Traveller reviews

“Recently finished a 12 day trek to Everest Base Camp with Himalayan Social Journey HSJ. All in all an amazing experience. Was a little bit annoyed at the organisation of the accommodation however as we had booked this trek almost a year in advance. We found out as we were driving to the hotel that the hotel we were suppose to be staying in had been changed and now we were split from our group. No email or communication. However HSJ sorted it out the next day and everything after that went very well. If you are thinking about doing this trek with HSJ, PLEASE do yourself a favour and ask to be put in a group with serpas Mingmar and Binod (Benny). These guys are the business! Treats you like family, nothings ever too much. A couple of our team members got really sick including myself and we were all very well looked after! Trip would not have been the same without them. Cheers Mingmar and Binod keep up the awesome work!”

“Hello everyone I would like to say I was deeply touched by the kindness of the Nepalese people... I felt at home walking amongst the Nepalese, absorbing all the sights, sounds colours and embracing their culture...This trekking experience to Everest base camp was humbling and a privilege....I want to thank all those that made this adventure possible... Firstly my husband for surprising me with this gift and on arrival Himalayan Social Journey for greeting us all and explaining what will be happening and how ...they were thorough and very approachable....and introduced to our Main Guide Mingmar who made me feel at ease with his knowledge and expertise... a person I could trust and feel safe with...he was more than a guide he became a friend and protector and on getting to know Binod he became the same...the Hotel Holy Himalayan was a very warm friendly place to stay.. the staff helpful and accommodating.....and they made a great Nepalese potted tea and the breakfast selection was fantastic...I am an experienced trekker and want to say it was an honour and pleasure to trek along side Mingmar and Binod.. I was in a strange unfamiliar land and not once did I feel unsafe or uncomfortable due to Mingmar and Binod's re -assuring and friendly manner...always happy to chat and explain things and very knowledgeable of the areas we were trekking through... To those in my trekking group thank you for your moral support and kindness.. it was refreshing and wonderful to be trekking with such a lovely group of people of all different personalities and walks of life.... a real treat for me to trek with you all... I totally recommend what I have done through Himalayan Social Journey and the quality of service they provide and the helpful staff and experienced Guides.. everything is taken care of for you... hassle free and worry free...and very affordable holiday packages...a variety of trekking adventures to choose from..... I have come away with so many treasured memories that will stay with me forever...It was not an easy trek, harder than I had imagined but with the help and guidance of our Group leaders Mingmar and Binod it was an experience of a life time....Thank you to all....I wish you all well and a lifetime of adventurous adventures...”

“My partner and I did the 16 Day Base Camp Trek in October 2017. When our plane landed in Lukla we were absolutely mesmerized with the scenery and that awe did not leave us for the entire time we trekked. The guides and support staff were excellent - making sure we were all supported and getting the most out of every day. This is a trip I would recommend to anyone who is up for a bit of adventure and I would recommend using HSJ as they have the experience and contacts to ensure the trip doesn't disappoint.”

“The walk up to base camp was one of the most scenic and impactful walks I've ever been on, nevermind overcoming the lack of oxygen and hauling myself up there. There were a couple of organizational problems while in Kathmandu before and after the walk on the part of Himalayan Social Journey itself (including airport pickup problems and hotel booking mismanagement) which would normally bump this review down a star or two. But, the excellent A-grade quality service from their sherpas on the trek, Bindaas Binod and Mingmar Sherpa, are worth the extra stars. Fun, knowledgeable, responsible guys that looked after our group and had fun doing it, made this walk one of the most memorable experiences I've had in a long time. I can't recommend these guys highly enough, if you go on this trek ask if you can get them, they'll turn your trip into an adventure and look after you if anything goes wrong.”

