Traveller reviews

“Sagarmatha National Park must be one of the most picturesque and diverse landscapes on the planet. As 1 of a group of 9 people doing the 16 day Everest Base Camp Trek, I loved every moment of this challenging adventure. A 5 star experience without 5 star trimmings. The food and accomodation can be a tad repaticious but still healthy, warm and clean, but the big win was that our great guide Bishnu,his wife and our young Yak boy got all 9 of us safely to our amazing destination and back home again. Thanks again Ram for your professionalism and also your smiling friendship,2 perfect trips from 2 attempts, may have to try a third?”

“Wonderful trek, amazing experience! We flew into Kathmandu not knowing what to expect but hoping for the best. And that is what we got! My husband and I are not seasoned trekkers, just a couple wanting to enjoy the wonders of Nepal at our own pace.The HSJ reorganized our itinerary to allow us to do this. We have just completed the first part of our holiday, the Ghorepani-Poonhill Trek. Our terrific guide Narayan took great care of us both, along with our always smiling porter "Harry". We all learnt a lot about each other and our cultures along the way. Beautiful friendly people, superb scenery, warm and welcoming culture. In 2 days we start our next trek to EBC with the Himalaya Social Journey. Ram also made suggestions on changes to this trek to make it more enjoyable for us, and we are very pleased he did.Finally, the fuel crisis in Nepal is a huge problem for everyone, but the HSJ, along with everyone we have met along our way,is doing a great job of limiting its impact on travellers where possible. Thankyou HSJ, Nepal, Narayan and Harry for such a fantastic trek !!”

“Everest base camp Trek was very challenging but very rewarding, we met some of the nicest people along the way and the Sherpa's were amazing.”

“Himalayan Social Journey travel goes beyond expectations. The flexibility with bookings was exceptional. We received high value and high quality travel services from start to finish. There is plenty of guidance material on the web for the preparation for this trek. My mistakes are worthy of note. Carry only 2 to 4 kgs with you and put about 10 kgs on the Yak or Sherpa to carry. I carried all sorts of communication, SAR and camera equipment including chargers and spare batteries etc. You need one camera that is specified to work in the cold – one of mine didn’t. There are charging facilities, Wi-Fi and mobile coverage at many places on the trek. You need trekking poles. You need layers for the trip and you should not take a spare change of clothes for every day. Plan to buy just about everything at Kathmandu as the prices are unbelievably cheap and so cheap you can leave this with the people at Kathmandu after the trek. The Lukla airport arrival and departure is not as hazardous as advertised. Take Diamox two days prior to departure and carry anti-biotics, aspirin or Panadol and nausea medication. Go straight to Kathmandu and don’t combine with another (business) trip as I did. I travelled from Australia to USA on a 35 hour flight then had four days of Jet-lag of two hours sleep a night and then 30 hours to Kathmandu. I took cold showers in sub-zero temperatures and all of this caused me to end up with Pneumonia and some altitude sickness at Namche. Himalayan Social Journey organised the helicopter evacuation and hospitalization for me. They even visited me in hospital in Kathmandu and provided surface transport right up until departure. They stay with you and provide whatever you need. Their porters are fantastic and help with cultural and practical requirements. I am planning to return to finish the trek in MAY/JUN16 and that will be with Himalayan Social Journey – Highly recommended.”

“We have just returned from a successful 16 day trek to EBC (1-16 November 2015) with HSJ. We started with the city tour of Kathmandu with our very informative and captivating guide, Basu. We did the Poon Hill trek a year ago, including the city tour and were able to see for ourselves the affects of the earthquake. The vast majority of buildings were unscathed although some of the temples have been affected but are in the process of repair. Our guide for the trek was Bishnu Bhattarai, along with our two porters, Deepak and Mingma. The trek was tough going, walking between 4-8 hours each day but with the constant support and encouragement from these lovely 3 people, we got to EBC! Bishnu is very knowledgeable about all aspects of the Nepal and Himalayas, constantly offering information along the way, giving us many photo opportunities of the wonderful scenery, teaching us Nepalese words and numbers and keeping us entertained! Deepak and Mingma were both so caring and looked after us constantly. They truly were brilliant! The food along the way was tasty with a varied choice and the guesthouses were welcoming, most with fires in the evenings. Even though we completed the trek, we were unprepared for the freezing night time temperatures and lack of washing/shower facilities. In hindsight, we should have taken a -20 degrees sleeping bag and fewer changes of clothes! We would highly recommend HSJ.”

