Client Name: Karin Seraphim
Date: Apr 29, 2010 3:11 AM
Trip: Our Trip to Tibet
Dear Prachanda,
As you can see Wolfgang and me, we are still alive – we not only survived the trip, but we enjoyed it very much. Though there have been moments (in some kind of guesthouses with these very particular toilets) where it was not so easy. But Migmar was a wonderful guide, we always found a solution. We changed in Saga,Tholing and Sakya the hotel with western style toilets and payed a little more. It was still very cold during the night and now we know why Tibetan people don’t wash themselves, we didn’t neither.
So, as I said, we felt very well with Migmar who is a wonderful person and a very good guide.
The only thing I have to complain is the price of our train tickets. We paid you 450, and the price was only about 300$ – here the difference is too high….
Thank you for your good organization – I will recommend your company (except for the train tickets)
Yours sincerely
Karin Seraphim
76530 Baden-Baden
Germany
Hallo Jitendra and Prachanda,
please excuse that we are reporting so late after our fantastic time especially in Nepal. We remember all the days we have been together with you (you can see the pictures). It has been a wonderful time in your country.
Thank you very much again for all you have organized. Really great. When leaving Nepal we have been a little bit sad. We like the people of Nepal. After that time we have been in Bangkok, at Angkor Wat and at the end on Koh Chang. We have had a good time there also. All in all it was a very good experience to be in Asia again. It is so much different from Europe (and Germany). We think we could learn a lot of your attitudes.
In the meantime we are already working again. In the first weeks everything seems to be very strange for us. And the temperature is very low. In the meantime we have had -10° C!! There is still snow on the streets. That is unusual for Bremen where we live. May be we still have snow on Christmas evening.
We send you some pictures from our last evening in the restaurant. We enjoyed it.
We will say you again we are happy to meet you. Thank you for everything. We will remember the time with you always.
Now we wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! Have a good time.
Most cordial
Werner & Barbara
We hope you have enjoyed your trip to Tibet.
Dear Prachanda
Thank you very much for the Nepal/Tibet trip we did in April. We are very happy with your service.
Things we liked very much:-
- Always very fast answers to our questions in advance of the trip.
- Personal and very good service (flexible hotel bookings for surcharge, pick up at airport, instructions by you etc.)
- Good organization (everything worked out well,incl. Tibet visa etc.)
Things that could be improved:-
- Tell tourists travelling in the hot season that airconditioning is not included and what it would cost to get it
- Tell tourists that it is quite hard to go from Kathmandu to Lhasa (acclimatisation – I got the altitude sickness on 5200m) and that it is easier to start from Lhasa with acclimatisation of a few days.
Thanks again for the wonderful trip and kind regards
Hanna & Stephan Nüesch
From: Nama Rupa
To: The Trekkers’ Society
Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 8:07 PM
Hi Mr Jitendra,
Thanks for the wonderful arrangements you have made for my friends’ and my stay in Nepal so far. The services provided were excellent. My friends who have left extended their gratitude to you for making their stay in Nepal an excellent experience.
Thanks and best regards
Kamthin
From: Pons Solanes, Maria del Carmen
To: The Trekkers’ Society
Commented on: Thursday, December 03, 2009
Very good company to explore India, Buthán, Nepal and Tibet. This time I visit five days India, six days Buthan and four days Kathamandú.
Extremaly professionals, becausse I had a lot of doubts and they answer patiently all my doubts and maked me one travel absolutly according to my preferences.
I recomend totally the company.
Thanks to all nice people to help me to be a nice trip: Prachanda, Jeet, Rabi and Rashmi.
I’m planning to make Lasha-Kathmandú in the next trip with us.
Best regards
Carmen
Excelente compañia para visitar India, Bután, Nepal y Tibet. Esta vez he visitado cinco dias la India, seis dias Bután y cuatro dias Kathmandú.
Buenos profesionales, porqué tenia muchas dudas al respecto y ellos me las fueron solucionando todas pacientemente y me hicieron un viaje totalmente a mi gusto.
Recomiendo la compañia.
