Traveller reviews

“What an adventure, from the moment our guide Prakesh met us at the airport until the time our journey ended....we trekked, climbed, rested when necessary, river rafted and accepted the challenge of traversing spectacular swinging bridges. We stayed in warm, comfortable Homestays often with our own bathroom! quaint and colourful and very welcoming. Evenings often brought conversation, card playing and always a discussion reviewing the day and considering tomorrow.....plans, needs and expectations made clear all round. Two females in our 50s, of moderate fitness we worked hard on those climbs up and down and felt satisfied that we had had a go at something tough but achievable. Up at 4am to climb Poon Hill, having the clouds clear and viewing the incredible peaks, late rhododendrons' s still in flower, a carpet of pink petals. We ate well, enjoying the local fare, discovered particularly good apple pies, drank satisfying masala tea. We shared the paths of small mountain ponies and goats. We walked respectfully through people lives and homes, some acknowledged us some did not, and that felt right. An enlightening experience, I thoroughly recommend this journey and felt our time and money was extremely well spent with our wise and competent guide Prakash and our porter, Purna. Many thanks.”

“We did a 12 day Katmandu, Pokhara and Poon Hill trek, first of all we would like to thank Ram for answering all of our question and helping us to fine tune our trip so that all went smoothly. We were picked up at the airport in Kathmandu without any fuss and taken to the office to meet with Ram and he explained some of the details of our trip and that we would be meeting our tour guide Narendra Timalsina. We meet later that evening for a cultural dinner and he explained that he would be our guide for the trek and we were pleased to hear that he had many years experience trekking around Nepal. and we knew we would be in good hands. He told us that our porter would be Roopeszz Crest and he would be joining us in Pokhara the following morning. The next morning we meet with Roopeszz and found him to be a great young man with a big smile and great sense of humour. We began our trip after breakfast by catching the tourist bus to Pokhara and spent the night in Pokhara at a very nice hotel they choose for us "Splendid View Hotel" before leaving on a 90 minute mini van drive to Naya Pul the next morning where we began our trek. The first day was to be a 7 Klm trek to Tikhedhunga which was mostly uphill and through local villages, we stayed overnight at the "Shankar Guest House". The guesthouse was clean and basic with shared facilities. The following morning day 2, after breakfast we trekked to Ghorepani rather long day of all uphill trekking doing the famous 3280 stairs in the first 2 hours followed by even more stairs and a walk of some 13.4 Klm. Our guide Narendra always ensured that each rest stop had magnificent views tonight he booked us into the "Nice Viewpoint Lodge" great location youth hostel feel basic/clean with superb views we were not disappointed. Day 3 we were up early to walk the 45 to 60 minute walk up another 450 mtrs and yes more stairs to Poon Hill for a stunning sunrise and so worth it, take a warm jacket and buy a coffee at the top the views were magnificent, stunning and utterly amazing to see the beautiful Himalayans. Returned back to Lodge for breakfast before setting off again to trek through some stunning rainforests before arriving at Tadapani where we stayed at the "Hotel Magnificent " which served the best spring rolls. Day 4 we left Tadapani for Landruk stoping at Ghandruk and viewing the Visitors Centre which was very informative before descending to the valley floor more steps down this time before winding our way up the other side and yes more stairs, lots more stairs, again Narendra had booked us into a very nice hotel "Super View Guesthouse " this local couple were very friendly and have prime real estate allowing views up and down the valley most defiantly a place to stop and some rooms have private facilities. Day 5 we made our way to Pothana easier walking today but still the views keep on coming the accomodation was very limited Pothana showed you magnificent views of "Fishtail" Day 6 we walk on to Phedi which was all downhill, remember take your trekking poles, the Nepal people have a saying "a little bit up, a little bit down" and nothing could be truer. Our guide was knowledgeable, informative, courteous and very polite and he was always patient and gave us encouragement when we needed it. Our porter Roopeszz was a very polite young man and always had a smile every day. He always had our bags in our room by the time we arrived at the hotel. Both guide and porter are a credit to Himalayan Social Journey. Himalayan Social Journey are the company you should consider when thinking of doing any trekking in and around Nepal”

