What does it take to become a female trekking guide in one of the world's most iconic mountain destinations?

In Part 1 of this special three-part conversation, host and PVC founder, Marinel de Jesus sits down with Durga Rawal, a Nepali trekking guide whose journey reflects both the challenges and possibilities facing women in Nepal's trekking industry today.

Durga shares her early life, what inspired her to pursue guiding in a traditionally male-dominated profession, and the obstacles she has faced along the way. Through her story, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the realities of life in Nepal's mountain tourism industry and the resilience required to forge a new path.

This episode is part of Season 1: Elevating the Voices of Female Trekking Guides in Nepal, produced in partnership with the Himalayan Women Trail Leaders Initiative (HWTL), a program dedicated to training, mentoring, and creating pathways for women to become trekking guides and leaders in Nepal's mountain tourism industry.

In Parts 2 and 3, Durga shares more about her experiences on the trail, the future of women in guiding, and her hopes for the next generation of female trekking leaders in Nepal.

The Porter Voices Podcast amplifies the stories of porters, guides, and mountain workers whose labor and leadership make adventure travel possible. Through authentic storytelling, we explore workforce equity, gender inclusion, human rights, and the evolving future of mountain tourism around the world.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others who believe in creating a more equitable and inclusive future for mountain communities and tourism workers.

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Want to partner/collaborate with PVC? Send us an email -theportervoice@gmail.com. Also, check out our HWTL ⁠⁠Initiative Brief ⁠⁠and ⁠⁠Program Evaluation⁠⁠ to learn about HWTL and its impact via our HWTL webpage.

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Because every mountain journey has voices that deserve to be heard.

This episode was made possible by our Porter Voices Podcast team:

Marinel M. de Jesus, Esq., Host, Creator & Writer

Wayne Nolting, Sound Editor

Deja Dowell, Video Editor

Roger Foye, Music Director

Jowita Kudzia, Theme Music Video Editor

Darlene Lin, Program Support

Visuals by Durga Rawal