Traveller reviews

“We walked with small, wonderful group of 5 with the help of Narendra as Guide and Binod and Sebus as porters. The walk was stunning and the HSJ staff really made the trek. Narendra had everything organised and Binod and Sebus sang and smiled their way through the trek which added such a happy vibe. I would be keen to book another trip with HSJ and explore another area of this amazingly beautiful country.”

“We spent 3 weeks in total in Nepal, including 10 days of trekking to Poon Hill (december/winter break). Our kids are teenagers (13 and 15) and they very much enjoyed the trek. Places everywhere were basic, food always the same in all BBs and hot shower sometimes provided, wifi so-so but we knew that. Raju, our guide was very up to the job, like he said "we are his family" during this trek. We had 2 porteurs (sherpas) and I am still amazed on how these tiny guys are so fast climbing with 25 kilos of bags on their back. OMG!! Unforgettable family trip and professional trekking company with unbeatable price. Kathmandu, Nayapul, Banthani, Ghorepani, Dhampus, Pokhara, from rafting to safari, canoeing in the river full of crocodiles. watching elephants playing polo and soccer, what a wonderful trip! Thank Ram, thanks Raju and to your sherpas.”

“My girlfriend and I recently embarked on our first trip to Nepal, exploring Kathmandu and Pokhara before starting our 5 day Annapurna Trek. Our guide, Milan, was fantastic and constantly went above and beyond to make sure we had the best trip possible. His knowledge of the area and culture was phenomenal but his humour and selfless nature really made him stand out from the rest. Ramesh, our Porter had a similar character, constantly making us laugh and amazing us with his hospitality and willingness to learn. We plan on returning for base camp and will definitely be requesting both our guide and porter again! The trek itself was about as difficult as we had expected, with a lot of very steep stair climbs that were quite challenging. If you're relatively fit you should be able to manage without too much training though. The views were breathtaking, with the sunrise at Poonhill the highlight of the trip (definitely worth the 5am stair climb). Accomodation at the guest houses isn't luxurious but if your expecting 5 stars don't do a trek. The rooms are bare bones but despite the lack of hot water in some areas were great for sleeping in and relaxing after a long day. Exploring both Pokhara and Kathmandu was also great but beware of the dust if you suffer from allergies or asthma. We had a fantastic trip and will definitely be recommending HSJ to our friends and using them again when we return!”

“Overall our experience of visiting Nepal was wonderful. We did the scenic tour exploring the temples and earthquake ruins in Kathmandu, rafting, animal and bird watching at Chitwan National Park and the Panorama Trek from Pokhara. We learned about the culture, history, people and mountains of Nepal. The 4 and half days entry level trekking was just right if you are not sure whether you will love trekking. We did love the mountains especially, and our Panorama trek and 5am walk up to Poon Hill to view the sunrise and peaks covered in snow was a definite highlight. Entry level trekking is actually reasonably strenuous, as there is a lot of climbing steps, but is enjoyable if you put in lots of training beforehand, which we did. We found the conditions of the highways with endless road construction, delays and bumps challenging. Heavy pollution in Kathmandu, dust and smoke from burning off in the national parks is also a challenge if you are sensitive or have asthma. However I did cope with these little things. What we loved best were the beautiful mountains lit up brilliantly with sunlight, or in shades of white, blues and greys; also gorges and streams, always prayer flags draped where you least expect, the traditional himalayan villages and exchanges with people along the way. The trip was very well organised, from our initial welcome as we arrived several days early, and suggestions on how to fill in that time, to the planning and organisation of flights, accommodation, and meeting us at back in Kathmandu airport and driving us to the Gorkarna Resort our final destination. Our guide Prakash was excellent as he adjusted the activity in each day to cater to the individual needs and abilities in our group of six, without leaving anything out. Each day was pleasant and rewarding and always something new, fun or amazing to see or do. There was also enough time for relaxation as well. Our porters Prakash, Hari and Rajan we admired for carrying our stuff, they were friendly, helpful and nice company to have as we walked along. We had fun dancing with them all one night in the mountains. We really appreciated all the thoughtful things that guide Prakash and the HSJ team did to make our visit to Nepal an exceptional experience. I would recommend booking with HSJ as they are a quality company and prompt with emails and communication.”

