The Mountain Company Traveller Reviews

An aborted trip to Dhauligiri hidden valley due to prolonged heavy rain. Roland's team got us out safely and arranged a lovely trip through the Annapurna foothills. We experinced a side of Nepal we would not usually see on a high mountain adventure - local weddings, back country towns, and Gurkha homelands. We reached a highpoint of 4600m above Kophra ridge with stunning views of the Annapurna and Dhauligiri ranges.

Roland is highly knowledgeable about Nepalise trekking. He lives in Nepal during the trekking season working first hand with his local operators.

The remoteness, the amazing view of the mountain ranges in the Annapurna region, and interacting with local villagers made this an amazing trek. There were a few long days with lots of ups and downs. The crew was very supportive. No matter your trekking pace, no one was ever left on their own. You were encouraged to take your time and enjoy the experience and beautiful surroundings.

Roland, Managing Director, always responds to questions right away. He seeks feedback from clients and crew after each trek to see if any improvement is required. Safety and well-being of the crew and trekking clients are top priority for him. Local crew is provided with the necessary equipment (clothing, footwear) and ensure they do not carry excess weight. This is my sixth treks with The Mountain Company. I have the same positive experience each time from Roland and the crew. This is why I plan to do more trekking with The Mountain Company and no hesitation in recommending them.

The Kanchenjunga North and South Base Camp trek is a remote, tough trek in the eastern part of Nepal walking mainly on good trails. Compared to, for example the Dhaulagiri Circuit, the trekking days are longer (most days 7+ hours tent to tent), the trails are quieter with few other groups, and the scenery is more varied – starting with cardamon plantations, climbing up through rhododendron, bamboo and oak forests, and finally into high mountain landscapes. The length and remoteness of the trek means that it is important to be physically fit, mentally resilient and prepared, and to have the right equipment for both the heat and very cold weather.

The Mountain Company operates treks that have been designed with the client’s enjoyment in mind. To this end the itineraries are based on necessary acclimatisation and not fitting in to a set number of days off work which significantly increases the chance of the team achieving their objective; trip dates are chosen based to try and time more stable weather for better views (the compromise for this trip is that also means colder evenings and nights); and finally leaders on the ground are empowered to make decisions to improve the itinerary (for example our trek arranged jeeps to avoid a final 8 hour walk down a new road). Finally not everything always goes to expectation but the company actively seeks out feedback with the genuine intention of improving future trips.

We packed a lot into this shorter (by Nepalese trek standards) trip. We walked through villages, forests, and above the tree line with views of the Annapurna range a constant companion. Be prepared for lots of steps, some long days, and a trail which, while generally very well maintained, grows faint in some spots. (We saw just one other group during our time on the trail!) This was my 4th trek in the Himalayas, and the views were as stunning as any I saw on my previous adventures.

This was my first trip with the Mountain Company, but won;t be the last. I was impressed by how Roland managed safety concerns (for travelers and local crews) during the height of the pandemic and the precautions taken on this trip. Everything was well-organized and ran without a hitch.

Kangchenjunga Circuit This trek is to the North and South Base Camps of Mount Kanchenjunga in the Eastern part of Nepal. The Kanchenjunga Circuit trek is meant to be one of the finest in Nepal Himalaya and I believe it lived up to it's reputation mainly because of the wonderful diversity. Trekking through cardamon and tea crops, and villages, meeting the local people and then being in the presence of the third highest mountain in the world. I have been on about 16 treks in about 11 years and I, therefore, believe that I am a good judge of what has worked. The guides, support and cook staff went a long way to enhancing my experience.

The managing director and owner of The Mountain Company takes the time to get to know you and your needs. He is personally involved in always moving the itinerary and experience forward. He spends many months in Kathmandhu so that this happens.

The pre trip information was detailed and thorough. We had a valuable pre trek and post trek discussion when all our questions were dealt with. The guides and porters provided excellent support and they were cheerful companions throughout the journey. The itinerary allowed time for careful acclimatisation and the trekking days were planned to achieve the objectives in a sufficiently demanding but enjoyable way.

The Mountain Company provided a first class service throughout. We had confidence in the Company and in their staff in Nepal.

Very well-organised and supported trip. We had to change plans because of the weather but the western leader made sure we still had the beat possible trip (and it was still tough) with many highlights.