“I've recently finished an incredible trek to Mt. Everest Base Camp about two weeks ago. The scenery on this trek was like no other. It was just breathtaking, in the beginning, there were lush green farmlands and tropical forest. The land became drier as we got higher, and then rocky and desolate. Coming down we experienced snow, and trekking in the white fluffy snow was just magical! Our guides were Mingmar Sherpa and Bindaas Binod (Binny). I had been feeling anxious and nervous about doing the trek but once I met these two I felt at ease. They are both funny, friendly, caring, approachable and very knowledgeable about the mountains. They are so patient, always taking the time to answer any questions and went over and beyond to make sure we were all safe. I highly recommend anyone who is doing this trek to ask for these guys because they are the best. Our group of 15 started off as strangers and ended as a big family and lifelong friends. It was by far one of the best time I've ever had so thank you Himalayan Social Journey for organizing everything.”

“There were 14 customers and 2 guides on our EBC journey. This was both a physically and mentally challenging adventure and all 14 of us made it to EBC on 16 November. The next morning 6 of us attempted Kalapathar and 3 were successful reaching the peak. Both guides Ganga and Shankar worked well and complemented each other’s strengths. They gave us a sense that they were here to look after us and get us back to Kathmandu safely. We had complete trust in the guides and will recommend them to anyone who are planning a similar adventure to EBC. Our bags always arrived at the destinations before we did. There were instances when the guides not only took our food orders, but also cooked and served us, as some places could not cope with the demand. There was nothing too difficult for the guides and they were accommodating wherever possible. The accomodation and melas as we got higher up was basic but more than satisfactory. Here I learned that we truly ate to survive, no matter the taste. The accommodation at Gokarna is superb and is a just reward after our successful journey.”

“What an amazing experience we had with himalayan social journey. I travelled with my two best mates and we all had a fantastic time under the guidence of binad and rupeez. They were both amazing guides making our experience so much more enjoyable. I would highly recomend himalayan social journey. But a special mention to both binad and rupeez for going the extra mile to make our journey a special one. Cheers Justin”

“The hike to Everest base camp is incredibly scenic and well worth the effort. We had 23 people in our group and 5 guides, which surprisingly was not too big, and meant for a greater opportunity to make friends and walk with those of a similar fitness level. Himalayan Social Journeys provided excellent communication prior to the trip, and a detailed itinerary and pre-departure information. There were some hiccups along the way with not getting the accommodation we were booked into, due to it being peak season, however the guides did the best they could to make sure we were all comfortable and looked after. The guides had great personalities, which really added to the enjoyment of the trip. And a few days relaxation afterwards at Gokarna was definitely a welcome reward! As long as you are ready to accept that a booking is never a 100% surety, but that the guides will do their best to facilitate getting a similar option, then you will have a fantastic time on this trip as I did!”

“Love, Love Nepal! It definitely get's under your skin! I recently completed the Everest Base Camp Trek with my family under the watchful eyes of Mingmar & Binny! They guided us through the amazing Himalaya with the most expert knowledge & encouragement I have ever experienced! There were many challenges that they handled with expertise & at times with great humour which was very much appreciated! I highly recommend anyone who is thinking about doing this trek to request these two amazing guys whom will look after you like family! Also a big thankyou to The Himalayan Social Journey for organising everything! I will be back!!!”

“Ganga Thapa and Pradip Khadka were our guides on this occasion who managed to make this tough trek enjoyable. Ganga was a wealth of knowledge, who provided us information along the way. He managed to cater for all of the members in our group. The scenery and the terrain was like nothing else I have ever experienced. Our bags travelled in comfort(Yaks) and were always available at our destination on our arrival. Nothing was too difficult for us to ask of our guides. Can't ask for more. Looking forward to another adventure with Ganga in the future. Thanks again John and Sia”

“My husband and I completed the 14 day EBC trek last week and are currently relaxing at the incredible Gokarna Forest Resort. We have had the most incredible experience and we cannot fault HSJ for their organization skills, providing 2 wonderfully experienced guides Ganga and Shankar and providing everything we could possibly need for the trek. From day one, our guides have been clear on our agenda, have seamlessly arranged our luggage and have attended to our needs even when things were getting challenging. If you want to check EBC off your bucket list- look no further than Himalayan Social Journey. It truly was an experience of a lifetime!”