“From start to finish all aspects of our trip were managed by our wonderful guide, Raju. Nothing was left to chance. Every day and evening Raju kept us up to date with our trip route, and details such as managing our rupees to pay for meals and where to shop. Our porters Sussan and Dill, also kept a watchful eye on us as we inevitably separated into groups while trekking. Accommodation on our trek was simple but adequate considering how remote the location. Food was amazing and plentiful. All of us ate local dishes such as Thali with fresh produce coming from the mountain. A beer or wine at at the end of the day was a treat because of the difficulties the locals face moving goods from A to B. The trekking was challenging, and a little more training would not have gone astray on our behalf since we are nearly 60. Our reward for our hard work was those beautiful mountains that made you feel you were in a living/breathing postcard. So many highlights such as seeing rhino in Chitwan and walking into Ghorepani when it was snowing. Definitely recommend this company and can not fault them.”

“We loved everyday of our time in Nepal! Even the very tough but magnificent trek to Poon Hill. Of all the things we loved about Nepal - the scenery, the food, the Marsala tea - our favourite thing of all is the people, in particular our guide Narendra. From the moment he greeted us as we got off the plane he was kind, friendly, funny and informative. Without him we don't think we could have made it up the mountain! He was so patient and knowledgable and we felt safe and cared for our whole time with him. He is an asset to your company and we will forever remember our trip to Nepal as life changing and so wonderful. Thank you - Namaste.”

“My daughter and I finished this tour on 28 March 2017. It was beyond our expectations and simply amazing. The trek was very hard work I admit but you just keep on going step by step and you can amaze yourself with what you can personally achieve. The views were worth every ache and pain!!! Chitwan was fantastic and we saw lots of wildlife which was such a bonus. The tours highlight was, without a doubt, our guide Narendra. We were on our tour with 2 amazing Aussie ladies and he fussed over us the whole time. He was incredibly tolerant with us all and particularly me with some of my physical struggles trekking but he was always there supporting us. He also has a wonderful sense of humour and is incredibly knowledgable. Narendra is someone I will use again with any future tours or treks. The company was also very flexible when required. I highly recommend them.”

“Recently my dear friend and I travelled to Nepal for 14 day holiday with Himalayan Social Journey. The service provided to us from airport pick ups, city tours of Kathmandu and porters on our 5 day trek was perfect! Our guide Nerendera, taught us about his country and people with love, passion and expert knowledge. He sang, danced and pranced his way up that mountain and made us happy during some very physically gruelling times. Thanks team and a very special thanks to Kaka, I will never forget you or this holiday.”

“Himalayan Social Journey provided the highest level of service, organisation and support throughout the 14 day tour. From their choice of accommodation through to the day to day assistance during a challenging trek, the Himalayan Social Journey team were meticulous in preparation and attention to detail. A special mention must go to our tour guide/director ,Ram, and his team of porters. He was both their leader and mentor and we all were the beneficiaries of their loyalty and hard work. I have no hesitation in recommending this organisation to anyone who is considering a Nepal holiday.”

“The entire 14 days was so well organised - the company had covered everything. My husband and I are 64 and 55 and our guide Ram was terrific with us, he changed a few things as we went along to suit us. The 5 day Annapurna trek was by far the highlight, we look back and are so proud that we completed the trek. Everyone was so gorgeous, the scenery was absolutely amazing - certainly ticked the bucket list.”

“We trekked through the Annapurna Ranges going to Poon Hill. Our guide Milan was encouraging when the steps became abit tough. He gave us plenty of rest breaks or smoke breaks as my husband called them. Our porter Din carried our ridiculous bag without complaint and always had a happy smile and word at the end of each day. Both Milan and Din made our trip enjoyable...the views at Poon Hill were amazing. This was our 1st ever trek which we throughly enjoyed. I would recommend it to anyone. We booked our trip expecting to be in a group, however due to the time of the year or some other reason the trip ended up being just the 2 of us...so thank you Himalayan Social Journey for continuing the trek with just the 2 of us.”

“Had an amazing experience in Nepal. Had a few issues along the way due to bad weather but HSJ worked everything out so we were still able to do everything on our itinerary. Paban was a great tour guide who was always able to answer my questions and we enjoyed a good laugh together. The trek through the mountains to Pool Hill was one of the most amazing experience's i have ever had and i cant give enough thanks to the porters who helped us along the way, from carrying our bags all the way, to serving us meals at night, to piggy backing us across a creek, we would not have made it without the help of Suman, Sujan and Roopesz.”

“We have just done the Poonhill trek with guide Santosh Dhakal. This has been the most amazing experience! The stunning scenery - from snow capped peaks at sunrise to rushing mountain streams, waterfalls and lush jungle - is breathtaking and worth every step! The trip was really well organised and I was pleasantly surprised with the accomodation - ensuite rooms for all but one night and warm blankets. The company had also organised stops at great tea houses with yummy food along the way. Our guide, Santosh, was terrific. He anticipated our every need, made sure we were comfortable at all times. He was very encouraging on the difficult parts of the trek and was more than happy to go at a pace that suited us. He has a lovely personable manner, great sense of humour and was approachable at all times. He also has a wealth of cultural knowledge that enriched our experience. He made the whole trip really easy and our job was to simply enjoy the fabulous experience. We will be back to Nepal!”

