Traveller reviews

“We have just completed a tour of Indias Golden Triangle followed by a trek to the Australian Camp in the Himalayas. Our trip through India with Guide Tanveer was outstanding and with our expectations high for the Trek through the Himalayas we were not disappointed. The attention to detail and professionalism of the tour Company Himalayan Social journey was second to none in particular our guide for the tour Miingmar Sherpa. From the time Miingmar picked us up from the airport in Kathmandu until he dropped us off at the Gokarna forest resort in Pokhara he spent every second of every day ensuring that our every need was taken care of before he finally got to relax each day. Miingmar along with his fabulous team Roopeszz & Krishna were fantastic throughout our journey and are truly an asset to this company. We are now thinking of taking a more challenging trek in the next couple of years and we will most certainly be requesting Miingmar as our guide and if you are considering a journey through Nepal I highly recommend that you do the same if at all possible as he has an unbelievable knowledge and passion for his country his culture and his work. Thank you Miingmar and the Himalayan Social journey for a truly memorable experience.”

“Our initial plan was to join HSJ's 10-day "Explore Nepal" tour, and to leave the last 3 days of our 2 week holiday for rest and recuperation. This tour provided the opportunity for us to enjoy some sightseeing in Kathmandu, some whitewater rafting on the Trisuli river, a jungle safari in Chitwan (by jeep in the morning and by elephant in the afternoon), as well as a 3-day trek from Pokhara to Australian Camp and Sarangkot. Apart from the very slow road journey (by minibus) to Chitwan (due to road construction and very heavy traffic), the tour's activities proved both extremely interesting and very enjoyable. The hotels in Kathmandu, Chitwan and Pokhara were very good - clean and comfortable with good food choices, e.g. for breakfast; in contrast, the overnight stops during the trek were in rather more basic hotel accommodation, which was only to be expected given their more remote locations and limited resources. Viewing the sunrise on successive days, from the rooftop terrace at Australian Camp, and from the hill-top viewing platform at Sarangkot, proved a little disappointing, simply because of the haze, but the return to Pokhara via the paragliding option was a particular holiday highlight that will remain long in the memory. We would certainly recommend it, along with the option of returning to Kathmandu by air rather than road - a 35-minute flight (weather permitting) instead of many hours travelling along a (reportedly) very congested and poor quality road. Despite our last minute request, HSJ responded positively and efficiently in re-arranging our last 3 days pre-booked accommodation etc. in Kathmandu, so that, accompanied by one of their guides (Selim), we could instead undertake an additional 2-day trek from Nagarkot to Sudarijal via Chisapani. This trek proved a little more challenging than expected, with the distances covered on successive days reporting in the order of 23kms and 15kms resp.. and made more arduous by some significant uphill and downhill sections. However, the route took us through some stunning scenery, and, in places, provided some wonderful elevated views of the surrounding countryside, comprising mostly of heavily wooded hillsides and valleys, with numerous manicured terraces, some isolated villages, and a backdrop of the distant snow-capped mountains, albeit often rendered indistinct by the haze. Selim, our guide on both of our treks, was really superb in shepherding us along the route, pointing out things of interest, arranging food and refreshment stops as/when needed, and engaging in conversations (in good english) on a host of different topics throughout the time that we were together. Having looked after us so well throughout most of our holiday, we felt a little saddened when the time eventually came for us to say goodbye to someone we came to regard more as a friend than just a guide.”

“Our fantastic guide from Himalayan Social Journey, Mr.Tikaram Nepali met us at the airport on day 1. Our short trekking trip has exceeded our expectation. With the price that we pay, we never thought that we will move on private car between Kathmandu-Pokhara and during sightseeing. The trekking trip was smooth and excellent. Mr.Tikaram was professional. He was quickly to understand our walking pace and interest, he catered to our needs and add some happy experience such as taking local bus as part of our country-side trekking. We stayed at Angel's Guest House & Himalayan Crown Lodge. Amazing scenery from the hotel and the food was delicious - it was breakfast with a VIEW! Lets my pictures tell the story. P/S: We are so lucky that Mr.Ram the HSJ president accompanying us at the Australian Camp. Such a happy and wonderful person.”

