Traveller reviews

“AMAZING!!! Very tough walking and cold at night, but all worth it for the stunning scenery and sense of accomplishment when you finally get there! The team from HSJ are great, the guides wonderful and the porters simply incredible. Highly recommend this tour to anyone (just do lots of stairs as training!) Thanks HSJ for one of the best experiences of my life, Jordan”

“HSJ really made the overall experience from before even arriving in Nepal to the final trip to the airport a memorable one. They were so friendly and nothing was a hassle for them to organise for us. One the Trek the guides were great and we were all in ore over our porter and Yak man who both did an incredible job getting our things to each lodge day in and day out. I would highly recommend HSJ for anyone travelling to Nepal!”

“I did the EBC trek with HSJ and found it to be one of the most amazing exepriences of my life. If you are after a relaxing, re-generating vacation then avoid this trek....It is hard work! The physical, mental and emaotional challenges you will should not be under-estimated...having said that I believe it was one of the best things I've ever accomplished. The scenery is spectacular and words and photos cannot convey what you will feel when you are standing next to a mountain that is 3 klms higher than where you are standing (and struggling to get a lung full of oxygen). Binot & Visnu (guides) were professional,insightful and a lot of fun. Thanks to them I felt I was able to keep within my own physical limits each day and reach base camp. Always helpful and considerate, nobody ever felt rushed or pressured to go at a pace that was beyond them. Kancha (chief porter/sherpa) was a classic. Always happy, you won't believe the k's this guy racks up (kilo's and klms). Ram and Shamilla keep the business side running smoothly and all the logistics fell into place effortlessly. All in all HSJ are a professional outfit and you won't be disappopinted in the trek. Give it a go, you won't regret it. You will make friends for life on this trek.”

“I travelled to Kathmandu with my daughter mid March for a trek to Everest Base Camp with Himalayan Social Journey. All my emails leading up to booking with them and then the many sent after booking were always responded to speedily by Ram. And I had countless questions. Nothing was a problem and his service amazing. He even made the point of coming to welcome us and then once again when we left giving us his blessing. The trek itself we were blessed to have the best guide and Sherpas we could have wanted. I was the slowest in the group and our amazing guide Binod was always there with an encouraging word and stayed with us along the way without being intrusive. He would make sure we were safe and as we were always the last ones to arrive at the guest houses at the end of the day he would get there last with us. We had 4 hardworking wonderful Sherpas, Geljen, Asish,Sunman and Raj. As we would complain about how difficult the hills and walk was (well me anyway) those boys were carrying 25 kgs on their backs and bounding up the hills always beating the group to the next stop. A special mention has to go out to one of our Sherpas Gelgen. He was truly my angel over there helping me with anything and everything. His kindness was truly appreciated and will never be forgotten. I truly miss those boys. The trip is full of many different experiences from the chaos of Kathmandu to visiting all the sights there. Through to the amazing scenery in the Himalayas and of course the satisfaction of making it to Everest Base Camp. I cannot gloss over the fact that it is exhaustingly difficult, or unbelievably cold in the evenings but if a 50 year woman can do it than so can you. It is without a doubt the trip of a lifetime just make sure before you attempt it you really must have done adequate training before you go. Also remember you are in Nepal and things are not like they are at home. Power cut outs what seems to be every hour or so and bathrooms not like you have probably seen before and in the mountains not many with running water. Just bring your wet wipes, grab a shower when you can and at the end of the trek at the lodge back in Lukla the best shower you have ever had in your life will be waiting for you. Thank you for having us in your wonderful country.”

“Ram was very accommodating in all my request and very friendly to deal with and I like that he gives back to his community.”

“Mr Ram and his team of professional staff, drivers and guides have made our Everest Base Camp Trek such a memorable and wonderful experience we will remember for a lifetime . The level of attention and flexibility in organising not only EBC Trek but assisting in a rafting tour on the Bhote Koshi and trip to Pokhara was of a first class level. An example of the dedication was when our flight from Pokhara back to Kathmandu was cancelled due to bad weather . One phone call to Mr. Ram and within minutes accomodation was sorted as well as return transportation back to Kathmandu. What a relief ! He team is always ready to respond at any time of the day . His can do attitude and joyful persona was always a pleasure to deal with. I would highly recommend Himilaya Social Journey to family and friends without any hesitation. Once again thanks for a great journey and experience in Nepal Namaste .”

