The porters of Nepal have always served as the backbone of the trekking tourism industry – one that affords every tourist a grand experience in the Himalayas. The porters in this region originate from hundreds of ethnic groups with multiple dialects to contend with. While Nepal has long been dependent on tourism as its main economic source, the working conditions on the trails for porters have only recently demonstrated improvements. Still, many companies cut costs at the expense of the porters’ welfare ranging from lack of proper gear to paying below the mandated salary. Women remain uncommon as guides and porters although the number is slowly on the rise.