“We have just completed a 14 day tour with HSJ including the Poon Hill trek. Overall, everything was absolutely fantastic. Before leaving Australia, HSJ were extremely responsive to emails answering every question I had quickly and with great detail. Even when we had to change some of our pre and post accommodation, Ram was extremely helpful and responsive. The trek itself was excellent. Our guide Raju was wonderful - he is knowledgable, personable, fun, caring, helpful and compassionate. We had a mixed group of fitness levels and he encouraged everyone to just go at their own pace. One of our group was extremely ill and he lead her through three really tough days getting her safe and sound to the next guesthouse. And our porters .... Incredible men - always smiling, nothing too much trouble - just wonderful. The only feedback I would provide is around communication during the trek itself - yes, sometimes things got lot in translation but it would be good to have a clear idea of what the day ahead will bring. I also think that having to pay for hot showers and electricity on top of what we already paid is unrealistic. Yes, it's only a dollar or two, but the tour price should include all of this. That notwithstanding, we had a wonderful trip and one that will stay with us for a lifetime. And, if we ever to forget, the photos of the Annapurna ranges will be there to remind us .... What a stunning location!!”

“We booked a 14night Poon Hill (Annapurna ranges) trek with 2 night Gokarna Forest stay with this company and I cannot speak more highly of our guide Raju and his team of 4 porters, Tikarum in particular. My husband, 15yo daughter and myself felt that we had done enough physical training (me less so) but I will say this is not an entry level trek by Australian standards. I struggled on day 2 - there are alot of slate stairs of varying heights (9000 in one day) which at this time of year after monsoon can be slippery and treacherous. Having said that, the compassion and kindness shown to me by Raju really did bring me to tears (I was also sick, dehydrated and suffering mild altitude sickness as well but that's another story!) Both Raju and Tikarum were there patiently beside me waiting to steady the slightest stumble and I cannot thank them enough. Food along the trek is surprisingly western (roast potato, pizza etc) and some of the tea house accom is a little.....agricultural, but that is all part of the fun. If travelling during Sept you will need very little in the way of warm clothes and thermals definately not needed. We were certainly not prepared for the warm weather walking through the mountains - tshirts and shorts (covering the thighs) are adequate. Watch out for leeches and mosquito's and bring antiseptic, anti itch cream and most definately sunscreen. Breathtaking views are the reward for your gard work! If there is a criticism, it is of the front end organisation. Emails from Australia were always answered promptly however once in Nepal we found that communication was lacking. Messages were often left to guiding staff to pass on and sort out where this clearly was an admin job that should be sorted at the end of the trek. I'm referring specifically to incorrect requests for payments that had already been paid however no receipts were ever given so check and recheck and always get a receipt. As a side note, the guide and porters rely on tips to support their meagre pay packets so leave your stingy pants at home and support these guys - they are worth every cent!”

“We've just completed the Annapurna Panorama trek (5 days - visiting Ghorepani (Poon Hill) and Ghandruk), and we must say that we thoroughly enjoyed our trip!! Ganesh (our guide) knows a lot about local plants, wildlife and the area, and that made our trip all the more fun! The overnight stays were great, and all the people we met were very friendly. We can and will heartily recommend to trek with Himalyan Social Journey, since their guides are very experienced and really look out for you. Five stars from us!!”

“Our trek was extremely well organised by The Himalayan Social Journey. Our guide (Santosh Dhakal)and porters (Hom Nath adhikari and Dil bahadur) were friendly, knowledgeable and had a great sense of humour. I will be recommending this trek and look forward to future treks with this company.”

