Traveller reviews

“Very nice tour where you can see more peaceful area outside of the city. Our guide Pradip was super professional and kind. We also talked a lot about Nepal, so for me it was a highlight of the trip to know more about life here in Nepal. Sunrise was super pretty, the same bridge - very picturesque. The hike was the best when we entered the village and could see local people daily life - forest part was just okay. I think you need to book longer trip and get deeper into the forest, if you really want to explore Nepali nature. We finished the trip around 1PM, but stayed for longer together with our guide. Overall I had a great time and recommend the tour!”

“I was fortunate to be assigned Ramsaran Simkhada for this trekking adventure. It felt like two friends taking a little hike in the forest/up the mountains. Ram shared stories of his life in Nepal which was both insightful and entertaining and made for a very fast journey. The day started with an early morning wake up to race to catch the sun breaking over the eastern ridge of the Himalayas. The views were amazing. If you’re coming to Nepal, this should be on your to do list. 100%.”

“Wow wow wow....All I can say is that the whole trip was absolutely magical.....The hugest thank you to our fantastic guide Timalsina Shankar. He was amazing, kind, generous and attentive to all 9 of us that we're in the group. Our support crew and assistant guide NCs Bhai Chhiring was great fun, extremely happy and 100% helpful from breakfast to dinner and all the way in between. Honestly I couldn't recommend Himalayan Social Journey enough to anybody that is considering a trek to Base Camp, 3passes or Gokyo..... Many many thanks to the company and mostly our guides for a once in a life time experience that will never be forgotten. I will be back in coming years to go to Gokyo👍👍👍👍 Kind Regards Rhys Scarrott”

“I arranged a 19 day package for my son and I to trek to Gokyo Lakes and EBC with HSJ. This was my second trek with HSJ and they didn't disappoint. Everything was well organised, the accommodation was comfortable and the meals were good. My son and I were the only ones doing this trek with HSJ at the time and we were provided with a very good guide, Dipak, and a trojan porter, Lakpa. Both ensured our safety and comfort for the whole trek. Due to the small group our itinerary was very flexible and we were able to visit all the places we had hoped. Two days at Gorkana Forest Resort, after the trek, is a must. Thanks again RAM and staff for another great Nepalese experience.”

“Firstly I wish to thank Himalayan Social Journey for an absolutely wonderful adventure - we booked our 19day trek online, exchanged numerous emails to ensure all necessary arrangements were in place then waited for the event to start. From the initial pick up at the airport, city Sightseeing, the trek, then our return hotel transfer the service provided by HSJ exceeded all expectations. The 19 day : 22/3 - 9/4 Everest Base Camp, Cholapass and Gokyo Lakes trek was an amazing adventure. The highly professional, knowledgeable, caring and watchful eye of our expert guide - Narayan, made us feel safe and secure at all times. The regular chats about the walking pace, breathing, diet, personal health and wellbeing ensured the success of the trip would not be jeopardised. Thank you -- Narayan and our porters The weather was fabulous, the accommodation excellent, and HSJ provided some welcome surprises including a change from plane to helicopter ride from Kathmandu to Lukla - spectacular, and the triple room upgrade at the Holy Himalaya Hotel -- thanks Ram , this was pretty good after the close sleeping quarters for over 3 weeks. Online / Recommended equipment list was comprehensive the only things to consider adding are : tube of vegemite (just for those days when the foreign diet becomes too much -- for you or fellow trekkers) Cold and Flu tablets secondary battery charging device for phone / camera eg solar unit Vicks and zinc cream We found purchasing bottled water easier than having to worry about sterilising tablets, may have cost a few extra rupees but saved a lot of worry. In closing I would recommend Himalayan Social Journey as a reputable trek operator to family and friends without hesitation and hopefully I will return to Nepal and engage there services in the future. Peter E -- Albury NSW Australia”

“We had the best time on our 19 day Gokyo Ri & Everest Base Camp trek. Our guide, KB, and porters, Kubir and Milan, were all excellent. We had a ton of fun with them, and they were also very knowledgeable and able to answer all of our questions. We particularly enjoyed spending time in Namche, climbing up Gokyo Ri, tackling the Cho La Pass, scaling Kala Pattar and finally making it to Everest Base Camp! Himalayan Social Journey exceeded our expectations, and we highly recommend them to anyone considering trekking in the Himalayas!”

