Traveller reviews

“We spent 2 weeks with Himalayan Social Journey in Nepal, and they were fantastic. We were met at the airport by Binod Dhakal, who was our guide for the entire trip, and escorted back to our hotel in Thamel, Kathmandu. After a day of escorted sightseeing around Kathmandu, we were taken by bus for some rafting, and then on to Chitwan National Park. Here we were taken elephant riding (we saw a rhino!), got to bathe an elephant, and also see the elephant breeding centre. After Chitwan we headed up to Pokhara for the trekking, where we were to do the Poon Hill circuit. This again was excellent, porters had been hired so we only needed to carry small day rucksacks. The scenery was incredible, and we were as usual very well looked after by Binod and the team of porters, who were all very friendly. Accommodation was in the trekking lodges, which were basic, but clean and comfy. Binod was excellent throughout the trip. He was always available to deal with any queries, and did his best to sort out any problems that occurred. From taking us shopping on our first day in Kathmandu to make sure we had the right trekking gear, to waiting behind and looking after the slowest member of our party when trekking, or making sure we each had a bag of salt to ward off leeches, the level of care he provided was fantastic. He is clearly a very experienced guide, and knew all the tricks like placing your breakfast order at the trekking lodges the night before, so you don't have to wait for breakfast. He always made sure we knew what was happening, and was very patient when dealing with everyone in our trekking group. Ram, the owner of HSJ, is also able to organise additional activities such as para-gliding or an Everest flight. We did the para-gliding in Pokhara, which was brilliant, a really nice way to see the lake. The only complaint we could make about HSJ would be regarding the booking of the para-gliding, where it became clear that Ram was charging us significantly more for the activity than if we booked directly through the para-gliding company, which we eventually did. Would advise anyone planning to do any of the additional activities to check the prices first, do avoid any misunderstandings.”

“The whole experience of this tour was truly authentic. I love Nepal! The guides were fantastic and so friendly and caring, the food was cheap and good and we never once had an upset tummy (I'm usually quite sensitive in asian countries). The scenery was priceless. We were unfortunately able to do the everest flight due to bad weather but were provided with a free refund. We felt safe and content the entire trip. Thank you so much to the himalayan social journey - highly recommended!! P.S. Your legs will get sore. It's worth it. Carissa & Travis x”

“What a wonderful introduction to Nepal!. Our trip had a bit of everything - visits to cultural sites, rafting ,a visit to Chitwan National Park , elephant rides and bathing , river tour & crocodile spotting in a dug out canoe, cultural show ( which was surprisingly good), hiking up steps ,trekking though beautiful scenery ,meeting ever smiling- ever welcoming local people and seeing the amazing Annapurnas......WOW! . From Kathmandu to Pokhara and back again -singing, dancing (shopping) and eating dal bhat -it was a wonderful journey. The team from HSJ did a really great job at all levels -organisation, itinerary, support- nothing was ever too much trouble or bother ,and they were always ready at the end of the day ( or any stop in between ) with singing and dancing - Resham Firiri will forever play in my mind whenever I recall the journey :) Anyone else considering the trip ....Do It! You wont have any regrets. If you can, add on an Everest flight -you might have to get up early (several mornings before you get a clear day- it helps if you can think of your morning visits to the domestic terminal as another cultural experience...add in a toilet stop for some added adventure! ). Its a trip that is soooooo worth it when the plane breaks through the clouds and you get your first view of the Mountains ...Awesome! A little bit of this -A little bit of that ...Nepal Beautiful.”

“Himalayan Social Journey delivered an amazing Nepali experience. Sight seeing, rafting, elephant ride, jungle safari, relaxing in Pokhara and five incredible days trekking in the stunning Annapurna region; the tour ticked all the boxes of what to see and do during a short stay in Nepal. Ram made our planning easy, including arranging activities and accommodation for our time before and after the tour, and providing a wonderful driver to care for us during those days. Our accommodation throughout was clean and comfortable and the food tasty, nutritious and plentiful. Our guide was caring, informative and fun. He and the boys looked after us like family. Extremely professional in each of their roles, they also laughed, played beautiful music, sang and danced with us through the mountains. I'm sure we had more fun than anyone else thanks to the delightful boys of HSJ (in fact other trekkers would come and join our spontaneous parties!) It will be hard to top singing and dancing at over 3200m with 360 degree views in the Annapurna ranges! Thank you boys! Notes: Pack a small overnight bag for the rafting night; put it in your main luggage where it is easy to take out later in the day. If you don't want to use bottled water on the trek, ask for the safe drinking water refills available at most stops. Make time for the Everest flight!”

