Client Reviews

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.

Our trek with Nepal Trekking Experts was the best experience, from our first contact with Rajesh to finalize our customized package, throughout our time trekking the remote landscape to learn about the culture and history, during a Safari to finish up our amazing time in Nepal, including right up to our departure. Great communication with Rajesh and Ganesh ensured every detail was covered.
Our outstanding guide, Ganesh, was professional, knowledgeable, safe and well informed. His many years of experience guiding proved invaluable when we were faced with difficult decisions due to unexpected weather. Safety was always the priority. Our porter, Gakul, was an integral part of our team, so strong, fun and a pleasure to share time with.
The teahouses and meals during the trek as well as the hotels in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan were all of the highest quality. We simply could not have been taken care of any better.
You will not regret trekking with Ganesh, as he is the BEST!!

We did the Annapurna Circuit with side trek to Tilicho Lake. Everything about this trip exceeded our expectations! Rajesh is very personable and was responsive to all of our questions and needs in preparing for the trek. He answered questions promptly and thoroughly and was transparent with information. Because of this, we were never caught off-guard or encountered anything unexpected.
We cannot say enough good things about our guide, Basanta and porter, Uttam. They took very good care of us throughout the trek and made sure everything went smoothly and safely. They were very knowledgeable and efficient, but also could be humorous and playful—this was a real boost on more strenuous days of the trek.
We wholeheartedly recommend Nepal Trekking Experts. They made our trip very memorable from start to finish!

For a cpouple of years I’m always organizing my treks with NTE because of the knowledge, kindnessm, and accuracy of the owner Raj. This time I wanted to do a shorter trek somewhere more remote, and Raj suggested the Tsho Rolpa trek. It was, like always, a very good suggestion. The trek is indeed remote but if you like good views on snowy mountains, frozen waterfalls, homestays, dinner in the kitchen, and contact to locals – this is your chance. And what a surprise when you reach the lake – the view is stunning with high mountains surrounding the lake. No other tourists when we were there, it felt very special to walk around at this awesome landscape just alone. At the end we enjoyed one day off in the last village, enjoying the last view of the mountains and the green scenery (even in winter). The next day we di dan extra hike (thank you Gautam to have a chat with our landlady) which was a very rewarded finish to this trek.Gautam, this was our second time together. Thank you very much for your knowledge and your always positive mood. Again, we made a lot of jokes together and I could improve my Nepali. Raj, for so many times you organized everything very well. I really just enjoyed my trek – again.see you next time.

I did the Manaslu Circuit in early September with my partner that includes a walk to Manaslu Base Camp and the Tibetan border.

It was an absolutely fantastic experience and we had a lovely group of fellow adventurers.

The organiser was Rajesh who communicated wonderfully. Went through the kit list with us and took us out for a meal then day before.

Our guide was Lok who is a legend. He was extremely experienced. He taught us lots about the local area/culture. He also took us to several temples at our request, which I really enjoyed. He was very calm and did not rush us but kept us on schedule! Also a very funny guy and had great fun playing card games with him in the evening.

Chhwang and Gautam were our porters. I have no idea how they carried all that weight but remained so energetic and cheerful throughout. They were always smiling.

We seen magnificent views, amazing wildlife, met interesting people, ate wonderful food and did I personally was able to do lots of 'questionable' dancing.

I wish Chhwang, Lok and Gautam all the best!

Recently we completed the Lower Manaslu Trek, and it was an unforgettable experience! The trek was well-organized, providing a perfect balance of adventure and cultural immersion by Nepal Trekking Experts. The owner of the company Rajesh is very helpful and informative from the first mail to the end of the trek.

The itinerary was thoughtfully planned, allowing ample time for acclimatization while ensuring we saw all the key sights. The trekking days were not so hard while it was lower foothills of the Mt. Manaslu and the rest days were a great addition to exploring local villages and viewpoints.Our guide was Thakur, he is local from the region, knowledgeable, and passionate. He shared fascinating stories and insights about the local culture, making the trek even more enriching. The porter Gakul was incredibly hardworking, friendly, and ensured our gear was always well taken care of.

On the last day of the trek, we stayed in their house with their family. The lodges and homestays we stayed in were basic homestays, with stunning views of the surrounding mountains. The meals eating with locals and interacting with them were a highlight of the journey! The landscapes were breathtaking—lush valleys, terraced fields, and towering peaks. Every day brought new and stunning views, making the trek visually rewarding.Considering the quality of service and the experience provided, I found the package to be great value for money. It included everything we needed, from airport pick-up, accommodations, meals, and farewell.Overall, the Lower Manaslu Trek was an incredible journey that exceeded our expectations. I highly recommend Nepal Trekking Experts to anyone looking for adventure and cultural exploration. Whether you’re an experienced trekker or a beginner, this package has something to offer everyone!

I did the Manaslu Circuit trek in early September. I was undecided on which trek to do so I reached out to Rajesh at Nepal Trekking Experts after reading good reviews on trip advisor. Rajesh was extremely helpful, able to answer my questions and helped me join with a small group of other travellers. We had an awesome team with our Guide Lok and porters Guatham and Chwayyan, they were experienced, thoughtful and great communicators. It was a fun group dynamic and we all played cards and ate popcorn together in the evening. They became more like friends as the trip continued! I highly recommend requesting all 3 of them for your trek. We had a few days of rain but otherwise the weather was good, quite hot in the beginning and getting cooler as we hiked higher. Rajesh was helpful in checking what gear we would need before our trip left. The route of the circuit was well thought out, and we had a few nights in the same location so we could do some longer day hikes up to the manalsu base camp and to the Tibet border. This was helpful to adjust to the altitude and it meant we could hike without needing to take our big backpacks! Another great tip was to share a jeep to reach the start point of the hike, this saved us a lot of time and meant we could be flexible with traffic and landslides. Lok helped us catch a bus at the end of the trip from Besisahar to Pokhara so we could relax for a few days. I have only positives things to say about my experience with the whole team at Nepal Trekking Experts. I would highly recommend a trek with them, and if I return to Nepal they will be the first group I contact to arrange another.