Traveller reviews

“Big thank you to Ram and his team on creating for us an awesome and exciting experience in Nepal. We went on a trek to the gokyo and everest region and the guide, Bishnu and porter were extremely friendly and helpful. They definitely made the trek much more fun and also the guide was extremely helpful in finding us the best rooms in lodges and found us extra blankets when needed. Hearing from other trekkers there are definitely some doggy guides but Bishnu is extremely experienced and treated us like family and cooked us the most amazing dahl bhat you will have in nepal :) arriving at the airport and not knowing anything Ram and his team were there to take us to the hotel and made us extremely comfortable. I would definitely recommend going with Ram and his team for your experience in Nepal. They are definitely the most friendly, helpful and value for money!!!!”

“I will be eternally grateful that I answered a Facebook advert by Yoga teacher Alexandra Bruin to join her Yoga trekking holiday. Alexandra had joined with Ram Sapkota’s Himalayan Social to organise a 12-day holiday that inspired, thrilled, moved and exhausted me. Ram is old school and by that I mean his word is his bond – if you are lucky enough to meet the man – who donates 10% of his profits to community projects – you will understand. Meeting him was not a problem either because he made sure he was there to see us off on the first morning of the holiday and there to take us for a cultural meal on the last night before personally seeing me to my ride to the airport for my return home. The Himalayan Social guide looking after us was Bishnu and the porter was Binod. Over the next 12 days I quickly came to realise that we had been blessed because they were without a shadow of a doubt the best most personable friendly knowledgeable team out of those that we met on the trek looking after other groups. Not only that but when the guides got together to provide some Nepalese folk singing and dancing it was clear that Bishnu was the best dancer on the mountain. I have had a regular yoga practice for 2-3 years now at a yoga centre where teachers come and go but only the best survive. Alexandra would have no trouble making herself a permanent fixture at any yoga centre that was lucky enough to benefit from her patronage. Her Yoga instruction is excellent, so much so that she had the Bishnu & Binon accomplishing poses it took me a year to master (and I’m using the word master loosely). This was her second year doing the trekking / yoga tour and it was obvious that she was there because she has fallen in love with the country and the people and has taken Ram’s charitable causes to her heart. I have said a lot about the people because by the end of the holiday I felt I we had all bonded as friends and I know if Alexandra does the tour next year she will insist on having Bishnu & Binon on her team. I would have been happy with the friendship and the spectacular scenery alone but am happy to confirm that the town hotels and the tea houses selected by Himalayan Social were to a very good standard often providing a standard of service / accommodation & facilities that exceeded my expectations. Throw in the city guided tours and you have what is a fantastic holiday at unbelievable value for money. So if you are thinking of booking a holiday through Himalayan Social or through Alexandra – do not worry, you will be in excellent hands.”

“What a fantastic holiday. Getting to experience a number of different adventures on the 14 day tour including elephant safari and rafting, as well as 5 days of magnificent scenery while trekking in the Annapurna mountains. We also went on the optional tours to see Mount Everest and the Himalayan mountain range, and went paragliding in Pokhara - what great experiences! Thank you Himalayan Social Journey (Ram and Prabin) for looking after us and providing us with amazing memories that will last a lifetime.”

“From the excellent day trips around Kathmandu which included the Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath, Swaymbhu and Patan Durbar Square with our excellent guide Swami to the really beautiful drive up to Nagharkot which had terraced fields almost reaching heaven and beaut views of the snow capped mountains and then the magnificent cultural city of Bhaktapur, the excellent drivers, guides, porters and manager of Himalayan Social Journey could not be faulted. My lifelong ambition of trekking in the Himalayas was also fulfilled, the scenery on the Annapurna trek was spectacular and being a 60 year old, at times even though I found the trek physically challenging, mentally I was encouraged by our wonderful guide Raju and our porters Ancle and Govinda. I was elated, I did it. Many thanks to Himalayan Social Journey.”