Gracias a todo el atento personal que me ayudó para tener un bonito viaje: Prachanda, Jeet, Rabi and Rashmi
Ya estoy planeando el siguiente que seguramente será Lasha-Kathmandú
Un fuerte abrazo
Carmen
————————
Carme Pons Solanes
FCC
Organización Administrativa y Presupuestos
Procedimientos Administrativos
C/Balmes, 36 08007 Barcelona
Tel +34 934 964 900 – Fax +34 934 878 950
Name of Client/s: Dalton Hayakawa
Nationality: Brazilian
Tour Program: Lhasa – Everest Basecamp – Kathmandu Tour
Overall good
With Regards,
Dalton Hayakawa
Name of Client/s: Werner and Barbara
Nationality: German
Tour Program: Nepal Tour
Date: 31st Oct – 14th Nov 09 (14 days)
Thank You very much for your great organisation of this tours.
We will remember you as one of the best we ever had.
Werner & Barbara
Name of Client/s: Jacoby Caroline Harriet
Nationality: Australia
Tour Program: Lhasa Everest Base Camp Tour
Date: 16th July- 26th July09 (11 days)
With Many regards to Trekkers Society.
Service Quality Report Submitted by:
Jacoby Caroline Harriet
Name of Client/s: Enric Prat
Trip to Nepal and Tibet
Good afternoon, Mr. Prachanda and Paras:
Now we are well home and watching the pictures of the trip we remember that it really was a wonderful trip. If there is any chance or know of someone we will inform you of your agency. Really well and was very happy. A trip to remember a lifetime. Nepal and Tibet, Potala, impressive, Himalaya with its colors of earth..
Anyway, wonderful …
Un saludo. Enric Prat and M. Carme Boldú
Viaje a Nepal y Tibet
Buenas tardes Sr. Prachanda y Paras:
Ya llegamos muy bien a casa y mirando las fotos del viaje nos acordamos de que realmente fue un viaje maravilloso. Si existe la posibilidad o sabemos de alguien interesado les informaremos de vuestra agencia. Realmente fue todo muy bien y estamos contentos. Es un viaje para recordar toda la vida. Nepal y Tibet, Potala, impresionante, Himalaya con sus colores de tierra..
En fin, maravilloso…
Un saludo. Enric Prat y M. Carme Boldu
Name of client/s : Saurav Mitra
Kathmandu Lhasa tour
Hi Prachanda,
Have returned to Sydney after my Nepal/Tibet trip. I just wanted to say thank you to you and your company for a fantastic Kathmandu/Lhasa trip. The organisation was great and I encountered no problems on the trip. After the first 2 days, the accommodation facilities were basic but comfortable and I really enjoyed the hotel in Lhasa.
My only suggested improvement for accommodation would be on the second night there was a good hotel in Shigatse which could have been used instead of the more basic Farmer Guesthouse. I think our whole group would have been willing to pay slightly more for the trip in order to stay there.
Other than that, the guides and drivers were excellent and helpful in every way.
Overall I would say it was one of the best trips I’ve been on and I would recommend your company to any of my friends and associates wanting to travel in Nepal/Tibet.
Thanks again for all your help and let me know if you need any other comments.
Saurav
Name of client/s :Mavromihalis Georgios
Dear Prachanda,
How are you? We returned yesterday and today it is the first day in the office. We had the most wonderful of times we all think about the past two weeks and we all are depressed that it is over. We all miss you and the times we spend together… Thank you very much for all the effort!
The entire trip from Varanasi to Lhasa was perfect. Ajeet (the tour guide from Varanasi to Nepal borders) is very professional, and Jai the guide in Varanasi adorable and with much love to his profession and his Land.
Choe the Tibetan guide is a wonderful person with many knowledge and skills and very close to us all the time! Indeed he helped us with everything. We all would like to highly recommend him. Especially for persons that contact your office from my recommendation I would like to ask that Choe should be their guide in Tibet if possible.
However with the Delhi->Agra part some strange off-program things happened and I would like to inform you about:
1st no boat ride was scheduled in Taj-Mahal at Yamuna River
2nd even thought we have arranged a fast train from Agra to Varanasi (from 20:30 dep. to 07:30 arr) tickets with a slower train were booked (from 23:30 dep to 12:30 arr).
3rd We agreed on AC2 for the train but we traveled on AC3
4th The last day on Delhi we slept on a different Hotel (not 3 star) and not at Crest Inn as agreed.
