Holiday Reviews
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same trip can have different views!
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Everest Base Camp trekking holiday, independent reviews
 Reviewed 15 May 2007 by Sharon Codyre |  |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Really hard to say as the journey to Everest base camp is more memorable than the arrival at base camp, but walking through so many contrasting landscapes was just amazing and something that I will remember forever, the $6 piece of apple pie at base camp was worth every cent!!!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
The operator was great, I dont think travellers need to know anymore than the information that they sent out to us. The guides and the staff at the company were not only very informative throughout the trip but the company was extremely quick and efficient and answered any of my concerns and questions.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
It was great to get to meet the local people of the Everest region and to see how they live and work. I think the trip enabled us to interact well with the local people and to see the impact both positive and negative that we all have as tourists visiting their spectacular back garden. I was happy to be able to use a local company on the ground in Nepal and to know that most of my money went into Nepalese people's pockets as wages rather than an international company taking most of the money as profit. I think our group was encouraged to act responsibly, therefore reducing the environmental impact on the park.
4. Any other comments?
Everest base camp was an amazing experience, full of highs and lows and something that I will never forget - the hospitality of the Sherpa people, the spectacular scenery, the friendliness of the guides and the rest of the people in my group - definitely one of those magical moments in life!!
definitely a five star experience!!!
Thanks for putting me in touch with Shishir and the team at the company, it was a great trip!
| Reviewed 26 Nov 2006 by Art Razo | |
 |  |  |  |  | Here are some of Art Razo's fab photos from this trip. (Click photos to enlarge) |
The trip to Base Camp was great! Everyone at the tour operator was great. They picked me up at the airport, had a hotel booked in Kathmandu when I arrived, provided a guided tour of Kathmandu.
Our guide for the trek was great, as were our two porters, very nice guys, funny, polite, strong too!! Definitely a trip I will never ever forget!
Seeing Everest in person has been a dream of mine for many years now and I got to do that and meet great people (there were three others in my group, two Australian guys and a Norweigan girl), and play cards with our guide.
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The most exciting part of the trip was getting to Everest Base Camp, seeing the Khumbu Icefall, seeing Ama Dablam, seeing Everest for the first time as well as many great view points of Everest along the way. The people we met along the way from the porters, other trekkers, tea house workers and owners, hearing their stories about the Himalayas and Everest itself were highlights that were unexpected, but parts of the trip I will never forget!!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Tips I would give would be to bring a bandana or something along the way to cover you mouth and nose from dust. The trails can be real dusty from other trekkers and yaks. Bring some over-the-counter sinus or cold medicine, just in case, there is not much available in the higher parts of the treks if you catch a bit of a cold.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Definitel;, the porters we hired, we had two, were great! They walked three days to Lukla looking for work. They are very hard workers and very pleasant to be around. As we were nearing the end of our trek, our guide asked them if they would work more treks with him and the tour operator. I feel the trip afforded these two great guys future work. That probably has nothing to do with our group specifically, however the fact that the tour operator provides these treks and the way our guide worked, I feel it was a benefit for the people of the region.
4. Any other comments?
It really was a great trip, with spectacular views, great people and experiences that would take too many pages to write all of it down. Thanks for all your help in finding an Everest Base Camp trip and hooking me up with this tour operator.
| Reviewed 4 Jun 2005 by Margot Leigh Ferguson | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The people we met were wonderful and appeared to be quite happy (beautiful smiles). Of course, seeing Everest up close and personal was awe inspiring, as was the thought of going any higher than base camp and realising how difficult it must be for those who set their sights on the summit.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Make sure you're very clear on all that is included for the trekking. We thought sleeping bags were included and were surprised when we got to the camp the first night. To the tour company's (or their sub-contracted tour company's) credit, a solution was found within a couple of hours (they rented heavy blankets/comforters from a hotel in Lao Tingri for us). It was a great solution and I would not hesitate to recommend this company to others planning their trip (in fact we've already been contacted for a reference).