“.Thank you to Ram and his team, for arranging an absolutely fabulous 14 day personal guided tour in Nepal. We embarked on a trip of a lifetime, commencing with a perfect flight over Mt Everest on my 65th birthday. Despite pre-election tensions and strikes we felt completely safe under Ram's care and he kept in daily contact to ensure our holiday fulfilled every expectation (and more). Our hotels were excellent and we had no additional costs as tips were included in the daily rate. Ram answers emails and mobile messages immediately and is able to be flexible when required. Despite a bad knee and inability to trek, we were taken to the highest points to enjoy the sunrise and sunsets over the magnifcient mountain ranges. Special gratitude to our city guide, Basu, our mountain guide Bishnu, and our jungle guide in Chitwan, Prem. Our good drivers Jeevan and Dilip kept us safe on the roads in the city and mountain areas. We had the best holiday possible and thank you to each one of you for making it so memorable. We are also pleased HSJ contributes a percentage of their income to supporting education of Nepalese children. We would definitely book another holiday with Himalayan Social Journey and have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone visiting Nepal.”

“14 Unforgettable Days in Nepal Incl. Most Meals, Trekking, Rafting, Yoga and More What an amazing experience was the HSJ group tour. Ram and his team were great. The highlights were the Everest flight, elephant riding, sitting on the back of an elephant in the river getting wet (elephant bathing), rafting, climbing to the top of Poon Hill to see the sun rise over the Himalayas, and paragliding with the back drop of the snow capped Himalayas. Some tips: 1. Be vaccinated against everything - many vaccinations cover for other things (cholera covers for many of the organisms associated with traveller's diarrhoea) 2. Carry a small packet of tissues everywhere 3. When you go rafting you will get wet, actually saturated - be prepared and dress accordingly. 4. The lodges while trekking are good - no need to take a sleeping bag. You get a bed with a fresh sheet and a duvet/doona. It is fine. Take earplugs as the walls are paper thin and there is nothing like exhaustion to make people snore. 5. Pay extra to catch the plane from Pokhara back to Kathmandu, as it is worth it. When you travel in the bus from Kathmandu to go rafting you will know why.”

“Thank you so very much for looking after us so well HSJ! The trip was superbly organised which allowed us to relax and enjoy the experience. The sights, sounds, food, people, company, and hotels were fantastic! We had a few special requests including an additional jeep safari, flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu, and an Everest mountain flight, all of these were efficiently organised and sorted by HSJ Company. Thank you Ram, Sankar and the team of porters for looking after us so well. We will be back to do the 17 day Annapurna circuit with you guys in a couple of years.”

“I had a fantastic time on this trip, it was amazingly diverse from hot n dusty Kathmandu to the jungle in chitwan to beautiful Pokhara to the amazing & magestic Himalayas everything was perfect, even the storm we walked through didn't phase our enthusiasm for the trail and the fantastic guides & porters looking after us. Our guides Binod & Milan did a great job, they kept the group humming along, always checking how each of us was going, nothing was too much trouble, they made our trip so enjoyable no matter how tough the environment got. The porters were fantastic carrying huge loads everyday, my thanks to Kalyan, Subus A, Subus B, Ganesh, Akal & Krishna for all your efforts everyday, finding the things we'd lost before we even knew we'd lost them and sticking with us on the trail so no one walked alone when the group got strung out. A highlight of the trip that's not advertised is the singing and dancing put on by the guides & porters In the evenings, the fun and happiness was infectious not to mention great for the soul. I'd highly recommend this trip to anyone, young or old, it provides a great cross Section of what Nepal has to offer, I LOVED every minute of this trip!!! I'd highly recommend Himalayan Social Journey to anyone contemplating a trip to Nepal, I also did an Everest flight & a sightseeing day trip with this company and could not fault any of Their staff, they all do a great job and provide a great personal experience.”