I would like to reassure you that we personally did not have any problem with these modifications; I just think you should know about it.
Feel free to ask anything else you should find useful.
Do not forget you are invited to Greece (you can consider that you have 10 friends in Greece) any time you can make it. Give many regards to Jeet, and I expect your news and your personal e-mail…
Best Regards,
George
Name of Client/s: Thomas Zangl & Cornelia Singer
Nationality: Austrian
Tour Program: Lhasa-EBC-KTM Tour
Date:01st Nov. – 09th Nov 08 (9 days)
Thanks for all your help.
Service Quality Report Submitted by:
Thomas Zangl & Cornelia Singer
Name of Client/s: Anna Romanova
Nationality: Russian
Tour Program: Zhangmu-Lhasa-Ktm
Date: 28th Sep – 16th Oct 08 (9 days)
With Many regards to Trekkers Society.
Service Quality Report Submitted by:
Anna Romanova
Name of Client/s: Ilya Liflyand
Nationality: Israel
Tour Program: Gokyo Lake & Renjo Trek
Date:09th Oct – 26th Oct 08
Thanks for all your help.
Service Quality Report Submitted by:
Ilya Liflyand
Name of Client/s: Grigory klimo
vich
Nationality: Russian
Tour Program: Kathmandu – Lhasa
Date:25th Sep – 06th Oct 08
Thanks for all your help.
Service Quality Report Submitted by:
Grigory klimovich
Name of Client/s: Daniel Sun Choi & Margaret Chen
Nationality: Canadian & USA
Tour Program: Melamchi – Helambu Trek
Date:29th Sep – 04th Oct 08
Thanks for all your help.
Service Quality Report Submitted by:
Daniel Sun Choi & Margaret Chen
Name of Client/s: Tom Kuehlthau
Nationality: Germany
Tour Program: Lhasa-Ktm Tour + Annapurna Circuit
Date:24th Sep to 22nd Oct 08
Thanks for all your help.
Service Quality Report Submitted by:
Tom Kuehlthau
Name of Client/s: Emmy Hagman
Nationality: USA
Tour Program: Lhasa-Ktm Tour (8 days)
Date:20th Oct – 27th Oct 08
Thanks for all your help.
Service Quality Report Submitted by:
Emmy Hagman
Name of Client/s: Sanbrook Alison & Terry
Nationality: Australian
Tour Program: Poon Hill Trek
Date: 30 Sep 08 – 09 Oct 08
Thanks for all your help.
Service Quality Report Submitted by:
Sanbroo,
Alison
&
Terry
Name of Client/s: Bedford Graaam & Lynn
Nationality: Australian
Tour Program: Pokhara Trek
Date: 2 Oct 08 – 07 Oct 08
Thanks for all your help.
Service Quality Report Submitted by:
Bedford Graaam & Lynn
Name of client/s : Alejandra Navarro, Francisco Chong, Gerardo Navarro & Lourdes Rueda
Nationality: Mexicana
Tour Program: Tibet Tour
Date:
Hello Jeet:
First of all, I wanted to let you know that we had a great experience, Nepal is a beautiful country and we really enjoyed, it is full of surprises, nice scenary, history, food etc. At the same time, as any other country, with its own problems and complications; however, it is a very unique place.
On your service, we really liked talking to you and we felt very confident with you as an honest person. Since I phoned you, I felt you very frank, and I felt confidence in wiring you the money, also we appreciated the feedback you gave us at your office when we arrived. I really appreciate this because finding people you feel honest is tough in all business industries. In travel, we have been to almost 50 countries, and all of them are different and in many of them people try to get as much as they can 
of tourists, based on this, I would like to provide some recommendation, which you may or not find useful.
I know, that tourism in Nepal is low, even in the high season, I know that competition is fierce and the business is tough; two things may give you advantage: either differentiation or cost. If you go for lowering cost, you may need to provide a lower quality service, if you go by differentiation you may be able to really provide an axe at your service.
First of all and as mentioned, the feedback you gave us on Tibet was good, but the feedback was based mostly based on our questions, it would be good to provide general feedback always on the travel clients do. If you can do this always in person, the client feels confident that 
the owner of the travel agent is himself taking the time to worry about the clients and this is important.