“I used Himalayan Social Journey for the trip of a life time: the 14 days Jungle Safari and Poon Hill trek. I had to re-schedule my trip three times, and this was not a problem with the HSJ team. The tour guide Raju could not do enough for the group, and exceeded all expectations. He was knowledgeable and experienced, and tried to make the journey unforgettable! We had four porters, who were very different from porters in my previous experiences, since they stayed with the group and engaged at all times. They were absolutely wonderful and I couldn't believe how helpful they were. The entire team from HSJ tried to make the experience wonderful for each of their clients. The manager Rameshwar assisted me further by writing a report for my insurance, since we didn't have time to get to a police station when I had lost my camera. I would recommend this company to everyone, and I'll definitely travel with Himalayan Social Journey again should I go to Nepal in the future.”

“HSJ did everything possible to make our experience the very best it could be. The trekking was brilliant. We loved staying in the tea houses with friendly hospitality and fresh food. Thanks to our guide KB, our trekking pace was just right and we learnt so much. Our Jungle experience also great. Our guide Hari had us running through the jungle to see a rhino in the river and listening and viewing so much of nature. He shared his knowlege. I can't wait to return to Nepal”

“Have just returned from an amazing trek arranged by Himalayan Social Journey. The organisation was first class from start to finish. Our guide Santosh couldn't have been more helpful, looking after us every step of the way and making everything run smoothly. We had a lot of fun as well as support and professionalism. Our porter, Hom Nath was also really helpful and very much a part of the group. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this company based on my dealings with them to date.”

“My husband and I have just returned from one of the most memorable trips/adventures we have every experienced. The trek was inspiring, challenging and we are still amazed at what we accomplished. HSJ wisely divided our initial large group into two and gave those of us over a certain age an extra day to complete the circuit--we needed it and we were very grateful! Our very positive experience must be directly attributed to the attention and care of our guide, Raju and the strength and good-will of our porters, Perdip, Rupesh, Dinesh and Rajan. In particular, I must commend Raju for making sure each of us safe and cared-for on the trek while encouraging us and taking time to focus on the scenery and environment. His confident grip on my arm helped me navigate many stairs and rough terrain. Raju also directed the team of porters to stay close to the members of the group as we each hiked at our own pace. Our safety was clearly the top priority. We have already recommended HSJ privately and are happy to add our comments on Trip Advisor. Our advice for prospective trekkers: Get in shape! Make sure your training includes steps--you'll encounter many on your journey near the top of the world.”

“I just completed the 14 day Poon Hill, Chitwan National Park and white water rafting adventure with the Himalayan Social Journey. The whole trip was an adventure with lots of variety. The trekking to Poon Hill and back to Pokhara was a beautiful experience. With any mountain trek into the Himalayas it did have lots of up hills and down dale but the views and the experience was worth it. The Nepalese are a kind and gentle people always with a smile and a helping hand. Our trip was made special by the other travellers who happened to turn up in our group and most of all by the quality of the guides and porters who looked after us every step of the way. I need to make special mention of Raju our experienced and attentive tour guide who lead a group of 9 older Australians, all well over 50 to new heights. Our porters also helped each one of us, some holding the arms of weary trekkers as they climbed at the end of the day. Rupesh carried our bag and all the while waited on us and shared his life story with us. The same can be said for Perdip, Dinesh and Rajan who each cared for one of the group along the 7 days on the mountain. Hearing their stories of life in Nepal especially since the devastating earthquake made our journey such a personal one. Special and memorable. On some evenings the guide and porters would dance to traditional Nepalese music and encourage us trekkers to do the same making for a good laugh and fun time. If you want a holiday that is fun, challenging, full of interesting sights and in a beautiful landscape then this trip ticks all the boxes. The only down side of the trip was the endless traffic due to poor roads in Nepal. If you fly and not drive to Pokhara and Chitwan then it is the perfect trip. (They say the roads will be better in a few years but until then fly). There is something magical about the resilience and positive attitude of the people of Nepal and the towering landscape of the Himalayas that make the place special. I will be back!”

