons”, had been rescheduled and would resume on August 17.
Applications will be accepted on August 14 and 15 at the NMA secretariat in Nagpokhari, Naxal, with interviews scheduled for August 16 and 17 at the same venue.
The course is scheduled to run until September 24 in Kathmandu and the Kanchenjunga region of eastern Nepal's Taplejung district, according to the revised timetable.
The NMA has set a maximum of 40 participants and a fee of Rs30,000 per person. Registration forms cost Rs 100.
The association had suspended the programme on July 27 following strong opposition from sections of Nepal's mountaineering community.
Mountain guides objected to the launch of the professional guide course while the NMA's long-established Basic Mountaineering Course (BMC) and Advanced Mountaineering Course (AMC) have remained suspended since 2019.
They also accused the Association of introducing the new programme without adequate approval, transparent selection of instructors or adherence to internationally recognised standards.
Six mountaineering organisations had urged the NMA to revive the BMC and AMC, saying the prolonged suspension had weakened Nepal's system for training qualified mountain professionals.
The organisations were the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association, Everest Summiteers Association, Mount Everest Summiteers Club, Khumbu Climbing Association, Gandaki Alpine Club and Nepal Mountaineering Instructors' Association.
After the organisations formally submitted their demands, the NMA's Mountaineering and Training Expedition Committee called for applications for the new training programme.
Dozens of mountain guides subsequently gathered at the NMA office and demanded that the course be suspended. The committee convenor, NMA general secretary and vice-president agreed to adjourn the programme, according to people familiar with the meeting.
The NMA's latest notice does not say whether the BMC and AMC will be revived or whether the Professional Mountain Guide programme has been amended following the objections.
It instead focuses on the revised timetable, application requirements and other arrangements for the second summer skill course.
