When we left the train station in Lhasa, we saw our guide, Migmar holding up a sign with our name on it. From then until we left Migmar and our driver, Jong Dong. at the border in Zhangmu, we were in good hands. Jong Dong is an excellent driver and Migmar proved to be a walking encyclopedia on all things Tibet. Page and I both agree that the highlight of our entire trip was our visit to Everest Base Camp. We highly recommend that all of your guests spend a night in one of the tents at base camp. Sorry, but we can’t say the same about the hotel in Tingri.

The Hotel Courtyard in Kathmandu was just what we needed, a quite oasis in the center of bustling Thamel neighborhood. After eight days above 12,000 feet, the rich air was also just what we needed. Our tour of the City with Dr Krishna Kharel was exciting. I particularly enjoyed the Durbar Square area. The food and entertainment at our departure dinner was a rare treat.

Thank you and all of your staff at Himalayan Glacier Trekking for making our trip an adventure to remember. Page is already talking about a tour of India for our next vacation.

Thanks again,

Dick and Page Sute
Nepal and Tibet Tour
June 2010

Mehdi and Erika with Guide Giri

We would recommend Himalayan Glacier Trekking without reservation to anyone who was considering a trip to Nepal. We are considering using your company for next year’s trek to either Annapurna or Tibet and Bhutan.

Everest Base Camp Trek

In addition thank you Tony for answering all my questions and alleviating my concerns prior to departing for Nepal. You were quick to respond to all my questions and I very much appreciate that. Also thank you for personalizing our trip and recommending that we leave a day early, as we were able to catch the flight to Lukla when we needed to.

Best,

Mehdi and Erika
July 2010

Everest Base Camp Trek 2010

Everest Base Camp Trek 2010

Everest Base Camp Trek 2010

Tony Wright
April 2010

At the time of the passenger’s departure, if the passenger is not looking at the officer while he is stamping the exit, the officer very cleverly tears away one of the page from the passport. When the passenger leaves the immigration counter, the case is reported on his computer terminal with full details. Now all over India they have got full details of the passenger with Red Flag flashing on the Passport number entered by the departure immigration officer. They have made their money by doing above.

On arrival next time, he is interrogated.

Subject to the passenger’s period of stay abroad, his income and standing etc., the price to get rid of the problem is settled by the Police and Immigration people. If someone argues, his future is spoiled because there are always some innocent fellows who think the honesty is the basis of getting justice in India ….

Please advise every passenger to be careful at the airport. Whenever they hand over the passport to the counters of Air India , or immigration or the customs, they must be vigilant, should not remove eyes from the passport even if the officer in front tries to divert their attention.

Also, please pass this information to all friends, media men and important politicians. Every month 20-30 cases are happening all over India to rob the NRIs the minute he lands. Similar case has happened with Aramco’s Arifuddin. He was traveling with his family. They had six passports. They
Got the visa of America and decided to go via Hyderabad from Jeddah. They reached Hyderabad . Stayed about a month and left for the States. When they reached the States, the page of the American visa on his wife’s passport was missing. At the time of departure from Hyderabad it was there, the whole family had to return to Hyderabad helplessly. On arrival at Bombay back, they were caught by the police and now it is over 2 months, they are running after the Police, Immigration officers and the Courts. On going in to details with him, he found out the following: One cannot imagine, neither can believe, that the Indian Immigration dept can play such a nasty game to harass the innocent passengers.

All the passengers traveling to & fro India via Bombay and Hyderabad must be aware of this conspiracy. Every month 15 to 20 cases are taking place, at each mentioned airport, of holding the passengers in the crime of tearing away the passport pages.On interviewing some of them, none of them was aware of what had happened. They don’t know why, when and who tore away the page from the middle of the passport. One can imagine the sufferings of such people at the hands of the immigration, police and the court procedures in India after that. The number of cases is increasing in the last 2-3 years. People who are arriving at the immigration, they are questioned and their passports are being held and they have to go in interrogation. Obviously, the conspiracy started about 2 to 3 years ago, now the results are coming. Some of the Air India counter staff too is involved in this conspiracy.

