Responsible Adventures, Nepal

I would like to thank our tour operator for his outstanding role as an educator and an ambassador of his nation. He has not only shown us the true beauty of his beautiful region but also unveiled the facts one can't find in guide books or records. Facts as they really are and not as it is put upfront to you. I have been on 38 organised tours with various tour operators to different countries of the world but the trip with Responsible Adventures exceeds by far.

Extremely competent, educated, experienced, considerate and astute is a member of staff. He was also friendly, attentive and very helpful. We enjoyed getting to know his family and he obviously enjoys learning about anything and everything " a definite two-way exchange. Very pleasing too to watch how he worked with and related to his staff of trainee guides and porters- a great bunch. The guides were encouraged to relate with us, upgrade both their and our education and enjoy the trek. The porters were not so overloaded as some but definitely strong and fit and happy.

Our trip was a fortnight with 10 actual trekking days in the Langtang, 7hrs comfortable coach ride north of Katmandu. We were always well accommodated and catered to. The schedule and imposed slow pace will have contributed to why none of us got altitude sickness upto the 4200m [between Kyangin Gompa and Gosainkund]

Mountain mornings were absolutely wonderful. Very exciting and well worth waking to see at 5 o ' clock in the morning even though we never started walking till 8. In the lower reaches one wanders through various woodlands/ forests. The rhododendrums were out in April/May. Yes it snowed in May this year! But only once did we have daytime rain. One sure needs everything on Raj ' s list "for the hot and the cold.

Hope you do get to trek in Nepal , and with our friend.

Here, Organised Group is better than sorting oneself as I would usually do, and well worth the extra money! Seven of us ' middle aged Kiwi ladies'were extremely well looked after by www.responsibleadventures.com [or www.notjusttreks.com ] .

Having recently completed a 14 day visit to Nepal, to trek in the Langtang valley and to Gosainkund lakes with Responsible Adventures, I would like to highly commend this company on many unique features.

As a company, high priority is given to doing the best for Nepal as well as for the trekker. Every effort was made to enable us all to be environmentally aware, and to helps us be aware of local customs and culturally appropriate actions including advice about our clothing.

We particularly enjoyed the high ratio of guides to trekkers, not only for our safety but also for the opportunity to see the sights through Nepali eyes,(which are also much better at spotting hazards, as well as wildlife). All enjoyed sharing their good knowledge of their country.

The guides and porters are treated and paid exceptionally well. They are equipped with good quality clothing and footwear, and enjoy a respectful but friendly relationship with the founder of the company, who was our trek-leader.

All the staff speak English, porters included largely. The trek-leader has an excellent understanding of western ways, and is a great conversationalist, (and legendary singer/song-leader). He shows strong leadership, yet allowed flexibility in some re-scheduling our itinerary around our health and well-being, and also gave opportunity for an optional higher-altitude excursion.

As well as being superbly well catered to by day, we had wonderful evenings, with informative talks the first few nights, then we had several memorable singing and dancing evenings.

Prior to departure, I had found Responsible Adventures great at communicating, with good planning, and they made easy arrangements for all our comforts. Extra touches included airport meet-and-greet, then an enjoyable and well-informed tour of Kathmandu, followed by an evenings entertainment with typical Nepali food.

In summary, Responsible Adventures gave us a superb experience, with the maximum diversity of experience, in a safe, enjoyable, culturally-appropriate manner. I will definitely be back for more!