“A bucket list trip that exceeded expectations. Base Camp was great, Kala Patthar even better and the luxurious finish at Gokarna the icing on the cake. Binod and Rupus were excellent guides - falling over themselves to help and make everything run as smooth as possible. Really appreciated their efforts on a thoroughly well-organised adventure. Strongly recommended.”

“Had a great couple of weeks away with Himalayan Social Journey. The best part of our trip was our dedicated guide Prakash and the other members of the team!!! He was available anytime of the day and definitely made some of the more challenging days a lot more bearable. His knowledge of the sights along the tour and the local culture were invaluable. The trip itself was organised very well, all the transport was taken care of and the accommodation we stayed at was some of the best available for how remote the region was. I would definitely recommend.”

“I have just spent the last 2 weeks trekking with Mingmar Sherpa as my guide from Himalayan Social Journey. The entire trip was so well organised and we were all so very impressed with how Mingmar cared for us to ensure we had a memorable and safe experience. Please if you are going to do this trip ask for Mingmar Sherpa to be your guide you will not be disappointed. Thank you Himalayan Social Journey for providing us with such a talented and caring guide and thank you Mingmar Sherpa”

“Wow what a trek this was our first trek and why not start with a hard one! But what an amazing experience even tho we didnt make it to the top! Dam altitude sickness! Thank you to Mingmar our guide he was amazing helping every step of the way! Himalayan social journey was great to deal with they looked after us every step of the way even when we were in hospital. I would have to say the hardest part of the trek was the food and how cold it was in the morning and night and in the rooms, so if cold is not your thing best try in the warmer months”

“This was an excellent trek. Our guide Mingmar I could not fault. He went beyond the call of duty and as I’m a Manager of a business that employs 30 staff I was most impressed with his willingness to make sure all clients were looked after. My staff could well do with his attitude and the way he used his initiative was first class. The trek itself was tough but pretty much what I was expecting. The only feedback I could give would be to the lodges where we stayed to try and cater for warmer rooms. The food was very good and I will be recommending Himalayan Social Journey to as many people as I can. Great company, well organised and great trip. Our guide I couldn’t recommend highly enough and he is a fantastic asset for your business. Tony Valli”

“Booked our Trek through Luxury Escapes out of Australia 18 months ago. Due to personal circumstances we had to change our dates several times. The administration team were very accommodating with any changes and requests we had, emails always responded to within 24hrs. When we finally got to Kathmandu to start our journey, we were met at the airport and taken to our accommodation where we would spend 2 nights before our trek began. We had a beautiful welcome dinner the night before we started trekking, were we got to meet our fellow trekkers and guide that would be our family for the next 16 days! We began our journey under the watchful eye of our wonderful Guide Mingmar Sherpa, who quickly became a much trusted authority on the trek! As each day came to an end we were kept informed on what to expect the next day, like the distance, the terrain and the amount of water that would be needed! Mingmar's care was demonstrated, when the morning we headed off for Base camp I came down with AMS and was needed to be helicoptered out and transferred to hospital. I cant express how greatful I am for the care and attention I received on departure from the mountain, right down to being checked on by owner of the company Ram. Now rejoined by the rest of my fellow Trekkers at the Gokarna Resort, we all share stories of our adventure. What an amazing experience, and I have made forever friends!!!”