“We have just returned from the trip of a lifetime to Nepal with HSJ. We completed a 7 day trek on the Annapurna circuit including Poon Hill at sunrise, amazing! Our guide and porters were there for us all the way, nothing was too much trouble. The guest houses were better than we expected, with plenty of different food choices. The views along the way were spectacular. Our trip included 2 days at Chitwan National Park where we were lucky enough to see rhino in the wild. We also did the Everest flight and white water rafting and sampled the local transport! Thanks to Ram and his team for making this a holiday to remember! Dave and Ali Smith, England”

“I recently did the Himalayan Social Journey 15 days ABC trek and must say that it has been such an amazing experience. From the moment I step foot from the airport, I was picked up by one of HSJ's staff and was greeted with a warm welcome. HSJ was very accommodating as I wanted to throw in a few extra activities such as the mountain flight experience and paragliding in Pokhara. HSJ services were exceptionally good and made it possible for me in every single way during my stay in Nepal. My trek to Annapurna base camp was difficult but Milan Sapkota, my trek guide made my journey a pleasant one. I learned soo much about the local cultures, traditions and histories behind it. A big thank you to HSJ and their crew.”

“Myself, my wife and two children 15 & 11 have just returned from a fantastic trip to Nepal with Himalayan Social Journey. From the moment we arrived to the final drop off to the airport we were looked after fully. Our trip involved a great tour of Kathmandu, rafting, journey to Pokhara, trekking in Annapurna, elephant safari in Chitwan and Everest Mountain flight. Our guide Binod took great care of us, our porters were fabulous and we had a wonderful time. Ram ensured that we had the holiday we had wanted, nothing seemed too much trouble, thank you. Please note that everything is fine for trekking in Annapurna, visiting Kathmandu and Chitwan etc, we were totally unaffected by the earthquakes.”

“My teenage son and I both enjoyed this trip. On the negative side, the white water rafting was a bit tame compared with what I did in New Zealand, but it was still enjoyable with a lovely setting, and my 14 year old son who had nothing to compare to enjoyed it. We did an optional Everest flight to view Mt Everest which didn't go as close as I expected and I felt it was a waste of money. On the positive side, the trip we did had a tremendous amount of variety, with accommodation varying from luxury to basic, good exposure to culture, as well as the natural attractions of Nepal. The trekking was more strenuous than expected. Unless you are accustomed to walking up and down hill(or you are young), it is challenging, but doable. There is never any rush so you can rest as much as you like. The optional paragliding in Pokhara is fun and worth doing. Everything was well organized by Himalayan Social Journey who were very flexible and provided an excellent guide named Narayan who was always cheerful and helpful. We didn't see much earthquake damage at all except for some of the old monuments in Kathmandu, and never at any time felt we were unsafe in Nepal. Overall the trip provided great exposure to a country and culture totally different to our own(Australia). The Nepalese people really need tourists to return to Nepal to help their economy so if you are thinking of going there then I would say do it.”

