Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing Gokyo Ri for the amazing views and arriving at Base Camp and seeing the Khumbu ice fall and summit of Everest.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Dohje and his team (Nobu, Angelu and Mingma) were amazing, and they managed to cope with many incidents and problems that will always arise when you are spending such a long time at 5,000 meters and above. They were also very friendly, helpful and informative, I learnt a lot about Sherpa culture and history.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for a tough challenge but don’t be put off, its is well worth the effort.

Suggestions

If I had to pick one thing as a must do it would be the ascent of Gokyo Ri, don’t miss this one out! Its also a fantastic place for photographers, take your best camera.

Most Inspirational Moment

From a distance the Cho La Pass looks impenetrable! As you get closer you see the route emerge and then you are climbing up towards the top. We left in the dark and cold and could see our destination way ahead bathed in sunshine on the top. We literally emerged from the dark and cold into the light....... truly inspirational.

Thoughts on Group Leader

I had already had the pleasure of Dorjee leading my Annapurna trip. He is an outstanding leader. He was organised, encouraging, sympathetic and totally dedicated to the group. He was also great fun which is important when energy levels are flagging, bringing humour and laughter to the trek. We all also commented on how well respected he is within the local communities. At Lukla airport he pretty much took control to ensure the right people got on the right planes at the right time!! Thank you Dorjee.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The best practice is not to walk for miles on end but to find a steep hill and go up and down it a lot! The tube escalators are ideal. You need good knees. Mine are cranky so I used poles all the times to take the pressure off them. Take lots of layers. It can be very cold at night and you will probably dive straight into your sleeping bag fully clothed! Eat plenty, you will work it off! You can buy everything at Namche so don't worry if you've forgotten anything or need more of something. Leave enough time to recover from your flight before the trek departs Kathmandu. My turnaround was too tight and the first two days were consequently very tiring. Be prepared for the post trek blues when you get home........

Suggestions

Nepal is not the UK. The tea houses are basic at the top. Embrace it and enjoy the experience of living more simply.

Most Inspirational Moment

Basecamp was the highlight. But the party on top of Gokyo Ri was my best memory thanks to Aayush's DJ skills. Chola pass was the hardest day but stunning. There is a lot of walking uphill on the way down!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tsheten was organised and knowledgeable. Kami was strong and steady (he knows just about everyone in the mountains!). Aayush was a bundle of energy and kept us entertained and motivated while ensuring we were all doing ok. Together they made a fantastic team, their skills complemented each other and we felt safe and looked after at all times

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't underestimate how hard this trip is, being at altitude for a couple of weeks is hard on your body!

Most Inspirational Moment

For me the first view of the Ngozumpa glacier which looks like the surface of th moon and subsequent Cho La Pass,

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ozzy was extremely knowledge, likeable and ensured everything was taken care of from start to finish. A great asset to your company.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Book....you won't regret it. To be experienced in person for yourself.

Most Inspirational Moment

Meeting Kenton cool and a lot of the world-famous sherpas along the trail. Obviously getting to Everest base camp and goyko lakes was important . What was a bonus was the real inspirational moments in the little things like the wildlife and interaction with the local guides , Tea house owners and people along the way. also realising at almost 60 years old that there is some life in the old duffer yet

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jaite Tamang Oz was our group leader. OZ is a natural leader and demands respect amongst all his fellow guides and porters. He has a natural ability to bring people together and his good humour allows a relaxed harmonious movement across what is actually quite a difficult terrain and environment to be in. I can’t recommend him enough. I will definitely be requesting him by name on all my future trips in Nepal .

Advice for Potential Travellers

I have loads of advice for potential travellers and will probably write a whole document on this.. A few things I will definitely suggest now , do not take ibuprofen at high altitude because it is a respiratory suppressant and you may not be able to sleep well. Read up about the Khumber cough and make sure you do not exert yourself at high altitude. Make sure you bring a breathable buff to cover your lips and mouth.