Francisco ChongAs an example, in Egypt, there is a lot of tourism, it is such a beautiful country but the travel agents are just trash, they just try to rip off tourists, they do not think in long term and do not think: I want tourists to come back, the idea is just to extract as much as they can no from tourists. It has become massive tourism and services are bad from travel agents. It is important not to be like that, it may be worth to invest a little more and make less money today but in the long term it will be better.
By personally talking to their clients, and explaining, in this trip you are going to have bad roads, weather may be like this or that, it may be dangerous to this or that…. it is very helpful and people appreciate it, it will be impossible to cover all angles and outcomes of a trip however, experience will give you more insight, for example the issue we had at the border, again, for us, coming from Mexico, we do not trust just anyone who comes to you, in our country there have been lost of kidnappings and it is just not common to trust anyone like that. Remember each one of us grew in different cultures and what may seem good or not dangerous for one, may not look like that for another.
Conditions in each country are different, as well as ways of thinking. For example, for a German or an American, looking at the roads in Nepal may be too risky. Conditions of the car are also a difference, some people may be used to have on average new cars because in their countries cars are exchanged every 3 years on average, for other people traveling in old cars may be dangerous. It is important always to clarify to clients, if they are going to travel in an old car, that is fine, but make them feel and make sure the car is going to be ok, and that if something happens the driver will know what to do.
Gerardo NavarroIn general, similar to the almost 1 hour and a half discussion we had when we arrive, if you have that with each client to discuss about the trip it is worth it. It will not be possible when you have lost of clients, but never loose ground, and do not become like many travel agents in Egypt, they are massive providers of services, not personalized service, they may make money not because they are good, they make money because people are fascinated about Egypt and go there and they have not option than to deal with these pathetic travel agents.
Going to the Tibet issue, I am sending you separately the e-mail from Hotel Shambala where they confirmed there was room available. I did not raise the issue with you because we were so close to the departure, we still were arranging issues about the India trip that I just did not consider it was worth doing as we had reached an agreement and did not want to look like I was complaining. Anyways, we paid 690 USd per person, 2760 USD for the land trip. When I travel I almost never use travel agent and use Lonely Planet, however there are places where it is more difficult or impossible to go without the travel agent such as Tibet.
At the border, as I mentioned to you whilst I was in Nepal, the hotel did not have hot water, and after being at the Everest, in a not very clean place, without taking a shower, at least you need hot water. This is ok and I do not mind if I do not take a shower in one day, however I must know it will not be possible in advance and more importantly, the price of what I pay must reflect the price of the hotels I stay at.
Lourdes RuedaI know that you sub-hire the service in Tibet and of course most of the money goes there. I pass this feedback to you not as complain to you but so that you know what kind of travel agent you have in Tibet so that you may change it.
The service of the guide was superb, just excellent, very nice guy, very friendly, always willing to help. The driver, although he did not speak English, he was really good. I would not mind paying what we paid, if I knew the driver and the guide got most of the money, as they deserve it, but you and I know this is not the case. The costs of the hotels in Tibet were so low, and simple math tells you that the expenses for the car are not high, so most of the money goes to the travel agent in Tibet, but at least, as a minimum, the hotels should be better, and if there are not better hotels, then the costs should be lower. I do not mind much the money, but this is the typical example of what you pay is not worth for what you get and I do mind about that and again, the guide and the driver were great but it bothers me that it is someone else who keeps the money and not the one who does the real work.
Looking the overall service of the travel agent in Tibet clearly:
- The travel agent in Tibet lied about hotel Shambala, probably they had an arrangement with other hotels and get cheaper prices and make more money (how much could it had been, 100 USD?)
- They try to send people to hotels where they get massive prices, this is fine, but at least make sure hotels are clean and have hot water, travel agents should have bargaining power for negotiating.
- Considering costs in Tibet, and making a comparisson with other places where I have used travel agent in countries with similar costs, Tibet is extremely overpriced. Unless there is a 40 % tax rate travel agents pay or a special fee they must pay that makes price so high; I would say the travel agent in Tibet is extremely overpriced after you make an adjustment by the cost of live in that region.
