Traveller reviews

“In early December my partner and I enjoyed our first experience of Nepal with Himalayan social journey trek group. It was the perfect tour to introduce us to the wonderful and breathtaking trek around the Annapurna region and to guide us through the crazy colourful culture of the cities we explored. The group was of only 8 with a Porter per 2 persons. Yes, each carried 2 backpacks each! The porters really made the hike with their dancing, singing and flute playing during the hike and at night!   Ram was our guide and made the consumate host for the tour. He helped every tour member with all our travel requirements, ensured everyone was enjoying themselves and was a very entertaining dancer.  The tour was an excellent mix of treking, cultural site seeing, yoga and time to explore at your own leisure. We both highly recommend touring with the Himalayan social journey trek group and already look forward to our next trek up everest with them.”

“It was an awesome experience, Ram and his team took care of us all, played music, danced and laughed making the experience even better. The country and people are beautiful and the shopping, yoga classes and cultural events were amazing.”

“This trekking tour included everything! From the moment we arrived in Kathmandu the helpful guides were there to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience. This was one of the best trips i have ever been on, i definitely recommend it to anyone interested in trekking or just spending time in the mountains. The yoga classes were also a great experience! A truly authentic and healing experience! I will be back again!”

“We toured Kathmandu, Patan and Pokhara and trekked in Annapurna for six days. Ram and his team treated us like family, attended to our every need, and made this the trip of a lifetime. Guides and porters were excellent and the scenery was fantastic. Dancing and music added to the fun. Yoga sessions were an additional bonus. Planning to return as soon as possible; this is the trekking company I will choose.”

“My husband and I booked the trip through an online discount service in New Zealand and had no idea what to expect. WELL...the beautiful staff of Himalayan Social Journey made this exciting expedition absolutely perfect. We had never been to Nepal before but longed to see the the dramatic peaks seen from Kathmandu Valley and meet some of the beautiful Nepalese. Our group of 15 was mostly Kiwis and Australians and we all were able to trek along each day according to our ability. Some ran ahead while slower ones followed behind, with everyone accompanied by helpful porters. These young men carried our huge packs without complaint and always with smiles and songs to share. They were just incredible! The quaint and simple lodgings along the trek were owned mostly by smiling, happy people too. The abundant supply of dal bhat and other pasta or rice dishes kept us energised (the local saying was, "Dal bhat power - 24 hour!") and we all marvelled in the joy that emanated from those who had absolutely nothing. The very poorest seemed most jubilant of all. We thought it a beautiful life lesson to take home with us. Our lodgings at Kathmandu and Pokhara were a nice standard, and we found some favourite dishes (chilli vegetarian momo was primo) and Everest Beer to enjoy in both places. We had Camel Paks in our daypacks and also had bought a six-pack of toilet paper in Kathmandu, which saw us nicely through the whole trek. Two good ideas would be to bring a couple of long strings of nylon cord and a zip lock bag of detergent. We washed our clothes in sinks as we went along and hung things to dry or wore them on our day packs until they dried. The very best thing we purchased before the trip was a Steripen. It cost a little over $100 but is much better than putting chlorine tablets into water. We used our Steripen (which utilises UV light to steralise water) even in bottled water. It ensured we never got sick and our water was always 99% pure. You'd think you could fill up your water carrier with stream water but we laughed on one occasion where we were all riding on a bus up a hill and saw a clear stream running next to the road with a woman washing her clothes, then further up the road a child was pooping into it! Chlorine tablets taste awful too. The Steripen ensures water keeps its usual taste. There are a few occasions where you are able to only buy water from a lodge's filtered supply. You will absolutely not want to trust your stomachs to that water! Steripen to the rescue again! If you're looking at buying souvenirs, wait until your return to Kathmandu. The little shops have everything you'd find on the trek but at a cheaper price. We hope you have the opportunity to reserve a trek that has some yoga classes in Kathmandu. We had never tried yoga before (and are largely inflexible) but absolutely loved our time with Yogi. He encouraged us to think about how we approach life and let us know how we could find the joy in every day. It was a beautiful way to start each day which made the experience in Nepal so much richer. Our next trip to Nepal will absolutely be with Ram and Himalayan Social Journey. And we'll bring the kids when they're old enough too. After this adventure, we know you're never too young to discover what's most important in life. Enjoy your journey with Ram, Bhinod, Sobit, Raj, Prokars and the others! They make magic happen in Nepal.”

