Wonderful backdrop to the spectacular clear scenery
From when we landed in Kathmandu to when we left, Mountain Monarch Adventures was always there, looking after us, giving us great advice, and giving us a trip that we will remember for a lifetime. Our trip was for 17 days. It snowed lightly on day three, providing a wonderful backdrop to the spectacular clear scenery. Our leading guide was Sunil, followed by guides Mingma, Ram, and DK. They were professional in every aspect. Not only that but they are friendly, helpful and we had a great time with them. They made the trip even more enjoyable. Our walk could have been strenuous (most of us were over 50 years old), but the guides set a pace that allowed us time to enjoy the scenery, take photographs and acclimatize. However, you still need to be fit to undertake this walk, so for other people wishing to do this walk, do lots of training. The food was great, and the lodge accommodation was comfortable. Pradip and Sunil, thank you for this great experience. We cannot fault any part of your organization and your professionalism. I would recommend your organization to anyone wishing to visit the Himalayas.
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Craig Powell 5.0United KingdomApril 17, 2014
Friendly and knowledgeable
We did the Kathmandu to Pokhara trip with MM last month and really could not recommend them more. The guides were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, and the operation was well-organized and enjoyable. Our lead guide Ram was one of the friendliest (not to mention happiest) men I think I’ve ever met, who looked after our every need during the trip. The owner, Pradip, took us out for our last day of the tour around Kathmandu and also proved to be an excellent guide and really went the extra mile to look after us, even after our trip was technically at an end. I’m hoping to make the EBC trail in a few years and I’ll be booking with these guys again for sure. Highly recommended.
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Brittney T. 5.0United KingdomApril 15, 2014
Adventure and a challenge
Thank you so much to Mountain Monarch for organizing the trip of a lifetime to the circuit trekking on Everest in March 2014! I can't say enough positive things about the company, my guides, their whole team, and the actual trek!! The trek: life-changing, extremely challenging, but absolutely worth it! I can't possibly describe to friends and family this experience. Every day was an adventure and a challenge; we saw the most beautiful scenery, met some fantastic people, and spent quite a bit of time entirely by ourselves in the most remote environment. the team: Dawa, Nima, and Pasang were with us every step of the way, I always felt safe, and everything was so well organized, I have no complaints at all. They personally picked me up from the airport and dropped me off after the trek. Throughout the trek I had any issues, they were immediately available to help me and go the extra mile! Mr. Pradip was also very helpful, reliable, and responsive from the first email I sent him. Basically, I can't recommend this trip/this company enough!! Thank you so much, and I hope to return to Nepal for another trek.
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Konstantinos 5.0GreeceMarch 18, 2014
Experience with Mountain Monarch in Nepal
In April 2014, my friends and I from Greece had an experience with Mountain Monarch in Nepal. We did high passes and peak trips in the Everest region with them. They are very professional and quick in answering all our strange questions. They are flexible and have excellent staff. Send them an e-mail, and you will soon understand what I mean by the word excellent. Do not bother searching for something better - there is no
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Tony Maido 5.0MalaysiaMarch 15, 2014
Very helpful
First of all, I would like to thank Mountain Monarch Adventures; he did a good job. The owner Mr. PRADIP is a very hard-working man; he came and picked us up early in his car and told us all the procedures for what to do, very helpful. He also tells us many things about Nepal; he is a very kind person and a knowledgeable, good guy. I think he will be a very successful travel agent in the future, Cheers.
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Sam Slaven 5.0AustraliaFebruary 17, 2014
Strong friendship through the trek
Mountain Monarch is simply the best! I was part of the EBC and Island Peak trek departing at the end of October 2013. While in Australia planning the trip, I was a little reluctant to use a company I hadn't heard of firsthand. Still, after a swift and effortless email conversation with Pradip, the company manager, I quickly realized that all the reviews I had read on Trip Advisor were undoubtedly correct. Right from the start of our relationship, the company was professional. The trek leader Akash and his Sherpa team, led by Mingma, went beyond expectations to make the other trekkers feel suitable and at home. We all felt extremely safe and that our mission to summit the mountain was the paramount objective. Akash never took any shortcuts with the trek and monitored everybody's health cautiously. At the time of the trek, I was only 22 years old, and coming from Australia, I had very little exposure to extreme weather conditions and altitude adaption requirements. Akash always encouraged me to talk about how I felt, physical or otherwise, and we even developed a strong friendship through the trek. After spending 23 days perched in the Himalayas, you start to learn about more than mountains. On ascent day, I gave it everything I had but was still unable to summit; Akash personally walked me down the hill and tried to keep my spirits high.
My failure to reach the summit was no longer a reflection of the mountain monarch team. I was simply tired and exhausted, and my body was finding it harder and harder to approach 6000m above sea level, even though we staged our assent incredibly well. I was disappointed that I had never summited the mountain. Still, I know that pushing my body further may have had detrimental effects (although Akash and Mingma would never let this happen). In hindsight, I went to EBC, summited Kalar Plater, learned about the fantastic culture of Nepal and Mountaineering, and made some new friends. I owe my fantastical experience to Akash, Mingma, and all the Sherpa, including our Climbing Sherpa, the chef, and Pradip; without the team, I wouldn't have been able to achieve my dream (well, almost ). Without question, whenever I go back to Nepal, I will trek with Mountain Monarch.
