Reviews

5* experience with KP and his team for climbing Island Peak. His organisation, communication and kindness was outstanding. Our 2 climbing guides were highly experienced and took great care of us. Thank you KP & family, we look forward to meeting you again in the future!

TRIP: 21 Day trek of the Kanchenjunga Circuit to North and South Base Camp
DATES: April 16 - May 8, 2023
Guide: Mr. Jangbu Sherpa
Porter: Mr. Karma Sherpa

This trip of a lifetime was the best we could have ever hoped for! From start to finish, Nepal Nirvana Trails offered the most exquisite service that far surpassed our expectations. KP was extremely helpful with all emails during the planning stages and was patient and kind, and promptly answered any questions I had. Upon arrival, we were greeted at the airport by Bishal and Jangbu, our soon to be guide whom we would be spending the next three weeks with. On departure day, our guide met us to take us to the domestic airport, and from then onwards, everything was in Jangbu's expert hands. We felt safe, happy, and well taken care of during our adventure. (And we saw the top of Everest from the flight!)

To say the area we went to was "remote" would be an understatement. Flights, tuk tuks, jeeps, and days of walking after the roads finished, as just the "start". If you're looking for a very off the beaten track, away from the tourists, and diving into the full cultural experience of Nepal, living like a local, meeting mule and yak-cow shepherds and local families type of experience, this is the best choice. Don't expect Wi-Fi, much electricity, or many other tourists, but I think the people we met on the trip were looking for just that, to get away and really experience the great outdoors and the untouched beauty of the Himalayas.

Throughout the trip, the views were absolutely stunning. We walked over numerous suspension bridges, through rhododendron forests, passed temples and monasteries, and even got to walk within a 40-strong mule herd along a large section of trail (until they just were too fast for us). Of all the gorgeous mountains we saw, we were repeatedly told they were just "hills", laughing because of course they would be the highest mountain in all of the UK and much of Europe if we were back home. Ok Jangbu...we will keep waiting for "mountains". ;-)

Guide Jangbu, and our porter Karma were the absolute dream team. They worked so hard, were so happy and delightful at all times, and Jangbu was by far the most experienced of many of the other guides we met along the path, as some tourists had guides that had never even been over in this area before. They kept us remarkably well fed with delicious local meals of Dahl bat, momos, Thukpa, Sherpa Stew, as well as carrying and providing daily biscuits and fruit that was such a treat. We were so lucky and happy to have our team.

There were days that were easier than others, but every day was an amazing adventure, and very doable for anyone that is reasonably fit and motivated. The spacing between the teahouses allowed us to walk for the first half of the day, and then be able to relax in the teahouses with lots of tea and delicious food for the second half of the day. We recommend taking a small notebook to pass the afternoons writing down memories from the day, as well as any of the local recipes you can manage to watch when the ladies are making Nepali delicacies on the open fires/stoves.

When we finally got to Pangpema - North Base Camp, we were awarded with amazing views of Kanchenjunga - the 3rd tallest mountain in the world. What an unbelievable experience!

We carried on back down the route we came, then over a high pass - Selele Pass, and then back up again towards South Base Camp for another view of Kanchenjunga.

Upon return to Kathmandu, KP treated us to a lovely farewell dinner, and before we finally departed, he managed to see us off with lovely local gifts from Nepal. From start to finish, this company absolutely took care of everything. For the price for the trip, and the service we received, I would certainly say they are one of the best choices of companies in Nepal. We will be back! Highly recommended.

We took the Kanchenjunga circuit trek with Nepal Nirvana Trails, from start to finish the trip was in every way AMAZING. Our guide and porter, Jangbu & Karma sherpa were really fantastic. They were always on top form helping us along the way and generally being excellent company.

The trip was planned to perfection, from leaving Kathmandu we had no issues at all. KP (the owner) had kept us in the loop throughout the booking process so we knew exactly what to expect, he answered any questions we had beforehand and then gave us an excellent briefing on arrival in Kathmandu.