Personal interest by the owner/director who was out in Nepal to see us off and had responded to questions etc on calls before the trip. Good follow-up also to improve the trip for future groups.

The Nepal Far West Exploratory GHT trek starts from Simikot and follows a number of remote river valleys in an anti-clockwise direction to the Tibet border at Hilsa. This trek is wild, remote, and very much an exploratory trek in the true sense of the word. An amazing trip to the Far West of Nepal. Amazing culture and amazing mountains. Highlights were seeing Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar but closely followed by the visit to Halji monastery a 900-year-old monastery with a fantastic prayer room. Exploring this remote area of Nepal was a joy, meeting remote local communities and trekking through the wild rugged valleys gave us a great sense of adventure and the true meaning of adventure travel. This trip has been more than I could have ever asked for. We walked for 25 days, put up tents almost every night at a different location and on most days, we had fabulous sunny days. I loved the scenic remoteness, the wonderful company of the local guides, cooks, and porters. I always make an effort to engage with local people wherever I travel to learn about their lives. The kindness with the local crew treated me every day makes me work hard to become a better person myself. I will cherish memories of this amazing trip for the rest of my life.

The Mountain Company is the best a person can ask for. Roland replied to me right away when I inquired about this exploratory trek. Information about the trek was truly clear. I felt extremely comfortable booking with The Mountain Company this exploratory trek. This is the first time I have booked a trek with the Mountain Company. In the past I have used other companies for my trekking adventures. Things The Mountain Company did to make me feel comfortable: - Thoroughly checking suitable participants for this exploratory trek. Being a back-country skier with good avalanche training, I realize how important every single team member is for the success of a trek. - Checking every trekkers equipment before venturing out into the mountains. - Using a knowledgeable local company to work with the Mountain Company to hire local guides, cooks, porters. Roland Hunter was at the hotel to send us off. - Meals were delicious, healthy, and nutritious – meat (beef & chicken) has been dehydrated prior for the trek - Great equipment (new tents), mats, pillows - Porters were properly equipped for the trek, supplied by The Mountain Company (hiking boots, pants, jackets, sunglasses). This is very important for me to see that the entire team, including staff is taken care of. - Safety and hygiene was an important aspect of The Mountain Company, making sure the trekkers well being.

The Everest High Passes Trek arranged by The Mountain Company. Stunning views and wonderful experience in the mountains. I loved the challenge of the passes on a well planned itinerary. Stayed in very friendly and well managed Teahouses and Lodges. Loved those mountains

Roland Hunter and The Mountain Company are top class. They know the Region so well and have excellent guides and team

The Kanchenjunga Circuit was an epic trip, real adventure travel. Just getting to the start of the trek involved an internal flight from Kathmandu, and 10-12 hours of driving along 'interesting' roads. The three weeks of hiking that followed to circuit around the Nepalese side of Kanchenjunga was hugely varied, from tropical, banana growing, lowlands to ~5,000m above sea level with views of huge mountains in every direction. November was the perfect month to do it, with blue skies almost every day, no rain at all, and relatively few people around. It was pleasant during the day and cold at night, with the lowest temperatures about -10C inside the tents, so a decent sleeping bag is needed. There are lodges almost all of the whole way round the circuit now which is helpful for warmer dinning rooms and some facilities (4-5 of them had electricity for charging devices) but camping allows the Mountain Company to control the quality and hygiene of the meals (very important when travelling in remote areas) and the new 3 person tents provided were excellent. The scenery was spectacular and the track was generally well formed and straightforward to walk. There were basically no flat parts so a good level of fitness is required for the 5-8 hours of walking each day. It is a remote part of the world but there are many villages and guest houses so it didn't feel that remote at times. The itinerary was well designed to minimise issues with altitude. The Kanchenjunga Circuit is an excellent choice for those looking for a varied, and challenging long hike in the Himalaya, without the crowds of the Annapuna or Everest regions.

This was the second time I've travelled with the Mountain Company and I wouldn't consider any others for hiking in the Himalaya. Their attention to detail and responsiveness is better than any other travel company I've used. Their itineraries are well designed and frequently reviewed to ensure that they are accurate and work best with the conditions on the ground. Given the pace of change in the Himalaya, particularly the construction of new roads along former tracks, this is really important. I've found them very responsive, before the trek in terms of planning and advice, during the trek if any issues occur, and afterwards in seeking and responding to feedback given.