Traveller reviews

“Had the most amazing time doing the Annapurna base camp trek last week. The group was great and and I made heaps of new friends. Prakash and the porters were always there for us and we learnt so much from them. Definitely coming back and would recommend the company to anyone :)”

“Wow what a wonderful and faultless experience dealing with Himalayan Social Journey. Ram the owner of the company could not have been more helpful or accommodating. He made sure everything flowed smoothly. Our trekking guide Kevvy was extremely knowledgable, friendly and helpful from day one. Our porter Binod was fantastic and great to spend time with. I would highly recommend Himalayan Social Journey and will defiantly be booking with them again.”

“Amazing!!!! Our second trek with HSJ and this was even better than the first. We’re already planning our next trek with HSJ. Biny, our guide, and Prokash our porter, were fantastic and always looked after us. Supreme professionals yet always friends. Highly recommended!!”

“The trek to Annapurna Base Camp was my dream trip for many years and i finally get to go to Nepal after being locked down due to covid for 2 years. It was my first trip to Nepal and i was fortunate to have Himalayan Social Journey to organise this tour for me. The manager Mr. Raj was fast in responding to my emails and many queries and took care or all logistics with great efficiency. The trekking guide Mingmar Sherpa was a very experienced guide who is a great photographer himself, always looking out for opportunity for good pictures. Mingmar is a very responsible and safety conscious guide. He will always check the room to see if I have left anything behind and ensure that my safety and comfort is taken care of. He also helped me with some of my items so that i have an easier time trekking up the slope which i was very grateful for. I was also fortunate that we have another companion Amrit on this trip, which added much joy and laughter. When my flight to Pokhara was cancelled due to weather, the company quickly arranged a car and sent us from Kathmandu to Pokhara so that i can still start the ABC trek on time. The speed and expediency in arranging for car and driver after the flight cancellation was impressive. We had good luck to see Annapurna range with clear blue sky, and the golden sunrise. All in all, I am happy with the service provided by Himalayan Social Journey and will not hesitate to join them again for other treks. It is a company that is worth recommending.”

“My first trip exploring Nepal and trekking the mountains were made bearable with the help of our beloved guides, Mingmar Sherpa and Ganesh. They’re extremely generous with their tips and advices even with the local and foreign trekkers outside of our group, going out of their way to make sure everyone is doing well. They also accommodated to our request and helped with the necessary arrangements when we needed an extra day to recuperate from a long trek. We’re already looking forward to our new adventures with them and miss them dearly. One of the greatest memories I’ll keep close to my heart. Till we meet again, 💕 P.S. Mingmar also takes great photos and videos!”

“We booked our Annapurna Base Camp tour with Himalaya Social Journey and were very satisfied! Our guide, Mr. Ram Saran, was the best guide! He was very friendly, always helped us, was competent, answered all our questions and fulfilled our wishes! We wish him only the best for his future and hope that everyone has such a good guide in Nepal like Mr. Ram Saran!”

“My girlfriend and I got recomended Himalayan Social Journey, and they did not disappoint. Very professional and kind company. We went to Annapurna Base Camp trek with our guide, Shrestha Rupesh, who was very kind and professional. He got all the guesthouse booking under control and made us feel safe on the trek. He was also very good to talk to about everything and was very informative on Nepal culture and told us exciting stories. We even played games with him and our porter, Sajan, each afternoon after our trekking. Ask for Shrestha Rupesh (Rupy) if you want to do any trek in Nepal!”

“The ABC trek was amazing, specially from Deurali to ABC the scenery is amazing. The group was very nice and every member of the company team was great. Special thanks to Bishal, who was always attentive, caring and instructive as well as funny and cheerful at every step of the way. Both guides, Roshni and Ganesh did a great job. Overall was a great experience and I would defenetly repeat!”

“An amazing trek i had this year, being first time to those Himalayas It was tough for me , everyday after reaching stay point was an accomplishment I enjoyed each and every moment of the steps that i have placed the waterfalls, the wildlife and finally the Annapurna base camp which had one of the fantastic views i have ever seen in my life. The hilly area were the profound things that i like very much At the end meeting new people every day and listening to them was a good thing in this trek. special mentions to - Roshni kathiwada and Vishal who supported me in the difficult time while trekking being there for me where my body was giving up Ganesh the trek leader for looking the necessary needs and being humble”

“This was our first trip to Himalayas..we friends had an amazing & life time experience…Our guide Ganesh is so good and cordial and guided us very well ..porters are amazing..without them this trek would not have been done smoothly ..though the trek is difficult from second day the weather , stunning locations made us to forget our strain..after a strenuous trek eating hot food served by our porters& guides was a big boost for next days trek..after reaching Annapurna base camp…360degrees stunning view of mighty Himalayas & Annapurna Glacier made us just thrilled, joyous & happy….seeing Himalayas is my childhood dream but never thought I would stay almost 8 days in the midst of Himalayas . Thanks to HSJ.”

