Traveller reviews

“The overall experience was simply fantastic. Slowly trekking up steps as the Annapurna mountain range began to show was amazing. Climbing to Gorepani/Poon Hill was definitely a lot more challenging than I thought it was going to be. It was also fascinating to be able to see Kathmandu with the city guide as well, even though the places they took us were 'popular', we had intimate explanations of each site and how things came to be. Very insightful. Our mountain guide Shankar was very knowledgable as we constantly asked him questions about the trek and the surrounding areas. It was great to have a local that has been on the trek numerous times taking care of us and essentially became our friend throughout the whole trip. He made sure food was ordered beforehand, so that we could squeeze ahead of larger groups and also entertained us with his magic card skills. There were times when I wanted to rest a little longer than usual but he always tried his best to keep us on track and on time. And I'm glad he did, so that I pushed myself a little further every time. The Poon Hill trek is perfect for first timers as well as seasoned trekkers as it is challenging enough and also provides such insane views. A lot of uphill steps are invoked and I powered through and am really satisfied in the end. My gf and I will certainly be returning and will be using Himalayan Social Journey again for our Everest Base Camp trek!”

“Himalayan Social Journey helped me organise my whole 4 week holiday in Nepal. It was easy, organised and well executed. My 14 day Everest base camp trek was the best thing I've ever done. What made it so special was the incredible group I was in. My guide Nharaym was the best and looked after us so well. No one in our group got sick or altitude sickness because of it. Our 3 porters were amazing and so happy. Everyone we have encountered within the agency are so friendly, helpful and beautiful souls. All the tea houses and lodges we stayed in were excellent choices. Clean, comfortable and value for money. They all had delicious food too. No one in our group got any food related sickness either. After our trek they helped organise all our other travel, accomadation, transfers, activities and flights. I can't recommend this company enough. Thanks for a life changing expirience.”

“My husband and I embarqued on this journey and we had all assistance required 100% of the time. Ram ensures you are always supported by someone of his team and makes your stay at Kathmandu easier if you need anything. We trekked to EBC and the guide and porters were amazing. We had yaks with us, and we all enjoyed the fact that they carried our luggage instead of porters. The trek is lots of fun and they always respect your pace. Unfortunatelly I contracted a kidney infection 2 days prior to arrival to base camp and required helicopter evacuation. The company ensured everything went as smoothly as possible for me, from evacuation to my stay at hospital and after hospital discharge. They were always caring. My husband also required evacuation 300m from EBC due to AMS and again their support and logistics were amazing. I would reccomend this company.”

“Himalayan social journey organised my month in nepal and organised everything, we could call anytime. I did a 14 day trek to everest base camp and the guide Nharam was fantastic. He gave us all the advice we needed to keep going and none of us got altitude sickness. Plus he was always there for a laugh. We had three porters who I couldn't have made it without. This was a trip of a lifetime that would not have been the same without himalayan social journey. Highly recommend.”

“Wow... What a wonderful experience trekking to Everest Base Camp with Himalayan Social Journey. We found Ram & his team easy to deal with & professional. Our head guide Bishnu Basnet, 2nd guide DePok & their team were friendly & helpful, nothing was too much trouble. When during a long day of trekking I didn't know how we would make it, Bishnu gave us encouragement & a warm smile that urged us to carry on. When a few in our trekking family were ill & needed evacuation I was amazed at Bishnu's care & professional handling of their medi/vac to Kathmandu. We would defiantly recommend trekking with this company. They made our trek easier with their caring attitude and support every minute of the day. Amazing friends were made both within our group & with our HSJ team. Thank you all. These fantastic memories will stay with us forever!!! Pauline & Jack - Australia”

“We have just finished a 16 day Base Camp Trek organised by Himalayan Social Journey from 4th November to 21st November , it was first class. Ram met us on the first day and explained that our group of 7 would if ok travel with another group of 7 , which met our trekking party was 14. We were led on our trek by Bishnu ( Guide ) 2 Porters and the great Yak Man The 2 porters were wonderful Deepak and Geljen . The trek was breath taking , the weather perfect . The accommodation was clean and great value for money The pace of the trek was perfect , with the key being having the rest days on way to base camp .The people on the way were amazing friendly and accommodating. We did have some of our party that did not make it to the base camp and Ram made sure they were taken care of with a flight back to Kathmandu. Need to make sure you have a good insurance policy and trekking boots. In summary I would highly recommend Himalayan Social Journey , They were great .PS thanks to mouse .”