“I am at the end of an amazing 12 day trekking adventure with Himalayan Social Journey and can honestly say that I will definitely book with Ram and his team in future. They were professional, took care of everything and made it the most comfortable, pleasant and amazing trip to a challenging destination of EBC. They were even helpful in answering my endless questions leading up to the trip, no matter how trivial. I felt safe and well taken care of. Thank you Ram and to your wonderful team. vinola”

“We did the EBC trek with Himalayan Social Journey and it was a fantastic experience. Binod our guide was very knowledgable, patient and friendly. The trek would not have been the same without him. Ram and his team were also very helpful especially when my husband got sick and had to be evacuated back to Kathmandu. We would recommend this company to anyone who wants to trek in Nepal.”

“Thankyou to Himalayan Social Journey, in particular the guides Shoilesh and Geljin. They were a great support to people of all abilities in our group. They have provided me with a lifetime of memories and I would definitely recommend them to anyone planning a trip to this part of the world. They showed great professionalism when it was needed. Thankyou again”

“We have just returned from the 16 day EBC trek, overall it was a great experience, the scenery was breathtaking and the local people very friendly. We were met at the airport as arranged by out guide Binod which was a relief given the chaos of Kathmandu airport. We were pleasently suprised by the initial hotel accomodation and the enthusiasm and friendliness of Ram and Binod. Throughout the duration of the trek Binod and the other two guides looked after us very well and again we were suprised by the accomodation we stayed in each night, (we were expecting a lot less from the research we had done into other peoples experiences with different companies). The group we were with was great,all Australians and ranging in age, experience and fitness, everyone got along well and looked after each other both during the trekking days and in the evening, (some people struggled with fitness and others with health issues due to the altitude). I must commend Binod and the other guides including our yak driver who completed a stretcher rescue of one of our group from Base Camp back to Gorek Shep, a really amazing feat. There are a couple of issues I want to raise which were a concern and could be done better, we were guaranteed a group of maximum 10 people, we ended up with sixteen, this caused some initial issues with equipment but which were sorted out at the 11th hour, however we do feel that the increased numbers left out guides over stretched. Due to the different fitness levels we found the group got too spread out with the front people out of sight with the lead guide and the slow people way back with another guide, this left the bulk of the group (in the middle) wandering the Himilayan range on their own, (the third guide was usually back with the yaks) admitedly its hard to get lost but a couple of times it did happen to people, and in the case of someone having an accident it is a safety issue. So Ram, if you want bigger groups this needs to be addressed. We also met up with people once the trek was over and we were back in Kathmandu who had also just finished the trek with HSJ there group was also supposed to be 10 and was infact 17! We also discovered that the porters were going through personal baggage and moving things from bag to bag, apparantly in order to balance the Yaks? this left one person without their sleeping bag for a night before it was located the next day. This is a NO NO as far as we were concerned. As I said earlier we had a really great experience with HSJ and think we got great value for money, I hope the issues raised will be taken on board for the benefit of other trekers. For first timers, you need a good level of fitness to really get the most enjoyment out of this trek. A couple of months spent in the gym would be a huge advantage.”

“Ma and a friend went through Himalayan Social for a 16 day trek to everest base camp, it exceeded all expectations, Ram and his team were fantastically organised for the trip to run smoothly and enjoyably. OUr Guides Binod and Bishnu were exceptional and I would highly recommend them, they definitely brought the most out of the trip for us- I wouldn't trek with anyone else when i return to Nepal”

“My son and I had an absolutely fantastic experience for 3 weeks in Nepal because of Ram and Sharmila from HSJ. They organised small trips around our 16 day EBC trek, and nothing seemed too difficult for them. They made everything seemless. And on the trek, Binod, our expert knowledgeable guide, was very patient and a perfect host at all the venues. He was always approachable and ensured we really enjoyed the trek (even chasing up extra blankets when the nights got a bit cool!). I cannot recommend Ram and his team highly enough.”