“Unbelievable trip with Himalayan Social Journey doing the Poon Hill 5 day trek. From arrival at Kathmandu Airport they had everything organised for us. I give our guide Santosh Dhakal 7 stars, because 5 stars rating is not enough. Santosh embodies the attitude of a true guide - "your happiness is my happiness". We never needed to worry about anything - because Santosh's experience meant that he could anticipate everything. Our group was fantastic...Santosh's optimistic and joyful attitude brought us together. Santosh made sure we had the best rooms possible at each stop of the trek. He was always at hand with menus for meals, and arrangements for every meal. He is honest with reliable information about currencies and prices, and very reassuring about travel and flight arrangements. Santosh Dhakal is more than a helpful guide. He's a friend who we could trust right from the start. There is no question or problem that he couldn't help to solve. I will certainly be returning to Nepal, and the first person I will be calling is Santosh Dhakal at Himalayan Social Journey.”

“Loved the Trek - through beautiful rhododendron forests mountain gorges and cascading streams. Wonderful mountain views. Teahouse accommodation was adequate. Our Guide Prakash was great. Very organised and well planned while at the same time a relaxed feel about the trip. He bonded well with the group and was informative and fun. Thanks Prakash for looking after us so well. Thanks also to our 3 porters who were friendly and helpful. I thought it all very good value for money and an unforgettable experience.”

“This trip has a good balance of activities - visiting Chitwan NP, white water rafting and of course the highlight - the 5 day trek on the Ghorepani circuit. The trek was fantastic - hard at times but well worth the effort, it does add to the experience. We stayed in beautiful locations with views that took in the wonderful scenery of Nepal. Our guide, Ram, had a great sense of humour and kept us moving without putting on any pressure, and the porters were so helpful - thanks Ramesh! I recommend this trip to anyone who enjoys walking - just do it!”

“We would like to highly recommend our guide Narendra Timalsina for a wonderful trek to Poon Hill. He went above and beyond to cater to every ones needs. Thankyou Narendra we had the best time and highly recommend .We will see you on another trek .Neil and Toni xx”

“Our 14 day tour/trek to Poon Hill (Annapurna) was an amazing journey. Our guide Krisna Thapa was incredible & we could not have asked for anyone better. His leadership, care & warped sense of Nepali humour made our trip even better than expected. He is an asset to the company. The trails & scenery were spectacular- especially the waterfalls. I would not say easy (although I was unwell for a few days), you do need a moderate level of fitness & some practice climbing stairs would help. Although the pace is always slow & steady & you can stop to rest whenever needed. This type of trekking is not something to be rushed in order to appreciate its true beauty. The hospitality in Nepal is beautiful but don't expect the luxuries of home. Remember where you are with respect. Basic needs are provided with bedding & warm showers "most of the time". Some great lessons to be learnt in "letting go" & "trust". Thankyou Himalayan Social Journey for this amazing experience. We also had a number of changes to our trip before leaving with our son having to cancel due to an accident & nothing was ever a problem. We always had prompt replies to our correspondence & changes in plans. Would be do it again? Definitely! With Himalayan Social Journey? For Sure! Kim & Rob NSW, Australia.”

“We had a wonderful experience trekking the Poon Hill Circuit in Nepal, and we owe a lot to our guide Krisna Thapa. At all times we felt safe. He thought ahead and was a great organiser, each time making our experience easy and enjoyable. He was very attentive to my husband who was recovering from a chest infection. One member of our group was unwell. Krisna assessed her condition, and once happy that she could manage, led and encouraged her throughout the ascent of the mountain. She recovered well and was very grateful to be able to finish her challenge. He was fun and loved a joke. He led a team of lovely boys who kept a wary eye on us. I would recommend HSJ and Krisna to anyone wanting to trek Nepal”

“My husband and I recently did this tour, with no real expectations, other than to just see a bit of Nepal. We were met at the airport by our wonderful and funny guide Narendra, who couldn’t have looked after us better, even taking time out to take us to a local market in Pokhara when we needed a new suitcase. Kathmandu was chaotic, but our accommodation was comfortable and fairly quiet. From there we travelled to the Trisuli River where we had great fun white water rafting. The Chitwan jungle safari was very pleasant, although we didn’t see too much apart from a rhino, but it was the Ghorepani circuit trek that I really loved. The altitude got me a bit and I couldn’t make it up to Poon Hill, but everyone else was fine. The scenery in this area is spectacular, with the most awesome Himalayan mountain views and the local people are so friendly. The accommodation is quite basic on the trek but adequate, if you need a hot shower you might run in to problems. Overall the trip was fabulous and I couldn’t recommend it highly enough.”