“Ram and his team are great at their jobs. Always very positive, very hardworking and do their best to give you a positive experience whilst in Nepal. I did a Chitwan and Pokara tour and a 16 day Everest base camp tour with Himalayan Social Journeys, both trips were well organised, had great accommodation and I felt like I'd seen the sights. On my basecamp trek myself and a few others suffered from altitude sickness we were evacuated, Ram's team organised everything and continued to make sure we were OK until we left the country. If you are travelling to Nepal Himalayan Social Journeys will make your stay!”

“My boyfriend and I did the EBC trek in December and enjoyed it so so much. HSJ were so organised and helpful the minute we arrived in kathmandu and made sure we settled in quickly. The trek was an incredible experience made even better by our guide Bishnu and our lovely porters as well. Bishnu was very attentive and also gave us lots of interesting information about the mountains during the trek. He always checked we were feeling okay and whether we needed anything. I would definitely recommend anyone to use this company they were fantastic!!”

“Himalayan social journey offered us amazing service throughout the trip. They took care of all our needs even outside what was expected of them. The guides were with us throughout the trip and were very social, hospitable and made for great companions. They even inspired us to trek to the Everest base camp next year :) Would definitely recommend their service as it is very affordable and the people truly make your trip worthwhile”

“Had an absolutely fantastic time on the trek with HSJ. Friendly guide (Ganga) who took care of us when we had altitude sickness, answered all our questions and became a good friend. Included airport transfers. Conscientious company who were always willing to hear feedback and encouraged thoughts for improvement. Responded to emails swiftly and made dealing with them easy. One of the best experiences of my travels - thoroughly enjoyed it and would reccommend HSJ to any potential trekkers.”

“Thanks team, we enjoyed the experience with them. Always on time and friendly service. The EBC was great and was in good company.”

“I had a unique experience in Nepal with my brother in March 2015.. Our flights were delayed for 5 days due to a plane crash, which meant we missed our Everest Base Camp trek start by 3 days. When we arrived, Ram immediately looked after us! He was very patient with us and very accommodating. He organised for us to start at a later date, to trek on our own with a guide and porter. We were so grateful and had an amazing trek! When we returned, we had breakfast with Ram to discuss what to do with the rest of our holiday. He gave us many options and within an hour he had planned a whole knew holiday for us to fit our remaining time in Nepal. He managed to organise us a flight (that same morning) to Pokhara, return flight back to Kathmandu, hotel accommodation in Pokhara (great location!), a bungee jump experience, a paragliding experience and all transfers (free transfers). I would highly recommend Himalayan Social Journey as they are great with customer service and are very accommodating with clients needs and schedules!”

“From the moment we met with HSJ to our farewells, absolutely everything was brilliantly organized and arranged for us. Everything from accommodation to transport, tours and information was consistent and ran smoothly. Our guide, Shailesh Pokharel and our porters were excellent- always at our beckon call, always willing to help, always with a smile. Their company was as enjoyable as the hike. Two thumbs up all round!! If there is to be any constructive criticism it would be for the company to provide a check list of everything needed in terms of warm / weather resistant clothes beforehand. For those who had never done a trek like this, the cold/ wet temperatures were underestimated.”

“We went on the 14 day trek to Base Camp. Our guide was Mingmar Sherpa. We really enjoyed our time with Mingmar, He was so attentive and supportive all the way there and back. He always made sure we had everything we needed and made sure we didn't leave anything behind . The food and accomodation was good, it was a fantastic experience.”