“Namaste. I went solo on the EBC trek May 2014 & it was an exceptional experience grouped with another 11 people on our trek. The team at HSJ prior to getting to Nepal were always quick to reply to any questions I had & were very informative. Ram is a great organiser & when we were stuck in Kathmandu Airport as Lula airport was closed due to weather he provided different options we could take, but fortunately the weather lifted so we could keep to the original plans. Once we got to Lukla we were met by our guides Bishnu & Geljen who were to make our trek a terrific experience along with Mingma our Yak herder. Word of warning though, when you play cards with these guys, keep your cards close to your chest & eyes open! The trek was challenging, particularly when illness hit, but the scenery, the people were just amazing. If I ever get back to Nepal I would have no qualms in going straight back to HSJ for another tour. Thank you RAM & the team, you provided a wonderful experience.”

“I am very pleased with the professional conduct of the staff and the sherpas in my recent Everest Base Camp trip. Specially Binod and Tenzen Sherpa took very good care of me when I needed help. Thank you for the great experience. Shahram Sharafi Western Australia”

“What a fantastic journey. The staff were very helpful and we thoroughly enjoyed the trek, although found it hard going. Views are outstanding. Has alot of snow, about a metre and a half, which was unseasonal which added to the difficulty but well and truly worth it. Always felt safe,We stayed in tea houses on the way and while basic they were fine. Food was surprisingly good. Would recommend this company to all.”

“I have recently returned from the HSJ Everest Base Camp trek and find myself wanting to return and do it all again. Crazy I know, but it is both physically and mentally fulfilling, all thanks to the support of the HSJ team. I have nothing but praise for Ram and his team and the way the 'journey' was conducted. From the moment we landed in Kathmandu, to the extra lengths Ram went to, to get us to the airport on our day of departure, I cannot thank him enough. Let's not forget our porters and our guide, Binood. Binood was always professional, but importantly compassionate and considerate to all within our group. So much so that our team got through without any challenges. Besides the physical aspects of the trek itself, the scenery was something to behold, almost out of a Tolkien book. I also better mention the site seeing tour of Kathmandu, what a history it has. I cannot recommend this journey enough and look forward to the day I can do it all again. Thanks Ram, Binny and the team at Himalayan Social Journey.”

“Had a fantastic trip thanks to Ram and the dedicated team at Himalayan Social. The tracks and huts were all to ourselves and his experienced guides and Sherpa's helped us every step of the way. Would recommend booking a trip with Ram and his team.”

“I had the most amazing experience on my Mt Everest base camp trek. Our trip organiser, Ram, went above and beyond to make sure all guests were happy and accommodated at all times. Our guide, Dhakal Binod, or Binny as he is affectionately known, was the best guide I have ever had! He was thoughtful and attentive at all times. Day or night he always made himself available! He pointed out anything of interest on our journey large or small, shared meals, games and jokes keeping us in good spirits when things got tough and made sure everyone was safe, comfortable and happy. I have never known a more dedicated and lovely guide and, having been a Sherpa/porter previously, has earned his guide position through dedication and amazing service. Having done the trek over 30 times Binod has a wealth of knowledge and knows all the local people - making him a great link to the culture and language of this amazing culture. Having done the trek in summer, I am keen to return to this trek in the winter season with my brothers, and I am definitely using and recommending Himilayan Social Journey! And my favourite tour guide Binny - whom I now keep on Facebook as a firm and life long friend! Natasha McDonald Brisbane, Australia”

“The Himalayan Social Journey were great I travelled by my self to Kathmandu , they were their to meet me when I arrived and all the activities and trek went as planned. Our guide for the trek was binoid or binny who looked after us all the way making sure that everything was ok, including personally cooking my eggs so they were runny. To all those in the Himalayan Social Journey HSJ a big thank you for making this one of the most memorable trips I have ever had. This was one of the best things I have done, It was physically and mentally challenging but the scenery and culture were amazing which made it all worth it. Like others I would go back again no problems. Note from my journal, an experience of a lifetime that will never be forgotten from singing bowls in Kathmandu to mountain peaks rising through the clouds, exposed to the extremes of nature that have ever changing views that will amaze you. Love this from on a tea shirt at one of the lodges " the beauty brings tears to my eyes and then freezes them to my cheeks.. Don't forget to bring a flag or some memorabilia to leave at the lodge to commemorate your trek. Read the HSJ web page for hints on what to bring and don't be afraid to get a warm jacket in Kathmandu especially us warmer climes people as it's a lot cheaper than at home or on line. The altitude my effect some people so be prepared, neurofen and diamox worked for me. Lastly for those that procrastinate like me using Nike shoes example,,Just do it!”