Poudel made up his mind to climb Mt Everest while he was working with Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation two years ago.

The team will take basic and advance mountaineering training this year and the coming year and organize an expedition to Everest in spring next year.

The employees have already taken climbing training at the artificial climbing wall of Pasang Lhamu Mountaineering Federation and rock climbing at Nagarjun. They left for Rasuwa district in the third week of June to climb Yala Peak (5,550m).

A total of 49 government employees had applied at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation to climb Everest. Under secretary Baburam Bhandari said they had selected 20 employees through different tests.

The team led by Poudel has joint secretary Laxman Prasad Bhattarai, Durga Prasad Bhattarai, section officer Muktiram Rijal and office assistant Rukmini Gurung, among others.

The government has exempted permit fee for the expedition and is also bearing all expenses of the expedition. He said the government will allocate a budget of Rs 30 million for the expedition in the upcoming budget.

About 200 personnel of Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police along with local boat entrepreneur actively participated in the campaign. Tourism entrepreneurs’ and local mother groups also participated in the campaign.

The team collected over 10 truckloads of fast spreading water hyacinth on a single day.

Kaski CDO Sambhu Koirala said the clean-up campaign was organized to preserve Fewa Lake which has been infested by water hyacinth. “We will organize similar clear-up campaigns to preserve the beauty of this lake city,” Koirala added.

Every year stakeholders in Pokhara has been organizing clean-up campaign on Fewa Lake to great rid of the fast spreading water plant. It had already covered almost half of the lake.

Speaking on the occasion, newly elected President Govinda Singh Dangol said the LTDB will do its best to develop Lazimpat as a popular tourism hub in the Kathmandu Valley. “We will also develop home-stay facilities in Lazimpat to achieve the target of one million visitors during the Nepal Tourism Year 2011. We will encourage people in the area to allocate at least one room in every home for tourists,” he added.

The AGM elected Jagat Man Lama as vice president, Dr Raghab Kishor Bhattarai as secretary and Ram Prasad Shrestha as treasurer.

Meanwhile, LTDB has also floated a concept of developing Lazimpat area as a ‘Nice Walking Zone’. It plans to improve traffic management in the area, maintain pavements, manage street lights, implement waste management programmes effectively, and improve security situation to develope the area as a walking zone. The total cost of developing Lazimpat area as a ‘Nice Walking Zone’ has been estimated at Rs 1,435,000.

Similarly, Nima Nuru Sherpa and Santabir Lama have been elected as first and second vice president respectively. Sherpa defeated Da Gombu Sherpa while Lama edged Thakur Raj Pandey. Dibas Bikram Shah, Dibas Pokharel and Asha Gurung have been elected as general secretary, secretary and treasurer respectively.

Similarly, Dawa Steven Sherpa, Sonam Chhiring Sherpa, Maya Sherpa, Rajendra Man Shrestha, Ang Dawa Sherpa, Om Man Shrestha Pasang Sherpa, Thaman Singh Tamang and Usha Bista have been elected as the members.

According to NMA statute, 1024 general members can elect six office-bearers and nine members, while mountaineers can elect two members in the executive committee. Similarly, nine institutional members can elect a member in the executive committee.

Bil Bahadur Thapa and Lhakpa Norbu Sherpa have been elected in the executive committee as members from among the mountaineers, while Ngawang Ngima Sherpa of Nepal Mountaineering Instructors’ Association has been elected into the executive committee from amongst the institutional members.

Two panels led by Zimba Zangbu Sherpa and Bhumi Lal Lama had contested in the election. Eleven members of Sherpa’s panel and four, including second vice president and general secretary, from Lama’s panel were elected.

The executive committee will perform its responsibility for a two-year tenure.