I believe long term mentality is important, this problem affects many developing countries, because people just think in the short term, this happens a lot in Mexico, this happens with travel agents in Egypt, by trying to make 50, 80 100 USD more per tourist they are unaware they may loose more in the long term. People may give bad recommendations, which I have about traveling in Egypt, and I may also give bad recommendations about Kyunlung travel agent in Tibet, which I will to Lonely Planet as well as other sites of independent travel and the people I know, so at the end, they may loose more and people are not aware of that or not worry about that, this travel agent reminded me a bit about the travel agents in Egypt.
Anyways, I want to separate the service of the travel agent in Tibet and Tibet itself, which was a beautiful place to visit, and once again the whole trip and the region was worth going to.
Francisco
Name of Client/s: Bernhard, Anna Maria and David Gwiggner
Nationality: Austria
Tour Program: Lhasa – Nam Tso Lake – Gyantse – Shigatse – Zhangmu – (10 days – Fly in / Drive Out)
Date: 02 August 08 – 11 August 08
Dear Jeet, dear Prachanda!
Thank you sooo much for your employment to our journey this summer 08!
It was not so easy to manage two tours in Nepal in a very short time, because we did not get visa to Tibet and it was not possible to go to the Kailash region for us.
You two have done your best that we finally get the visa.
Our tour in Nepal was very great, fast organized and a good journey for me, my wife and the 9 years old sun.
You have been always regardful to the wishes of our sun.
The journey to Tibet has to be changed a lot of times, but you always helped us to come to the places we have wished.
Therefore it was a very great adventure for us to visit Nepal and Tibet for 4 weeks – thank you very much for your help.
We have got two new friends!!!
It is a great pleasure for us that you will visit us in winter in Austria!
For everybody you need more information about paying, organizing and…
please contact us: b.gwiggner@tsn.at
Bernhard, Anna Maria and David Gwiggner
A – 6314 Niederau 329
Austria – Europe
Name of Client/s: Joseba, Inaki & Piru
Nationality: Spanish
Tour Program: Lhasa – Kathmandu (8 days : Fly in – Drive Out)
Date: 23 August 08 – 30 August 08
Congratulations to Trekker’s Society.
We are 3 friends of Basque Country and we have made a tour for Tibet in Toyota Land Cruiser and everything has been fantastic until came to the summit point that has been to be able to contemplate closely the Everest.
The driver and the guide are 2 perfect professionals who were helping us in everything you we need.
We want to give thanks to The Trekker’s Society and especially to Jeet and to Dorji for the wonderful trip that they have offered to us.
In short, a wonderful experience that we will never forget.
Thanks for all Jeet
Joseba, Inaki & Piru
E-mail: iirurre@hotmail.com
Phone Number: 0034 94 434 36 91
Name of Client/s: Damiel Magee & Jennifer Blunn
Nationality: British
Tour Program: Tibet – Lhasa – Everest Basecamp – Kathmadnu – (9 days : Fly In – Drive Out)
Date: 16 August 08 – 24 August 08
Thanks for all your help.
Excellence Service Throughout..
Damiel Magee & Jennifer Blunn
Dear Prachanda,
A verry warm hallo from Hanoi, Vietnam !
We would like to say thank you so much for the perfect organisation of our unbeleavble tibet trip. everything was perfect planed, the hotels and the guesthouses were absoultly the best choise you could have. But the best of the hole trip was the fantastic mentoring of our tourguide Tsering. he had absolutly the biggest known about the tibeatian population and the buddism. he’s very warm way and his happyness had make these trip so memorial for us.
In best regards full of thanks
Jenny and Jan from Frankfurt, Germany
After searching months for the best, informative and cheapest tour fare on the relevant websites got to offered , finally the 8 of us (6 Malaysians and 2 Australians) confirmed the arrangement with the Trekker Society on a 8-days Tibet tour in June 2005. Jitendra Basnet or Jeet, the Managing Director who is a very friendly and helpful person providing us good tour information. We enjoyed going with the Trekker Society we had superb time in Tibet and Nepal. Namaste!