“We went with the Himalayan Social Journey on a 16 day hike to Everest Base Camp - it was such an EPIC trip - the guides we super friendly and helpful, and they were always willing to go the extra mile to assist with any request we had. Ram (the MD) is such a friendly guy and will make you feel right at home, so far away from home!! Highly recommended!”

“I recently completed a 16 day base camp Everest trek with Himalayan Social Journey. I found the communication of the company excellent - they responded quickly and in detail to any questions I had leading up to the trip. The manager Ram was friendly, informative, and extremely helpful to any requests me or the group had. He went above and beyond to ensure all guests were looked after and happy. All the staff - including the driver, tour guide and sherpa, were friendly and caring. A special thank you to Bishnu for looking after me after I became quite sick on the trek. Him, and the rest of the staff were attentive and always available to assist. I would not hesitate to recommend Himalayan Social Journey to anyone. Thank you all for a memorable trip and for all your assistance!! Harriet.”

“An experience of a lifetime. The overall professionalism of Himalayan Social Journey largely contributed to our great trek. Our guides Bishnu and Deepak were absolutely fantastic. Whilst accommodation and toilet facilities are not what we would normally come to expect, the general lack of facilities are to be expected in these isolated mountains. Ultimately, they add to the sense of adventure which is an experience that not many people around you can say they have achieved. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED”

“Nepal and the Himalayas were never on our bucket list till an irresistible coupon deal caught our attention. Our journey included a seven day trek through the lower Annapurna foothills and an optional Chitwan jungle extension. We did not know what to expect; this was going to be our first overseas multi day trek. We were pleasantly surprised by the prompt email responses of our tour organisation: the Himalayan Social Journey. The trek was fantastic. Coming from Australia, I would not call the foothills low. Our highest mountain, Mt Kusciuszko, is 2228 m, while we travelled up to 3100 m during our Annapurna trek. Our guide Shailesh, Sherpa Milan and porters were all nice and very helpful, while giving each individual the opportunity to walk at their own pace. It made this trip a wonderful experience. We have decided to do Kokoda next year May and in 12 months time we will be returning to Nepal to do Everest Base Camp. I think that is the best recommendation I can give! Happy trekking!”

“To Ram & all at HSJ. The trek was so aptly named as it was indeed INCREDIBLE. I can't speak highly enough of guide Narayan & porters Pradip. Kuu Mar & Ankit, who went out of their way to ensure our every need was met from morning until night, always with a smile & a "your welcome". The scenery was magnificent & there are not enough English superlatives to describe it. The showering systems may need some tweeking but when you consider where we were in the world & with inconsistent electricity-we managed & isn't that part of the adventure? Following trekkers a word of advice, while the trek is graded as easy entry make sure you train before going especially strengthen your legs to cope with the multitude of steps. I personally found the use of walking poles very beneficial & while the bedding is adequate would advise trekkers to take a sleeping bag. For someone who for health reasons needs to stay clear of spicy foods I was pleasantly surprised that I had plenty of options other than rice & noodles with ample quantities for the energy required to tackle the following day's up! up! down! down! slowly! slowly! While we may have only trekked Ghorepani/Poon Hill we couldn't be more proud of our achievements than if we had trekked to Everest Base Camp!! maybe in the future!! We had such a great time that we are considering doing the Annapurna Circuit next year & of course it will be with HIMALAYAN SOCIAL JOURNEY. We are so grateful to Ram for suggesting we include Nagarkot in our itinerary. It was stunning & so restful after trekking & the hustle, bustle & horn tooting of Kathmandu. Thanks again to Ram & all of his associates it was absolutely amazing.”