Mountain porters and guides

It's tempting to think of your porters or guides as heroic individuals who trek up Kilimanjaro or to Everest Base Camp carrying two packs, while wearing flip flops and cast off sweaters with no discomfort. Whilst many porters and guides do have indeed have incredible strength and stamina, it is fair or responsible for tourists and tour companies to take advantage of often impoverished local people in this way?

In Nepal porters have been found to suffer 4 times as many accident as trekkers (Tourism Concern). Reports of porters being forced to carry up to 40kg are not uncommon. Peruvian porters report that -

"We are victims of a mixture of abuses, discrimination and attacks on our basic human rights. The wages we receive don't match the physical effort we put in, and take advantage of our need to work. Even though the tour operators are meant to offer us equipment like sleeping bags and waterproofs, they don't. This means we have to sleep outside on the rocky floor, or improvise our own shelter out of branches, or sleep in caves. We often don't have the most basic equipment such as raincoats, harnesses or ropes, so each porter has to make do in the most uncomfortable conditions."

What can you do?
You will want to ensure that your trek is made even more enjoyable by having a good relationship with your guides and porters - for me this has often been the higlight of many treks - and so are some suggestions.

Ask your tour company if they have policies on porters' rights and working conditions

Ensure that your porters have proper clothing, footwear and clothing

Ask about regulations for the maximum porters carrying weight - 20kg is a reasonable

Ask about porters insurance and provisions made for them should they fall ill

Ensure that porters sleeping arrangements are adequate

Ensure that your porters and guides are paid fairly - enquire about and agree rates BEFORE you set off to avoid uncomortable conversations at the end of your trek

If you see or experience something that you feel uncomfortable about then make it clear to your tour company that this is not acceptable, you might also like to report this to Tourism Concern (www.tourismconcern.org.uk) on your return

Is using local porters a bad thing?
No not at all. Local guides and porters knowledge of the mountains is invaluable, they are mostly charming travel companions who will be interested to know more about you, and to share some of ther culture with you. Finally, income from your trek will often provide for the extended family of your porter.

For more information on Porters rights visit Tourism Concern's porter campaign

Justin Francis, www.responsibletravel.com

Interested? Take a look at our Everest and Kilimanjaro trekking holidays with responsible operators.