Ganga was very good in answering all my queries before i arrived. Due to bad weather things were delayed but Ganga quickly provided options for alternative routes. My guide Uttam... read more was exceptional. I did EBC and Island Peak. Great experience.

  Surya (our guide) alongside Depesh and Chudamani, delivered an excellent Annapurna Circuit trek and we were able to successfully cross Thorung La Pass with no worries which was a very... read more memorable day - certainly the holiday of a lifetime!

Surya had really deep knowledge of the mountain landscape and always took the time to point out the many peaks in the region and we got great views of Manaslau, Dhaulagiri and of course the Annapurnas. We also got really good insights into the local cultures that we passed along the way.

Throughout the trip Surya was ensuring that we were acclimatising well and planned some great short walks to ensure that we were always climbing high and sleeping low. Surya always did his very best to find us the best accommodation and we had consistently great food and of course lots of tea! We had some great times with the team and really enjoyed chatting to them during the walk and over our evening meals!

Also a special shout out to Depesh and Chudamani who were always really friendly, helpful and really felt part of the team!

When we return to Nepal for our next trek we 100% look forward to working with Surya and team again!

  ⛰ DR’s Gokyo Ri & Renjo Pass Big Adventure ? - During the worst of the Pandemic lockdown, I found the best remedy (for me) was to be out in nature and improving my cardio/endurance. But after making the same... read more circuit, time after time, I found I needed a more ‘lofty’ objective to strive for. A goal. That’s when I set my sights on the Himalayas. I had been to Nepal twice. Once for charity work after the 2015 earthquake and once to visit Chitwan National Park. I had always wanted to return for a major hiking trek. Unfortunately, the Pandemic delayed my plans. Ganga of the Nepal Hiking Team changed all that. Ganga patiently stayed in touch, responding in a timely manner, helping me in every step of the planning for my high altitude expedition. He took into account my demanding criteria. Namely, that I wanted to:
- avoid the more crowded routes (EBC)
- Focus on seeing more flora & fauna
- Pass through rustic villages, visit monasteries
- Witness changes in terrain and elevation
- Understand the Sherpa and Tibetan cultures
- And all times, safety first
All this was achieved and more! Ganga and his team fulfilled my ✨wishlist✨ and threw in additional surprises (high suspension bridges, yaks, musk deer, Himalayan goral and what I believe was small groups of Himalayan tahrs.
I also could not have achieved this without my competent, experienced, knowledgeable guide and porter. Sincere thanks to Santosh Sapkota and ‘Man’. Santosh always managed our pace and speed, knowing full well that the last 2 hours of an 8 or 10 hour trek/climb would be the most demanding. Always allowing me to keep something in reserve for when I needed it or knowing when was a good time to take a ‘breather’. He also knew the entire route, every turn and when there would be fascinating diversions. What can I say about Man (my porter)? He was equally knowledgeable, absolutely tireless, sure footed and always a happy, cheerful disposition . What, if anything, would I change? Because everything (particularly Lukla flights, both in and out) went smoothly, I was left with +3 buffer days at the end. I would have liked to have stayed at high altitude - visit or linger at another village. Again, to Ganga’s credit, he was able to arrange a last minute tour of discovery for me of the old town Kathmandu & Bhaktapur with a highly knowledgeable and congenial guide (who’s name escapes me). Many thanks to Ganga, Santosh & Man for creating an adventure of a lifetime - I am already trying to determine my next expedition with Nepal Hiking Team Don