“We recently completed the 9 Day Nepal Tour with Himalayan Social Journey. This was our second tour with HSJ, and we chose them because they are so reliable. We have found their communications to be prompt, their arrangements effective and considerate of our needs, and their staff, in the office and on the trek, to be wonderful, and seemingly well supported by the company. On this occasion we trekked from Pokhara to Australian Camp and Sarangkot, accompanied by our guide Tikaram Nepali and our porter Sudip Pandey. Both were great company on the trek, helpful and friendly without being intrusive. Tika is a highly capable guide, knowledgeable and always considerate and attentive, and he at all times urged us to walk at our own pace and enjoy the views, which we really appreciated as we had felt rushed on some previous treks. And it was great to have Sudip in our trekking party, a proficient, amiable and encouraging young man. It was a fabulous experience, so our thanks to Tika, Sudip and HSJ.”

“From start to finish my journey with Himalayan Social was flawless. They went above and beyond to assist with scheduling a last-minute itinerary which included hiking, cultural activities and an Everest flight I can’t overstate how wonderfully done and well organized this company is — don’t hesitate to book with them!”

“Overall our experience with Himalayan Social Journeys was very good. My sister and I had booked this trip for ourselves and our mum to celebrate her 60th birthday. The highlight of the trip was definitely the 5 days of trekking - hard work but well worth it for the views that you see at the top. Our guide "R. J." and the porters Shiva, Milan, Krishna and Poona who carried our bags kept us entertained with singing and music and motivated us to keep pushing on, even when we were exhausted. All the activities included in the trip were excellent - white water rafting, Kathmandu tour, Chitwan and the rest. I would recommend using Himalayan Social Journeys for any of your Nepal experiences, however ensure that you have a clear idea about what is included in your package as there were several misunderstandings amongst our group.”

“In Sept 13 we undertook a 14 day, Kathmandu sightseeing, rafting, Chitwan and Pokhara and 5 day treking expedition. The whole trip was brilliant. The agenda put together by Himalayan Social Journey was well planned and everything that we requested from Ram or our guide Binod was accomodated without fuss and and in the friendlist most hospital manner imaginable. I could not recommend Himalyan Social Journey more highly.”

“What can I say - I have nothing but praise for the staff at HSj, for Nepal and its people. Thank you so much Ram 1 for all your initial communication, helping me with any queries I had before the trip and giving me the assurance that bringing my 12 year old son would be fine. To our special guide Ram 2 who looked after us so well, nothing was ever a problem and your positive nature was infectious and still is today. Thankyou for looking after my Babu Tully so well! To Basu, Sanka, Raju and all the porters thank you for sharing your kindness and knowledge, We enjoyed the 14 day adventure with 5 days trekking, white water rafting and visiting Chitwan National Park. Our diverse group came together and all thoroughly enjoyed our Nepal experience - I can say that as we are in email contact sharing memories and photos from our trip back in April! I travelled with my husband to Nepal 18 years back and loved every moment then, coming again, I loved every minute I cried when I arrived in Nepal and I cried when I left - not tears of sadness but for the impression it left on me. Do yourself a favour contact Himilayan Social Journey for your trip to Nepal.”

“Trekking was very good and the advertised description of the trek was mostly accurate. The guide and porters werepolite, helpful and friendly. What needs more attention are facilities in the "guest houses" and a couple of the "hotels". Sometimes no toilet paper, soap; clean (lockable) toilets, some emergency lighting - when there was a power cut. Simple and inexpensive remedies that would make the trip more enjoyable. The Chitwan hotel was excellent, river rafting (and swimming in the river) fantastic and the elephant safari and getting showered by an elephant was a great experience. We enjoyed the walk and the company and can recommend the Himalayan Social Journey. But, be prepared for Nepal - Hygiene and traffic congestion!”

