The Mountain Company Traveller Reviews

I had my eye on this trek for a while because of its remoteness, length - 36 days, challenge, beauty and legendary mystery surrounding Kanchenjunga. I was also spurred on by the account of fellow trekker who had just completed this section of the GHT in winter. I was delighted when Roland guaranteed it run with Ade at the helm and when two great mountain buddies also signed up. We were seven very experienced trekkers with over 40 Himalayan treks between us, very well briefed by TMC and well equipped. I have now had six weeks to process this rare and remarkable experience and digest the published trip report, which, does an honest job of describing what happened at ground level; including the struggles and inevitable ‘curved- ball’ logistic issues. I do recommend reading the report. I recognise that this trek has not run for ten years. Roland and the TMC put a huge amount of time and resources into planning such a complex operation which is credit to him and speaks volumes about his vision to keep the art of remote trekking alive. Ade is a renowned expert and is truly unique -  with years of international wilderness leadership and his buoyant benevolent nature. Sanja and Suman were top notch. The Kitchen first class. The porters were brilliant, the brand new mountain tents were robust and watertight and the lodges Kanchenjunga-side a welcome refuge. The views of Kanchenjunga and Jannu were spectacular. The ‘Pass B’ detour to Olangchungola  was 1800m up and down, thick bamboo forest, slippery, leeches, bugs, landslides, treacherous, exhausting but unforgettable. Lumba-Sumba was just heavenly. There was Thudum -  the ‘village that time forgot’, the grace of the villagers we met who could teach us more lessons about simplicity, hardship and happiness than we would care to admit.  The ‘jungle’ crossing to Kharka was wild, wet, slippery, dangerous, with few mountain views but the forest beautiful and unspoilt. There was this ethereal morning view of Makalu from our emergency shelter at ‘first’ Kharka. We had more than our fair share of adverse conditions, two casualties, Global Rescue, interpersonal clashes, misinformation about the Yangma bridge; we found ourselves three days behind and the remaining two of us elected to forego the final push to Makalu BC. Why five stars? I will answer in a somewhat  poetic form which does not answer all questions but is spoken from the heart. Because of the rarity of this opportunity, because these giant remote mountains did welcome us and reward us with passage, because this wilderness is not going to be here forever; the massive logistical effort, the guides and crew who became our loyal extended family for 5 weeks, without complaint. The camaraderie and the opportunity to connect and care. The bitter and the sweet, the risk , the pressure pushing us to our limit, the successes and failures. Because we came home spent. A pilgrimage in the words of Ian Baker where a “destination is ultimately not so much a place as a new way of seeing”.  Far more profound than any sightseeing joyride. Because in true TMC fashion Roland has stepped up to the challenges to make this trek even better. If you have the inclination - go - prepared to be immersed and with your eyes and heart wide open.

Committed to the art of remote trekking.

The trek to Makalu Base Camp is certainly demanding but the level of support provided by the team was exceptional and always flexible and responsive to what was needed, thus enabling me to experience this stunningly beautiful National Park in all of its diversity. Accommodation in teahouses was basic but adequate and provided an authentic experience of normal life and hospitality in this remote area of the Himalaya.

the Mountain Company rovided comprehensive and useful pre-trip information and a personal briefing from the company's Director in Kathmandua before starting the trek. I particularly appreciated his onging availability and helpful advice via a satellite phone. My Sherpa guide was extremely capable in all respects and very flexible, and the office in Kathmandu helped with rebooking flights when I needed this to be done during the trek. It all happened smoothly and efficiently.

The Everest Luxury Lodge trek was a great experience. Scenery, trails, hiking, food accommodations and company representatives all exceeded our expectations.

I’ve taken tours and treks around the world and I’ve never experienced better customer service. Adjectives like responsive, thorough, timely and thoughtful all describe The Mountain Company. They did everything to make our tour easy and comfortable…always put our needs and wishes ahead of all else.

My trek to Everest Base Camp with The Mountain Company was a fantastic blend of challenge and enjoyment. The itinerary, slightly different from the usual, proved effective for acclimatization, making the journey physically demanding yet thoroughly enjoyable. The return journey, featuring an alternative route, added a unique dimension with its own set of challenges, showcasing the diverse landscapes of the Himalayas. What set The Mountain Company apart was their excellent communication and seamless logistical support. From permits to accommodations, every detail was taken care of, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the trek without worrying about the logistics. Any concerns were promptly addressed by Roland and his attentive team, adding an extra layer of reassurance to the entire experience. In summary, The Mountain Company crafted an exceptional Everest Base Camp trek, combining a thoughtfully designed itinerary, strategic planning, and top-notch customer service for an unforgettable Himalayan adventure.

The Mountain Company is an outstanding adventure travel provider that excels in delivering memorable experiences. Their meticulous planning, efficient logistics handling, and attentive customer service set them apart. With a commitment to seamless journeys and quick resolution of concerns, The Mountain Company, in my opinion, stands as a reliable choice for travelers seeking high-quality adventure tours.

We had a fabulous trip around the Manaslu Circuit in October/November 2023. The scenery was amazing from beginning to end, starting from the last (currently) drivable bit of the road heading north from the Kathmandu/Pokhara highway. The circuit starts with fairly long days through warm green valleys with large villages and lots of local life. As we got higher, the days got more relaxed, and the landscapes changed, with bigger mountains, autumn colours and the transition into buddhist areas. The whole trip builds up to a crossing of Larke Pass, but while that felt like the objective, it never felt like the days leading up to it were just an approach - every day we saw new things, and it was much more varied than we had expected beforehand.