“It was a challenge, but turned into a Life Experience, HSJ and their Guide Prokash Rijal took us all the way. He knew his stuff, took care of us in slippery footing, and ensured our safety all the way. He was also Master of Ceremonies after dinner with his magic Card tricks! He's worthy of Las Vegas! He has done Annapurna Base Camp and Everest Base Camp so was full of interesting stories. He also helped us get the last equipment needed for the trek. Get this man to take you! He organised any changes we needed...Mobile coverage in Nepal is to be seen to be believed! For those thinking of doing this, please consider buying the majority of your gear there in country, Pokhara had many shops with all the gear and they are much cheaper than Oz. For people who are doing this only occasionally, it's a cheaper option and is good for the Nepali business economy. We had a full cultural tour with Basu, who took us to the World Heritage Stupas. He was a spiritual man, and we also had the opportunity to buy beautiful objects and visit Thanka art studios where they make beautiful Mandelas. Basu, I went back after our trek and bought a beautiful singing bowl from the Old Tibetan Singing Bowl Shop, where he showed us all about them. I wanted to tell you that when we were at Swayambhunath I noticed the chiselled lines on the paving stones were there to stop us slipping, but it seemed they became lines of script at times, and I thought it right to walk to a place of worship on the prayers and hopes of the faithful. Our accommodation was great. Hotel Tibet, a quiet haven, Mount Kailash in Pokhara lovely, and Hyatt Regency wonderful to end on. For Dhampus, Australian Camp, and Sarankot, we were pleasantly surprised at the level of accommodation, having expected trekking conditions to be a bit harder. Have to say all those mountain ladies can COOK! Drinks are available readily if you want that sort of thing. But the FOOD! We ate our way round the Annapurna foothills! They provided a wide variety of all nationalities, which was amazing. Did the Paragliding with Sarankot Paragliding. Prem, pilot extrordinaire, took an old lady from 1800 metres and it was something else! Rockstar Prem! Ram Parshad Sapkota came personally to give us a briefing, Thank you Ram Rameshwar, the manager answered every email promptly. Namaste Rameshwar! Baburam, our porter was awesome. He's a young man who helped us with cheer. And finally, but not least, our company driver 'D'. Anyone who's been in Khatmandu traffic, will know whereof I speak. Nepali drivers are AWESOME! "D", thanks. You took us all over and I could have watched the traffic for ages, what a sight! You guys know how to MERGE! Perhaps the weather was not conducive to seeing the mountains in their entirety, but they appeared as if by magic from the clouds and were amazing. It didn't matter, they are still so beautiful. Some places in the world are Spirit Country, and this is one. Recommend it!? Sure can! Just once at least!”

“We liked the idea that going through a local company rather than a big corporate may benefit the local people more but were apprehensive as to how we would go with the booking process. Any concerns we had were quickly dispelled with the ease at which the arrangements were made through email. The staff at HSJ were very prompt at replying to all the emails I sent and any final clarification was easily done over the phone. So confident did we become of the booking process that we even asked them to organise a Bhutan trip to start after our Everest Base Camp trek. This again was organised with the utmost ease. In Nepal we did the 16 Day Everest Base Camp trek package. Transfers from Kathmandu airport were smooth but when we got dropped off at the hotel we were not given any information on the orientation meeting. This was easily clarified by a phone call placed by the friendly hotel staff to the agency but this would be one of the rare occasions HSJ could have improved on its communication. Our guide for the trek was Bishnu and we could not have asked for a better guide! From negotiating the mayhem that is the domestic airport to making sure all our needs and whims during the trek were attended to, Bishnu and his team of Sherpas and porters were beyond exemplary. A few examples of their good work that jump to mind: 1. Always being patient in managing the different personalities in our 9 person group. 2. Carrying the day packs of some members of our group when they were struggling with illness and the more challenging days of the trek. 3. On the day we had planned to hike to Everest Base Camp (EBC), it started snowing. There was a very real chance we were not able to make it to EBC after all the hard trekking we had done and the group felt shattered. Bishnu enlisted the help of 2 of our porters to help guide us to EBC in the snow and make our dreams come true. We actually had to descend in the dark but I felt perfectly safe knowing Bishnu and his team were guiding us. The porters actually carried the daypacks and held the hands of some members the whole way down and in some tricky spots would be running back and forth to guide more members. This ended up being a 12 hour day for his team and the easy option for him would have been to simply say to us that the weather was not conducive to the trek but he made sure all of us made it to EBC and made it back safely. 4. We were stranded in Lukla as the weather was not permitting our flights back to Kathmandu. When Bishnu realised we were due to fly out to Bhutan the next morning he did everything in his power to ensure we got on the earliest flight out of Lukla the next day so we could make our Bhutan connection. Short of being able to control the weather, he could not have done anything more! These were just a few examples and there are plenty more. The only criticism I have of the trek was the accommodation we stayed in near EBC: in particular Tengbouche/ Dabouche, Labouche and Pheriche. The state/ ratio of the toilets in those accommodation was appalling even by Nepalese standards. EBC trek is definitely not for the faint-hearted. You are pushed to your limits physically and mentally, then asked to do more the next day. But along the way you will discover your inner strength and resilience and share a life-changing experience with new friends who you seem to have known forever after just 2 weeks. And with Bishnu and his team, you can be certain you will be well looked after every step and Diamox tablet of the way!”