“Saw this trip advertised on Groupon. It has been our best ever purchase. Went at end of November. Weather was great the whole time we were there. We went with our friends and met 5 other people on the trip. Our guide Binod and the porters Ganesh, Bikash, Krishna and Ayush were absolutely fantastic. We couldn't have asked for a better crew. Everything about the full trip was fantastic and so well organised. From booking the trip and asking many questions with quick responses from Shamila to being met at the airport (after being delayed a couple of hours) by our friendly guide Binod. One of our best ever holidays although the 6 day trek was far from easy. Do some preparation if you are thinking of going. There are thousands of steps up and down but the trek was so worth it with views to die for. Food amazing although accommodation basic but we are not complaining. We all enjoyed the full experience especially the rafting. Visit to Chitwan also excellent with friendly guide Madan who knew his wildlife. Only downside was a visit to the elephant breeding centre at Chitwan which was not good as these poor elephants were shackled by the ankle to a chain and could not move. This place needs closing down. However this was not HSJ fault although they could stop offering trips there. Elephant safari was ok as at least these animals get to move. We all loved Nepal and will return. The Nepalese people we met were so friendly. Would definitely use HSJ to arrange another trip. Thank you so much Ram for giving us a holiday of lifetime and thank you for employing such good people - they are a credit to your company. Darrell and Karen”

“The trekking was challenging, but thoroughly enjoyable. The guide and the porters were fantastic. Obliging, friendly and a great source of local knowledge. The accommodation, sometimes basic, was clean and comfortable on the trek. The scenery stunning ... so close to the ice capped mountains. The activities included in the trip were varied and well spread out. White water rafting was a hoot, and the Chitwan wildlife encounters ... crocodiles, deer, wild boar, birdlife, monkeys and the elephants were all memorable. The trekking is not for the faint hearted or unfit, but it is an experience not to be missed. The food on the trek was tasty and cheap. Pokhara was delightful. A contrast to bustling Kathmandu and easy to shop for gifts, with lakeside shops and restaurants. The boat ride on the lake was fun too. The road trip to Chitwan was long and dusty, but this will be less onerous when the road reconstruction is complete. The hotel accommodation in Kathmandu at the beginning and end of the trip, and in Chitwan and Pokhara were comfortable and safe and well located. The pool at th ened of the trek in Pokhara was very welcome. The company, Himalayan Social Journey, was very easy to communicate with prior to our trip, with all questions answered promptly, and very advantageous that they are local (owned and based in Kathmandu). We had a great time, and have special thanks for Ram our guide and Binod our porter for their hard work and friendship. Ram was able to accommodate all our interests and abilities on the trek and made fabulous suggestions for restaurants and shopping. Highly recommend this tour and tour company and a visit to Nepal to all who have a passion for travel and adventure. It is an amazing place!”

“The 14 day trip including rafting, Chitwan National Park, 5 day trekking and sightseeing in Pokhora and Kathmandu was sensational! Our family loved it, especially our 12 and 14 year old girls. Himalaya Social Journey were faultless, well organised, punctual, very helpful, a great itinerary and fantastic staff! Our guide, Bishnu Bhattarai, and head porter/assistant, Tikaram, did a great job and were alot of fun - they really made our trip such a positive experience and so willing to help at all times. Nepal is very beautiful and so interesting, the people are very friendly and nice. The food is also great!”

“I had booked this trip for myself and my husband last year but unfortunately we had to cancel due to the earthquake but we so wished to still visit Nepal and HSJ were kind enough to allow us to rearrange and we visited Nepal early October. Had the most fantastic experience. We were looked after from the minute we arrived at Kathmandu airport where the driver picked us up and took us to the Hotel. We found the staff extremely helpful and pleasant. Following day met Ram and introduced us to our guide for the trek. Have to say what an incredible person Milan is, he is so competent and has so many great qualities, we always knew we were in safe hands, nothing was too much trouble and is great company. Have to also mention that Roopeszz our porter is such a respectful young person and also took great care of us, again nothing was too much trouble. Their job was to look after us but they went over and beyond what was expected. We took the tourist bus with Milan from Kathmandu to Pokhara which is a very long journey and from Pokhara drove for about an hour to begin our trek. HSJ does specify that to enjoy the trek it's best to prepare yourself with uphill climbing beforehand, I believed that by regular walking and running would be enough but it isn't. To enjoy the trek, it's best to prepare with a good level of hill walking and as we didn't we found it hard but nonetheless was fantastic journey. Nepal is simply beautiful. All the activities we did were simply fantastic, white water rafting was great fun, Chitwan National park with the elephant ride, jungle walk, canoe ride was awesome. Was a totally fascinating experience made possible by our wonderful guide Milan and Roopeszz our porter. So just want to say thank you HSJ for the opportunity given to us for a holiday of a lifetime and recommend anyone to experience this amazing holiday. You will not be disappointed.”

