The Mountain Company Traveller Reviews

A four week journey including three weeks' hard trekking to the north and south base camps of Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest mountain, on the border of Nepal and India's Sikkim region. This is adventure travel and the unexpected is to be expected, but The Mountain Company's organisation and hands-on approach meant that everything went as planned and all of our objectives were met on a trip of a lifetime. Accommodation was in lodges on the mountain trail, where standards can vary, but TMC always did what they could to ensure a good experience for the team. Food was all included in the price and was excellent and plentiful throughout, nearly all from local sources. The trip was well-guided by a local and experienced team who were able to stay on top of the changes on the trail in what is a huge and changing landscape, and ensure our safety and enjoyment.

The Mountain Company Limited (TMC) is a highly specialist tour operator run by a genuine expert in adventurous mountain travel. We have travelled with TMC several times, in both Nepal and Pakistan, always very successfully and satisfactorily. Roland Hunter, the owner, always makes himself available for detailed communications around any issue or information, and has proven 100% reliable and trustworthy in every aspect of our dealings with him. It is a pleasure to travel with TMC, not least because of the complete confidence that everything passible has been done to ensure your trip will meet your expectations, and probably exceed them.

The main focus of the holiday was a ten day trek in the Himalayas on the south side of Annapurna. We followed this with three days in the lakeside town of Pohhara and a further three days in Chitwan National Park.

The Mountain Company provided detailed pre-trip information and questions were dealt with quickly. Our individual itinerary was carefully prepared. In Nepal all the arrangements worked perfectly and we were supported by excellent local people who were all well briefed and extremely reliable.

Without doubt, this is a tough trek to Everest Base Camp (when you are in your 50s with bad knees!) but the pre-trip information and support in being prepared meant that we had all we needed to make it a successful adventure. The scenery is breathtaking. The people on the trek are wonderfully kind and cheerful. The ambition and the challenge only dawns fully on you as each day comes and goes, and when its all over, you cannot help but be chuffed to bits with what you have achieved, and know that the memories, images, smells and companionship will last a lifetime. It is hard to convey on paper what this experience is in every respect, it really has to be lived, but anyone who has the ambition, should just got for it. Being at nearly the top of the world is exhilarating as were the flights in and out of Lukla. The hardship and effort is totally worth it, and in fact makes it an even bigger achievement! Amazing experience of a lifetime.

Very organised, great communications and prompt support and accessibility to advice as required. Everything ran smoothly and the local guides were extremely lovely and well chosen.

Amazing scenery treks combined with well organized cultural tours. The Bhutanese guide was very knowledgeable of the trekking region and all the historical sites. The crew was always ready to help if needed. Three hot meals each day of delicious Bhutanese food made from local ingredients such as red rice, oyster mushroom and cheese.

This is my eighth and ninth trek with The Mountain Company (TMC) and will continue to trek with TMC. This is because Roland, owner/director, put safety of the crew and trekkers his priority. He responds to questions and concerns on a timely manner. As well, he seeks feedback at the end of each trek. He takes feedback seriously and make changes if required.

Trekking holiday in Nepal for two weeks, culminating at Ama Dablam base camp at 4600 metres

Highly efficient, very well organised, excellent communication - made the trekking experience a real joy and we felt looked after all the way.

We did a 5 week trek from Kanchenjunga to Makalu with the Mountain Company. The route wound through deep valleys, high mountain passes and remote villages in a less-visited area of Eastern Nepal. We were a group of 9 trekkers (I joined as a solo traveller) with a big team of porters and guides to look after us as we traversed this tough and physically demanding stretch of the Great Himalaya Trail, which is much less established than its name would suggest!