“Just completed ebc 16 day trek - nov 19th to dec 2nd with "Himalayan social journey". Excellent company that took very good care of us. We Cannot give enough praise to our wonderful Sherpa guide Mingmar. He watched over us continuously to make sure we were healthy, safe & well informed on the day's activities. He was very attentative to all our needs. supporting those who struggled, often caring back packs and offering helpful advice from what poles/ pole to use to what to eat or not eat to how much water to drink. He was there before we arrived for breakfast and stayed behind at the end of every day making sure we got everything we needed. If you strayed from the group for one second he was there making sure you didn't get lost or loose your footing. He took every order & served every single meal to every member of the group three times a day everyday for the entire two weeks. Mingmar never for one second strayed from his devotion to making sure everyone in the group had the best trek. I have only mentioned probably 20% of the services Mingmar provided. On top of all this he always seemed genuine in he's wanting to please. Mingmar was more then happy to share he's knowledge of Napalese culture, history along with a vast knowledge of the local mountains. We all LOVE him and I strongly suggest you consider Himalayan Social Journey and Mingmar if you are planing tracking in Nepal”

“This was a serious and demanding trek and I must congratulate Himalayan Social Journey for the professionalism displayed in making the whole experience seamless and tremendously satisfying. Our guide, Mingmar, was outstanding in supporting our team through 12 challenging days from Lukla through to Base Camp and back down again safely. His knowledge of the mountains and trekking in general was superb. I personally appreciated his encouragement and support when the physical demands of trekking at altitude were taking a toll. That bowl of hot soup in my freezing room in Periche will long be remembered and appreciated. An exceptional experience overall and the stay at Gokarna Resort after the trek was a wonderful way to wind-down. Well done HSC.”

“What a way to experience walking to base camp! In one word, INCREDIBLE! Our guide Prakash was amazing, leading us safely all the way to and from base camp! Prakash is a highly skilled guide who is both hilarious and highly informative. He is very passionate about his job and you can tell how much he enjoys showing people the beautiful landscape of the Himalayas. In my small group of 4, fortunately no one became unwell due to the altitude, however others in the extended group did and both Prakash and the other guides ensured their health and well-being was put first and they were very well looked after! The accommodation was a lot better than expected, with most places providing extra blankets! It does get very cold, so if you have a very warm sleeping bag at home I would advise you being that! Hot showers are scarce but it all adds to the experience and I have nothing bad to say about my experience! Would 100% recommend both Prakash and Himalayan social Journey to take you to base camp!!”

“The trek to Mt Everest base camp and back was absolutely extraordinary! The scenery was stunning and my group was very friendly and easy to get along with, including our guides. Normally the group size is at most 10-12, but in our case, Himalayan Social Journey decided to merge two groups together to make it 25. The tour guides did very well to manage all of us and the accommodation, especially given our schedule was thrown out of whack by the delayed flights getting into Lukla. Our guides and porters were very friendly, social, and fun. They certainly added positively to the experience.”

“Having just returned from a 16 day trek to Everest Base Camp I cannot praise Himalayan Social Journey enough. From the smiling face of Dilip who constantly picked us up (even at 5.30 one morning to catch a bus) to our two guides Shankar and Ganga who went above and beyond to make us all feel safe, well informed and who quietly encouraged us along the way. Shankar also accompanied us on our day trip before the trek to Shivaouri Nagarjun National Park which I believe helped us with preparation for the climb. Nothing was too much trouble for the management of Social Journey who arranged for us to visit Chitwan National Park at the end of our trek taking care of transport (I would recommend flying), accommodation and safari tours. Thank you Ram. As always, Dilip was at Kathmandu airport to pick us up. Accommodation on the trek was better than I had envisaged at most places.Some days were more difficult than others but there was no pressure and rest times with morning tea and lunches allowed us to continue even on the longer days. The mountains of Nepal are stunning and we had ample opportunity to take it all in along the way. The two days at Gokarna Resort were a treat at the end of the trek. I recommend this trek, as I have done to many friends upon my return home. It is well organised, the guides were extraordinary in their care for us, Nepal and it's people are gentle and welcoming. I will be back. Pam Australia”

“The company was fabulous - they looked after us every step of the way - we could not fault the company - and when two of our group needed to be evacuated from Gorekshep they continued to step up and ensure everything was taken care of - highly recommend Himalayan Social Journey”

“One of the greatest Himalayas experience . A complete package of Everest base camp for all.U can enjoy your time with your friends and others with the best hospitality from Northstar voyage. Gmail : [email protected] Check it out”