Client Reviews

This was our first trek in Nepal, and we could not be happier with our choice of Nepal Trekking Experts

Rajesh was extremely patient, understanding, and accommodating as we selected a trek and prepared for it. We chose a more modest trek (Ama Dablam Base Camp) and were very pleased with it.

Rabin, our guide, was truly amazing. He shared with us his knowledge and experience with Nepalese society, culture, and politics, as well as his great experience with the mountains and the communities there. When Lukla airport was closed due to bad weather, he expertly guided us down the mountain and worked hard to secure safe travel back to Kathmandu (via the craziest 4 x 4 jeep ride we will likely ever have). We were extremely fortunate to be in the care of such a kind and generous man.

We appreciated the complete transparency of travel costs (no surprises) and the timely responses to our communications.

Trekking in Nepal with a great guide, is in my opinion, the difference between walking the mountains in mist & having clear blue skies. Nepal Trekking Experts made every day a blue sky adventure.

Nepal Trekking Experts are an OUTSTANDING company who delivered an experience that I will NEVER forget. They truly cared & exposed me to Nepalese culture, even getting the opportunity to making my own Momos at a lunchtime tea house stop. Serves me right for asking how they are made!

I did the Tsum Valley & Manaslu 21 day trek. From initial contact with Rajesh, the business owner, to completing the trek & receiving a post trek text from our guide, advising me on the best place to source great quality Nak (female Yak) cheese in Kathmandu, their communication was superb.

They do trekking with care & focus on ensuring the needs of their guests are not only met, but I think exceeded. Attention to detail from pre arrival support, route management, accommodation & service at tea houses, they made sure we had what we needed, every waking hour.

I would recommend them 100%. Price, service & meeting your personalised trekking focus, I would be surprised if you will find better. I will be using them again & already have an eye on trekking in April!

Nepal Trekking Experts, as well as this specific Tsum Valley/Manaslu Circuit Trek, were highly recommended to us by our son, who found the company on-line, and completed the same trek in October 2023. He connected us to Rajesh, and things proceeded extremely smoothly from there. Raj's website is excellent, providing all the details required to plan for a perfect experience, and he also responded almost instantaneously to any questions/communications (quite a feat, given the 12 hour time change) (I am not sure he ever sleeps). Everything was taken care of, including transport to and from the airport, accommodation and dinner in Kathmandu, transportation to the beginning of the trek, and all details of the trek itself. Rajesh is from the area, had experience as a porter and guide before forming his company, and is well equipped to handle all situations including helicopter rescues, should one be required for any reason. I have nothing but high praise for our guide, Lok. . He has 27 years of guiding experience, and it definitely shows. He has been on all of the treks multiple times, and has dealt with all conceivable complications, including helicopter evacuations for altitude issues and for injuries. He knows the trail very well, and anticipates more difficult areas such as landslides well in advance. I was hesitant and slower on more steep and rocky downhill sections and on the narrower exposed trails over landslides, and he was always unobtrusively right behind me, often with a hand on my backpack ready to rescue me if required. He quickly identified our preferences, and found lovely quieter teahouses with corner rooms on the top floor, and with the best Dahl Bat (he is a connoisseur). Our safety and wellbeing, as well as our enjoyment, were his main concern, and he was quietly considerate, as well as obviously very intelligent, (he played a mean game of chess). Our porter, Suriya,(I hope that is the correct spelling of his name), also a chess player was always cheerful and smiling. He carried our duffel bags without complaint, and arrived at the teahouses well ahead of us, when not helping to look after us. I am very grateful to him for holding off the donkeys and their driver when they wanted to charge ahead onto the landslide path while I was still on it, and always appreciated the fresh apples and pomegranates he carried up the trail and prepared for our dessert every evening. I absolutely LOVED the trekking experience, even though it wasn't always the easiest for me (the trails were definitely harder than those in our Rocky Mountains). The scenery was stunning, the people were friendly, and the ancient Bhuddist culture on evidence everywhere in the Tsum Valley was fascinating. We ascended gradually enough that we were well-prepared for the altitude, and had no difficulites with it. My husband and I have already decided that we will return next year and hope to bring our daughter along if it works out for her. We will definitely book through Rejesh of Nepal Trekking Experts, and will also be asking if Lok can be our guide again, as we are confident that we will then be in the best of hands. We hope to complete the Kangchanjunga trek, as Lok has assured us that we can do it, and we absolutely trust his judgement!