Suggestions

I have done many overseas trips possibly 30+ in the last 40 years and I realise how important the group leader is to the enjoyment of a trip. Every client comes with different expectations, energy levels and immune systems. These all present challenging situations for a group moving across such difficult terrain over a long time and a good leader I will make all the difference.

Most Inspirational Moment

Being surrounded by famous mountains, crossing the tall suspension bridges with yak trains carrying supplies up the passes, amazing!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Experienced nice guy, took good care of us, firm when he needed to be but shared our enthusiasm for the experience.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Yep, silk sleeping bag liner very useful, fingerless gloves for the cold evenings in the tea houses, tracksters worked great during the day and for the evenings too, merino wool thermals were absolutely brilliant, wool jumper better than synthetic fabrics for keeping smell free, cards for the evening, good (compact) camera for the scenery not my digital SLR! I used Diamox and was glad I did, no altitude sickness problems. In November it took clothes a few days to dry so pack enough. keep your bags within the weight limits, our porters had to carry our bags so please be considerate. Trek wasn't as physically demanding as I expected, get fit before you go and you will enjoy it more.

Suggestions

Watch out, if you go once you'll want to go back again! I was the only person on the trek for whom this was a first visit.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the mountains and taking in their magnificence. Also finally achieved a long held dream of doing such a trek and testing myself.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our Group leader DB was very good at sharing details keeping us on track and making sure we stayed safe and healthy. I think he did more than other guides to check on our wellbeing and we appreciated that.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you get fit as many of the days are long and doing 15 days trekking back to back is pretty hard especially at altitude above 5,000m. Take a metal water bottle and fill it at night with hot water and use it as a hot water bottle in your sleeping bag as the tea houses above 4,500m get very cold at night in the bedrooms (we were at -10 deg most nights). Pack warm and take snack snd toilet rolls, tissues etc as these start to add a lot to costs as you move up the trek. We didn't bother showering for six days as the showers were so cold so be prepared! Watch out for altitude effects - our group was mainly ok but we saw a lot of pope with troubles so litter to your guides advice.

Suggestions

Look after the guides and porters as they are the real hero's taking your packs over the same hard terrain that you will hike with your small day pack and arriving many hours before you!

Most Inspirational Moment

seeing Everest from Namche, as the day before had been a huge slog, we needed some sunshine and a view

Thoughts on Group Leader

The leader of the group kumar, Harry and Saga were all very good and helpful. There were times that i am sure we pushed their patients

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not rely on cash machines, take new english notes and exchange them. Get fit before you go!

Most Inspirational Moment

I really enjoyed our visits to monasteries to witness nuns and monks going about their daily prayers- incredibly special.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, Sherpa Dorjee, was a complete star and with his colleagues Yuma and Nima, they all kept us safe, cheerful and enlightened about the region and way of life. They knew exactly the right pace to walk at to minimise the effects of altitude, and had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the surrounding peaks.

Advice for Potential Travellers

My top tips: Take merino- you're going to stink otherwise. Take plenty of hand sanitiser, you can't have too much. Take toilet paper (unless you want to pay £2 a roll up in the mountains). Steripens worked a treat for water sterilisation, but identify your Nalgene bottle somehow- when they get filled, you want to be able to identify it easily! The ATM's are variable in whether or not they work- I couldn't get one to work in Namche, and had to try about 6 in Kathmandu until one worked. I could however change cash (GBP) in Namche. The estimate of cash needs from Exodus is pretty close, but beware if you have too much left over at the end, changing it back is hard- the hotel couldn't give us GBP and airport gave change in USD. So, don't take too much! Don't forget the porters- they are like secret ninjas collecting your bag and delivering it to your door before you arrive, often dressed in trainers and a thin jacket- try to take some old gear for the porter bank. I bought them biscuits a few times in the morning- they still earn a poor wage, and it's a shame for them if their daily wage is spent on food.

Suggestions

Just book this trip!

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching base camp.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Amazing! Absolutely faultless.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you are fit and have resilience. This isn't a trip for the faint hearted.