You may have read it in travel blogs, watched it in documentaries, or heard it from fellow trekkers—Nepal’s high-altitude treks would not be possible without the superhuman strength and quiet resilience of porters and guides. But when the trek ends and everyone flies home, what sticks around is a question that deserves more attention.
Did we treat our team as people or as just another line item on our budget?
Porters and guides are not just the engine of your Everest Base Camp journey. They are your cultural gateway, your safety net, and often, the invisible heroes who carry your load while you chase dreams under Himalayan skies.
If you’re serious about trekking responsibly and ethically, here’s your guide to building genuine, respectful, and fair relationships with the people who make your adventure possible.
Start With a Shift in Mindset
First things first. They are not your servants. This should be obvious, yet countless accounts from trekkers and locals show that the culture of servitude lingers.
Real respect starts long before the trek begins. Book your support crew through a reputable, local trekking agency that ensures proper pay, insurance, and gear for their staff. And if you’re hiring independently, ask questions. Do they have enough warm clothing? Are they being paid a daily rate or just relying on tips?
A professional guide is not just someone who walks with you. They’re your mountain encyclopedia, route planner, health checker, and sometimes your therapist at 4,000 meters. Porters are often local men and women supporting entire families, walking the same trails every season without proper recognition.
Tip Fairly, Not Emotionally
A generous tip at the end is appreciated, but it should never be a substitute for a fair wage. Many guides and porters rely on tipping as their primary income, not because it’s ideal, but because trekking companies often underpay and leave them to cover their own food, lodging, and even emergency costs.
So, what’s fair?
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For porters: Around 500 to 700 NPR per day is considered a respectful base tip.
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For guides: Around 800 to 1000 NPR per day or more, depending on experience and services.
Don’t wait until the end to show appreciation. Daily acts of respect—like sharing tea, offering snacks, or checking in on their health—carry just as much meaning.
Shared Meals Speak Volumes
Many trekkers assume porters and guides don’t want to join them for meals. Some even report guides refusing invitations. But dig a little deeper and you’ll find that this is often shaped by culture, pride, or company policies.
Still, several trekkers have found subtle, respectful ways to include their crew without pressure.
“We often filtered extra food from our plates onto another for our Sherpa. It was never formal, just a gesture that said we see you and value you.”
Others shared coffee or coke when they caught up with their porters mid-trail, especially when they weren’t eating together. These small touches of humanity remind your support team that they are not just walking machines in the background of your selfies.
Ask About Their Lodging and Comfort
Did you know many porters sleep in kitchens or dining rooms if rooms are full? Or that some tea houses only allow porters to eat in separate quarters?
Some guides and porters receive no accommodation support from their agency and must negotiate with tea houses on their own, sometimes begging for cheaper rates. During peak seasons, this gets even harder, and it’s not uncommon for them to be turned away or guilted into sleeping in poor conditions.
Ask your guide where your porter is staying. Advocate if something feels off. You don’t have to break protocol, but showing concern goes a long way in a system where nobody else is asking.
Learn a Few Words. They Matter.
You don’t need to speak fluent Nepali or Sherpa, but learning a few simple phrases like dhanyabad (thank you) or ramailo cha (it’s fun) can melt barriers instantly. Language is more than communication. It’s connection.
Don’t Assume They’re Okay
When your guide or porter says “I’m fine” or “I don’t need anything,” don’t always take it at face value. In Nepali culture, not burdening others is often the norm, even when someone is struggling.
Check in often. If they’re walking behind or slower than usual, ask about their health. If you’re enjoying a rest day, find out if they’re resting too, or if they’re scrambling for rooms and food.
A little empathy will go further than the best gear.
Respect Goes Both Ways
This is not about charity. It’s about mutual human respect.
The mountains strip us down. You’ll sweat, struggle, gasp, and maybe cry on the way to Everest Base Camp. And the people walking beside you, or a few meters ahead carrying your gear, are going through their own journey.
Respect is not just what you pay. It’s how you look someone in the eye, how you listen when they speak, and how you acknowledge the dignity of their work.
Final Thoughts
Building a respectful relationship with your porter or guide is not a transaction. It is a small but powerful act that reshapes how trekking works in Nepal.
In a tourism industry where profits often come at the cost of workers’ rights, your awareness, voice, and kindness matter more than you know. Be the trekker who does more than tip. Be the one who sees the person behind the pack.
The mountains will remember.