“My partner and I did the 14 day yoga/safari trek early January and we loved every second of it. Binod was our joyful guide, he encouraged me up the mountains and was incredibly knowledgable, helpful and good humoured. Our porters Bhimshen and Suvas were also wonderful, friendly and great for a laugh. Ram, the owner, went out of his way to team us up with another couple to make our trip a bit more special. I highly recommend HSL, I hope to make another trip with them in the future!”

“I did this trek early December and despite the fuel crisis at the time, the trip went without a hitch - the organisation was fantastic and the experience was culturally rich. We were privileged to be in the hands of such informative and professional people (Ram, Basu and Ganesh) who not only showed us the wonders of the Himalayas, but who educated us about the complexities of the political situation and life in Nepal. I also loved the yoga and meditation classes. The week of walking was wonderful and the pace was just right. I felt safe at all times and would highly recommend this trip. It was the best holiday I've ever had!”

“We still have 2 days left on this incredible adventure. We will be sad for it to end. However, I am looking forward to the massage, yoga and mediation in a 5 star resort to end our adventure. Our guide, Bishnu Bhattarai is fantastic, he goes above and beyond to ensure that every aspect of our trip goes perfectly! His local knowledge ensures that we get the best of everything available at every turn. For example, I needed to see a doctor and he arranged it whilst ensuring that the rest of my family could continue trekking. He then took me via an alternate route to meet up with my family and still experience the amazing Himalayas. Bishnu is lots of fun too, teaching us local card games in the evenings and sharing jokes with us and our lovey porter Pradip. The variety of places and experiences on this trip ensure that you get to experience the many faces of Nepal. Can't recommend HSJ and this trip more highly! The only suggestion I would make is to ensure that you are very fit to take on the trekking - it is not easy!”

“We had a great trip and ended up booking another last minute trip to Pokhara with them as well. Dillup was an excellent guide and host. We look forward to visiting again.”

“My family, friends and I visited Nepal for four days, three nights as a group of 14 tourists. It was our first time in the country and we couldn't have asked for a better guide or driver! Dipendra was a spectacular host as he showed us around Kathmandu and Nargokot. The outlined schedule of the tour was a great starting point, but he worked with us to make sure we got to see what we wanted within the city and ensure we had time at the places we found most interesting. This tour comes as a five-day package, but the company worked with us to ensure that we made the most of the time we could spend in Nepal (four days). The emails and payment were really easy to follow and the company is super quick to respond to all questions. We all really enjoyed our time in Nepal and when some of us come back for Base Camp, we will definitely use Himalayan Social Journey!”

“It was the most amazing moment . All the companion were just so kina and the had good hospitality.😍😍😍😍”

“We so enjoyed our guides - Dillup and Dipendra - they were the best part of the tour. They were so friendly and knowledgeable about the area. The history and culture they exposed us to was wonderful to see - Swaymbhunath and the Boudhanath Stupa. On their recommendation, we booked a separate tour to take an airplane ride along the Himalayas which was a huge success and we saw Mt Everest! Wow, amazing!! And much clearer than the the sunrise effort at Nagarkot. The tour of Bhaktapur was fascinating and so much to see. Our guide - Shya Kaji - was so informative!! We loved it all!!! Except the road to Nagarkot - winding and in very bad condition.”

“Once we got outside the Nepal Airport, they were there waiting for us. They were very friendly and accommodating. I asked them if they could take me to Pharping so I could see the meditation cave of Guru Rinpoche and they took me the next day, no hesitation! Going to Pharping wasn't necessarily easy either but there was no question about it. I became friends with them and now I am connected to them through Facebook. When I decide that I want to go back to explore the hiking in Nepal and also see Tibet I will certainly go back to them.”