“This trek was amazing and HSJ made it easy to enjoy to its fullest. The guide and porters were spectacular and everything was very well organized. This was surely an experience that I will never forget.”

“We had booked EBC & Kala Patthar via Gokyo Ri and Cho La Pass in April 2017 with Tour My India and it was handled by Himalayan Social Journey. Our guide KB was very knowledgeable and caring. Cho La Pass was impossible without KB. Also the porters Milan and Kuber were exceptional and went beyond their duties to help us on treks as well. I would highly recommend this company if you are planning hiking in Nepal. Our dream journey was from 15 May to 31 May 2017 and our itinerary via Gokyo Ri and Cho La Pass was worth the research. Also since we started early at Kala Patthar we got amazing and crystal clear views of Mt. Everest at sunrise and untill 8am. Overall we were 200% satisfied with all the services provided: Kathmandu stay at Holy Himalaya, Cultural dinner, all tea houses stay during hiking, food choices provided. A big thank you shout out to KB, Milan, Kuber and Himalayan Social Journey 😊”

“We have just returned to Kathmandu after our amazing trek to Everest Base Camp & Gokyo Lakes. We were privileged to have the most amazing, wonderful & caring Guide Santosh Dhakal accompany us on this incredible 16 day journey. Santosh was by our side every step of the way, his positive approach, encouragement & patience helped us to keep going & persevere when times were tough. His excellent interpersonal skills, his witty sense of humour & his fluent spoken English skills are to be commended. Overall the best Guide we could have wished for. We will always remember this amazing young man & would highly recommend him to any future trekkers. Anita, Steve, Ian & Alison.”

“We would like to say massive THANK YOU to Himalayan Social Journey for organizing our amazing trip to EBC and Gokyo (4/10 - 22/10) We were so lucky and blessed and every moment was unforgettable! Special gratitude goes to our amazing guide Myngmar Sherpa, who was an amazing knowledgeable guide and looked after us throughout the whole trip to EBC. He made sure everybody was ok, enjoying the trip and his incredibly positive personality made every step easier :) He taught us a lot about the culture, traditions, mountains and always pointed out interesting facts and details during the trek. After reaching the EBC two of us separated from the group and went through Chola Pass and Gokyo, which were unbelievable beautiful and our highlights of the trip. Turquoise blue sacred lakes hidden in the mountains. During those few days we were looked after by Kubir Magar! He was truly amazing, honest and kindest person with great knowledge of the mountains . He was helping us with everything, looking after us, motivating us during tough times and became our friend. We couldn’t wish for better guides. The trek itself was occasionally challenging, but nothing that an average hiker with love for mountains would not succeed :) The company and guides made sure we had enough acclimatization days included in our trip and therefore everybody made it safe to the top! Accommodation (really amazing one in Gokyo) was provided every night, together with tasty breakfast every morning:) We truly cannot speak highly enough about the the trip, the beauty of the mountains and the kindness of the people we met! Our dream came true and we are really thankful to HSJ, Myngmar and Kubir that they helped us to make it real! Hope to return back soon! :)”

“We highly recommend Himalayan Social Journey after we have spent 19 days with them to visit the Everest Base Camp and Lake Gokyo. We had some trouble with our flight to Kathmandu and the company was flexibel and gave the best to enable us every item on the programme. The tour was well organized and the teahouse stops divided the trek in a perfect amount of KMs per day. BISHNU was a great guide with professional expertise αs a local and his company was pleasant as he answered every questions we had and was always there while he gave us space to explore and to let all the impressions in you can not describe in words. We are very thankful, that we had DILIP as a driver. He helped us a lot, when we started and finished our journey and when we did an extra tour to Pokhara. A very good person. We were lucky to have DIPENDRA as a guide for sightseeing in Kathmandu. He has a talent for summarizing the most interesting facts about every sight in a very charming way. One of us decided spontaneously to extend the trek and summit the >6000m Island Peak. Himalayan Social Journey arranged everything and set one of the most experienced climbing guides NIMA for this region on our side who made it possible to reach the summit as one of the first this year. Thank you for this wonderful journey and see you soon! Madie and Gerrit”

“My husband and I have just returned home to Australia after our 15 day trek in Nepal. We had treked with HSJ 2 years ago and this time once again, were not disappointed. From our on line communication, payment and booking, everything ran smoothly. We had a fantastic guide and porters who looked after us all along the way. The food and accomodation along the way was simple Traditional Nepalese style. We were joined with 2 others from Australia, who made it the perfect trekking team size and our guide ensured that we were always kept safe and comfortable throughout the whole journey.”

