My husband and I just completed the 8-day Langtang Valley trek! We were guided by the amazing expert Ramesh, and our superman porter (and skillful jeep driver) Suresh. We had such a great time and are feeling very accomplished. We feel fortunate to have had these fellows with us as they made the trip so much more fun and interesting. They were patient, funny and never seemed annoyed at my very slow rate of both ascent and descent. Ramesh guided my husband Kevin up Tsergo Ri at an early hour while Suresh showed me around Kenjin Gompa and the yak cheese factory, and helped me while I had some mild altitude sickness. I felt like we were traveling with pals rather than hired hands. The trek itself was amazing. We had perfect weather and made excellent time despite my slowness! We ended up finishing a day early, and so on Ramesh’s suggestion we headed to Chisopani so we could ring in the new year with a mountain sunrise. It ended up being cold and cloudy, but keeping warm at the campfire talking with the guys was one of my most memorable moments of the trip. With this tour operator, you are well taken care of and you will have such a great experience!
We’ve just returned from a remarkable 12 days in Bhutan and couldn’t recommend it more highly. This is some feedback from Sophie and me.
The whole thing went brilliantly from start to finish. We have some appreciation for the challenges of operating in developing countries, and so very much respect what went into delivering the outstanding service. We were continually delighted. Our expectations were well and truly exceeded.
The core trekking support team of Sam, Norbu, and Sigay was genuinely outstanding. They worked tirelessly and delivered incredible meals and services for us, always with a bright smile. They were 10/10.
The guide, Sonam, was good - capable, organised, calm and helpful. He dealt with the two mini crises extremely well - when one guest had to be evacuated and the 2nd set of ponies was very late. His one area for improvement is his communication. This would be three things: (i) English pronunciation, (ii) in talking to our group, he nearly always directed his gaze and speech to me, the only male in the group, to the exclusion of the women, and (iii) he could be more proactive and forthcoming with information. He will go from 8/10 to 10/10 if he can improve his communication.
There was a small misunderstanding about the tipping. From the WEx materials and common sense, we had assumed the tips would be given at the end of the trip. Sonam asked us for a tip for the first set of horsemen when they finished their work mid-trip, and he indicated that the team tip fund would usually be provided at the start. That didn’t seem consistent with the WEx materials, and we had no way to know how much horsemen should be tipped. Also, the WEx materials say “if” you have a guide or drivers, which is odd given that this trip had both. Our sense from the WEx materials was that there would be two tips: one for the team and one for the guide. We assumed the drivers and horsemen were part of the team. In reality, more than two tips were required, as drivers and horsemen were not considered part of the team. The practice of tipping is foreign to us and sensitive, and WEx would do well to achieve better clarity for all.
The hotels in Paro and Thimpu were both great, and the staff were wonderful.
Thank you again for a truly wonderful adventure. We are already talking about our next one!
Prior to completing our EBC trek we did a lot of research into different companies, and are so happy we decided to go with this tour operator. From first communication with Dil, any questions we had he answered in a timely manner and on meeting him for our pre-trip meeting, he was super friendly, knowledgeable and really cares about his customers.
Our trip was planned very well and there were no hiccups with the logistics. We met our guide Amar Gurung and porter Suk at Lukla and we instantly knew we were in very capable hands. Amar was a great guide, an extremely caring person and had our health and welfare as his top priority. I unfortunately got sick with food poisoning on the 4th day in Namche Bazaar, but knew I was in very safe hands with Amar, and we continued our trek. Suk our porter is amazing and so strong and met us every morning with a smile. We enjoyed getting to know both of them and hearing about their lives, families, traditions etc. We not only left the trek, completing our goal of getting to Everest BC but we made friends for life in Amar and Suk.
I would strongly recommend anybody looking at booking a trek picks this company as nothing was too much trouble for them, everything was arranged well and everybody is super caring and knowledgeable :) Ask for Amar and Suk if you want the best experience!
Thanks so much for looking after us and allowing us explore your beautiful country with you :)
Spectacular scenery and much more variety than the Everest Base Camp trek I did back in 2005. Also much more challenging since you start at 800 m and climb to 5,100m.
A really good combination - a trek with marvellous scenery, including views of Kanchenjunga and Everest, coupled with the chance to tour round some very interesting parts of North East India, Darjeeling, Sikkim and Kolkata.
Opting for the Everest Base Camp and Kalapatthar trek with this company proved to be a remarkable choice. Shyam, our amazing guide, blended expertise with an engaging presence and care for our safety, elevating the entire expedition. Also, special acknowledgment to Man, our reliable porter, whose resilience and friendly demeanor left a lasting impression. Dip's meticulous organizational skills and service even beyond the actual trek were evident throughout, ensuring a flawless and unforgettable journey. Incredible experience!
Sri Lanka is the rising star of Asia, and trust us, it's got it all! Our 12-day group tour itinerary show's you the best of this green and luscious gem of the Indian Ocean. Head up to the misty mountain tops to hike the hill country and explore tea plantations before travelling down to the sun drenched beaches and national parks where we’ll search for wild elephants. Spot dolphins, visit ancient temples, play cricket on the beach and have the adventure of a lifetime with your new One Life travel family. The smells of spices, tea and traditional foods will bring your senses alive as you adventure through this island nation.
Fully guided with a legendary company guide and a local Sri Lankan guide, you will be well taken care of and have all your questions answered. The tour includes accommodation in hotels and hostels as well as the most stunning train journey in the world, an expert guide, meals, transport, and more.
AMAZING!!! Everyone we met through this company was just incredible and went above and beyond. Suman was our guide and he is the absolute the sweetest. He made the trek unforgettable. He is so knowledgeable - we felt so safe with him and he had an answer to everything! The prep chats the night before were the best. He made sure we knew what to expect the next day, and made sure we were always ok. Ramesh was also the greatest. He made us laugh so much and spent so much time with us. It was such a treat overall. We hiked to base camp and then to Gokyo Lake. It was a beautiful trek. We did need medical help and Suman made sure everything went so smoothly. Prior to the trek, we were in contact with Upendra, who was always prompt to respond, very kind, organized, and detailed. I cannot recommend them enough!!! Thank you for this wonderful experience!!!
The trip was excellent from start to finish. Our guide Abhishek was exceptional; knowledgeable, experienced and expert. Organisation was also first class. An unforgettable trek. We will be back! Many thanks to Upendra and especially to Abhi.
I loved Bhutan! Its scenery, culture, awe-inspiring monasteries and temples, and lovely welcoming people all added to the experience. Our guide, Sonam, was awesome - very knowledgeable, intelligent, caring and fun. The camp equipment, jacket and sleeping bags were first class and the trek crew were very professional and totally committed to our comfort and enjoyment. The food was delicious and healthy. We added an extra three nights onto the end of the trek to travel to Punakha and the Phobjikha Valley, and are very glad we did. It gave us an opportunity to see the amazing Punakha Dzong and some different parts of the country.
My EBC trip was perfectly planned. First of all, I want to thank Mr. Gokul, my guide Kali, and Amita from operations a million times. The guesthouses I stayed in were warm and clean. My guide Kali was always kind and supportive. I’m very excited for my ABC trip this year—hope to see you again soon!