“My partner and I booked a 16 day luxury tour to Everest Basecamp, and 3 weeks before leaving the first Nepal earthquake happened. We were worried our tour were cancelled for that reason and contacted Himalayan Social, they assured us the tour was possible and they were happy to take us. As we arrived in Kathmandu we were informed that unfortunately every other person in the tour had cancelled and we would be going alone with our guide and porter. When we arrived in Lukla, our guide Bishnu and our porter Lakpa were already waiting for us and happy so meet us. The trek was sensational, Bishnu is a very knowledgable guide with 24 years + experience. Lakpa was also terrific, always taking the lead in the group. Hotels in Kathmandu were really good, well located in Thamel tourist area. The Hyatt nights included in our package were very relaxing. After our trek to Everest Basecamp, we book a trip to Chitwan and Pokhara which was not so good, and this is the reason why I'm giving it 4 stars and not 5. First the company insisted that we took the rafting activity which I am not a fan of, so we refused. I think it was a great decision, as when we travelled to join the group that did the rafting, we discovered this very polluted river that you wouldn't dare getting anywhere near. The trip to Chitwan by car was very long, as the roads are terrible around Nepal. Chitwan in May/June is terribly hot, and the abuse of elephants is present in every corner. The hotel "Green Park Chitwan" was very nice, but not all hotels offered have the same standards. Pokhara is a nice city, and we stayed in a nice hotel"Mount Kailash", although it was also very very hot. Had I known I would have changed this trip for a Tibet excursion instead. In general, Himalaya Social staff was very kind and helpful and accommodated to our needs. I do recommend any of their Everest Basecamp tours”

“An unforgettable experience to be trekking in Nepal - even though it is classed as an easy trek it was challenging enough but "doable" as the trekking each day was only a couple of hours. HSJ made the experience very relaxed and enjoyable. We had a fantastic group and our two guides Binod and Tikaram and the wonderful porters looked after us so well - they were so caring and supportive on the trek and flexible enough to fit in with our wishes. The accommodation in Kathmandu was basic but very clean and the location was fantastic. The last night was in a resort out of town and a nice way to finish off the trip. The accommodation in Pokhara was also of excellent standard. The accommodation on the trek was in very basic guesthouses but better than I expected as we had our own room with a bathroom with a western toilet and hot water. In hindsight it would have been a good idea to bring our own linen to leave behind in the more remote villages. The optional extras such as the scenic flight over the Himalayas and the paragliding are also not to be missed experiences. At the end of our trek we had the option to fly back to Kathmandu from Pokhara or to go by bus. We opted for the bus and glad we did for even though it took 8 hours to cover 200km we felt that we had seen up close some of the Nepalese countryside. All in all it was a fabulous trip and would highly recommend HSJ and their staff.”

“My brother and I spent a week in Nepal and HSJ (with our guide Bishnu) took care of us from arrival to departure. Our program was as written in the itinerary “Everest Panorama Trek”, and they were flexible with us in changing the program’s order. So we had no complaints. Highly recommended!”

“It was an amazing experience to Gosaikunda. The pilot was really coo that gave us enough time to stay there. Thanks Himalayan Social Journey for this amazing trip!”

“Wow what an adventure. There was great heights, low lows. Action, drama and everything else to make trecking as great as it could be HJS did it all for me. My own personal tour guide Bishnu is incredible. He speaks English better then I do... and it's my primary language. He gave me his water when mine froze. He gave me his phone charger, also when mine froze up and he kept me fed, dry and happy with his excellent stories, service and with his understanding of the lore of the land. I could not have climbed mera peak (6472m) without you my friend. I'm glad I had you there and I can't wait to to join you on an even higher mountain next time.”

“Ram, Binod, and Raj were wonderful. We had a great experience trekking in the Tamang Heritage region and were delighted with the flexibility and patience that our guide showed. I would strongly recommend using Himalayan Social Journey Trekking to provide guides and porters for a trekking adventure. I like the idea of using a company based in Nepal so that all of the profits stay in the country. They were very reasonably priced and provided a well put together package.”