I would highly reccommend this trip to anyone wanting a true trekking adventure in Nepal. When we come back for our next trip we will definitely be using Nepal Nirvana Trails again.

We planned to do a 21 day trek which encompassed Gokyo and EBC via the Tchola Pass. However due to varying reasons especially the weather, health and slow trekking speed, we decided the Tchola Pass was not doable and we did not have enough days for additional acclimatization and to also go down and up the other side of the valley. This was a little disappointing but the trek that we managed to do to Gokyo was beautiful and left many lasting memories.
KP and his team were engaged and involved right from the start. Very responsive and helpful throughout the whole trek. Thank you KP and team!

I recently had the privilege of undertaking a 5-day trek to Annapurna Basecamp with Nepal Nirvana Trails, and I must say, it was an unforgettable experience. I was fortunate to have the guidance of an exceptional guide Raz who took care of the travel schedule and overall arrangement of the tour. In addition, my porter Dap was simply excellent with the best attitude spiced with great sense of humour. The landscape was a true marvel, transitioning from remote villages to lush forests and finally to snow-capped mountains. I was in awe of the beauty that surrounded me, and Dap's swiftness as a porter allowed me to truly take in the sights and sounds of the stunning surroundings. As an experienced hiker I didn’t have any issues with completing the hike in schedule. But 5 days was definitely too short to fully enjoy what this stunning trek has to offer and I would recommend staying longer if you can.
I am forever grateful for Nepal Nirvana Trails for this fantastic experience and taking care of me (Raz: thanks for saving me from the spider!). Thanks Raz, Dap and KP!

Superb service from owner and guide. They really care about their customers with the motto "come as tourist, leave as family". Guide Jami was very experienced and made our trip go smoothly through checkpoints and get us nice accommodation. He showed us the landscape and explained the history and culture in different places. Owner and guide helped us in times of need in a way that we couldnt expect. One of our member got high altitude sickness and they secured her health by getting her off the mountain and helping in hospital. Im in big gratitude for that. Strongly recommend Nepal Nirvana trails and will use them again in the future. Thank you KP and team for a great experience.

GOKYO – CHOLA PASS – EVEREST BASE CAMP (EBC)
EBC via Gokyo Lake Trekking (16 April - 2 May 2023)

Trekked from Lukla, Nepal (2,860m) up to Gokyo (4800m) and trekked up the Gokyo Ri to an elevation of 5,200m! Although we completed the first part of our trek to Gokyo, we were advised against trekking through the Chola Pass (to continue to EBC), due to extreme bad weather. A team member was also diagnosed with AMS, and so we decided as a group to turn back.

At times, we had to trek in sub-zero temperatures, rain, hailstones and heavy snowfall! Notwithstanding, I had the most amazing journey of my life - it was not easy, but it was worth every moment - truly blessed with spectacular views - such breathtaking beauty that I’ve never experienced before!

And throughout our journey, our guides from Nepal Nirvana Trails - Uttar, Abinash and Aartha - were extremely helpful and accommodating. At one point, our porters, who had gone ahead and dropped our duffel bags at Namche, returned back to the trek just to help us carry our backpacks! Truly amazing! They took good care of us and attended to our needs very patiently. They followed our pace and made sure we were comfortable and save. They were knowledgeable about the trek, terrains and the mountains! A big thank you also to KP for attending to and taking care of all our needs in Kathmandu, and frantically trying to accommodate and arrange for change in our plans / flights. I truly treasure my experience in Nepal and will definitely be back to complete EBC and other treks!

I had a wonderulful 5-day Annapurna trekking with guide Resham. We had really nice clear skies so we could see all the spectacular views. Resham was such a nice guide to do the trekking with. He was helpful, caring, calm and had a lot of knowledge from all the gigantic mountains we were surrounded by. It was really comfortable doing the trekking with him. He gave me the privacy and silent time that I needed and if I had questions he could answer all of them. For me it was the first time doing a trekking so high in the mountains. He gave me a feeling of being safe being high up in the mountains. He looked after me every single second of the trekking.
Resham thanks for the amazing 5-day trekking up to ABC. I'll never forget.