“Having never done a group tour we were a little dubious, but from day one we felt we had made the right decision in going with HSJ. Our guide Ram and the team of wonderful porters along with our 13 travel companions got on like a house on fire - telling stories, enjoying the most beautiful panoramas, delicious momos, Everest Beer. On our five day trek we were looked after so well, Ram did everything necessary to make sure everyone was comfortable 24/7. The rafting experience was a great icebreaker for the group and we everyone gelled so well together. It might sound corny but it was like one big happy family. The variety of the trip with Chitwan, rafting, city tour, trek, Gokharna and Pokhara (where we spent an extra two days because we loved it so much, we were to spend extra days in Gokharna but 2 days is enough there) was a great mix and I can't believe how much we fitted in to our time there - it was done at a good pace. We will definitely do more experiences with HSJ. So if you're reading this review wondering whether to go ... just do it and train with some steps and hills thrown in.”

“I totally enjoyed this tour and trek. As introduction to trekking in Nepal this was a perfect combination. The tour also included white water rafting, Chitwan NP, Pokhara and cultural tours in Kathmandu. Our tour / trek guide, Milan was fantastic and nothing was too much trouble for him or the team at HSJ. Thank you”

“My husband, two sons (aged 13 and 11) and I travelled to Nepal with HSJ on the 14 day tour which included 5 days of trekking in the Annapurna region, rafting, Chitwan National Park and time in Pokhara and Kathmandu. We were looked after brilliantly by our guide Narendra who is incredibly experienced and caring. Thank you also to our porters for the trek - Suroj, Krishna, Saroj and Hari. Our boys especially really enjoyed getting to know them during the trek and enjoyed their company and their card games at the end of each days' trekking. The chance for our kids to make friends in Nepal was one of the highlights of the trip. The other highlight was the trekking. There are definite challenges travelling in Nepal including abominable roads, smog in the cities and landslides (one of which we luckily avoided but which turned our trip to Chitwan into a 12 hour drive). However the amazing Himalayas and beautiful people more than make up for these difficulties. I can highly recommend this experience as an active family holiday.”

“My husband & I booked our adventure with Himalayan Social Journey for his 50th Birthday on a whim - we where looking for something different, however a trek in Nepal was never on our 'Bucket List', but we are so glad we did!!! Our whole experience exceeded our expectations. A big thank you to our guide Shankar who instantly made us feel part of his family (we trekked with a group of another 6 Trekkers). Shankar was with us for our entire 14 day intinaray & we always felt in great hands in this sometimes overwhelming country - he was patient with us no matter what the situation was & made sure that we where happy with everything. Another big thank you goes to our Porters (4) who where also amazing, friendly, supportive, they all had a big smile at the start & finish of the day. One of the porters looked after us particularly well even carrying my day pack each day, making sure that I had plenty of water every time we stopped & rested. We loved every minute of our time in Nepal & our tour with Himalayan Social Journey. The accommodation was varied but suitable, the tours where all fantastic from the tour of Kathmandu, white water rafting, Chitwan National Park & the Elephants to our 5 day trek of the foothills. We couldn't have asked for more - thank you, thank you, thank you......”

“My partner Kate and I did the 14 day mixed trip, bit of rafting, trekking, chitwan jungle and Kathmandu tour. It was a great trip and very enjoyable. Ganesh and Robin our guide and porter were always there to help out and ensure we got where we needed to. Very well orgainsed and we would certainly use HSJ again...oh and thanks to Usha who all ways answered our email queries rapidly....Job well done folks...highly recomended”

“I recently returned from a holiday and trekking adventure organized through luluxury escapes and Himalayan social journey , I highly recommend anyone planning to go to Nepal to use this company Himalayan social journey , every last detail was organized from the pick up from airport to final drop off at airport ,the accommodation was good and clean , Kathmandu is a real adventure , the white water rafting was very good , chitwan and jungle walk was good ,but the trek on the Annapurna trail was fantastic , the scenery amazing , very spiritual ,the fellow travelers were very friendly and everyone helped one another , but the best was our two guides binot and tika ,they were amazing and nothing was a problem , their knowledge and help was what made this holiday so fantastic , they are are among the most obliging people I have ever met and a credit to their people and company , I became their kakka (uncle) a title I’m very proud to have ,so if you need an adventure use this company and say hello to tika and binot. All the best for the future kakka (Peter)”