“This is my first trek to Himalayas with my lovely husband and amazing friends. The porters are very cordial and helpful throughout the trek. Bishal and Roshini were very humble and caring. Our team of 10 members were very enthusiastic and it was nice meeting people from different places. Though the day to day trek was intense and a bit difficult our guide Ganesh was very helpful and excellent and helped me a lot to complete the trek. Thanks to HSJ for organizing the trek in such a great way.”

“Excellent experience. Right from HSJ service by Usha & proprietor Ram, sherpas Gokul, Vishnu, Vivek and exceptionally caring sherpa Vishaal , guides Ganesh and Roshani, great food, good tea house choices...Overall amazing Annapurna Base Camp trek.”

“The trek was medium to difficult and with the support of Rupesh, our guide from Himalayan Social Journey, we were able to complete it. We stayed one night at the summit and the view was absolutely worth the effort! Thank you :)”

“Very good. We did the Annapurna Basecamp (ABC) trek in October/November 2023. Our guide Ganesh was excellent throughout and looked after us very well on the trek and then showing us around Pokhara. Only hiccup came at the very start of the trip in Kathmandu when our guided tour became unguided as the guide had gone to celebrate Dashain. We would use HSJ again.”

“We booked through Himalayan Social Journey as we were recommended by someone we knew. From start to finish, using this company has been a breeze. From being picked up from the airport on time to being dropped off. We travelled to Annapurna Base Camp, Pokhara and a safari at Chitwan. All transport and hotels organised via them. All went smoothly. I would like to give a special big thanks to Mingmar Sherpa who looked after us. We found Mingmar to be friendly, caring and sensitive. I have a sailing background, South of the UK. Strong currents and often foul weather, being mature, thinking ahead is vital for safety. As the sea always finds a weakness. The reason I say, I saw the same qualities in Mingmar. The mountain can be a dangerous place. His maturity, attention to detail and keeping us informed about everything was brilliant. He even checked our blood oxygen levels. In the tea houses, we knew his room in case we had an issue during the night. You really feel his mountaineering experience and feel safe in the decisions he makes. Even when Mingmar was not with us on our jeep safari, he is always a phonecall or what's app message away. I would highly recommend him. If I do Basecamp Everest. I will only want Mingmar, no one else. Keep up the good work, you are a credit to your profession.”

“We've just spent three weeks with Himalayan Social Journey taking part in an 8 day Annapurna base camp trek, 2 days in Chitwan National Park and a day trip to Chandragiri cable car along with a few days in between each of these. From the moment I first enquired with HSJ, I was impressed. Their admin support is amazing, their English is perfect and they respond to questions quickly, with full information, with helpful responses. Having HSJ take care of our itinerary was new for me, but made everything so much easier and offered reassurance that everything was taken care of and that I didn't need to worry about a thing. The itinerary was well planned out and was communicated from the start. There was flexibility in being able to make changes and if you wanted to add in extra days that you wanted free to plan yourself then this was fine too. The hotels we have stayed in (organised by HSJ) have been lovely. Basic rooms but clean and comfortable and with friendly helpful staff. The food provided by these hotels has also been tasty, with food portions and friendly staff. Our trekking guide, Mingmar Sherpa, was absolutely fantastic. From meeting us at the airport, he then kept in touch with us throughout our holiday. When trekking with Mingmar, he set a good pace and was happy to take regular stops and breaks. Mingmar stayed with us the entire time - if we stopped, he stopped, and I felt no pressure to go faster or to rush. Mingmar looked after us in the teahouses, trying to get us the best rooms he could, taking our food orders and making sure we had plenty of food to keep us going the next day. Nothing was too much trouble. He let us know his room number each evening in case we needed anything overnight. Every evening Mingmar would communicate the plan for the next day, setting out what time to get up and have breakfast and then where we would have breaks and stay the next night. Mingmar has excellent English and his communication throughout has been perfect. Mingmar was considered and sensible in the decisions he made to keep us safe particularly around the risk of avalanches and the weather. Mingmar obviously has a good network and knowledge of both the other guides and the local people which meant he could link in with others easily to share information. Our porter also meant that we could enjoy our time walking and walk more comfortably then having to carry everything. We couldn't have done it without them and they made it an enjoyable experience. Following our trek, even on the days that we weren't with Mingmar, he would often check in with us, either in person, or through messages and he was always on the end of the phone if we had a question or needed something. We are already thinking of our next adventure in Nepal and will certainly be using Mingmar again on our next trek!”

“Thanks to Himalayan Social Journey for making my dream come true...Much awaited Annapurna Base Camp trek has finally ticked in my to do list. It so well arranged and planned that we loved and taking memorable moments with us. Special mention to our guide Mr. Khilraj, without his continuous support this won't be possible. Thanks a lot...Looking ahead for more trek with HSJ”

“The ABC Base Camp trekking trip was an amazing trip and well managed by Himalayan Social Journey and their guide. Specially the guide Mr Khil Bahadur is very experienced and well mannered.”