“Great organised trek by Himalayan Social Journey and could not fault it on any step of the way. The managing Director Ram met us at the hotel on arrival and the excellent service just continued from that point. Sight seeing around Kathmandu by local guide Basu was an educational marvel. The trek guide Sherpa Mingmar and porter Umess perhaps arguably were the best to have on any trek and cannot thank them enough for providing excellent service throughout the journey and their friendship will be a lasting memory. We experienced nearly every weather condition you can imagine and we accepted what mother nature threw at us. Luckily we were prepared clothing wise for all weather which constantly changed throughout each day. The lodges and meals along the way were of a high standard letting us experience the local foods and hospitality. A few of out group experienced a touch of altitude sickness but Mingmar Sherpa kept a constant eye and monitored everyone's condition. A great trek for anyone wishing adventure and challenges as it remains a lasting memory for me. Thankyou Mingmar Sherpa, Umess and Ram and team at Himalayan Social Journey.”

“Yes, we were that group that hiked to everest base camp in the week that the two horrific earthquakes occurred. There was much terror, panic and confusion on the mountain. Thankfully, we were under the leadership of our smart and quietly brilliant guide Ganga Thapa. Ganga got us to base camp safely and kept us all calm and reassured throughout the hike. He is an extraordinary person and has a rich knowledge of the himalayas. The trek is mind blowing beautiful. The people and culture enrich the experience. The trip is very organised (even with an earthquake) Be prepared to find life very difficult above 4200M. Request for Ganga, he is a legend.”

“This was one of life's amazing journeys. I was there during the quake, in Dingbouche village (2 days trekking from EBC) which was relatively unscathed thank god, but besides the worry of the quake, we were well looked after. The track is still passable. I was jealous this week to see our guide make it to EBC. We never made it to EBC, but did get one day away. Amazing experience, very comfortable accommodation (basic but comfortable), very attentive guides and porters. I was suffering altitude sickness and Bishnu constantly monitored everyone's condition. This is a great local run business and the guides and porters are worth their weight in gold. I booked and paid direct with HSJ and had no issues at all. I always received responses back on any questions very promptly. Also if looking for a good insurance company who covered up to 6000 metres for evacuation I can highly recommend World Nomads. After the quake I received 2 messages from them to guide me and provide information on what we needed to do if requiring additional accommodation, flights etc, very good service. To sum up, I would definitely go with HSJ again and recommend to my friends and if I had the time would return to do the EBC trek tomorrow. I hear there's plenty of people still going, and in fact as we were returning, we passed plenty of people still going up the mountain.”

“In 2014 I travel to Nepal with Himalayan Social Journey to Mt Everest Base camp. I would like to say that this was the hardest trek I have ever done. I must also say that its the only trek I've done haha. The experience was wonderful even if I swore every step of the way to get there. It was really hard but hey I did it!”