The Mountain Company were great to work with beginning to end. Roland provided us with advice for us to make decisions about which trek might suit us best (we also considered the Dhaulagiri Circuit), and when to go - the later dates were rewarded with excellent weather. Despite being a small group of three trekkers we had an excellent group of four local Nepali guides and porters. The logistics were seamless, at every step the guides knew what needed to be done, and at the beginning and end a driver was always in the right place.

This was a 15 day trekking trip from Lukla to Everest Base Camp, staying in good tee house lodges for most of the way up towards EBC, which is at 17.5K feet, or 5.3K m elevation. The trail and journey to EBC was astonishingly beautiful and worth pushing oneself to physical and mental limits to push through 4-8 hours of walking each day for a collective 67 miles out and back. TMC did a tremendous job preparing us for this once-in-a-lifetime experience, preparing us for the slipping of standards of accomodation the higher up we went, and the drop in temperatures, but that the views and experience would be worth it, and they were not wrong. The trip leader, Robert Andreson (get him if you can!) and the sherpas, guides and porters were phenomenal.

As above, The Mountain Company took care of all the necessary details in advance, during and after the trip concluded. The attention to detail and the care and guidance on the trip was exceptional. Robert made the trip. His extensive experience, great sense of humor and positive attitude, along with our guides and porters, meant that 100% of our group made it up and back safely, when so much could have gone wrong. I highly recommend TMC if you're interested in trekking in Nepal!

I completed the Manaslu Circuit, taking 11 days out of an 18 day visit to Nepal actually trekking. This was the first time I'd walked above 1000m so reaching the Larke Pass at 5106m was a step into the unknown for 60+ me, but this is a fantastic holiday at every altitude including the drives and hotels stays which bookend the trek. The Mountain Company looked after me and every detail in the holiday.

Roland Hunter's attention to detail and continuous improvement is rewarded by an excellent holiday experience for all his customers.

My wife and I (age 59 and 61) did our trek in October 2023. We picked The Mountain Company because of its longer itinerary (3 acclimatization days v. 2 for most other operators we saw), the amount of detail provided in advance about the trek, gear needed and preparation, and the good reviews from other trekkers. While we had done a lot of day hiking we had not attempted a trek like this before. The trek itinerary is well-thought out, with plenty of time to complete each day's distance at a leisurely pace with of time for photo and rest stops, and sightseeing. In particular we thought the acclimatization schedule was very helpful.

TMC was extremely responsive, from answering our initial question via email and Zoom to being very flexible in adusting plans for changing conditions. For example on very short notice TMC was able to move up our arrival flight into Lukla to avoid projected bad weather. Also when we came down with respiratory infections TMC was able to extend our stay at two of the lodges during our asceent to allow us to recover. We were the only two people in our group so that made it easier, but I think it was indicative of how TMC can quickly adjust (to the extent feasible) the itinerary if necessary. Roland Hunter was always available by phone, email and text.

We had an amazing and very well organised trek in the Langtang Valley and Laurebina la pass with the Mountain Company. The guides and porters were brilliant and great travel companions and we always felt in safe hands. The scenery was stunning, at times tough going but you are so in the mountains. Accommodation was variable as you would expect on a trek.

The company kept us well informed and well briefed throughout and was very responsive, and we had full confidence

This was my 3rd trekking holiday with The Mountain Company, and once again it proved to be a wonderful experience. The Mount Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek is of 2 weeks duration, and certainly lived up to it's reputation of being physically demanding. We were blessed with excellent walking weather throughout, although it frequently snowed in the afternoon and evening. The terrain we encountered was scenic and rugged, starting with heavily forested foothills, then changing to bare, snow capped peaks as we gained altitude. We had some fantastic interactions with the local Nepalese people, culminating in a memorable concert which was put on in our honour, and which was attended by several hundred villagers. I highly recommend this trek to anyone seeking a remote and challenging trek, and which incorporates spectacular scenery.

I was as always very impressed with the consummate professionalism of The Mountain Company. There is no weak link in the chain, and everything flows seamlessly. * TMC website is very informative, and any queries, requests for clarification are answered in detail and in a very timely fashion by Roland Hunter. * The pricing of the treks are very reasonable. * Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara was first rate. * Transport to and from airports, and internal flight connections ran smoothly, as far as they could be controlled. * Roland carefully vets prospective participants to ensure treks are suitable for their skill level. * TMC allocates 3 altitude rest days on this trek, to ensure the group safely acclimatises to the increase in altitude. Other trekking companies allow 2 spare days at most. * The quality, variety and quantity of the meals provided on the trek was first rate. Despite the trek being physically arduous, I did not lose any weight. * TMC places a lot of emphasis on the quality and expertise of their trek leaders. In that respect we were extremely fortunate to be led by Cory, ably assisted by his Nepalese counterpart, Arjun, and of course the wonderful Nepalese crew. Without them there is no trek. All trekkers well being was constantly monitored to ensure they weren't experiencing difficulties. Encouragement was frequently offered, and practical assistance provided where necessary, particularly if there was a difficult section of the trail to be negotiated. The safety of both trekkers, and the Nepalese crew was always given the highest priority. The Mountain Company have a longstanding and well deserved reputation for running excellent, affordable treks, and operating in an ethical manner. They are always my first port of call when I experience a yearning to undertake a trek.