“It was and wonderful trip with my friend’s to ABC and thanks Mr Khilraj Bahadur for his helps and taking care off us and giving information and knowledge off Annapurna Range. At last thank u Himalayan Social Journey for making my dream trips come true.”

“Four of us travelled through New Delhi, Jaipur, Agra & Varanasi for twelve days We had a truly memorable time We loved every minute The drivers and guides were wonderful especially Raj it was really good value for money The Indian people we met were friendly and welcoming The sights sounds and smells of India are absolutely unique and need to be experienced to be appreciated”

“My granddaughter and I recently enjoyed the Golden Triangle Tour with Himalaya Social and thoroughly recommend this tour to others. It was a great introduction to India and the culture, as we marvelled at the history and the magnificent monuments of the past,as well as watching crafstmen working as they have always done,eg. the rug makers creating their works of art. My impression was a land of many contrasts,, there was always something around the next corner to surprise us. Our accommodation was very good,and all the local people we met were very friendly and helpful and tried to make our stay as pleasant as possible. I must mention all the guides who explained the history of all the sites we visited. Thank you for a truly awesome trip.”

“The tour of Rajastan, Delhi and Varanassi is the best tour I have ever done anywhere. It was a small group tour that took me to all the places I wanted to visit for a very reasonable price. Apart from breakfast, the cost did not include meals which, I think, is a good thing. I hate having to stop and eat just because it's on the program. I would rather eat simply and spend more time exploring. Also, I find that organised tours quite often take you to "tourist restaurants" where the fare is poor. The tour guides, generally, found restaurants to suit us and all but one was excellent and inexpensive. The accommodation was not luxurious but it was comfortable, clean and better than just adequate. The tour guides spoke excellent and clear English, were knowledgeable and flexible. We had some choice in what we wanted to do but the included experiences were great fun: a ride on an elephant, a row boat on the Ganges and an overnight train trip. There were also staff in the background organising and keeping us safe in a caring and unobtrusive way and attending to all those little requests. And, even before we arrived in India, emails were always answered and the agency was able to recommend and arrange for us to do other things if we were extending our stay. Everyone wants to do the Golden Triangle and see the Taj Mahal but Varanassi was, by far, the highlight for me. One can see why the Ganges River is holy and I am so glad it was included in this tour.”

“My wife and I had booked a 12 day unforgettable trip with HSJ. The entire journey and logistics was almost flawless. accommodation and food at the hotels was of a good standard and value for money, other than the Clarks in Varanasi where the food was sub par. The days were quite long and exhausting, having traveled and taken in so much information at each site. We felt that after visiting so many amazing temples and forts, that by the time we reached Varanasi by overnight train we were rather tired and needed some rest. The temples etc in Varanasi were insignificant compared to what we had experienced in Dehli, Jaipur and Agra, and thought some down time would have been a better option. Walking the alleyways and Ghats within the Gangies and experiencing the ceremony that takes place each night was an unforgettable experience. The street food was also amazing, and being advised by the guides what was ok to eat and what was not. We were happy with the service and knowledge of most of the guides, particularly S.K in Jaipur, also Dada and Peakash in Varanasi who were both great guys who spoke very good English and showed us the real Varanasi (thank you) the bus driver and his assistant were very curtious And had thankfully ferried us around safely. Archie ?? The young man who accompanied us for most of the journey was quite attentive when called upon. However he did not follow up accommodation and transfer arrangements as promised for our onward journey. We were very grateful for Adib for pre booking and paying for ongoing flights to save us the hassle. All in all we were shown an amazing hassle free experience of northern India. We will most definitely do another tour with HSJ, but next time with either less people or just the two of us. Thanks again, Matt & Cherry Foster.”

“I could not express my journey through Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Varanasi better than Alan M's "A journey through time", appearing below. Please read his review. Be shocked, feel pity, be inspired and impressed and most of all be grateful. The Indian people working with tourists seem anxious for perfection! Often called upon to comment on "how can I improve my services". We did experience perfection at the Crown Plaza hotel we were privileged to stay in for a few nights at the beginning of our journey and also at the end. Other hotels we stayed in along the way were also very good to almost great. The hawkers hassled us into submission often, the guides were knowledgeable and helpful and the skilled driver of the bus was admired by each of our 14 party of Australians. I believe we all appreciated the energetic and enthusiastic help from our young "caretaker" who accompanied us throughout the journey and kept us all safe. Breathtaking architecture to hovels for homes, beautiful saris, starched white linen suits worn with waistcoats, colourful turbans and then jeans and gaudy colours combined to look wonderful. Rickshaw journeys - the incessant honking, the excitement of the close shaves, the fascinating sights changing every split second, (a cow resting inside a jewellery shop), cows everywhere, monkeys, camels, horses, donkeys, pigs, goats etc. etc. Who could sum up this experience? I must admit that I think India is confronting and perhaps not a suitable holiday destination for sensitive young people - sometimes too heartbreaking and certainly not clean, neat and tidy.”