“My partner Scott & I believed we were well informed and fit enough to embark on what we thought was a beginner level trek. The adventure was certainly unforgettable with our endurance well tested on the thousands of steep steps up and down that were not expecting!! Our guide was Tikaram Nepali, we met in Kathmandu and left Nepal 12days later as friends. His experience, positive fun attitude, caring nature and enthusiasm never faltered. Tika went above and beyond to ensure that we had no concerns, were happy and enjoying ourselves. The trek was more challenging than we had expected but the views and experience made every step worth it! We are already planning a return visit!”

“What a great opportunity the Himalyan Social Journey team provided to some of the best sightseeing in Nepal. Memories to last. I would definitely recommend and certainly come back to Nepal for the Annupuna Circuit with Bhishnu as my guide. Group dynamics made this trip even more special with 100s of great photos. My expectations were sincerely exceeded. Thank you for such attention to detail from the first to the last email from the guys in the office. Nameste”

“Words cannot adequately describe the incredible experience I have just had with Himalayan Social Journey in Nepal, the memories and emotions will stay with me forever. A friend and I took the trip together, we were not well travelled or worldly wise rather we were excited but scared and despite a lot of research really didn't know what to expect. Nothing could have prepared us for the breathtaking magnificence of the Himalayas, the incredible kindness and authenticity of the Nepalese people and the fantastic group we shared our trek with. I just loved the white water rafting, it was exhilarating and great fun. I found the Poonhill Circuit Trek extremely challenging despite the fact I had prepared well both physically and mentally but with the skilled guidance, intuitive support and gentle encouragement from our guide Ganesh I made it and the rewards were so sweet after the struggle. Once we were back in Pokhara I went up over the Pokhara Valley and close to the Annapurna Ranges in an open ultralight with Avia Club Nepal and this was another awesome experience. Going to Nepal was on top of my bucket list and a few years ago I saw an article in a magazine about the ultralight flight in the Himalayas so I planned the trip for my 60th birthday and it is to date the best experience of my life. Heartfelt gratitude to Ganesh our guide and Ramsoram our porter (he is also a trainee/assistant guide), Dependra our city guide, the wonderful man who took us rafting (who's name unfortunately escapes me), the incredible individuals in our trekking group, my friend and travelling companion Deanne, the people of Nepal, the HSC team and the Universe for this incredible opportunity and adventure. I was often moved to tears and also laughed so hard it hurt, if you are thinking of going to Nepal hold on tight because you are in for the time of your life!!!!!!!”

“Our 14 day tour of Nepal was one of the most amazing experiences of our lives. From having color and water thrown at us for Holi festival to the Chitwan jungle to the Annapurna foothills and views of the highest mountain range in the world, this trip was outstanding from beginning to end. Our guide Raju was very professional and helpful along the way. We had many others involved in our trip, from hotel staff to day guides, all of them extremely kind and helpful. The people of Nepal really are the countries biggest asset, such a beautiful, kind and generous population. Also, special shout out to our porter, Roopeszz! We started in the crazy streets of Thamel, Kathmandu where we got to participate in the Holi festival, so much color, laughter and fun. From there we went rafting and spent a night "glamping" by the river. In the morning a cable car ride to Manakamana (highly recommended) to see a mountain top town and historical temple. Our next major destination was Chitwan, which we absolutely loved. The Chitwan national park is a Gem and the conservation effort there is heartwarming. To hear the locals and safari guides talk about their national park with such passion was a breath of fresh air. We got up-close and personal with huge wild crocodiles and a couple of rhinos... No tigers unfortunately. From there we started our 5 day trek to Poon Hill/Ghorepani and back. I'm lost for words as to how much of a lasting impression this trek has left on our lives. Such a beautiful part of the world, just stop what you're doing now and book a trip! Pokhara was a nice tourist city to spend a couple of nights in after the trek with ample food and beverage options. All was capped off with 2 night stay at the beautiful Gokarna Forrest Resort in Kathmandu. The only real downsides that I could mention are the bus trips along very under developed roads, and a flight that was cancelled meaning we had to take a 7 hour car from Pokhara to Kathmandu, along the above mentioned roads. Nepal is a developing country trying to do it's best to keep pace with an ever changing world so if a few bad roads is all I can complain about, they're doing well. Himalayan social Journey were an outstanding company to deal with, from pre-trip enquiries to dealing with the cancelled flight on the spot. Thank you so much Ram, Raju and the team. We will definitely see you again Nepal. Rest in Peace the Victims of US-Bangla flight 211”