“I cannot praise HSC enough. Every part of my dealings with this company were first class and I would recommend them to everyone who wishes to trek in Nepal and anywhere else that HSC organise treks without hesitation. I booked this trek 18 months ago and the process was very straight forward. In the time between booking and commencing the trek, HSC kept in contact with me on a regular basis and this was highlighted when they were in regular contact during the terrible earthquakes and the aftermath keeping me fully updated about conditions. I arrived in Kathmandu on 2nd November, 2015 and through the chaos of Tribhuvan Int Airport, I was quickly able to identify the transport that HSC had sent for me and was soon on my way to their main offices. At their offices I met with Ram and Binod and I felt instantly at ease with the company and the arrangements for the trek. I was then conveyed to the hotel selected by HSC which was the excellently located Holy Himalaya in the Thamel District. Prior to the commencement of the trek HSC laid on a tour of the city and a welcome meal for the participants of the trek. Our trek commenced on Friday 6th November, 2015 with an early morning flight to Lukla which was thrilling in every way. We also met up with Binod again together with another guide Bishnu and a young assistant by the name of Kubir. The trek was fantastic in every way and was enhanced by the helpfulness of Binod, Bishnu and Kubir who could not do enough for us. The accommodation in the form of the The Tea Houses were basic but comfortable. There was good food served at all the tea houses. Most had showered although not all had hot water. All had at least one western style toilet and incredibly all had WiFi even the highest located tea house at Gorek Shep (5000m). You could even get a beer! The trek was marvellous. I had been informed by HSC that October and November were the best times to do this trek weatherise. We did not have one drop of rain and the day time temperatures reached 21/22c. It was cold at night but the tea house were generally well heated. The days treks are well planned as are the acclimatisation days at Namche Bazar and Dingboche. It was incredible to reach Everest Base Camp and also a fairly emotional experience. The highest point that I got to on the trek was Kalapatthar at 5544m. I recommend that if you do this trek and are able, that you make the effort to get to the top of this peak. It offers fantastic views of Everest - the best that you will see on the trek. At the conclusion of the trek we were flown back to Kathmandu and then conveyed to our hotel. We were also transported to the Airport by HSC at the end of the visit to Kathmandu. In conclusion, HSC made this such a special trip/trek. Their staff are friendly and hard working - nothing was too much for them. The trek was brilliantly organised. I only met Ram briefly. But I got to know Binod, Bishnu and Kubir fairly well on the trek and class them as friends. All the best for the future HSC and I will have no hesitation in booking another trek with you, hopefully in 2017.”

“I went on the 16 day Everest Base Camp hike and had a great experience. I was really impressed by the friendly guides who made the experience fun and enjoyable despite the hard work. Especially Ganga Thapa - he did a great job. Ram and his team had everything organised and were very helpful. Highly recommended!!!”

“At 58 years old and being non Trekkers my friend saw an ad for a 16 day trek to base camp with Himalayan social journey( His Mum had done it 15 years before at 65 Couldn't be that hard!!), it seamed too cheap by far considering it included every small item inc a two day stay at the Hyatt regency to recover. I was sceptical as to how it would work on that budget. Firstly i was of the opinion that when the earthquakes occurrred after we booked that cutting off the Nepalise the oportunity to get get work was not going to help them recover so we would go as long as the tour company said yes. The two of us arrived nov 18th 2015 and it went like clockwork just as the Itinery said. Ram The owner was great and very accommodating. Our Guide Ganga Thapa was brilliant,a university graduate with over 45 base camp trips under his belt not to mention Mountaineering experience and the Anapurna circuit and others, his caring nature and willingness to point out flora and fauna made even me take notice . His sense of humour made the hills smaller. Their choice of accommodation was good value with quality higher than i was expecting. The porters that helped gave willingly of their time to make sure we were always fed and watered at mealtimes Bier and Roson are fondly remembered by us. All in all the trip was great, value for money was great and god knows how we got two nights of pure luxury at the Hyatt included in the deal beats me. Support Nepal, Trust HSJ go to EBC if we can do it so can you !”

“All went according to plan from the first friendly collection at the airport to the meeting at the hotel etc. Guides were good, a lot of fun. Services was excellent and never a hint of less than total devotion to ourselves as customers. Some were impacted by altitude sickness and were well taken care of.”