“This was my 4th trek with HSJ and 3rd with guide Bishnu Basnet and again it was absolutely excellent. Nothing is ever too much trouble for HSJ and planning a trek with them is always a pleasure as they are so responsive to emails and to suggestions and very flexible with itineraries as well as very competitively priced. The Gokyo Lakes and Chola Pass and EBC 16 day trek was my favourite yet and has just inspired me to return again next year! At very nearly 64 years old I wasn't sure how many more treks I had in me but with Bishnu guiding and knowing me well the pace was perfect and very achievable. Bishnu has extensive knowledge of all of the mountains and routes and villages and guesthouses and so made suggestions as we went along as to alternative targets for each day depending on how we were feeling, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Thank you very much indeed to Bishnu and to HSJ and see you again next year!”

“The environment was really beautiful. Everyday you are amazed by what you see. It's an amazing trek guided by an amazing guide named Indra. We had really good conversations with eachother and he showed us through the mountains amazing. He was very flexible and he took good care of us. Everything was good taken care of by the company so we didn't have to worry about anything other than walking up and down. Can definetly recommend this.”

“Nepal is a very safe country, me and my husband had a 11 days tour kathmandu - chitwan - pokhara - dhampus - australian camp - sarangkot with Himalayan Social Journey. They are very nice and professional providing whatever we want for our trip in Nepal and made it unforgettable memory for us, made us want to go back to Nepal for more from rafting, trekking to paragliding. No worries, no hassle, everything is done and prepared thoroughly. Special mention to our guide / new family in Chitwan, Hari Pokharel and trekking guide, Bindaas Binod made us feel like we're at home and very welcomed there, made Nepal our second home beside Indonesia. Very recommended travel agent and Guides. See you soon Nepal, miss you already. Can't wait for our next new adventure there.”

“Professionally organised from start to finish. India tested all 5 of our senses. The visit to the Ganges was my personal highlight. Nepal is a gem of a country, Pokhara being my favourite town. We did the trek to Australian camp. I found the first day very challenging, but my guide Rameshwar stuck by my side and gently encouraged me along. The accommodation up the mountain is very basic, but the food, alcohol and company was ample recompense. Many thanks to all my guides especially "esqui", DILIP, Rameshwar and our wonderfully gentle but strong porters.”

“Visited Nepal with a group of 15 friends run by HSJ Nepal.Started in Nagarkot, then onto Kathmandu followed by Pokhara and a hike to the Australian camp guest house at Pothana where we had magical views of the snow capped peaks of the Annapurna range.Then back to Kathmandu and back home. The tour was conducted well and the tour guide was knowledgeable and considerate of our needs. We all had a wonderful time, packing in as much as we could in our 8 days. Only suggestion would be to do the Kathmandu sightseeing over 2 days rather than one and incorporate some free time for shopping etc in Kathmandu. Otherwise it was a wonderful trip thanks to all the HSJ staff like drivers, porters and all the wonderful and helpful Nepalis at all our hotels and restaurants that we ate at. Thanks Ram , Dipendra , Dilip and all at HSJ Nepal Melita and Brian Wood”