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Bennet 5.0United KingdomFebruary 17, 2014
Highly recommend Mountain Monarch
I spent three weeks in a small group doing the high passes trek to Island peak to peak in the Everest region with Mountain Monarch in November 2013. Our guides were Ngima and his brother Nuru, both of which I cannot recommend highly enough. My boyfriend’s interest in climbing Island Peak led us to use Mountain Monarch. We wanted to use a Nepalese company, they offered a well-thought-out route, and the price was very competitive. We were very happy that we had made that choice. From our arrival in Kathmandu, when Ngima met us, we were well looked after. We have been to Nepal several times in the past and have stayed in a few places in Kathmandu, and we liked the trek lodges that Mountain Monarch used there very much. The staff there was friendly, and it felt very comfortable. Ngima gave us a thorough briefing before we left to fly to Lukla and, throughout the trek, was ever-present to offer help, advice, and information on the areas we were in and going to. Our group of 8 was a mixed experience and mixed ages but got on very well. Ngima used to sit and play cards with us around the dung-burning stoves at night. We wished we could have spoken to our excellent porters more, but the language was a significant barrier. While Ngima and Nuru guided us, the porters would carry our bags, sleeping bags, and food along the same route we were struggling with, just with our day packs. They were terrific young men. I found the trek very hard, but however frustrated I was, Ngima and Nuru always had a smile and a jolly countenance to keep me going. At Island Peak, only my boyfriend made it to the summit, 2 of us turning back before reaching the top, and the others in the group stayed in the nearest village due to mild and not-so-mild altitude-related ailments. I only got as far as I did because of the tremendous trust I had in Ngima, and my boyfriend said he would not have continued to the summit without me had it not been that it was Ngima, who accompanied him (I had a climbing porter to escort me down and felt very safe in his hands). Yes, the trek is challenging, and the teahouses along the route are cold and bare, but the views are stunning; the people who run the teahouses are lovely and do their best to make you comfortable. The sense of achievement I felt after completing the trek was worth the effort a hundred times. I highly recommend Mountain Monarch for its people, equipment, safety attitude, and customer service.
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Emma Hughes 5.0AustraliaFebruary 14, 2014
Friendly Manner
From the second I emailed to inquire about the tours this company offers, their efficiency and friendly manner instantly struck me. We booked a cultural tour of Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan and were accompanied by Ram, our guide, and Dipin, our driver. Both they and Pradip, the owner, went out of their way to ensure we had a great time and that all areas of the tour were successful. I thoroughly recommend this company for an enjoyable, well-planned, and unforgettable tour of Nepal. Excellent.
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Dave 5.0United KingdomJanuary 18, 2014
Outstanding Organisation and planning of the trip
Many thanks to Pradip for the outstanding organization and planning of the trip. The admin support from the airport picks up through the day trips and accommodation in Kathmandu through to the group dinner, Lukla transfer, accommodation post-trek, and the airport return. All was exceptional and beyond my expectation. As for the Trek itself, the guide team led by Dawa and the porters were all fabulous ambassadors for Mountain Monarch, trekking, and Nepal. The route had challenging aspects, as you may imagine, but the leadership and planning ensured all the group achieved all they wanted. I had a little altitude sickness which required support and first aid. This was delivered exceptionally well with excellent knowledge and speed, allowing me to finish the high point of the Trek (Chola Pass) and continue the rest of the Trek in fine form. I recommend anyone who wants to trek in the Himalayas to get in touch with Mountain Monarch and have their Himalayan journey.
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John 5.0AustraliaJanuary 17, 2014
Safe and Successful Trek
I traveled to Nepal by myself in December 2013; as it turned out, I was the only member on my trek! Pradip and his team promised me a safe and successful walk even without any other customers, precisely what they delivered! Krish, my guide, spoke excellent English and took care of me and all of my needs; Rahm, my porter, was also excellent company and a great asset both in the tea houses and while taking my bag to the next stop.
After seeing other companies during the trek, I was grateful that I had chosen Mountain Monarch. The daily medical checks to ensure I was acclimatizing to the altitude, wake-up calls with tea (and then evening tea with cookies after settling into tea houses!), and the loan of specialist gear like thick down jackets and heavy-duty sleeping bags are some of the things that made the company stand out from the rest! All accommodation was basic but of a high standard for the region. Food was plentiful, varied, and tasty, and all tea houses had internal bathrooms, a significant plus when trekking in winter. We also changed the trekking route due to fitness and weather limitations (Which was also helped by trekking in the low season when tea houses were not filled). Krish and I talked each day all day for the entire trek, which was enjoyable, and I now consider him a great friend I am so lucky to have met.
Cost-wise – I could not find a cheaper company to trek with that included everything Mountain Monarch did. Although, food on the walk, medicine (i.e., Diamox for altitude sickness), and airport transfers was included, unlike other providers I looked at.
As far as trekking alone goes – I met other tour groups on the trek at the different tea houses, so I was never without company – And I consider those people I met to be some of the best adventurers with the most varied backgrounds I could ever hope to meet!
Pradip, all my friends, want to know how the trek went, and I recommend your company should they choose to see Nepal. My Mum has seen the photos and is considering going as far as Pangboche! Will be in contact when we coordinate dates to come back! Thanks for being part of the most exciting and best holiday I have ever had!