“I have just recently returned home from the 14 night trek to Everest Base Camp with 2 night Hyatt Regency stay with Himalayan Social Journey, and couldn't have asked for anything more! I found the trek very demanding, more so due to a combination of altitude sickness and other illnesses more than the actual walk itself, and when I was ill I was looked after very well by the lovely staff. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and I always felt safe and comfortable. The guides were very knowledgeable about life in the Himalayas and broader Nepal, and were very interesting to speak to. Accommodation was very simple along the way but always comfortable. Hyatt check-in and check-out, as well as airport transfers was seamless. I would recommend this company to anybody thinking of visiting Nepal. The people of Nepal are very resilient post-earthquake and now is a better time than ever to help their tourism!”

“I completed this trek with my wife in December of 2015. As usual she did all the research and picked Himalayan Social Journey from the bunch and they didn't disappoint. Special thanks to our guide Mingmar Sherpa and porter Umesh who made a huge difference to the enjoyment of our trek. To start with, our flights into Kathmandu were delayed which meant we had to change our start date for the trek. This meant we couldn't join our designated group but instead trek separately with a different guide. HSJ were very flexible and were able to organise everything with little notice. Mingmar is an excellent guide. He was always attentive and clearly is knowledgeable about the land and the requirements of the trek. If any problems arise or you want to modify the itinerary he can suggest the best options to help you get the most out of your trek. I'm certain I wouldn't have reached the top of Kala Patthar if it wasn't for Mingmar. I was happy to sit this one out given the difficulty but Mingmar somehow got me to the top. He (and Umesh) carried our daypacks (and my heavy DSLR) when things got really tough. I'm glad we went with HSJ and especially grateful we had Mingmar and Umesh who made sure we achieved our goals and had a great time as well. Highly recommend them both!”

“Himalayan Social Journey was definitely not disappointing. The 1st day’s excursion around Katmandu was lovely, the guide was so helpful and friendly. Later in a few days time we left for a 12 day trek up to the Everest Base Camp together with a great bunch of people :) The views whilst going up were absolutely incredible, there was literally no time to think of how tired you’re or how much you want to have a shower or eat.. We walked around 15-20 km a day and then had ability to rest in these cosy hotels with home made food, friendly staff:) The feeling of being so high up and having being able to rest in houses was just amazing. Our guide was so professional, always helped if anything came up, everyone felt safe and happy and genuinely all of us had The Time of Our Lives together. I will be coming back. Im saying a big thank you to Himalayan Social journey team and guides Bishnu Basnet and Nanga Dorji:)”

“Everest Base Camp was amazing thanks to Himalayan Social Journey - Ram the Chief Manager and his wonderful staff! Thank you Dilip for waiting patiently for me at the airport as I arrived in Kathmandu and driving me around when I needed to go places. Thank you Mingmar and Umesh for being wonderful guides as we trekked through the Khumbi region. Thank you for helping me get through the cold nights and always making sure I was happy. Thank you to Ram for always being a call away and always making sure everything was running smoothly!”

“My husband and I have just completed the Everest Base Camp trek and cannot recommend Himalayan Social Journey enough. They were very accomodating to our needs and communication before, during and after was always prompt and efficient. Our highly professional guide Mingmar Sherpa could not have done more to ensure our comfort, safety and well being. His knowledge of the mountains, heights and history was impressive. As well, he bought to our attention wildlife including musk deer, mountain goat and Tibetan peacock, which we were excited to see. On the same day as reaching Everest Base Camp, my husband and Mingmar also reached the peak of Kalapathar, which they summited in 1hr (very happy husband!). Umesh you are a powerhouse, thankyou for carrying our gear and always smiling! We miss your smile already! Thankyou Himalayan Social Journey, Mingmar Sherpa and Umesh for assisting us in achieving our goal. We greatly appreciate it.”

“I was the only person booked on the 16 day EBC tour but that was OK. I was well looked after by my guide Bishnou especially when I did suffer from altitude sickness at Gorek Shep. The trek is challenging but the sites are worth the effort. I trekked the Annapurna circuit 25 years ago and did this without a guide. I would definitely recommend using a tour company and guide and would highly recommend Himalayan Social Journey.”

“Simply the best trip I have ever been on. Both my wife and daughter really enjoyed this adventure. Many great stories to tell my grandchildren and will definitely be recommending this trip to my family and friends. My positive trekking experience was largely due to our two wonderful guides, Ganga and Bishnu. They were very proffessional and helpful and always went above and beyond to ensure our safety throughout the course of the trip.The porters that carried our luggage were also of great help. Ganga was very knowledgeable not only about our journey but also first aid. He continually checked on our well being and ensured we were feeling okay. He even brought us warm water at about 2am in the morning when we were not feeling great! We had a 100 percent success rate in making it to base camp which I thought was a highly commendable achievement. Ganga and Bishnu never lost their cool and always had a smile even on a few occasions when members of the group weren't feeling their best. Our accomodation at all the stops of a good standard and the food was really good with a lot of variety. I would highly recommend this trip to to those with a senese of adventure.”