Paanchpokhari (literally means Five Ponds), which falls in the Langtang National Park, is formed by melting glaciers and all the lakes are considered sacred. There is also a Hindu temple nearby
dedicated to Lord Shiva. Paanchpokhari is also among the nine highest altitude wetlands in the world. The sacred place wears a festive look during Janai Purnima festival (which is celebrated in July-August). Pilgrims from nearby villages and all over the country visit the place for to offer prayers. The festival runs for 15 days.

The 13-member team led by Mahendra Singh Thapa, second vice president of TAAN, has developed and suggested nine-day itinerary to Panchpokhari. The first day’s trek takes us to a beautiful village
named Haveli after a drive of seven and half hours via Sankhu and Melamchi and a light trek of two hours. The second day takes trekkers to Tapkharka through dense forests and difficult trail in five hours. The third day’s trek is relatively shorter and ends at a place called Nosyampati. Thoughout the trek, one can enjoy pristine views of Pancpokhari Lake – literally five lakes – and snowcapped mountains. Trek from Nosyampati to Panchpokhari, which takes about three and a half hours, on the fourth day is a semi-rigorous hike. But you get rewarded with the magnificent views of all the five lakes and snowcapped mountains.

The fifth day begins with a hike to the highest point near the lake from where one can get stupendous views of the Yangri, Jugal, Dorje Lakpa, Gauri Shankar and Langtang Himalayan ranges. After lunch at Panchpokhari, the trek progresses back to Nosyampati which is a walk of three and a half hours. The trek on the sixth day is a bit long (seven hours approximately) and it begins from Nosyampati and concludes at Tembathang via Sukpa Kharka. Tembathang is a beautiful village of Sherpas and also the base camp of Jugal Himal. On the seventh day, the trek (approximately six hours) progresses to Gumba Tamang village where we get opportunity to enjoy Tamang culture. The
trek on the eight day takes us to Pangtang village (1730m) which is inhabited by Tamang and Newar population. A three and a half hour trek on the ninth day takes us to Chanaute from where a drive of around three hours takes to Kathmandu. Along with suggested itineraries, the team will also prepare
promotional collaterals of the trek very soon.

Everest Base Camp Group Trek

The news my boss cracked me through the call was about a group coming for Everest Base camp trekking for which he declared I was selected as a guide. Although this news is accustomed to me,  the event was going to be special as the group I was going to guide was of 40 people. I can’t exactly figure out how many hundreds/thousands of trekkers I might have guided through the various routes of Everest region, Annapurna region, Langtang region and through many more other trekking routes of Nepal. Even, I don’t remember how many times I reach only the Everest Base Camp annually, I was feeling the moment– a milestone. We discussed at our office regarding management of each things, the meeting at last concluded that only a guide was not sufficient to get the goal—take all those 40 people to Everest Base Camp. Management decided to send altogether three guides (Mr. Hom Nath Bhatta and Mr. Prakash Amgai beyond me) for this trip as there were majority of elderly trekkers in this group. Again, the office generously decided to provide us with eight assistant guides except 13 porters and 5 yaks for this project.

Each and every participant was welcomed until the midnight of 3rd May. After a day’s sightseeing in Kathmandu by my colleague, Krishna-a tour guide, we were all introduced to the participants of this group trek. There were American and Canadian people, youngest in the group was 18-year-old girl and eldest was 84-year-old mom!! I had taken a 75-years old gentleman to Everest Base camp successfully two years before but not more than of this age in my life, so obviously this was going to be a challenge for me. However, I was relaxed when I got introduced with Mr. Werner, a Everest Summitter who came all the way leading this large group from aboard as he affirmed us he will also help us managing the group through the way.

Everest Base Camp Trekking

Next day, on 5th May, we flew all the way to Lukla and finally packed up our gears, bags again in Lukla for porters and yaks. There were 13 porters and 5 yaks with a Yak man was arranged to carry luggage of the participants.

