Porters walking up the mountains for $25 dollar a day. Allowed to carry up to 30kg a person. Their genetics are built different, but how can we justify a person carrying so much weight, each day, for a salary that we earn per hour?
Of course, our countries have different economies and 25$ a day is a ton load of money for them - and don’t get me wrong, during today’s hike I was considering getting a porter again. But is it justifiable?
The Work of a Guide
So, here’s how the job of a trekking guide in Nepal is described:
“In addition to their safety responsibilities, licensed guides in Nepal possess a deep understanding of the country's culture and are experts on the trekking routes in the region. They also act as entertainers in the evenings, arranging transportation and accommodation along the trek.”
Sounds like a dream, right? Cultural insight, trail knowledge, safety skills, social charm. But how sustainable is that role, really?
High Season
During high season, guides are working nonstop. In the off-season, there’s no income - no tourists to guide, no money to be made. So, they push themselves hard during peak season just to survive the months ahead.
The result? Burnout. No time to rest before heading up the next mountain with a new group of strangers. No energy left, yet still expected to be informative, responsible, and entertaining.
Lately, I’ve heard more and more about guides struggling with alcohol - drinking not just socially, but as a way to cope with the lifestyle. And honestly, after these past weeks, I can see how that could happen.
The End of Our Trekking Experience
We weren’t particularly happy with our guide.
But we were very happy with our second guide who took it upon himself to merge our two groups and smooth things over.
After our first guide tried to argue with Jet and me on one of our last hiking days, I didn’t feel like I had anything positive left to say about him. I thought everything was okay - until that one night, when he got drunk and blurted everything out.
The next day? He claimed he couldn’t remember anything. Which I find… questionable.
It was our last day, and after many talks with Jet, and even some discussions with my parents, we decided to give him a $50 tip. More than enough, we figured - especially since we were far from satisfied with him.
Reflections and Reviews
On the jeep ride out, he told us how intense the high season gets. He mentioned he was heading to Everest Base Camp in two days, with more tours lined up right after.
He said he was thankful the second guide had helped out, and that he knew he hadn’t been at his best. We appreciated that he admitted it - it showed a kind of awareness, even if it came a bit late.
After dropping us off at the bus station, he asked if we’d leave a review. He said the company would appreciate it. A few days later, we bumped into the organizer in Kathmandu. He asked the same.
Normally, I do write reviews. But this time? I’m not so sure.
Do You Leave a Review or Not?
We’ve been told that a bad review can seriously impact a guide’s future. That it can mean fewer bookings. Less money. Less food for their family.
And not just from other hikers - we’ve heard this from guides themselves.
A guy we met at a yoga retreat said he stopped leaving reviews altogether. He didn’t want to lie. But he also didn’t want to ruin someone’s life.
So where does that leave us?
Can I live with myself, knowing that a man who didn’t guide us professionally might lead another group and fail them?
Or can I live with myself, knowing that an honest review could ruin his chance of feeding his family?
And then I wonder...
Was he not good enough?
Or is he just burned out - another guide pushed to the edge by the pressures of the high season?
