Annapurna Circuit – Jomsom Trek

Dear Tilak, Bhairam, Chhapi and Arjun

Many thanks for a wonderful experience on the AC trek.

Thank you to Bhairam for overseeing our trip so efficiently and courteously. Everything went very smoothly even when we changed our plans slightly.

Chhabi, our guide, was a real star and was a great companion on our trek . He made sure we had everything we needed – and got us to the top of Thorung-la without a hitch!

Arjun, our porter, was also brilliant – he’s a multitalented porter cum guide cum cook.

The Annurpurna Circuit trek was an absolute joy. We had trekked to Muktinath over 20 years ago but this was our first time on the Manang side and we absolutely loved it – the views were sensational and the villages and countryside are a delight. The road is coming so I suggest people get to see it before the impact is too great.

The road on the Jomsom side has obviously had a negative impact on the trekking experience but new trails are being opened up that avoid the road, so I recommend you give yourself enough time to explore these (see the book by Andrees de Ruiter and Prem Rai about the new NATT trails).

After Kagbeni (which you should visit) we decided to take transport to Tatopani to save some time and avoid trekking on the road.

Ghorepani and the route to Tadapani and Ghandruk, etc is road free and absolutely stunning (if a little ‘crowded’ when we were there in March).

I recommend Nepal Hiking to anyone interested in trekking and we will be back!

Thanks again to all of you who made our trek such a happy and memorable experience.

Best wishes

Dear Tilak,

I am writing to say how much we enjoyed our trek in the Annapurna region. We were very fortunate to have such a good guide (Ram) and such good porters (Amar and Babu).

In particular I would like to let you know some of the things that we especially valued.

Flexible itinerary:
Flexible itinerary designed to enable us to do the things we wanted to do, and modified as we went along when circumstances changed.

Safety:
This was always a very high priority for our guide. Ram monitored us, our environment and our circumstances continually and closely. We felt reassured that he took our safety very seriously, particularly with respect to the physical terrain, our health and our potential to get lost in unfamiliar city streets.

Accommodation:
Accommodation was always clean, and respect was shown for our privacy. Care was taken to ensure we were comfortable.

Information and advice:
Information and advice was invaluable. This included Ram’s local knowledge of the area, his awareness of Western food requirements and potential difficulties, his encouragement at times, and his guidance with respect to local customs and expectations.

Friendly, helpful and unobtrusive:
Our guide and porters were friendly at all times and helpful. They were never intrusive or pushy. If we needed to be hurried along it was always done gently and carefully (e.g. ordering meals).

We were particularly grateful for the “airport to airport” service of your company, for the protection and advice regarding touts at the airport, and for the welcome and care taken to establish the initial framework for the trek.

In addition when we needed a solution to a problem it was provided quickly and without fuss (for example when we left our passes in Kathmandu and we were in Pokhara).

It was wonderful not to have to organise a thing from the moment we arrived until we left.

We were also very pleased to find that your company ensures that your guides and porters have appropriate clothing and are well looked after during the trek.

Thank you again Tilak for the experience of a lifetime. I hope to return to your wonderful Nepal very soon.

I would very much appreciate you passing on our thanks to Ram, Amar and Babu.

With our very best wishes,

ROBYN HARRISON AND TIM PULSFORD
Australia

I just wanted to thank you for one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. You and your staff did everything you said you would do and, in many cases, went above and beyond to make sure that we had a pleasant trip. Although you couldn’t have possibly planned the chemistry between myself and the other members of the group, I will give you credit nonetheless. We meshed extremely well, and I now count a number of new friends in my repertoire. You run a terrific company Tilak, and I will not hesitate to recommend Nepal Hiking to anyone who asks. You have also whetted my appetite for travel in Nepal and, in 2 or 3 years, I plan to return and do the Annapurna circuit. Hopefully, Ganga will still be a guide and will be able to do the trip with me. Speaking of which….I wanted to thank Ganga, in particular, for being such a great guide and a great person. I feel honoured to have met him and thoroughly enjoyed his company (as did the rest of the group). I look forward to our next trek together! Special mentions to Bishnu…who often went above and beyond the call of duty and looked after Kamran when he had fallen behind. He is a great kid! Our guide in Kathmandu (who’s name I have forgotten) was also fantastic, and very knowledgeable. You have a great staff! Please feel free to give out my email address to anyone who asks….I’d be happy to answer anyone’s questions.

Best of wishes,

Dear Basu and Hari,

I have enjoyed the last three weeks – Annapurna Circuit Trek very much. You have both made my time in the Annapurna region very memorable.

I have learnt so much form you both, and I will go away with very special memories of you both.

I can’t believe you could be so happy and smiling everyday, it was amazing.

Thank you so much.

Lots of love,

Hi guys,

Just wanted to say thank you so much for our trek in Nepal, we had a fabulous time and are already planning to come back and do the Annapurna circuit! Our guide Ganga and our Sherpa Hari where wonderful, very friendly and helpful and really good laugh too!

Everything ran smoothly from the first to the last day, very well organised and completely hassle free. Thank you once again, and if anyone I know is thinking Nepal, I will send them your way!

Kind regards,