Everest Base Camp Trekking

We, before starting the hike decided to divide 40 people into three sub groups to be led by each three of us (Me, Hom Nath and Prakash). Everything went on as scheduled without any major problems each day except some of the trekkers had some minor symptoms of altitude sickness at higher altitudes. I would really like to appreciate the group leader, Mr. Werner who always encouraged every member to go ahead after some rest despite of some minor symptoms of AMS. And of course, we were fully prepared for any problems we might possibly face during the trip. We had all medical kits, oxymeter, oxygen, Gamow bag, and even a horse for in case of emergency. These equipments were also supporting us vitally in the achievement of the our goal.

Everest Base Camp Trekking

On May 13th, we reached Everest Base Camp. I myself could not believe my eyes –all 40 participants were at Everest Base camp finally and even including 84-year-old mom! Arrays of satisfaction ran in our faces and I looked at each of the participants’, all were singing and dancing in joy. In fact, we had not expected 100% success in this trip; we hadn’t imagined that all 40 people will reach the Everest Base Camp. I was feeling proud at myself, my colleagues, my team and my company–Himalaya Glacier Trekking. To take and manage 40 people in a group together in mountain is not a less challengeable task and in addition to this reaching to the base of Everest is not a joke.

Everest Base Camp Trekking

I have regarded this success as a historic achievement for the company–Himalayan Glacier Trekking, as a good merit for me, my colleagues, and our professional life as a whole .

“

Trekking Guide -K.P Dhital

Trekking Guide
K P Dhital
Himalayan Glacier Trekking

What the Participants Say:

Everest Base Camp Trekking

Philip Kirk
Beyond anything one could hope for. We have been on many guided trips in remote areas and nothing we experienced compares or is even close to Himalayan Glacier Trekking. Customer service was beyond belief. The attention and support given to Edna was way beyond anything we could have hoped for. The knowledge of KP and his team was first rate and the “special knowing” they had of everyone’s condition day to day was amazing. It was an honor to trek with these guys. We loved them all.

Everest Base Camp Trekking

Gary Graves
Again, given the size of the group and the varied accommodations and conditions, I give HGT high marks. Although I did not request any personal attention, it seemed there was always an HGT guide nearby to offer assistance if needed.

Everest Base Camp Trekking

Dax Ross
I have to hand it to them for getting everyone to the base camp goal. That was quite an incredible feat, and they obviously knew what they were doing, so my only knock on their services doesn’t make much sense for the group as a whole, but for me personally, I would have enjoyed more freedom, more time to myself on the trails to appreciate the scenery. It seems that we spent far too much time in a tight line in our own groups and there wasn’t much time for solitary trekking. Again, that is my personal style and the reason I probably wouldn’t sign on for another group trek.

Everest Base Camp Trekking

Ryan Kaltenbach
LOVED them. I wasn’t behind the scenes, where I know everything isn’t always perfect but speaking as someone in front of the counter, I loved the job they did. 40 for 40 speaks louder than anything else in my book.

Everest Base Camp Trekking

Penny Kirk
They were outstanding! Well organized, had enough support for the group size, knew their business very well and had people who could educate us along the way. They deserve a medal for getting 40 people both to and from base camp! KP is not only an outstanding guide, he is a conscious human being. His love for Nepal, the indigenous cultures, the mountains and environment shows through his sparkling eyes and giant heart. This set the tone for everyone, porters, trekkers et al. This applies to his entire team!

Everest Base Camp Trekking

James Stolzel
I am confident that Himalayan Glacier Trekking is, by far, the most superior trekking company in Nepal. Words cannot express how impressed I was by the H.G.T. team. Simply put, I have never received such immense customer support from any company in any country. Also, I have never seen a team of individuals who value their customer’s satisfaction in the way H.G.T. does. H.G.T. was truly incredible, and I honestly believe that they are a shining example of how all client-based business’ should be run.

Everest Base Camp Trekking

Linda Archer
I can’t say enough good about these guys….They bent over backwards to make sure we were taken care of every step of the way…They have my complete gratitude and admiration!!