From Kathmandu to Everest: how young Nepali women are embracing the outdoors

When I was 21, I set out to trek to Everest Base Camp. At the time, I had no hiking experience and had never been particularly drawn to exploring the outdoors.

That changed nine months earlier during a three-hour hike into the breathtaking Grand Canyon in the United States.

As I descended into its vast expanse, something shifted within me.

The power of nature and all her glory revealed itself to me and I decided then and there that my next adventure would take me to the Himalayas—to Everest Base Camp in my home country of Nepal.

Contrary to the popular stereotype, I did not grow up navigating treacherous mountain trails on my way to school nor do I have lungs impervious to high altitudes.

Raised in the capital city of Kathmandu—a bustling concrete jungle nestled in a modest valley at just 1,400m above sea level—I had little exposure to outdoor adventures.

Growing up, I did not know anyone who had trekked or climbed Nepal’s towering peaks.

During my trek to Everest Base Camp, locals of the Sherpa Indigenous community were often surprised to learn I was Nepali.

Many were even more astonished to see a woman undertaking the journey. Most had only ever seen white foreigners on these treks.

For many Nepalis, trekking isn’t a hobby but a livelihood, often the sole source of employment in the region.

The idea of a Nepali woman trekking for leisure—spending 10 gruelling days climbing death-defying mountain trails just for the experience—was foreign.

In the past decade, there has been a noticeable transformation.

In 2019, domestic tourism in Nepal generated a substantial portion of the revenue for the tourism sector, with an estimated 5 million Nepalis traveling around the country.

A significant part of this movement includes trekking.

More Nepali women are gaining international recognition for setting mountaineering records such as Dawa Yangzum Sherpa who successfully summitted all 14 of the world’s mountains over 8,000 metres in October this year.

Trekking and outdoor adventures have long been key pillars of Nepal's tourism industry, yet this sector has predominantly been shaped by men. The concept of independent travel for women is still a rarity in Nepali society.

Venturing into the outdoors stands as a countercultural act in Nepal’s conservative context, where societal expectations often confine women mainly to indoor spaces, entwined in domestic duties and motherhood.

In response to this disparity, a dynamic initiative known as Duluwa Outdoors has emerged, driven by a collective of young women committed to rewriting this narrative.

Their overarching mission revolves around inspiring greater confidence among women to explore the outdoors and equipping them with the skills to do so independently.

I sat down to chat with Menuka Gurung and Juliana Shrestha - two of the founders of Duluwa Outdoors to learn more about their endeavours.

What inspired you to start Duluwa Outdoors?

In 2021, five of us friends joined hands to build a community of women travellers. Our vision was to support women to explore the world beyond the boundaries of homes and social restrictions and learn about themselves through outdoor adventure.

Our team is driven by personal experiences of how solo travel has shaped our personalities, and we are passionate about providing such life-shaping experiences to more young women in the South Asian region.

Some of us grew up in Indigenous communities where we did not see relatable working women as role models; there were barely any in the travel and outdoors field.

We initiated Duluwa Outdoors to not only provide experiences to young women, but also connect with local women professionals in the travel sector with the vision to reduce the gender gap in the outdoor adventure field.

What would you say are the greatest achievements Duluwa Outdoors has had so far?

From the first trek to Langtang in 2021, the trust we have gained not only from the women who have travelled with us but also their families, has been one of our biggest achievements.

Oftentimes when the parents come to drop their girls at the starting point, they approach us and our guides to express the trust and faith they have in us to feel the safety and comfort of having their daughters travel with us.

In 2022 and 2023, we had two successful iterations of our ‘Women's Travelship’ program.

This is a two-week expedition that traverses the diverse landscapes of Nepal - weaving through plains, hills, and mountains, offering an immersion into local cultures and environmental exploration.

Beyond the external adventure, ‘Women’s Travelship’ nurtures a personal journey of self-discovery. Most of the women who travel with us have gone on to find their own traveller selves, and many return to travel with us again as well.

One of the women in our programs Aarya Shrestha travelled solo to Thailand last year and attributes building that confidence through interactions with us.

Another participant, Krisha Joshi has published an illustrated book about her experience of Women's Travelship.

This community of women travellers and outdoor guides that we are building is a significant achievement.

We are now receiving greater recognition in the travel and outdoor industry in Nepal and our work is a reminder for the industry to be more inclusive of women guides.

What are your thoughts on how Duluwa Outdoors has empowered Nepali women?

We are proud to have been a facilitator of travel and outdoor experiences for a diverse range of Nepali women.

From young women born and raised in Kathmandu experiencing Nepal outside of the city, to a cancer survivor trekking to Tilicho, to a 38-year-old guide joining our growing community of women guides, more Nepali women are not only feeling confident to travel but also establishing their careers in the outdoor industry.

With increasing representation of women in the outdoor industry, and more women on the trails, we've seen an increase in both women opting to travel and in women pursuing careers in travel.

Through Duluwa Outdoors, we want to encourage more Nepali women to become the role models that they never had growing up. Our trips are not just about going from one destination to another but we add the element of learning and education.

We tell all women travelling with us – “We are here to help you navigate your first trip so you can go on to explore the world independently.”

The rise of initiatives like Duluwa Outdoors marks a shift in the trekking and adventure landscape of Nepal.

Challenging the notion that outdoor adventure is a male-dominated field, more young women are embracing the exploratory spirit that was long out of reach for them and  stepping into roles as travellers, guides, and role models.

As this movement continues to grow, it will inspire a new generation of Nepali women to pursue independent travel. With each trek and story shared, the community of women that make up Duluwa Outdoors are proving that the mountains aren’t just for the men of Nepal—they belong to everyone, and women are not only participants but trailblazers.

Check out Duluwa Outdoors, Juliana Shrestha and Menuka Gurung on Instagram!

Hero image 📸 Duluwa Outdoors