“We certainly had wonderful experiences and we certainly are not young. From a 69 and 75 year old perspective trekking in the Himalayan mountains does not have to be stressful for the person who with moderate fitness. We did no preparation but we do lead an active lifestyle and we chose the least extreme walk with the Himalayan Social Journey company. It was a 3/4 day walk going to 2200 mt - so not so high; but the views were still extraordinary. We saw 7 of the 8 highest mountains in the world. We took a mountain flight at dawn (which was truly amazing) flying from Kathmandu east to Everest - being very close on the turnaround at Mt Everest to the majesty of Everest and the other Mountains. But on our walk we saw the sunrise 3 times as it highlighted the snow topped mountains of the Annapurna range - each time we saw different perspectives of the mountains or mountains that were hidden behind other mountains so although we were not so high as to be concerned with altitude sickness we did appreciate the mountains in all their wild majestic beauty. Kathmandu has recovered from the earthquake surprisingly well. It has made a real effort to clear away debris and in the case of important monuments has done this carefully in order to be able to reconstruct them. Of course there are still people living in tents but it does all seem very ordered and orderly. We were not in the most effected areas. Apart from Kathmandu we were in areas that were lucky and but most people knew of someone who was effected by landslides or falling buildings. The main problem for the people at the moment is a lack of fuel for transport and cooking. The road to India is blocked and this is making life difficult with rationing and long cues for the fuel that they are able to get but the people are cheerful and strong in the face of adversity and they find ways to live with grace and humour and generosity. The hotels and the people are using wood fires to cook on and so the celebrations for Dashain, the major Hindu festival was still enjoyed. As we trekked through the villages the families were generous enough to include us in their festival with offers of tea and special treats that they had prepared. And we got to know just how far some of the younger folk had travelled to return for this important time. One young man came from UAR, he worked as a cook in resort out of Dubai and he was flying back in a couple of days - others were from closer in Nepal or in Malaysia. Nepal is not only mountains and monuments but also many rivers that are harnessed for hydroelectricity as well as white water rafting. We rafted on the Trishuli River on our way to Chitwan. It was fun but not dangerous as the company makes sure that experienced people are in charge. Chitwan is a special place; very different from the higher altitudes. It is the lowest altitude in Nepal and quite humid and the jungle has very different trees and animals. We did not see a tiger but did ride on an elephant and got very close to a rhino without bothering him, lots of deer and orchids too. On the last day of our trek a couple of us chose to paraglide down to the lake at Pokara. It was great fun. The guides were all very experienced and professional. Our first guide Ramchandra Dhounya was actually taking a group up to Poon Hill and we just tagged along for a few days doing the rafting and Chitwan area, he was very charming and personable as was his son. Our second guide, Bishna Prasad Bhattarai looked after us for longer and did a superb job finding accommodation in the simple mountain lodges that met our requirements in the difficult reality of very little fuel, certainly not luxurious but all with ensuite, and hot water, and good food as well as interesting people and scenery. Our porters, Krishna Pandey and Prakash Simkhoda, were also personable and helped make our memories enjoyable as they carried most of our belongings making our trek easier. Altogether the trip was something to remember. With the bonas of knowing that the company works to improve the social conditions in a sensible responsible way. Although we were an older couple I have confidence that any adult or any family with children could do a trek with this company. So discuss what level of trek would suit you needs.”

“This was our first trip to Nepal and we wanted to go with a tour company to make the most of our visit. Cannot give enough praise to HSJ for taking the stress out of vacation planning. The company is very professional, organized and accommodating to your personal needs. We simply had the most incredible time! Our whole family enjoyed the trip. We travelled with our three children, ages 13, 11 and 7. HSJ was flexible with our itinerary and was great with suggesting activities we may enjoy. They took care of everything for us, from ensuring our family had hotel rooms next to each other, arranging transportation, booking activities, etc. They made sure we were comfortable, well-fed, safe and happy every step of the way. All we had to do was show up and enjoy! Special thanks to our guide, Raju. He was positive and full of energy each day. He provided great information, kept us on schedule, and was simply fantastic with our kids! He definitely went above and beyond to ensure we had a wonderful holiday. We must also thank our Kathmandu sightseeing guide, Basu. This man shared an amazing depth of knowledge with us as we toured the stupas and temples. He was patient and kind and took the time to answer our many questions. It was a special day that we will remember for a long time. Finally, thank you to Ram for overseeing our trip. And thank you to our drivers for keeping us safe and porters for carrying our bags on our trek. All of these people had a part in helping our trip flow seamlessly and without worry. They also provided us an insight to their country and culture that we would have missed had we travelled on our own. I won't detail everything here as it's too much, but we were able to experience so many things on this trip: sightseeing, cultural dinner shows, rafting, trekking, paragliding, zip lining, mountain flight, and more! Accommodations were clean and comfortable. We especially enjoyed the family feel of the tea houses we stayed at. Transportation was via a company-owned van, which was much more comfortable and safe for family travel than the tourist busses we saw. We opted for the drive back and forth to Pokhara instead of flying which allowed us to save some money for activities as well as enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the countryside and its villages. We had some incredible food while in Nepal and HSJ was even able to set up a cooking lesson for us at a restaurant in Thamel. We learned how to make momos and the national dish, daal bhat, a great experience for the whole family. Even though we did all of these things, it was really just scratching the surface! Nepal has so much to see and do. We're already talking about when we might be able to go back. And when we do return, we would not hesitate to book through HSJ again!”