Written by: Chan YinPeng
Malaysia
ypengc@yahoo.com
“The entire trip was extremely well-organized from the time we arrived in Kathmandu, to the time we left. The Everest Base Camp Tour represents excellent value for money and for me, excellent use of time as I did not have much time available for my trip. I thoroughly enjoyed my trip. I found the tour well organized, the local representatives were friendly and helpful and made sure that I had all the information that I needed. I highly recommend “The Trekkers Society” and will use them on my return to Nepal.”
Nick Healing
San Ramon,
California USA
Email: nhealing@sbcglobal.net
Cell Phone: (925) 577-7511
Work Phone: (925) 823-0978
I can not thank you enough for all the help and kindness you, your family and guides gave me during my holiday in Nepal. I still find it hard to believe what I was able to achieve whilst in Nepal with your help. I keep looking at all my photos to relive all the experiences I had. I will keep in touch and when I finally decide to return will contact you. My telephone number is 01903 691671 you will have to add the no. for the UK.
The home address is:
Michael
bratpack@ntlworld.com
Southease
Bost Hill
Worthing
West Sussex
BN13 3DA
United Kingdom
“Jeet. Thanks to you and your team for my fantastic 9 day trip to Tibet and Everest Base Camp. I would have no hesitation in recommending the Trekkers Society to anyone considering undertaking such a potentially awkward trip to this beautiful and fascinating part of the world”
Neil_denning
UK
neil_denning@hotmail.com
Jeet and his team from the Trekker’s Society provided us with an excellent service during our tour to Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarover. Not only was the trip well planned but the Trekker’s Socirty Team really looked after us in every way. Everyone was friendly, professional, thoughtful and courteous. I highly recoomend using the Trekker’s Society if you are planning a trip wither through Nepal or Tibet.
ALI HALE TILLEY
yoga2you@clear.net.nz
Here I put a few lines for you:
” I visited Nepal during 2005 with the assistance provided by ‘Destination Nepal’. I was greatly satisfied by the travel arrangement and trekking service. The service I had prior to the travel date towards the end of the trip was all top standarded and extremely efficient. Through out the whole journey, I always felt that I was taken care into details by the best people that I could afford to have. Whether you are new or not new up in the Himalaya, this is important. I don’t want to miss mentioning my trekking guide Damber who I would recommend to anyone who is intended to have a successful journey in the mountain region.”
Here is my email address and phone number:
syg0502@yahoo.com
+13174334526
Sherry
We did the Langtang trek with The Trekkers’ Society and had such a great time. The company provided us with two of the most fantastic Nepali guides/porters that we could have hoped for. Everyone involved in the organization was extremely helpful, friendly and looked after us two girls as if we were a part of their family. They also provided us with the sexiest cook around!
Chantelle Lesley Howarth & Sally Jane Raisbeck
Australia
We are 4 people from Germany and travelled with the Trekker’s Society to Tibet and Sikkim, both guided tours with accommodation, transport and guide. In Tibet we did the Lhasa-Kathmandu overland tour incl. Everest Base Camp and Nam Tso lake, in Sikkim we did a round-trip incl. the Darjeeling region. The trips were perfectly organized and personal contact to the owner Jeet Basnet and his staff was great. We felt we were taken care off in a highly professional and honest way. Our trips were tailor-made according to our wishes at very reasonable prices. Jeet Basnet and his staff perfectly know the region and gave us perfect support for the planning of our trips and before we went there.
We highly recommend the Trekker’s Society. It is a friendly, trustworthy and reliable tour agency for all kinds of trips in the Himalayan region.
If you want to know more please contact us on:
Anja_kuchelmeister
Email: a_kuchi@web.de
During October/November of 2005, I wanted to undertake a trek in one of Nepal’s more remote areas. From reading, I’d learned that many mountain climbers consider the base camp walks to Kangchenjunga Mountain to be the most beautiful in the world.
Further research indicated that the Kangchenjunga region was under full Maoist control and that it’s remoteness meant a medical evacuation might require a Sherpa to run for two or three days to get to a satphone to call for a helicopter. Finding food for near on a month in some places could also be difficult. Whilst there is understandable pride in being resourceful enough to undertake a trip like that without the assistance of a trekking company, there are some important points to consider when you are spending all that money just to get yourself into Nepal to start with.