“Huge thank you to Mingmar Sherpa for being the best guide ever!!! So kind and informative, and went above and beyond to take care of our group of 9 and to make sure everything ran as smoothly as possible!!! Nepal is beautiful and the experience was amazing!!! A couple of let downs occurred when the other leader guide had our group join with his group of 18 for the sightseeing tour. We were meant to see three sights and stop for lunch but only saw two and never got lunch and also the prices for the sights were double what we'd been told at the meeting just the night before and printed on our itinerary. When I pointed this out to the guide that had us for the day, I was told to stay on the bus if it was too expensive-very rude! Very unorganised and found it a waste of a day in Kathmandu. And our flight from pokhara back to Kathmandu was the same with him in charge, our group was left til last, certainly felt like he knew where his bread was being buttered and would make sure to tend to those peoples needs. Stayed in a couple of 5star resorts, the Pokhara Grande in Pokhara and Gokarna Forest Resort in Kathmandu - beautiful accommodation but far out from the main shopping and eating districts so found it a bit useless to be taken out so far. Definitely lovely if you don't want to leave the resort, but we wanted to go to Nepal to experience Nepal! Overall a great experience, would highly recommend mingmar as tour leader. He takes care of the group so well that all you have to do is take on the experience and enjoy Nepal for what it is. Our group size of 9 was perfect! Will def go back and do another trek and request Mingmar especially!!!”

“Right from the start as a solo traveler the communication was excellent and put my mind at ease. I arrived two days before the official tour started and Ram came up with plenty of ideas to keep me busy and even arranged a personal guide named Mingmar to escort me. I decided to go White water rafting with an overnight stay "glamping" which I can highly recommend. The next day we took a cable car ride to Manakamana. A Hindu temple with spectacular views, both great suggestions (thanks Ram) The tour started and everything went smoothly thanks to Mingmar's guidance. The trek was pretty easy but took us to some spectacular view points. Our accommodation was basic tea houses and added to the charm in the mountains and a great experience. Oh! and Paragliding back down to Pokhara was so much fun (and easier) Overall we are seven happy campers! Big thanks to Mingmar Sherpa for a bucket list experience!”

“I had a fantastic trip to Nepal a few days ago. From the start, our guide, Mingmar Sherpa, made it a really smooth and fun trek. The tour was really well organised and packed with many activities such as paragliding into Pokhara. We started off with a wonderful welcome dinner where we were introduced to our excellent guide, Mingmar. Over the next few days we made our way into Pokhara and began our trek. Our first night of the trek we stayed in Dhampus and the following night we stayed in Australian Camp with an altitude of 2165m. The next day we had a 6-7 hour trek which was rewarding as we followed it with paragliding the day after. Mingmar made it a really enjoyable trip and one I'll never forget being a 16 year old boy. I can highly recommend this trip to anyone looking for a trek that isn't too hard. A big thanks to Mingmar Sherpa for the fantastic experience.”

“I would recommend Himalayan Social Journey for your trip to Nepal. Ram was very helpful, answering all my questions and the arrangements went off without a hitch. Our day tour in Kathmandu was great, loved the Monkey Temple and Durbar Square. Our four day trek from Pedi to Dhampus, Australian Camp and Sarankot was amazing and not too difficult, as was the paragliding from Sarankot to Pokhara. Our guide Mingmar Sherpa was terrific and made us feel like family.”

“We recently completed a 19 day tour of Indias Golden Triangle and a trek through the breathtaking Himalayas from Pokhara to the Australian Camp ending with an amazing paragliding flight from Sarangkot back to Lakeside in Pokhara. The tour through India with guide Tanveer was fantastic and with our expectations high for our trek of Nepal we could not have anticipated the absolute attention to detail provided by tour company Himilayan social journey with our guide Miingmar Sherpa. From the time Miingmar picked us up from the airport in Kathmandu until he dropped us off at the Gokarna Forest resort upon completion of our trek he spent every minute of every day ensuring that our every need was taken care of before he relaxed himself. We have been on many tours and have never met a person with such a caring nature and an outstanding knowledge and passion for his country and what he does every day. We are thinking of taking a more challenging trek in the next year or 2 and we will most certainly be requesting Miingmar Sherpa as our guide along with his amazing team Krishna and Roopeszz if we do and I highly recommend that if you are looking to do so that if at all possible you request this amazing person to be your guide through this beautiful mountain range. We would like to personally thank the Himalayan Social Group one of the most professional and honest organisations we have had the pleasure of doing business with and in particular Miingmar Sherpa and his team for a truly memorable experience. We hope to see you again in the very near future”

“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.”