My name is Suman Lama Tamang. I am an independent mountain trekking guide for Himalaya. I have trekking hospitality industry experince since 1990s.

My Story: When I was 16 I started to work for a trekking company as a porter. I was potter for around 3-4 years. Later on I did education as chef. I was working as a chef in hotels in India and Nepal for 3 years. After working as a chef in a hotel I returned to trekking industry and worked as a camping chef for some years.I enjoy cooking and I am familiar with many international dishes. Occasionally I like to cook for my clients on a trek even if I am working as a guide.

I continued my trekking education and I became an assistant guide in 2006. I was accompanying a guide on treks in Himalaya and working towards my guide licence. In 2007 I completed my education with the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation and received my guide licence.

Certification: To become a trekking guide in Nepal a person needs to complete the trekking guide training at the Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management run by the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation. The education contains subjects around profound knowledge in trekking and outdoors: first aid, environment and topography, meteorology, plants and wild life, food, mountain safety and mountaineering skills as well as customer service.

Successful candidates receive an identity card of a governmental licence trekking guide which has to be renewed every 5 years.