“Our Guide, Dhakal Bhinod, was so patient and kind with us, as we wanted to go off trail and do crazy summits and off-trail adventures! He waited for us patiently for hours as we gained huge elevation off the Tamang Heritage Trail and had awesome panoramic views of the Himalayas. He and our porter, Raj, were giving up a very important family festival to guide us, and we reallyt appreciated their time and attention during this festival that was like Christmas to the Nepali people. They made it seem really fun and we enjoyed their company.”

“HSJ arranged for me the trip to Chandragiri Hill as well as the Everest flight during my visit to Kathmandu. Everything including hotel pick-up/drop-off was super smooth. Staff is very knowledgeable. Highly recommended for anyone traveling to Nepal for the first time.”

“I had the most amazing time exploring Chandragiri Hills and Monkey temple with my guide Rameshwor. He was very knowledgeable and generous. Would highly recommend.”

“Thanks for an excellent trip H.S.J our guide Prakash Rijal was the best, his Himalayan knowledge and experience is fantastic along with his medical experience assisting 100% of group through to E.B.C. Prakash goes the extra mile, making sure we know what to expect on a day to day basis and dont forget the soup!! Having still 10 days left in Nepal and speaking with Prakesh and the company they worked out an intinery incorporating Pokhara, Chitwan, Lombini, this included flights, accommodation, personal vehicle/driver and our trusty guide Prakash who we cannot thank enough.”

“We booked the flight through Viator. Everything went really well. We were picked up at the hotel and taken to the airport. Unfortunately the weather was bad in Lukla and the flight was delayed, but we flew the same day! We can recommend the flight and the provider!”

“Personalized Tour / Trek - March 2021 Thanks to COVID, my trip was a year behind, but thanks to Ram and his wonderful team, I was recently able to visit. My trip started with three nights in Kathmandu at the Himalayan Suite Hotel. The rooms are comfortable and mine had a balcony. The hotel is connected to a restaurant and spa which very handy to have. Binee, my guide for the tour, lead wonderful day trips to Chandragiri Cable Car and Monkey temple one day and then Durbar Square and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. From Kathmandu, we flew to Chitwan. The Green Park Hotel was a lovely location and Robbie, the guide there, planned our adventures - elephant safari, canoe trip, walking safari. Next up was the actual trekking part of the trip. Binee and I boarded a tourist bus to Pokhara for a real local experience. The Mount Kalish Resort was a jumping off point. I tried my hand at eating Dal Bhat - admit I was wearing more rice than I ate. We started in Phedi and hiked up the Dhampus, over many stairs and many pauses. I am out of shape after a year's sitting around. We made our guest house -- Green Land Guest House -- in time for lunch and had a view of Annapurna South and the Holy Mountain. Had the best momo for dinner. Did I mention you don't go hungry on these trips? Loved sitting in the kitchen watching our hostess make the meals. Lots of fresh veggies and then wonder Gurung bread. From Dhampus we moved on to Australian Camp. Binee, sensing that that wasn't a long enough hike, asked if I'd like to continue onwards so we header to Landruk. We passed one of the towns as school was getting out. There I was slowly inching my way over the various heighted steps with my walking poles, only to be passed by the school children running after baby goats and the like. I am not as sure-footed as they were. The next day we trekked to Jhinu and the hot springs. Loved this guest house as well. I ordered a bean and cheese burrito for lunch and it was one of the best that I've had. From Jhinu, we backtracked a bit and headed for Ghandruk. It was Holi and we stopped to get our colors in one of the villages we passed. Some of the local children wanted to share their colors, so I ended up looking a bit like an Easter Egg. On our way up the hill, one of the local farmers let us pause in their courtyard. I understand that they asked why we just didn't get a cab up the hill. Ah well, we took the cab down the next day. Sarangkot was our goal the next day. This is a hilltop town overlooking Pokhara. Most people paraglide from here. The visibility wasn't that good, so we/I passed and we trekked down to Pokhara. Why is going downhill more difficult that going up? Upon returning to the Mount Kalish Resort I was thrilled to have a tub to soak my aches and pains away. This trip was all about making adjustments. Just like changing the trekking route, we ended up having to drive to Kathmandu from Pokhara due to flight issues. It was a nice way to see more of the country. I had some issues with Qatar Airways and my return flight. Their customer service center never answered calls and/or emails. Ram and his team stepped in to get things fixed and I was able to return home as planned and make my vaccine appointment. Very grateful to Ram, Binee, Dal, Priyanka and all the staff at the Himalayan Suite Hotel for making my trip memorable.”