“I didn't know if I could do it, but with the help of a great team from Himalayan Social Journey, I made it to Everest Base Camp. Thank you so much to my guide Shankar. His advice was heeded and contributed to me being able to reach my goal. Many thanks to Umesh for carrying the bulk of our luggage. Your smile and happy nature made it a pleasure to walk with you. I can not speak highly enough of this company. Well organised, professional and a team of great people. Add this to spectacular scenery and you have an adventure of a lifetime. Don't wonder if you could or should. Just do it 😃”

“Fantastic trek with views along the way to die for. 100% of our large group reached base camp safely at the desired time. The guides on our trek (Ganga and Bishnu) were absolutely fabulous with local knowledge of the area and were always looking out for the health and well being of the trekkers. THANK YOU! !”

“I was told that trying to take my 14 year old daughter to EBC was a bad idea by many people, my wife, friends, etc. When I spoke via email to the owner of the business, Ram, he encouraged it and let me know that the guides and porters would make sure she was alright. My wife reluctantly agreed and planning begun. I can't say our pre-training was flawless, but I hoped it was enough. We encountered a magical land of beauty and light that we will never forget. Our guide, Mingmar, was remarkable as no matter what we needed or when, he was there for us. Along with his merry troop of porters, my daughter and I not only successfully made it to EBC but loved every minute of it (perhaps with the exception of 3 hours uphill to Namche on day 2, but Mingmar somehow managed to keep us smiling "Nepalese flat" "slowly, slowly" "Zum,Zum". I highly recommend Mingmar and HSJ as if they can get my daughter to enjoy an 8 hour trek, they can do just about anything.”

“My fiance and I had the pleasure of completing the 14day everest base camp (ebc) trek from March 19th with two extra days at the completion of the trek spent at the Gokarna Forest Resort in Kathmandu. What can I say, the trek was absolutely spectacular. You could not find better guides (Ganga and Bishnu) for conditioning our entire group to the task, keeping us focused and maintaining a positive outlook at all times no matter what was happening. It was because of this fact that we had 100% success rate of all 19 persons on our trek making it the entire distance to ebc. We can not thank the team at Himalayan Social Journey enough (including the guides, the porters and also Ram coordinating everything) for their professionalism and for making our trek so effortless in terms of organisation. 10/10 for everything they did. They have made one of our bucket list dreams come true. Thank you guys (especially Ganga and Bishnu) we would love to come back again one day in future!”

“We had a 12-days Everest Base Camp Trekking,perfect organized by Himalayan Social Journey and guided greatly as well by Ganga.It was an extraordinary experience with unforgetable impressions.Thank you so much for all the endeavours that”

“We've just come back from our 2nd visit to Nepal with HSJ and found everything to be just as good as the first time, from the time they pick you up at the airport to the time they drop you back there nothing is too much trouble and you don't have to worry about anything. This trip we did Everest Base camp which was a bit ambitious at our age but Ganga, our guide, and our porter Bire were brilliant and made sure we got there and we wouldn't have made it to the top of Kala Patthar without them. This was the hardest thing I've ever done but I'm so glad I did it as the scenery was magnificent and spectacular, If you fancy visiting Nepal it is such a beautiful country and the people are lovely and they need tourists, there are easier treks and tours than the one we did but if we come back again we would definitely use Himalayan social journey and especially Ganga who couldn't have done any more for us. Thanks to you all for everything.”

“We completed the 16 Day Everest Base Camp trek with Himalayan Social Journey and had an excellent trip. We had Bishnu as our guide and he was excellent. Always looking out for our health and safety and tried to make sure everyone was comfortable. He is extremely knowledgable and experienced. Ram is the Director of the company and very attentive and accommodating to your needs. I highly recommend this company for all treks.”

“No one knows what is hiding behind a smile of a person at this height 5336m! Lets not even unclose this mystery! Lets pretend its super easy not to ruin anyone's perception.Wow what an experience Everest Base Camp Trek. It was worth it, That's for sure. And it is definitely a Lifetime Adventure. Bishnu, Ganga & Ngima couldn't have asked for more knowledgeable leaders. Thank you. Highly recommend this company. xxx”