“We had a great time in Nepal and are looking forward to booking another trip in the future. The tour covered rafting which was excellent fun, elephant safari and an early morning canoe trip in the Chitwan National park which was amazing. The trek was our first and we found it was an excellent way to try out trekking before trying a longer trip. Our guide throughout the trip was Bini who looked after us extremely well and made sure everything went smoothly. The accomodation was varied from very basic in the Tea houses on the trek to the lovely hotels in Pokhara and Chitwan. Would recommend HSJ”

“A bucket list wish achieved! Led by an excellent trekking guide in Milan and our trusty porter Homnat we managed to reach our goal of Poon Hill on the Annapurna trail. Milan exceeded all our expectations in anticipating all our wishes and needs- we look forward to meeting him, as a guide and a friend in the future.”

“Everything was great from the minute we landed to the minute we left. Our guide Narendra was professional and helpful. Many thanks to our willing porters Subus and Binod, who supported us so very well. A truly wonderful adventure. I will return to Nepal again soon and booking through HSJ .”

“We have just finished a 10 day organised trip around kathmandu including a 5 day trek to Poon Hill in Annapurna region and a relaxing few days in Pokhara. Prior to arrival the company was incredibly helpful and informative, answering all our queries regarding preparation for the trip. While in Nepal all activities,accommodation and transport was brilliantly coordinated by Milan, who was also our trekking guide in the mountains. I was super impressed at the accommodation and food whilst on trek- and our guide Milan and porter Roopeszz made sure we wer comfortable and well looked after at every step, going above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed the trip.!!!!! I was nervous about coming on my first trek to the Himalayas but Himalayan Social Journey and their knowledgeable team made this an unforgettable experience - highly highly recommended!!!! I'll definitely be looking to this company for any future Nepal trips👍👍👍”

“Myself, wife,son and his partner, recently returned from our trip to Nepal.We did not know what to expect, but wow what a fantastic experience. The scenery on the Ghorepani -Poon Hill trek was amazing, the people are so friendly and obliging. but our guide Ram and porters Binod and Ramesh were the best,always there to help with a smile. We had the best time and would love to go back again 11/10”

“Great walk for 6 days next to snow covered mountains. Weather was perfect clear sky views Cool at night & low 20 during day just right for trekking Our guide Raju was really helpful & made thing go well Last night at the hot springs was great after all the walking Himalayan Social Journey provided exactly what we agreed on for this tour”

“We did a 5 day trek to poon hill with our guide named Narendra. The walk was amazing with great views although some of the uphill parts were pretty tough! Our guide made everything easy for us in terms of finding accomodation and teaching us about the wildlife on the walk while also being very entertaining. Awesome trip and would recommend to anybody.”

“We had an excellent introduction to Nepal with HSJ on a 14 day tour including a 5 day Annapurna trek together with rafting and a visit to Chitwan. The scenery and people of Nepal are worthy of a 5 star rating and more than compensate for the less than 5 star infrastructure and accommodation. Don't let the latter discourage you from visiting Nepal as the country really needs tourism to support the economy. We had an excellent tour guide, Binny (Binod) ably assisted on the trek by Ganeesh and our ever friendly group of porters, Dil, Purna, Sanat and Sujan. Our group of 11 from Australia, New Zealand and England had very good driver, Arjun who safely negotiated the route from Kathmandu to Chitwan despite the road conditions, landslides, traffic jams and ever honking buses and trucks overtaking in sometimes suicidal manoeuvres. 7 hours for 70 kilometres can be a little trying for all concerned. On the 2nd day of the trek we did get to Gorephani early enough in the afternoon to see the sunset from the top of Poon Hill which was a good option for us. We had very good email communication from HSJ prior to the trip and any hiccups along the way were ably handled by Binny.”

