Lunana Snowman Traveller Reviews

A sensational long distance, remote trekking adventure that has been on my bucket list for a long time

Having trekked many times with other companies in the Himalayan Mountains, THE MOUNTAIN COMPANY has surprised and delighted me with its degree of excellence in all areas. To start with there was the thorough and professional planning of the trip details, including enough rest and contingency days to suit the remote conditions. It was clear early on that this was a company that understood remote mountains. Then there was the seamless execution of a very challenging trek, including the problem solving of trekker-created problems that could have derailed the expedition. There was the meticulous care for the health and safety of all the trekkers AND the local support crew. There was the exceptional quality and volume of great food provided to sustain our energy levels over an extended period of time in very remote parts of Bhutan. Also, THE MOUNTAIN COMPANY provided an experienced western leader which added massive value being the bridge between the trekkers and the local company with whom they have been working for many years. THE MOUNTAIN COMPANY sits above all the other companies in my experience. Well done!!

This is a very tough and hard walk because long duration, high altitude, rough track (muddy and rocky), continuous walks (some more than 8 hours). It is a physical and psychological challenging journey. But the view is excellent if you are lucky in good weather. Excellent operation is MUST for the completion of the whole walk.

They have good ground operation in background, the support team is excellent in co-operation with horse arrangement/movement, tent setting, kitchen, etc.

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A challenging trek (approx 400km) in remote parts of Bhutan.

Well organised with great attention to detail, pre, during and post trek. The crew were top notch. A month of trekking in remote parts - no one got sick or injured, everyone completed the trek. The Mountain Company were efficient and thorough, operating with integrity and responsibility.

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This autumn I was finally able to join a group for the famous Lunana/Snowman trek in Bhutan. With a duration of 35-days and taking the long exit via Bumthang, the so-called Snowman II, it was by far the longest trek I've ever done. But the benefit of trekking for this long, is that it also puts you right in the middle of one of the most beautiful and remote places in the Himalayas. Not seeing a car, road, no wifi and other modern comforts for such an extended period was a much needed reset of myself. That said, lots of thought was put into the preparations for this trip and our staff did a magnificent job at keeping us feed and happy, so you could enjoy the scenery and walking and relax and recover at camp. Very quickly you got into a daily routine starting with bed-tea at 6am and no day in itself was particularly difficult with no altitudes above 5400M - but continuously trekking 6-8 hours everyday for almost a month is definitely a challenge. In many ways it was both the toughest and most beautiful trip I've ever done - Bhutan is truly a magical country with a fascinating culture, wonderful people and stunning nature. And definitely choose the Bumthang exit if you ever consider going - one of the highlights of my trip was the hot-springs at Duer Tsachu, which was just an amazing treat after all the mountain passes.

It was very obvious throughout, that the The Mountain Company have many years of experience in doing the challenging Snowman trek in Bhutan. Everything from the preparations that had been month underway, to the highly experienced crew selected for the trip. Roland Hunter himself provided what felt like 24/7 e-mail support in the month leading up to our departure, and Almas, our trekking leader, turned out to be a very charismatic leader with a combination of highly experienced leadership (this was his 10th snowman) and excellent social skills and humor. From the food to tents and itinerary, everything had been selected specifically to give the best experience and comfort - no cutting corners. Making such an unpredictable trip run like clockwork is a truly impressive feat.

The Lunana Snowman trek is a major logistical challenge for the leader to organise horses and food over such a long remote trek. On this trip everything worked really smoothly. TMC offer the Bumthang exit to the trek which is much less frequently visited and we had a real sense of being in a quite different world in Lunana. The scenery is fantastic, the walk is long but most days are quite straightforward. There is a bit of a sting in the tail going over the last few passes but by then we were all pretty fit and acclimatised.

Very efficient. Potential trekkers are screened for suitability so the risk of being held up by someone unfit is minimised. From personal experience I can confirm this is important!

