The Nepal Mountain Leader Association (NMLA), established in 2017, has made remarkable progress in a short period, becoming a key institution in advancing mountain leadership in Nepal. The development of the Mountain Leader (ML) course in Nepal began earlier, with training programs being conducted by different organizations since 2011 under various course titles. In 2015, the program was formally standardized under the name “Mountain Leader,” creating a clear and consistent professional pathway. Since then, the course has been funded and run by the Nepal Mountaineering Association, ensuring structured training aligned with national needs and international standards.

In the same year of its establishment, NMLA became a candidate member of the Union of International Mountain Leader Associations, marking the beginning of its journey toward international recognition. Building on this foundation, it advanced to aspirant member status in 2019, demonstrating its strong commitment to meeting global standards in training, safety, and professionalism.

On November 2, 2024, NMLA reached a historic milestone by attaining full membership in UIMLA through a formal vote by 25 member countries, during the UIMLA Annual General Meeting 2024 held in North Macedonia. This moment, which also marked the 20th anniversary of UIMLA, officially established NMLA as Nepal’s representative within the international mountain leadership community.

This achievement reflects NMLA’s dedication to excellence, its continuous efforts to develop internationally recognized mountain leaders, and its growing contribution to the global mountaineering community.

The UIAA/Petzl Foundation project was always intended to support the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) in developing a sustainable training program for Nepalese trek leaders, led by local professionals themselves. In close collaboration with IFMGA members from the Nepal Mountain Guides Association, we conducted a series of “train the trainer” and “train the assessor” courses between 2013 and 2017.

This journey culminated in two particularly memorable experiences: a trainers’ course in Langtang, and a winter assessment that crossed Ganja La in harsh conditions, where candidates were also introduced to snowshoeing—made possible through equipment donations from BAIML members. Over time, many of our former students progressed into trainer roles and have since become close personal friends.

Without question, the Nepal training program has been more personally rewarding than any number of climbing expeditions.

The Nepal Mountain Leader Association (NMLA) extends its sincere gratitude to all our honorable guests and everyone who attended the program for making the event a success.

We also offer our warmest congratulations to Ms. Dikki Sherpa for her remarkable achievement in successfully summiting Mount Everest (8,848 m), the world’s highest peak, while advocating for gender equality.

We have successfully completed the third batch of the Mountain Leader Winter component in 2019. We extend our sincere gratitude to the Nepal Mountain Leaders Association (NMA) for organizing this course. Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone whose valuable efforts made this achievement possible.

In 2019, at the Annual General Meeting in Romania, President Mr. Keshar Shrestha and General Secretary Mr. Dawa Tashi Sherpa represented Nepal and presented the Mountain Leader curriculum and training system, leading to Nepal being recognized as an aspirant member.

A 20th the UIMLA General Assembly,  President of NMLA Mr. Dawa Tashi Sherpa presented the two assessment reports. Following this, all 25 member countries voted on Nepal’s application for full membership. The result was unanimous. With 100 percent support from all voting member countries, Nepal was officially accepted as a full member of the Union of International Mountain Leader Associations.”

Under the UIMLA 2024 Standard, National Associations are permitted to develop additional qualification modules that extend the common minimum standard to meet the specific needs of their mountain environments. Taking advantage of this provision, Nepal became the first UIMLA member country to introduce an Additional Skill Module known as High Altitude Skill. This specialized training prepares Nepalese Mountain Leaders to safely lead clients across high mountain passes and on  peaks above 6,000 meters, where advanced knowledge of altitude, snow and ice travel, expedition leadership, and high-altitude risk management is essential.

To celebrate this historic achievement, the Nepal Mountaineering Association, in collaboration with the Nepal Mountain Leader Association, organized a special ceremony at Aryana Boutique Hotel in Naxal.

The event was attended by the State Minister Arun Kumar Chaudary as Chief Guest, along with representatives from the media, tourism, and mountaineering sectors. On this occasion, NMA awarded certificates to Nepal’s first batch of International Mountain Leaders, who successfully completed all UIMLA-standard training and assessments.

This ceremony not only celebrated Nepal’s full membership in the Union of International Mountain Leader Associations but also honored the dedication of all those who contributed to this historic achievement.