“We are part of two mature age couples embarking on our first trek, and we chose Nepal. . We were underprepared for the physical challenge of this trek however we survived and feel a high sense of satisfaction that we completed it. We also may not have chosen the perfect time to do this trek, in the monsoon season, but we had the time of our lives. The waterfalls are amazing, the full bulging rivers and fast flowing streams. The magnificent green everywhere of the forests and rice paddys. Not to mention the spectacular mountains. Another bonus for travelling at this time of year is that there are far less tourists and you can make some last minute decisions such as deciding on booking the Scenic Everest flight changing to private transfers etc. Himalayan Social Journey's team were great with correspondence before we arrived in Nepal and then we're brilliant in every way throughout our tour. From the driver Arjun who had the very difficult task of keeping us safe on the very difficult roads to Chituan and Pokhara, to our porters Rupus and Pradip who not only carried our belongings but also kept us upright at times on slippery steps and last but not least our most wonderful guide BINOD who supported us and kept us safe throughout this incredible journey. This truly is a journey that we will never forget and wish to thank you so much.Jenny and Bruce Millett from Australia xx”

“The service was excellent from booking to the end of our trip. Every part of our trip was organised from pick up at the airport to paragliding, white water rafting, Everest scenic flight, 4 day mountain trek and tour of Kathmandu. Ram and Binot were very helpful in responding to itinerary request and last minute changes. Raju was such a friendly and knowledgeable guide who took pride in making sure every aspect of our stay was okay for us including confirming that we got home safely after our holiday. Perkas was a great porter who always had a smile on his face and made life easy for us. After our trek we returned to Kathmandu where Dilip picked us up from the airport and took us sightseeing around the city. He was also very knowledgeable and friendly. Dilip and Raju were always punctual and we were never left waiting for anything. I would highly recommend using Nepal Social. If you have any holiday plans email the team and they will be able to help you.”

“I first saw Himalayan Social journey on Groupon but went on their website and found the 9N/10D Kathmandu - Pokhara Tour and Trekking with two night Luxury 5 Star Accommodation (4*/5* Accommodation). I added on an extra day ($45 hotel), Everest flight ($220), a sightseeing trip to Bhaktapur ($30), rafting ($35), paragliding ($100), private driver to Pokhara ($70) and added on the single supplement ($350)- all $ are usd. I booked in February and the email communication with Ram was responded to fast with clear information. Pick up at airport was easy (go outside and look for sign in the throng of people across the road). I was taken to the office to pay, exchange currency (great rate) and then get a SIM card on way to Hotel Holy Himalaya (great location and breakfast but terrible shower, no restaurant - try Gaia at the top of the street). The tour went ahead even though I was the only person. I got to do all of my activities and a cooking class ($A50) which was very lucky considering the weather. Please keep in mind that Nepal is a developing country and roads, traffic, language and culture is very different to your home country. Traffic in Thamel is crazy (cars, trucks, buses, trucks, tuk tuk's, cows, dogs, motorbikes and pedestrians all sharing bumpy dirt roads). I learnt to be patient and go along with what was transpiring, insist on the itinerary being honoured, pay extra at times (for guides, a bag - duffle bag not available, taxis) and everything turned out in the end (it was stressful at times though, especially when told flights, sightseeing, accommodation, massages won't go ahead as stated on the itinerary, however this did get sorted eventually). Rafting was fun but was told it was a 2 hour bus ride and 4 hour rafting. But was a 4 hour bus ride and 2 hour rafting. You get very muddy so make sure you keep a change of cloths handy to change at the end (there is no shower). The Mount Kailash Hotel in Pokara was very plush and had a great overhead shower and well priced restaurant. Pokhara is much quieter than Thamel. The guides and drivers were very good. The trek was fun and Ganesh my guide was very helpful and attentive. The walk to Dhampus is 3 hours of slate stair climbing, which was taxing on the legs. We walked through villages, past schools, fabulous mountain peak views and through forest (done leeches). The accommodation on the trek (Hotel Greenland in Dhampus, Australian Guesthouse at Australian Camp and Hotel Mountain Garden at Sarangkot all had an ensuite) add on 100npr for each shower (even if cold at Sarangkot) and 100npr for wifi, which will only be working when power is on). You order all meals through the guide and pay before leaving. Definitely give the paragliding a go, you will experience what it is like to be an eagle. September was quite warm and I only needed a jumper on one night. If taking the flight from Pokhara to Katmandu get a seat on the left side (is free seating) for a view of Mount Everest Range. The Gonkarna Rainforest Resort is about 30 -60 mins out of Thamel depending on traffic. It is a nice resort but is in need of a refurb. Monkeys are around in the morning and you can hear them in the trees at night. Try the yoga on the rooftop, Uma was fantastic. Overall I had a great trip but you need to be tolerant. If you are short on time I would definitely recommend this tour. I had a trip full of great memories. Make sure you have your itinerary on you to verify what is supposed to happen. It is a good idea to download Thamel and Pokhara maps to your smartphone, to help you find your way around.”