“We had the most wonderful of experiences with Himalayan Social Journey. Our guide Ram, could not do enough to make sure that we were happy, and that our experience was the best that he could manage. The views, experiences, and people were fantastic. I strongly recommend this trip. Although the trek is listed as an easy one, you will definitely need to start training for this as soon as you can. Day 2 is a real tough one. There are over 4000 steps to climb in the course of a few hours. The more you train, the better you'll enjoy yourself. Having said that, this trek is not a race, and Ram made sure that he always stayed back with the last people in the group, and let the Porters guide the way for the faster members of the group. At no point did we feel pressured to go any faster than we were comfortable doing. If you get the choice, make sure that you do the Poon hill summit at Sunset, and not sunrise, the views are glorious. Temperatures. We went at the end of November. There was no rain, the temperatures during the day were 15 - 25 and hiking in lightweight trousers and t-shirt was adequate (after you have warmed up). It's at night that you really need the extra layers. Pro's The awesome views; the really friendly people; the customer service from everyone; I liked the rustic nature of everything (including dodgy showers and toilets) The overall experience was something i'll never forget. Con's The roads. TAKE THE FLIGHT BACK FROM POKHARA !! - the roads are in a dire state. The showers and toilet facilities - although I enjoyed the rustic nature of these as part of the overall experience, some people wont like them. Notes: Tips. if you receive a service, it's customary to tip. usually 50 - 150 rupees per person. The porters and guides get a fair bit more. Learn how to use Hiking sticks and use a pair at all times. They really help. Boots. make sure that your boots are well broken in. You'll be on your feet for 5 - 8 hours a day. Socks. take enough good quality thick socks for the 6 days trekking Hiring motorbikes/cars - DON'T. the way that the Nepalese drive is totally alien to us. I don't recommend driving yourself at all. Road Crossings: You do not have right of way, anywhere. be exceptionally careful crossing the road. Toilet Paper. Take plenty of your own on the Trek. There is none supplied, and it's expensive when you get into the mountains. If you are relatively fit, and enjoy beautiful views, and hiking through gorgeous country, then this is the trip for you. on a couple of occasions,both myself and my wife were moved to tears at the sheer beauty of the Annapurna range.”

“After many months of planning we spent an amazing 14 nights with the HSJ team trekking to Gorepani and Poon Hill plus rafting and Chitwan jungle safari. After much communication with the office prior to arrival we then changed our plans, at the very last minute, to join a group tour. This turned out to be a great option for us as we made new friends from the UK and Australia. We can’t speak highly enough of our guide, Binod (Binny), and the team who joined us for the trek - Ganesh (assistant guide) and our incredible porters Sujan, Dill, Santa and Puma. These boys took care of all our needs and smiled, laughed and sang throughout entire trek. They really were great company. We had two levels of walking ability in our group which they easily accommodated and I had one porter by my side at all times (thank you Sujan!!!). Binny was easily able to manage a change to our internal flight, allowing us an extra day in Pokhara, and gave us other options during the two weeks to add some flexibility to the itinerary. The trek itself is quite demanding, especially days 2 and 3 with the uphill steps, so it is a good idea to be sure you are comfortable with these. The 5am climb up to Poon Hill was truly incredible. Well-worn boots, comfortable socks and walking poles provided a little comfort. November and December are great months to travel to Nepal as the tourists ease off and the weather is settled with brilliant blue skies and cooler temperatures. The Nepali people are a joy to be amongst and their country is filled with surprising scenery at every turn. I would so recommend spending time in this delightful country and HSJ are a superb choice to make sure you see and experience the best on offer. Namaster and Dhanyabad, Donna and Lauren”