“I would highly recommend this company to anyone wanting to do a well organised, safe trek with fantastic staff who will go out of their way to tailor make any of their arrangements to suit their clients. My 18 year old son and 20 year old daughter and myself (56 and female!) did the 15 day Everest Base Camp Trek with breakfast on 21st August in spite of friends and husband's concerns re earhquake and monsoon. We had a fabulous time and would encourage anyone to book and go now. Nepal needs tourism and the wonderful spirit of the Nepalese people in spite of their terrible experiences made us so glad to be there. Apparently so many people are cancelling or postponing their trips but we would say go now and enjoy the experience of a lifetime! The itinerary was very well planned and efficiently executed starting with our airport pickup and welcome at the Himalayan Social Journey office. We enjoyed the sightseeing of Kathmandu and our guide was amazing at answering our barrage of questions regarding culture, history, religion and obviously the impact of the earthquake. Some of the oldest buildings have been badly damaged and a few totally demolished but repairs are well under way and tourists should not be put off visiting. Traffic in Kathmandu is another amazing experience. All of the drivers that we had in the comfortable and air conditioned vehicles made us feel very safe in a system totally different to the UK! They were also very helpful and friendly and able to answer questions when there was no guide eg on the airport trips and to and from the extra white water rafting trip that we had booked. The hotel Holy Himalaya, Kathmandu, was a joy--brilliant location, comfortable and clean rooms, with hot water and flushing toilets (most appreciated on our return form the trek!) and very good food. And of course lovely staff We felt so lucky to have Bisnu as our wonderful trek guide, and Tembe,our amazing porter. Bisnu knew everything about everything and has 25 years experience of trekking so we were completely confident putting ourselves in his hands. Some of the days were more challenging than others but as we were only a group of 3 we were able to go at our own pace and Bisnu even altered the destination on our returning days as we were going faster than he had anticipated (not so on the way up!) We achieved Everest Base Camp on the only afternoon that it rained on us, followed by snow overnight! The weather was otherwise fantastic, especially as it was the rainy season, and we awoke daily to blue sky and fabulous views, the clouds developing by the afternoon and the rain starting after our arrival at the guest houses. The evenings were cold and we were glad of our ski jackets in spite of the wood burning stoves in most of the guest houses. We took sleeping bag liners and although our porter carried sleeping bags for us we only needed them one night and felt that it was an unnecessary waste of our limited luggage allowance. Toilet paper however was in short supply and relatively expensive en route so take plenty! Also take chargers and adaptors as you can use them in most places. Head torches are essential for the guest houses that had outside toilets! The quality of the guest houses on the trek varied from excellent at Namche Bazaar to basic at Phakding and Pangboche, which was more what I expected. But the hospitality everywhere was wonderful. We would also highly recommend our Bhote Khoshe white water rafting experience. The rafting was good fun and the lunch provided was really tasty. The whole relaxed atmosphere at the camp base made us want to stay there for much longer. So do go. Book through Himalayan Social Journey. You will not regret it.”

“What an amazing experience we have just injured 16 days trekking from Lukla to everest base camp with "Himalayian Social Journey " and our awesome guides Ganga Thepa, Mingma Sherpa and cuzzie, we can't thank you enough for getting us there safe, and enjoying all our stops n homestays on the way . If any one thinking of traveling to Kathmandu or better still, Eversest base camp, this company will get you there, with fun along the way. Believe me, its now safe to travel there. Hope you enjoy as much as we did ❤️”

“What an awesome journey! Our trip with Himalayan Social Journey was amazing and enjoy every moment of it...Nepal is breathtaking , the view, the people, the food and all the amazing experiences of my life. Special thank's to Himalayan Social Journey Crew who looked after us from start to finish: - Mr Ram : for Arranging everything - Mr Bhisnu : our guide, thank you for taking care of us, being patience, and making sure were safe and enjoy all the time with the trip - Pemba and Lakpa : Our porter , whos always stand by and help us till we reach EBC - Mr Bashu : for all the information about nepal Nepal is safe and very beautiful, i highly recommend to visit nepal with Himalayan Social Journey”

“We travelled with Himalayan Social Journey.Nepal has exceeded our expectations.Arrving in Kathmandu we expected to walk to Everest Base Camp but after waiting two days for the weather to clear,with our guide Mingmar Sherpa (who was extremely attentive at all times!) we ran out of time and had to change our plans.We were offered to go to Chitwan for a jungle safari and then around Annapurna trek for 6 days instead. This was an amazing experience and we highly recommend it.When we went trekking we were delighted to find Mingmar (who we had requested to be our guide)was taking us on the Annapurna circuit to Poon Hill with Subas as our porter.Both boys were brilliant but Mingmar Sherpa went above and beyond his duty to help us on the trek and with sightseeing and shopping in Pokara.Both boys were great fun and very attentive at all times.We feel that we have made a friend for life in Mingmar.If you like walking and immersing yourself in a different culture,Nepal is a great place to go.We found the Nepali people to be honest, friendly and helpful.”