“We took a 5-day tour with Himalayan Social Journey and the company was very good to work with from the beginning. They gave us their standard package and we asked them to modify it to match our needs they they gladly complied. During the trip we had to waste time to do our Indian Visa and could not visit some places per our itinerary but they let us make it up the next day, From the office personnel to the driver and guides, they are all professional and customer oriented. Their Hotel Holy Himalaya has great breakfast with varieties and the coffee lady was very good at making espresso cappuccino coffee. The only thing we did not enjoy was the cultural dinner/show. We were there two times and they had only three dances.”

“We had a great experience with Himalayan Social Journey in Katmandu and Nagarkot. Very nice, friendly and helpful stuff.”

“We can’t recommend Himalayan Social Journey enough. From our email questions prior to our holiday right through to the end of the tour. Ram and Usha were just so friendly and accommodating. Arjun our driver was fantastic and made our journeys so much better. We had the best time on this trip. We also booked a flight over Everest which was arranged perfectly.”

“I couldn't have asked for a better experience! From my initial inquiry to the pickup at the airport to all of the guides and activities, everything was top notch. This includes changing my plans and extending my stay. They made sure I was satisfied at every turn. I did the 5 day Sunrise Tour With Everest, plus the Chandragiri Cable Car and the flight over Everest. The hotel is about 12 minute walk from the hot spot of Thamel, which gives the advantage of a quiet area and affordable price and easy to get around. The rooms are clean and comfortable. All of the guides spoke decent English and were patient when I struggled with their accent. They provided lots of information about the area, the culture, the religions. It was just the right amount without being overwhelming. I met the owners and they made me feel like a valued guest throughout my stay. I highly recommend Himalayan Social Journey if you have a chance to visit this incredible part of the world! If I get a chance to return I will definitely choose them again!”

“We started late than our schedule due to not so pleasant weather in the morning. They clouds were thick and I was so worried that it might be cancelled. But it was good that they kept on updating us and q, we were picked up from the hotel. Once we took off, everything was just wonderful! The aerial view of Pokhara and the mountains from the helicopter were so beautiful! When we landed the ABC, it was so wow. I said wows for countless times!😂”

“Absolutely amazing experience. Our lead guide Binod Gharti looked after us right from the start of our 14 day tour. He was with us from when we got picked up at the airport right through to our departure. Sight seeing tour in Kathmandu is a must, our guide Dipendra Dharel was very helpful and took great care of us. We then did white water rafting which set the mood for the trip. Extremely fun and all staff were very helpful. We then travelled to Chitwan National Park and did a canoe ride, jungle safari and walk which was a smooth lead up to the 8 day trek. The trek was definitely the highlight of the trip, around Annapurna region. Binod's professionalism and humour is what made the trip. Very informative and very organised. The same can be said for our assistant guide Rupesh Shrestha, and all of our porters Sudip Shrestha, Dil B Bhusel, Buddi Tamang and Ram Krishna Shrestha. All extremely kind and caring in nature and once again, extremely professional. We then stayed two nights in Pokhara and I would highly recommend the Paragliding. Beautiful scenery. I would also recommend the helicopter ride up to Annapurna base camp. Spectacular view of the mountains. Finished the trip off back in Kathmandu at the Gorkana Forest Resort. Which was stunning. All round amazing experience, lovely people and many good laughs. If I were lucky enough to ever visit Nepal again I will definitely be travelling with Himalayan Social Journey.”

“Excellent half day out. No commercial exploitation just magical memories. Clean, safe and professionally operated.”

“the flight through the valley with the mighty Machapuchare on the right side was very impressive. The sight of the mountains from the base camp was terrific”

“It is an amazing ride. It is well worth the money. Front seat is best. The second row has 4 seats. Only wish I had walked down to the Annapurna base camp sign for a picture”

“This helicopter tour is breathtaking! Annapurna Base Camp was closed for helicopter landings so we landed at Mardi Himal Base Camp. The views were spectacular. The pilot flew over ABC and we had amazing views of Annapurna. The helicopter pilot and staff were all very professional.”

“All of the advertising is FALSE! This is a bait and switch! They do not go to Annapurna base camp, but to Mardi Himal base camp for only 20 minutes! They were 1 hour late picking us up and we waited for another hour plus, so that we missed the best weather! The only person that had a great view was the person in front. Having said that the experience at the base camp was incredibly beautiful! I would have liked to have more time there. Way over priced’”