When your time is limited or you have deep interests in pursuits like photography, wildlife, botany or simply the culture of the people whose land you are walking through, there is a real benefit in handing over all the anxiety, persistent considerations and logistics to people who really know a place well. A good trekking company will get you a seat on a plane when, mysteriously, no other foreigner there can. They have connections with the military that may mean a helicopter will fly immediately they request one if you were to need medical evacuation. When trekking alone, a chopper will often not fly until money is guaranteed in Kathmandu for the flight cost, beforehand. Or perhaps it might be friendly connections with the Maoists whose area you enter. Perhaps it is the saving of three days hassle in Kathmandu trying to get permits…Or the quality of training a Sherpa might receive from the company ( say his response to you suffering bad altitude sickness or him stopping a local cook from preparing food because he knows it is unsafe to eat).
More than anything for me, a well prepared team helping means that you can completely free your mind from the persistent concerns of running your own logistics, especially in remote country. For example, some trails are very poorly marked, some villages are unsafe to foreigners, landslides cause trails to disappear, water is hard to find, and not speaking fluent Nepali when on your own can mean that you miss out on invaluable local advice…). A good guide with good gear and safe food, backed up by powerful local support in Kathmandu, means that the time you allocated to do this special trip can be FULLY given to your passions – photo or videography, writing, drawing or meeting locals. Quality, pure experience time with a mind free from concern. How much is that worth??
I looked around all the trekking guide websites and asked advice from people I’d met. Many of the ‘glossy’ outfits are fully foreign controlled which generally means they are incredibly expensive and also take away from local enterprises. They didn’t even want to deal with me since I was only one person; even two or three or perhaps four people weren’t enough. On the other side of the coin, many local operators have earned for themselves very bad reputations – shoddy/dishonest business practices, very poor trekking gear, inadequately trained guides. There are some horror stories out there. So I was looking for a relatively inexpensive yet professional group that were professional and preferably local. And they are out there. For me, I was fortunate enough to be recommended the “Trekker’s Society” by some travellers I’d met at a slideshow in Kathmandu.
The Trekkers Society is well run, the owner is professional and good at what he does. Jitendra Basnet, the owner, has extensive experience in Nepali tourism & trekking and, having worked with some very well respected foreign guides in Nepal, he understands the needs of foreign travellers. Not only that, but ‘Jeet’ has extensive ties with airlines, rescue services and all sorts of community groups and can really help you to develop the unique trek you want. He offers tremendous flexibility in the way a trip is structured and will work with small groups (even individuals such as myself) for a fee that compares really well to those charged by big services for being part of large, cattle-class trek.
Out of hesitation and concern for what I was getting myself into, I took a very strong interest in how this trip was organised and how it compared with other groups. Jeet simply is VERY good at what he does. The people he takes on as guides and porters are well trained, well equipped and importantly, are looked after well by him. If you visit the Trekker’s Society office, you will see a really well run, clean and tidy operation. The camping gear used is in very good condition too.
All along that 26 day walk I was really well looked after. To finish a long day of hard walking and be given a hot tea with my tent put up immediately on arrival (with me helping of course) was great. To have meals being prepared by happy locals singing and laughing whilst I wrote my diary and sorted out camera gear was utterly invaluable. We played soccer, made lots of jokes and played homemade drums. I was told many things of what it is to be a Sherpa growing up in those mountains, to have come from that life. I was shown much of jungle medicine and foods and introduced to monks and locals of all sorts. It was absolutely brilliant fun and made the money well spent and great value. To have done it all on my own would have cost me the bulk of these tremendous experiences.
There is only one other piece of advice I’d offer and that is to ensure you take your own compact first aid kit with essential mountain hiking pharmaceuticals. This is true of all guiding services in Nepal. You need to know that you have access to the right medicines, just in case. There is a service called Ciwep (a Canadian Medical Clinic in Kathmandu) that offers awesome advice and medical kit suggestions for Nepal mountain trekking.
I’d happily stand by the “Trekker’s Society” and plan to use them again – my next trip: Upper Dolpo. Jitendra Basnet and his people provide excellent, honest, professional and good value-for-money service. The money you spend goes totally to local families and that has to be good. If you wish to contact me for more information I can be reached at:
Ian Brokenshire
ianbrokenshire@gmail.com
GPO Box 872, Hobart
Tasmania 7001, Australia
+61362671995
Cheers!