“Ram organized a trek for my wife and I into the Everest region as well as a few days of sightseeing in Kathmandu. Based on our experience, Ram was very responsive, transparent and did his best to do what we asked. He was very responsive before the trip in terms of organizing our itinerary, insurance, etc. And during our trip he changed our itinerary a few times on our request as bad weather and flight cancellations put our original plans to ruin. When it really mattered - when we were stuck in the mountains in very bad weather and my wife came down with altitude sickness and a virus - he came through for us. While not everything went like clockwork, keep in mind this is Nepal and the standards are not like other countries. Things do go wrong and Ram cannot control everything. He does however always tries his best and works hard to give you the best trip possible and is very reasonably priced. One point of potential confusion: Himalayan Social Journey's website is www.nepalsocial.com.np. There is another, different company called Nepal Social journey who is also run by a Ram, a common name in Nepal.”

“Ram and his team of guides and porters could not have been more amazing or helpful! I would recommend and will be recommending him and his team to anyone wishing to visit Nepal for any type of visit. We did a 6 day trek through the Annapurna mountains that was officially included in the price of the tour and had a few days sightseeing in and around Kathmandu, however Ram and his team were more than happy to help before and long after we had finished the trek. During the trek all of the team were so helpful and entertaining, much more than just porters, they sang and danced and were all such lovely people! Ram went above and beyond with all of his recommendations and activities he planned for us- one of his guides Vinot even accompanied us to the movies to ensure we didn't get lost. I can not say enough kind words about Ram, his team and the other wonderful people of Nepal. A must visit travel destination and ensure you plan your trip with the help of Ram and Himalayan Social Journey.”

“We are two work colleagues in our twenties who decided to come to Nepal with HSJ and we were not disappointed. We had a very good time in Nepal. HSJ really did an excellent job! We booked the 10 days package that mainly included Kathmandu city tour, 5-day trekking and dinner with cultural program. Our tour guide in Kathmandu [Pranav Thapa] was very nice. He put all his effort to answer all of our questions. We were also impressed by his knowledge. We were also very thankful that we had a very experienced, professional and knowledgeable trekking guide [Saran Adhikari]. It was really really wonderful trekking experience. Our trekking crew [the two porters; Bindaas Binod and Bhimshen Banjara] they were not only hard working but also very friendly, lively and cheerful. The trekking wouldn’t have been this fun without them. We felt that were warmly treated as friends/guests rather than clients. We also have to thank our two trekking partners from Australia. There were very kind to us and we have shared a lot of memorable moments with them. We noticed that each accommodation provided during the trip was well selected by the company. The foods were also above our expectation. Yes, the trekking part was difficult for the girls who are used to living in flat city like Bangkok where public transportation is provided everywhere but the trekking with my team this trip was just so entertaining that I sometimes forgot the tiredness :D All in all, If you guys are thinking about coming to Nepal, I highly recommend HSJ.”

“We went on a day tour of Kathmandu Temples and other attractions with Himalayan Social Journey. The guide was excellent and his knowledge of all the sites we visited was astounding. His knowledge about all the religions practised in Nepal was brilliant. We enjoyed his life philosophies very much. The transport wasn't plush but adequate for the environment.”

“we went on a trek with sherpar guide and porter to Base camp which also included a sightseeing tour of Kathmandu. The sightseeing tour was awesome, we learnt a lot from our guide in terms of buddhism, history etc. The only thing I would wish for is to stay a bit longer at each attraction, but overall we felt the guide added a lot more depth to our knowledge and makes it so much more interesting. On the other hand, our trek was fantastic, our guide Mingmar sherpar and our porter umesh took us to off - the beaten trek places and gave us a glimpse into the sherpa local people ways of life. We felt we were very well looked after throughout the trek and through their encouragement, we somehow managed to make it to Base camp+Kala Pattar and back. I don't think we would have been able to done all of that without our guide and porter. The company itself values the customer's feedback and are quick to respond via email. when our flights got delayed for 1 day, the company were flexible enough to accommodate and we appreciate all the hard work they did to make sure we had an enjoyable trip. One bonus is their packages are also very good value for money and employ local staff like Mingmar so we know our money is going back to the local economy. I would highly recommend this company.”