This article is about mountaineering courses in Nepal. Nepal is home to around 1,310 mountains out of which, 8 are the tallest of the world. These mountains are among the major reasons that attract tourists to the country. A number of local (Nepalese) and external (foreigners) tourists climb these mountains every year and the number doesn’t seem to drop.
Mountaineering is an adventure for some people, while it’s the most appropriate and challenging way to spend holidays/vacations for others. But it’s not just adrenaline or fun when it comes to mountaineering. Nature is unpredictable. You might not face any natural catastrophe at all while climbing a mountain or might face one or more that is/are able to take your life. And no one wants to die climbing some peaks.
So, what are some of the things that you must learn in order to be able to climb a summit and complete the expedition? Let’s get to that now.
Mountaineering Essential Skills
1. Gear check
2. Packing
3. Climbing techniques
4. Climbing knots
5. Rope management
6. Belaying and abseiling skills
7. Rock and ice climbing skills
8. Camp cooking skills (using gas and gas burners)
9. Altitude symptoms awareness etc.
Learn these skills and you’ll be able to perform mountaineering yourself as well as teach others. Clearly, mountaineering carries a huge prospect, especially in Nepal. But how to learn these skills?
There are academic programs run by different universities in Nepal and abroad that offer mountaineering courses. Here we are talking about the mountaineering courses that are taught in Nepal only.
Mountaineering Courses in Nepal
1. Bachelor of Mountaineering Studies (BMS)
2. Basic/Advanced Mountaineering Course: Nepal Mountaineering Association
3. Rock Climbing
4. Annual Winter Aspirant Guide Training
5. Basic Introductory Mountaineering Course
6. Artificial Wall Climbing
7. Mountain Rescue Training
1. Bachelor of Mountaineering Studies (BMS)
Affiliation: Tribhuvan University (TU)
About Bachelor of Mountaineering Studies (BMS)
BMS program is designed to minimize the trend of migration of youths and develop professional and technical expertise within the country itself.
The curricula of the Bachelor in Mountaineering Studies (BMS) program have been academically designed by leading professors of different disciplines and faculties based on the wisdom of the past (history of mountain tourism and mountaineering) with an eye for the future. The Academy envisions to run Master Program in Adventure Tourism Studies. This college offers mountaineering courses in Nepal.
The required curricula designing and approach to the concerned universities have been in the pipeline. The bachelor program aims to prepare graduates who will possess a set of skills, attributes, and values that will equip them to become constructive and contributing leaders in an increasingly globalized field of mountain and mountaineering tourism.
The syllabus for BMS and MATS have been developed by following international standards in a way to cater to the needs of rapidly developing tourism and hospitality industry in the globe and in Nepal as well. It comprises of foundation courses of management studies, mountaineering, and tourism core courses, elective and project work culminating in thesis writing representing both sectors of management, mountain tourism, and mountaineering.
This academic program primarily follows the three-pronged approaches: professional, vocational, and entrepreneurial with an aptitude for life long learning mountain education. The program tries to develop core competencies, subject-specific, interdisciplinary, and methodological competencies that comprise with practical and applied competencies (phronesis and praxis). The entire studies focus on inculcating Ethics, Stewardship, Knowledge, Professionalism, and Mutuality between the Stakeholders (TEFI).
Teaching Methods
1. Lecture and interactions
2. Individual and group presentation
3. Case studies, text, audio and visual
4. Project works and field trips
5. Review work, Books/Journals
6. Guest lectures
7. Practical demonstrations of village studies, rock climbing, trekkings, peak climbing, and mountaineering
Admission Procedures
Admission Requirements
Candidates seeking admission to the BMS course should apply in the prescribed form for entrance test within the stipulated time. The applicants should enclose with the application form, attested copies of:
1. Certificates and testimonials of all examinations passed
2. Equivalency, Transfer and Character Certificates
3. Two recent passport size photographs
4. Must have secured 40% marks in CMAT conducted by T.U.
Admission Test
The applicants will be required to sit for an admission test designed to judge their ability and aptitude for the program in the following areas:
1. I.Q. Test
2. Aptitude Test
3. General Knowledge
4. English Language
5. Group Discussion
6. Personal Interview
Admission Eligibility
Successfully completed 10+2 or equivalent examination in any academic stream with a minimum of 45% aggregate marks from a Secondary Education Board or any other board recognized by Tribhuvan University with English as a compulsory subject.
2. Basic Mountaineering Course
Affiliation: Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA)
The Basic Mountaineering Course training is intended for the Mountaineers to equip them with new techniques and methodology on mountaineering and rescue activities.
The average duration of the training is 40 days with 10 days theory (Kathmandu) and 30 days practical (Langtang).
The interested candidates are requested to read the following directions before applying for the course.
For Nepalese Nationals
The interested Nepali candidates should have the following criteria to apply for the course.
1. Sport background
2. Physically and mentally fit
3. Able to write and speak basic English language
4. Basic knowledge about mountaineering and trekking
5. Guide Training (Conducted by Nepal Academy of Tourism & Hotel Management, NATHM)
6. Mountain leader course
7. Introductory Rock Climbing Course, First Aid Course, Basic Mountain Rescue Course, Hill Walking & Mountain Navigation Course Conducted by Nepal Mountaineering Instructors Association (NMIA) & NMA.
8. Wilderness First Aid Course ( Conducted by NMIA, Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP), Alliance France and Other related organization )
9. Above 8000 meters Summiteers
10. Basic Mountaineering Training under Foreign Alpine Association (IFMGA member country)
The following documents should be attached with the application form(distributed by NMA) while submitting.
1. Passport size photo- 1 pc
2. Photocopy of Citizenship Certificate
3. Recommendation Letter from Trekking Agency registered at NMA
4. Insurance (To be submitted after selection)
For Foreign Nationals
NMA accepts also applications from the foreign nationals to attend BMC. They should have the following criterion to apply for the course.
1. Sport background
2. Physically and mentally fit
3. Able to write and speak basic English language
4. Basic knowledge about mountaineering and trekking
The following documents should be attached with the application form (distributed by NMA) while submitting.
1. Passport size photo- 1 pc
2. Photocopy of Passport
3. Advanced Mountaineering Course
Affiliation: Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA)
Advance Mountaineering Course is developed for the mountaineers who have completed the Basic Mountaineering Course carried out by NMA.
The duration of the training is 40 days with 10 days theory (Kathmandu) and 30 days practical (Langtang). It is conducted in December -January.
The interested candidates are requested to read the following directions before applying for the course.
For Nepalese Nationals
The interested Nepali candidates should have the following criteria to apply for the course.
The following documents should be attached with the application form
(distributed by NMA) while submitting.
1. Passport size photo- 1 pc
2. Photocopy of Citizenship Certificate
3. Recommendation Letter from Trekking Agency registered at NMA
4. Certificate of Basic Mountaineering Course
5. Insurance (To be submitted after selection)
For Foreign Nationals
NMA also accepts applications from foreign nationals to attend AMC. Applicants should submit all the certificates of mountaineering training that they have attended previously.
And the following documents should be also attached to the application form (distributed by NMA) while submitting.
1. Passport size photo- 1 pc
2. Photocopy of Passport
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