“We used Himalayan Social Journey for a fortnight's trip to Nepal, on the recommendation of our daughter, who had done a brief trek with them two years ago. We were not disappointed! From the moment of booking, Ram kept in touch and answered all my questions about our trip, booking an extra night in a hotel on our arrival and arranging a flight to Everest. Nothing was too much trouble for Ram and this was the case for all the staff of Himalayan Social Journey. We did five days' trekking in the Annapurnan foothills and our guide, Bishnu Bhattarai, was absolutely superb. He was full of information about Nepal and the places we were visiting and was unfailingly cheerful and full of energy. Our assistant guide, Tikkaram, was super helpful and went out of his way to help us. Our porters carried our loads with ease and provided great entertainment in the evenings at our tea houses, singing and dancing for us (and getting us up to dance as well! I won't forget Bishnu's dance moves in a hurry!). The trip combined some time in Kathmandu, white water rafting, safari in Chitwan, trekking in beautiful mountain landscape and some rest and relaxation in Pokhara. Throughout the whole trip we were looked after superbly and learned a lot about this beautiful country and its wonderful people. The whole trip ran like clockwork (apart from the road network, which is outside anyone's control!) and nothing was too much trouble for Bishnu and our team of porters. I whole heartedly recommend Himalayan Social Journey to anyone who wants to explore the amazing country that is Nepal, a country that you can't only visit once. Thanks to Ram and his team for making our trip so special.”

“What a trip, and an amazing social experience! Everything was well organised, had an amazing time and looking forward to the next trip. Our guide Prekash and Porters were excellent and always helpful, they were more concerned about our well being than their own which made the trekking very safe. The white water rafting was exciting and fun and Chitwan National Park trip was amazing and beautiful. We did the jeep ride which took us deep into the park. Had a great time in Kathmandu and especially loved Pokhara, seemed a more relaxed place than Kathmandu and catered more for the western traveller. This was our first trek and to be honest found it harder than expected – travelled nearly 70 kms in six days and approx 10,000 steps but it was amazing and definitely do again. The accommodation on the trek was varied and basic but was always clean and some had ensuites, unfortunately hot water was not always hot enough but we need to remember where we are, but the hotels in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan were excellent. The food on the trek was very good and varied – pizza, pasta and local food. One thing I would definitely recommend is to catch a flight back from Pokhara to Katmandu, 6 hours of the worst bumpy road I have ever encountered, should only be done one way. Tip - grab a seat on the left side of the plane for view of the ranges. Would definitely recommend HSJ and their team. Thank you to HSJ, our wonderful guide Prekash and our fantastic Porters for giving my wife and myself a wonderful experience of Nepal – we will never forget it. Did Everest joy flight - definitely recommend. Stephen and Georgia Pace November 2016”

“I did Annapurna 6 day trek (Poon Hill) as part of a 14 day package with HSJ purchased from Luxury Escapes. The company was great and our guides fantastic. Our guide Ram Chandra, Tikka and porters were incredibly kind and attentive, nothing was too much trouble. They made the trip so much fun and heaps easier and more comfortable than it could have been. The package was fantastic, we enjoyed the variety of activities, tours, white water rafting, safari and trek. We also did an Everest flight, amazing. I thought it was exceptionally good value for $$ and I 100% recommend HSJ and if you can trek with Ram you are in for a wonderful experience. My only feedback is HSJ need to be clearer in the communication- we didn't sleeping bags and we weren't aware of the recommended trekking baggage. There are a huge amount of steps, which aggravated mine and other trekkers knees, which was not communicated. I hope to book again with HSJ and go back to Nepal.”