The trip was really well organised, with an excellent international leader and a friendly and hardworking local guiding/cooking/portering team. Roland of TMC was exceptionally helpful at all stages of the booking processes, answering my endless questions and clearly communicating with participants about all details especially expectations of the nature of the terrain, weather, local customs etc. He has a real passion for the Himalaya and put a lot of effort into careful trip planning, complemented by the international guide who had excellent pastoral care as well as being an extremely capable mountain man. Our Nepali team were great - a really friendly and funny bunch of guys - the guides cared deeply about ensuring everyone had a good time, and the cook team fed us more food than we could eat! It was my first trip to the region and I had a great time; I'd thoroughly recommend the company and am pretty likely to be travelling again with TMC in the future!

I loved returning to do the Bhutan Snowman trek with The Mountain Company. It is a sublime high altitude trek with exceptional scenery, in which you get into the rhythm of this long journey of wonders - spectacular mountains, beautiful mossy forests and wild rivers. Parts are very wild and remote, other parts gave us really interesting interactions with local people. The whole trekking party (leaders, crew and trekkers) was agile and very harmonious - full of adventure and laughter. Much banter focussed on the seriously amazing food. I ate a lot better on the trek than I do at home! There are few places in the world where you can experience on a supported trek such astonishingly beautiful wild scenery. We met only a handful of other trekking groups in the earlier sections of the trek and for our last two weeks of the trek - no other trekkers. Therein lies the magic of the Snowman trek.

The Mountain Company's Snowman trek is the gold standard for this trek. Their itinerary is crafted to experience the most spectacular wild and remote parts of northern Bhutan and to optimise acclimatisation. The Mountain Company delivers quality in all aspects: excellent logistics, highly trained crew, leaders with the experience and wisdom that goes with well over a decade of leading treks in Bhutan.

We did the luxury lodge trek with the Mountain Company in November 2024. We were a family of four people (parents and son and daughter in their 20s) and travelled with another father-daughter couple that we had not previously known. We were slightly bemused to be allocated 3 guides, but found that all 3 of them proved extremely helpful for the trip - especially for me, the slowest person in the group! Galden, the lead guide, had absolutely superb organisational and teamwork skills and ensured that we were comfortable and happy at all times. We were carefully monitored for oxygen levels and none of us had any significant altitude-related issues. Pasant shows excellent leadership potential and Pinja was always alert and looking for where he could be of most assistance. We were lucky to have magnificent weather and had fantastic views at all times on this beautiful walk. The day where we actually reached the Ama Dablam Base Camp was a particular highlight. The Everest BC track which we largely followed was busy at this time of year but this did not detract from the experience. The lodges were comfortable with thick quilts, electric blankets and hot showers which made a huge difference when it went down to -5 degrees. The food was excellent.

Roland was absolutely meticulous in responding to all enquiries within hours (amazing given the time difference with Australia!) and was always available on WhatsApp throughout the trip. The tour was seamless in all details and hotel bookings and tour guides etc all worked perfectly. He clearly had excellent relationships with his Nepalese staff who respected him,

A wonderful walk - strenuous without being exhausting, beautiful views, great accomodation and wonderful people. Everything went seamlessly and got a real sense of this fascinating country

Mountain company - we were met, everything explained and questions answered via WhatsApp on the way to and throughout the tour. Your leader and porters delightful and informative

An epic, long, difficult camping trek for experienced hikers and campers. I loved the remoteness of the regions visited, starting in the rain forest and walking up to Pangpema (5,143m) at the northside base camp of Kanchenjunga. I have a huge respect for the porters and kitchen crew, walking ahead of the group, either carrying huge loads or kitchen equipment and beat us to the campsite at night to set up tents or preparing meals. The local leaders Bhim, Sanja, Pasang and the rest of the trek team have been amazing with their customer service. They always made me feel safe, my bag arrived on time at the camp at night and the meals prepared were very delicious. Many thanks to the local trek team and Roland Hunter for putting his heart and soul into organizing treks offered by the Mountain Company.

The Mountain Company is the best company I have used in the last 15 years. Roland Hunter provides excellent customer service; makes you feel that you are his only client to take care of. Roland works closely with Tulsi, located in Kathmandu who makes sure that the local crew and logistics are well organized. Many thanks!