This review is for Manaslu circuit, done with Nepal Trekking Experts (NTE). NTE specializes in Manaslu area, although they cover many areas. I was a member of a three person group, each of whom went solo like me (we were strangers before the trek). Total hiking days/distance/vertical was 11 days/160km/~9300m, plus 2 more days of jeep driving, 1 each way: Kathmandu to Machhakhola at start and Besisahar to Kathmandu at end. Peak trekking altitude is 5150m ≈ 16,900 ft, and max sleeping altitude is 4450m ≈ 14,600 ft, in Dharmasala. For the record, I took Diamox starting ~4 days before Larkla la pass; this was prescribed by my Dr., not NTE. I do believe it helped with the higher altitudes, as I never had any symptoms of AMS (acute mountain sickness).

Short version, this trek was great and I recommend it to anyone who has the inclination and ability. The trek starts at relatively low elevation, ~900m (3000 ft) and stays under 3000m (10,000 ft) for the first 3 days. Those 3 days are hotter but also more scenic, and I personably enjoyed them immensely. We saw a lot of villagers and animals along the paths, and the plant life/jungle was very lush. Starting hiking day 4, one moves to higher altitude, 3500m ≈ 11,500 ft, and one starts feeling that the environment is changing, becoming more stark. Also, NTE reduces the distance and vertical gain that you’re hiking each day, to reduce chances of AMS. In this phase, you typically reach your next town by 1pm, and then do a relatively moderate afternoon hike to somewhat higher altitude for acclimatizing. There are also optional ‘side trip’ days. Our group decided not go to Manaslu base camp, which is a ‘hard core’ steep climb of ~1200m (4000 ft), but we did Pung Gyen Gompa instead. The views there are just gorgeous, truly amazing. We also did not do the all day side trek to the Tibet border, but instead did a much shorter version as an afternoon acclimation hike.

Hiking day 9 was our ‘over the top’ day, from Dharmasala to Bihmthang, and this is definitely the hardest day of the trek. Everybody gets up at 3:15, eats, and starts hiking by 4 am (everyone brings headlamps). The grade (slope) is actually not too steep, so a moderate steady pace does it. We summited at Larkla La pass ~7:20am, spent 20-30 doing pics and enjoying the view, then started the long descent to Bihmthang. Despite the fact that you’re descending, it’s still a workout, because of rocky footing underneath. Hike day 10, descent from Bihmthang to Gowa, switches back to a lusher environment, and is quite scenic. The last hiking day is short, and a ‘local jeep’ takes you to Besisahar, which is a real city of ~40k people.

I’d like to put in words of appreciation for our guide and porters: Thakur, Gakul, and (Kancha?). One of our three members had bad AMS at Dharmasala, and he had to go back 1 stop to Samdo. Gakul went with him, and accompanied him when he did the summit direct from Samdo, a real he-man feat.

Other comments about the tea house life:
1) Food is limited in choices, but there’s enough variation to keep one happy. Unlike most, I’m not a big fan of Dal Baht, but there’s noodle/rice/egg dishes.
2) Nights are cold up high but the sleeping bag NTE gave me always kept me warm. At the higher altitudes, the tea houses all have thick blankets to put on top for additional warmth.
3) bathrooms: get ready to squat!

This was a once in a lifetime trip for me, and I’m glad that NTE made it worth it.

Like many people, myself and my friends were unsure of which of the many tour operators to choose from for our Manaslu circuit trek in Nepal. After doing some research, we contacted Nepal Trekking Experts, as it is a local Nepali business with good reviews. From the start Raj was very helpful and responsive.

Every detail was taken care of and it felt like nothing was too much trouble; we were picked up from the airport and taken to an excellent hotel, and asked to meet with Raj the following day at a time that suited us, to discuss the plan, permits and payment etc. Other things made a big difference, such as storing our excess luggage and sending it to Pokhara after we had finished the trek, as well as arranging transport between the towns that we required, despite difficulties due to an ongoing festival.

Prakash, our guide, was brilliant, being supportive, knowledgeable and a good laugh throughout the trek, ensuring we were enjoying ourselves and in good health throughout. Our porters were also very friendly, and we all had a good time together in the evenings.

We were so happy with our experience that following the Manaslu trek, we booked our trip to Chitwan with them too, with much the same positive experience.

I would highly recommend Nepal Trekking Experts, and I intend to use them again on my future return to Nepal.