“To begin with, My vacation planning started from almost 3 months before our travel dates. Through TA I was lucky to find Rameshwar and his tour company Himalayan Social. Since I was particular on what and how I wanted to cover in my Vacation including Nepal and Bhutan they were extremely flexible in catering to the needs and amazing responsive to all the million questions I asked. Overall it was a fantastic vacation, Rameshwar made sure that everything is seamless throughout our trip and kept on checking on us. Even his travel counter parts in Bhutan was amazing making it a wonder family vacation for us. We travelling as a group of 6 people with different age groups. These guys are highly professional, polite, economical and friendly group of people whom you can trust. Strongly recommended. Many thanks Rameshwar and the entire Himalayan social crew!”

“I have travelled to Nepal many times and even lived there for a spell. On my first visit in 2008, I travelled to the Everest range with Himalayan Social Journey Trekking, Ram Sapkota's company. Ram and I got along instantly and the level of professionalism and organization is unparalleled by any other trekking company in Thamel, Kathmandu. Ram has since organized all of my trips in or around the country. From Tibet to Bhutan - from Chitwan to Annapurna - Ram has been solid and consistent, ensuring that everything that I need is at my disposal. His company is also extremely reliable for emergency situations. Ram makes sure that he has all of your insurance information available before you go into the high mountains in the event that he needs to call a helicopter to extract you (he has done it many times before) - I found that reassuring. On my latest trip in September 2011, Ram organized for a climbing buddy and myself to climb Island Peak in the Everest Range. From the moment I landed in Kathmandu to the moment I stood on top of the mountain - Ram arranged for everything. His company is one that you'll come back to - and his guides will become like companions on your journey.”

“Couldn't fault Himalayan Social, went out of their way to be helpful, even after I was airlifted back to Kathmandu, guides, porters and those in the office were all great. Fully recommend to anyone heading to Nepal and looking to trek.”

“Great people, great price, great service. Recommend Social journey to everyone who is willing to get value for money”

“Best trip ever!!! Himalayan Social Journey worked through our itinerary with us, with as much or little input as we requested and were very patient with our questions. We are fortunate that they easily incorporated last minute changes with no drama or fuss. Our trek guide was awesome (thank you Pradip!!), he knew how much to volunteer and how much space to give us. Our support in Kathmandu was perfect, offering honest suggestions and totally reliable. We can't wait to go back and would definitely let Himalayan Social Journey's suggestions and recommendations - they genuinely want you to fall in love with Nepal, the sites, sounds, views and of course, the people, - which we did!!”

“Once again Himalayan Social Journey have proven themselves to be a very reliable and accomodating company to book through. This being my third visit to Nepal and using them, we were very excited Ram personalised our trek to experience the 'real life' of Nepal in a small village, Achane Bensi. With our wonderful knowledgeable and caring guide Milan, we experienced how the Nepali lived by arranging home stays. We will treasure these memories forever and are very grateful for sharing them with him. In the same area, we visited two underprivileged schools affected by the earthquakes and distributed 250 school bags purchased in Kathmandu between them. An unforgettable moment. Our Porter Homnath was also amazing and very keen to communicate with us. Both Milan and Homnath are valuable assets to Himalayan Social Journey.”

“Thank you once again Milan Sapkota for being a wonderful guide. Your expertise in Nepal is amazing. You have a very kind heart and HSJ is lucky to have you as one of their guides.”

“Amazing 12 day sightseeing tour of Nepal and Bhutan with some light trekking. Bhutan was very special and much less touristy than anywhere I have previously visited. Climbing to Tiger's Nest Monastery was a highlight. This was my second trip with Himalayan Social Journey (went to India with them last year) and I was not let down. Once again the logistics were pulled off smoothly, guides were fantastic, knowledgeable, extremely helpful and very personable. Accommodation standard was high. Would highly recommend them and hope to travel with them again.”