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes - our guides and drivers were all local and the hotels we stayed in were locally owned and operated. Pack it in, pack it out was the way our trek worked. Toileting was done in one spot in a hole that was covered when we left, with all paper coming out with us.
4. Any other comments?
It was truly the best holiday I've been on!
| Reviewed 4 May 2008 by Claire Whittington | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Getting up at 5am to go up Kala Pathar to see the sunrise over the Himalaya and have our picture with Everest in the background. That was the most exciting and very memorable because it was -25. Would not have missed it for anything.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Make sure you take plenty of cash with you to exchange into Nepalese as cash machines can be hard to find or out of order. It is much easier to change American dollars into the local currency and you will need lots of small amounts. Local people will hassle you and small kids will tell all sorts of stories to get money. The trek was amazing but very cold at night so take a hot water bottle that can be filled at the lodges but you will be charged for hot water.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes in the mountains as you can see the difference tourists make to the lives of the locals but I'm not sure it helps in Kathmandu.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was a great experience and we learnt a lot about a different culture. It has made us appreciate everything we have back home and take for granted. It was our honeymoon so we will remember it forever.
| Reviewed 26 Dec 2007 by Kevin Hale | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Too much stuff to say, the sunsets over the mountains, the people.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared for everything and anything, and dry wipes makes things a lot more pleasant.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, everything was organised on a local level and was very impressed.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Superb, cant wait to do it all over again, but will chose a time when it is slightly warmer.
| Reviewed 13 May 2007 by Michelle Hauri | |
I thoroughly enjoyed my trek up to EBC. The 2 guides that we had were very good and knowledgeable. The scenery was amazing. I would recommend this company to anyone wanting to go to EBC. We had a good half day tour in Kathmandu to start with as well, which was a nice addition to the holiday.
| Reviewed 5 Apr 2007 by Daan Eksteen | |
I am back, safe and sound! What an unbelievable experience. Being adventurous at heart (even at 56 years of age) this Trek suited me down to a tee. Lots of physical challenges and glorious mountains that lies close to my soul!1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Visiting Base Camp Everest and Kala Patar must be the highlight of the trek although the long trek in and the interaction with the local people on the trail and in the Tea-houses at night is what it is all about.
Then Kathmandu was a total onslaught on the senses! Wonderful, chaotic, smelly noisy, vibrant friendly Kathmandu!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Wash hands regularly (dry wash). Train at altitude before embarking on this long Trek.
It will only increase your enjoyment of the whole experience. Use a reputable company like this operator. What a pleasure to deal with Shishir Khatry. He answered all our questions and allayed our fears. Our trekking leader, Shankar, was excellent, funny and very helpful.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
I feel by supporting local business people's circumstances are improved.
4. Any other comments?
I will also recommend this hike to anyone with an adventurous spirit.
| Reviewed 1 Apr 2007 by Karla Nelson | |
The trek to base camp of Mt Everest was an experience I will never forget. The mountains are breath taking and the people are very friendly. The trek was more difficult than I imagined but our guide Sonam encouraged us to go slowly and rest whenever necessary.
One must remember this is a third world country and their heath standards are not what we are accustomed to.
So my tip for other travelers would be to mentally prepare yourself for unsanitary facilities because you will have to use them.
I'm sure the local people benefited from our trek. The local people depend on the tourist trade to make a living.
We took advantage of the tea houses for lodging and meals. Local Sherpas were our porters and guide.
Overall it was a great experience. Its not for everyone, but if you want a little adventure and enjoy other cultures than I highly recommend it.
| Reviewed 9 Dec 2005 by Tammy Garay | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing Mt. Everest
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
TRAIN AT ALTITUDE!!!!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes
4. Any other comments?
Well, I got altitude sickness and couldn't complete it, so I wouldn't be a good judge. But I would definitely do it again.