I completed the Lunana Snowman Trek in Bhutan with The Mountain Company in 2016. Since this was my first time in Asia, my first long trek and the first time I was travelling with a guide, I was a little anxious about how the trip would go. There was no reason to worry, though. The Mountain Company, using a local agent in Bhutan, employing an excellent trek leader and having many years of experience with this trek, did a wonderful job at organising the entire trip! After booking the trip, we were provided with extensive pre-trip information that made it possible for me to prepare myself for the long trek ahead of me, from buying the right gear to familiarising myself with the challenges of a high-altitude environment (it was my first time at altitude too). If I had any questions, Managing Director Roland Hunter always answered swiftly and comprehensively. He also sent out several group e-mails with important information in the months prior to departure, giving me the feeling of being in good hands. That feeling grew stronger when we met our trek leader, Almas Khan. Almas had been doing the Snowman Trek for several years now and radiated a sense of calm. Even when faced with unexpected challenges (e.g. a horseman getting drunk and running away with the horses, supplies not coming due to a landslide) he managed to keep his cool and solved each problem calmly and efficiently, keeping the group in the loop the entire time. He also had a quite infectious sense of humour and managed to keep both staff and group morale up when we were so unlucky to hit an 11 day streak of rain in the beginning of the trek (which is quite unusual for the Snowman Trek). Luckily, however, there weren't that many hiccups on the way that Almas needed to attend to; the local agent, Kinley, had done an amazing job at organising everything, from our pick-up at the airport to hiring a friendly and efficient crew, finding horses in the remote villages of Bhutan, providing the right supplies (tents, equipment, food, hot chocolate (not to be underestimated when it's cold!)), and booking hotel rooms and restaurant visits at the beginning and end of the trip. Considering how many logistical challenges are described when reading about the Snowman Trek, I don't think anyone could have done a better job! The food had been one of my major areas of concern; I'd read that people often lose appetite when at high altitude and that the meals served to tourists are dull and taste quite “bland” in order to be agreeable with most tourists. I was pleasantly surprised, however: The cook who accompanied our group, Sonam, had been briefed on the importance of a varied diet and, as a consequence, served a variety of dishes, which consisted of a mixture of Indian, Bhutanese and Western cuisine and tasted anything but bland! Sonam ensured that we were always provided with plenty of carbohydrates (white and pink rice, glass noodles, spaghetti, potatoes, different kinds of bread and pappadums) and vegetables (mainly cabbage, eggplant, carrots, onions and mushrooms) and spiced it up with different kinds of meat (mainly chicken and beef, but also some fish and pork and, one day, even kangaroo!). He used many different spices, including chilli, curry and coriander. At dinner, the first course would always be a soup, a bliss on cold days, and he'd always top dinner off with a delicious dessert (mostly varieties of apple and watermelon). Our tents, another one of my concerns after our previous experience with tents, turned out to be perfectly suited for this trip. They were spacious A-frame tents that kept dry even after days of rain. The drying line inside them was a nice touch as it allowed us to air out our clothes at the end of yet another sweaty day even in rain. All in all I can highly recommend doing the Snowman Trek with The Mountain Company!

We joined the 2016 snowman trek with the Mountain Company with Almas Khan as trek leader. The entire trek from pre-purchase, pre-trip information, paying, getting picked up in Paro and actually doing the trek has been excellent. Roland was great at informing via email prior to the trip and Almas was superb as trek leader. All in all the entire trip was well-planned and well executed. Highly recommended and we would definitely go with the Mountain Company again.

The Mountain Company seems to take their clients seriously and give them a safe and enjoyable trekking experience without spoon-feeding anyone. The itineary was well thought through with several extra days for safe acclimatizing. This was a major selling point for us since it seems they care about safety instead of just selling the maximum number of trips. It payed of since no one got altitude sickness.

The 27 day Snowman Trek was a tough challenge, both physically and mentally. The terrain was remote and often spectacular. Sandwiched between the monsoon and the start of the winter snows it pays to be well equipped for all weather. The many ascents are not technical but are often long. The steep descents often require a lot of concentration. Paths vary from smooth and dry to mud and rocks. The 3 day pre-trek acclimatisation process was well thought out and none of the group suffered any significant altitude sickness. The three day cross-country return to Paro gave a good insight to Bhutan life.

The Mountain Company organised an excellent Snowman trek in Bhutan. The pre-trek information and advice was very helpful and the trek was expertly led in country by Almas Khan, a very experienced trek leader who has now completed numerous Snowman treks.

In summary an outstanding trek in a beautiful remote part of the world. I know that trekking in Bhutan is more expensive than some areas but this trek led by Almas Khan was exceptional, with stunning scenery, walking in some of the most remote areas of the Himalayas and enjoying so much of the local culture. Crossing so many passes between Drugyel Dzong all the way through to Jakarta / Bumthang provides so many moments as new vistas open up as you reach each pass, beautiful forests and the opportunity to see so much wildlife including blue sheep. And on this occasion we saw a Takin in the wild. At the end there is also a wonderful sense of achievement having completed such an amazing trek. Very well organised and run flexibility with rest days and acclimatisation days to make sure that everyone remains fit and well and can respond to weather conditions.

This is now the 4th time I have trekked with The Mountain Company which I think helps to emphasise that I hold them in high regard. The treks are all extremely well planned, led by highly experienced leaders and supported by excellent guides, catering staff etc. As well as providing a wonderful trekking experience, the safety and well being of clients and staff are always a high priority.

This challenging trip through remote terrain was enhanced by good organisation, sensitive leadership, and well managed local team. We were prepared for the conditions thanks to comprehensive accurate information from The Mountain Company prior, and the need to train well beforehand. Spectacular scenery, stunning campsites, and a gradual acclimatization schedule all made for a trip to be remembered. The downside was the drive back to Paro from Jakar - 250 kms of roadworks, dust and narrow, winding, hilly meanders. Lets hope the Bhutanese government makes this upgrade a priority.

Roland from The Mountain Company provided plenty of pre-trip information to enable us to prepare thoroughly for the adventure. Almas Khan, the trip leader, had a wealth of experience, knew the route well, was always organised and informative. Friendly and personable leader who related well to staff and clients alike. We appreciated his sound decision making and ability to allow the group to walk at their own pace, whilst still maintaining an overview of where everyone was at.