“Did the 14 day Nepal trip with Jungle Safari and Rafting with my daughter, the oldest and youngest in our group of 8. This was the first time we had done a 'holiday' like this and we couldn't recommend Himalayan Social Journey highly enough. They looked after our every need, our Guide Shankar was sensational and couldn't do enough for us, Porters were amazing. The itinerary was a little misleading in that you need to do far more training prior to the trek than they suggest, but it was totally worthwhile. We saw and did things we will never do again. Would highly recommend to do the optional Everest flight - it was amazing.”

“We loved our time in Nepal with HSJ. We booked a Mountain Flight through via HSJ which had to turn around due to clouds. They helped us to rebook the following day and provided the second airport shuttle without charge. Our guide for the Kathmandu city tour was really good and our main guide Prakash was great. I would happily come back to Nepal and travel with HSJ again. TIP: Book via Luxury Escapes website, they do good deals with HSJ.”

“We purchased our 14 day Poon Hill/Ghorepani trek with Himalayan Social Journey through a Luxury Escape package. The complete tour, whilst adequate, would be hard pressed to fall in to the “Luxury” category. We were a small group of 6 and our guide Nirendera was exceptional in keeping us organized. He was happy to give us any information we requested without being an overly talkative guide (we appreciated his authenticity) The whole tour is pretty much go go go from the moment you arrive. For us as first time visitors to Nepal, (although well travelled in other SE Asian regions) it suited as we had no idea and no expectation. I travelled with my husband and this was the first time for both of us on any organized tour. We did relax and rather enjoy Nirendera taking the lead. After 2 nights in Kathmandu we travelled by bus, (never again), headed to white water rafting then spent the night in tented accommodation (nice, but don’t expect a “glamping” experience) From here we continued by bus to Chitwan National Park, maybe we were here at the wrong time of year but I certainly wouldn’t rush back. After Chitwan we bussed to Pokhara then Nayapul where we commenced our 5 day trek. I’ll load a blog post shortly on noniyates.com to give a full account of our trip but in a nutshell here’s what I can say; *The Nepali people are sensational *Most folk we noticed doing the trek were over 50 (us included) *It was waaaaay warmer than we expected (like I’m talking 35 degrees on our first day and over 4000 steps *The landscape varied dramatically from dry and dusty to lush rain forest, stunning waterfalls and spectacular mountainous backdrops *Every step is consistently inconsistent ;) *you don’t need to be super fit to do this trek but a reasonable level of fitness will make it all the more enjoyable. *Poon Hill was a little underwhelming, not because of the cloud cover but because of the sheer volume of people up there; we had better viewing spots with less crowds on the way down. *Take the flight back to Pokhara it’s worth spending a little extra. *Do the Yeti Everest Flight! Perhaps our highlight of the trip. On the whole we enjoyed our Himalayan Social Journey, we had a great team and met some really neat people. Nirendera, our guide, could not do enough to help us, THANKYOU, you’re awesome! There were some hiccups along the way but that’s life. All in all a great adventure with Himalayan Social Journey”

“The Itinerary was a great overview of Nepal with a taste of the city, mountains and jungle village life. Our guide, Prakash, and porters, Sebas, Ram and Atul made a great team togethe The HSJ team accommodated our specific requests, some hotel upgrades, jungle walk and Jeep safari instead of riding elephants. (Check out alternatives like “Walk With Me” and “Get Off My Back”.) We added a Mt Everest flight, which was extraordinary. My only suggestion is they provide more detailed tipping guide or offer to take a lump sum and distribute accordingly. It felt like we were calculating tips for everything we did, which was a tiny bit distracting. Overall, we had an awesome experience. Also, be aware that road travel in Nepal is protracted and uncomfortable due what locals call the “dancing” road. You may decide, like we did, it was worth the cost of a return flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu. 1x 11hrs by bus was enough. :-)”