“What I can I say. This was an amazing experience, way way better than I expected. We are a couple 46 and 52. We arrived in Kathmandu and were greeted and taken to our hotel which was one we had booked because we came 2 nights earlier than the tour start date. We ended up starting our tour a day earlier so never got to stay at the Holy Himalaya included in the package so cannot comment on that, but ended up having an extra night in the mountains, this worked out very well for us as our group became 6 instead of 17 (the early arrivers) and mean't that day 2 the most difficult day we actually did over 2 days. The extras like the white water trip and the jungle safari were both excellent and good fun. On principle we did not do the elephant safari and opted to pay extra and do the jeep safari. The elephants appeared to be well cared however. The hiking part was way way harder than I expected and I am not sure if I would have been able to do day 2 all in one go (I probably would have though lol). I would say this was not an entry level hike and would suggest training before your trip. We did some and were fine but the more you train the more enjoyable the trip. There are LOTS of steps, day 2 (all in one go) would probably be in excess of 6,000 steps, not step tracker steps, actual steps. The pay off at the top was well worth the hard work. Our Guide Ram and our 3 porters were all fantastic and good fun. I was always at the back and was never made to feel like I was letting the team down, we all went at our own pace , mine was very slow. Ram stayed with me all the way and encouraged me along every step. I was determined to do it and I cried my eyes out at the top it was soooooo magnificent. We did Poon Hill at sunset which was stunning. Most do it at sunrise and this can be very very busy, Sunset wasn't busy. Rooms are very basic and so are the wash/toilet facilities. We did have en-suites on 3 or 4 nights but please do not think this means luxury. I was expecting basic so wasn't surprised, having the en-suites was a bonus. Take toilet rolls with you. Food was good and wholesome, the milk coffees were delicious. Views stunning, people friendly and we even had WiFi in a lot of places although not always great. Charging stations were also available for your phones etc. Don't expect Poon Hill to be your last up stop, the next day we wen't higher again and then down and up again. I would have to say this is the most memorable, rewarding and satisfying holiday I have ever had. Driving in Nepal is dangerous, tedious, slow and an experience in itself. Roads are appalling and massive pot holes. One day we clocked 18000 steps on our fitbits without leaving the bus that's how bumpy it is. My advice is to book the plane flight back to Kathmandu after the trek. We loved Pokahara and the hotel there was lovely. As was Chitwan. We opted for the upgrade to the luxury hotel at the end and while it was lovely I wouldn't do that again for the only reason that it is in the middle of nowhere with no shops around so you only have the option to eat there. In summary Fantastic holiday with many many highs (and steps) very few lows and truly an experience I would do again. On a side note I have Multiple Sclerosis and not fit by any stretch of the imagination, so if I can do it anyone can and highly recommend this tour to anyone.”

“Myself and a friend undertook a 14 day tour with Himalaya social journey which was a wonderful Holiday. We started off by being introduced to our lead tour Guide Binod Dakal, who was knowledgeable friendly and a all round fantastic guide, accompanied by Genesh a second guide who also couldn't help you more! The tour was well organized with excellent accommodation and food provided and the experiences absolutely breathtaking. Poon Hill..will luckily be with me forever and if you get a chance and your not afraid of a little excitement i totally recommend doing the paragliding at Pokhara you won't regret it. All In all the team we had working together including the Porters were fabulous. My friend and i loved it so much were already heading back in March 2017 to do ABC. Cant wait.!! Do yourself a favor leave your clock at home and immerse yourself in the Nepali culture. If you're looking for a holiday that runs to a stop watch this isnt it ,.But really you wont care when your there . Thanks for awesome time. 🖒🖒”

“we originally booked a 2 week tour including Poon Hill trek through HSJ. I'd previously been to Nepal 30 years ago with my wife and this was a bit of a deja vu experience for us. Conditions on the trekking routes are vastly improved, electricity, wifi, hot water and real beds, but the walking is still hard work. We had a guide and porters this time but you still need a level of fitness and a good mindset to enjoy the trek. I couldn't commend our guide Ram Chandra enough, it was a pleasure walking and discussing how tourism had changed the lives of the local people in such a positive way. We also went on 2 day trip to Bahktapor and Nagarkot which was really worthwhile if you have some time to spare. Dilip the guide/driver looked after us really well on the dancing roads. I also travelled on to Tibet on a tour arranged by HSJ and everything went off without a problem. They organised the trip and visas etc while we were trekking. I'd highly recommend using this company, they are trustworthy and deliver what they say.”