Showing 249 reviews
  • Beth Jeffery
    Beth Jeffery 5.0United StatesJanuary 02, 2023logo

    Well taken care of

    We booked with Mountain Monarch in April 2020, but COVID happened. So, we rebooked for December 2022. We were concerned about the cold. Mountain Monarch supplied us with good down sleeping bags and parka down jackets that kept us warm. We were picked up from the airport and taken to our hotel. Pradip arranged a city tour for our extra day. Our trek was amazing. Clear skies. Had snow one day; it was beautiful. Mingma Sherpa, Chhoti, a female porter, and Ramesh took very good care of us. The tea houses were clean, the food was good, and water was supplied. I will be back. I highly recommend Mountain Monarch take care of all the details of tea houses, flights, transportation, hotel, park fees, tours, etc. Such a fantastic experience. Thank you so much.

  • I
    Ian Herbert 5.0United KingdomDecember 12, 2022logo

    Fantastic Experience

    Fantastic experience. We did the Three Passes Trek with Mountain Monarch, and everything was perfect. Pradip was flexible on our booking due to Covid, and we rolled the date forward twice. When we were finally able to travel, we were met at the airport, and Pradip was at the hotel to greet us and take us for a welcome dinner. He also took us to the airport to fly to Lukla, where our guides Nima and Horizon met us with our four porters - 1 for each trekker, so they had reasonable loads. Nima and Horizon were excellent - did the correct acclimatization, including walking at a slow pace uphill; very informative about the views, local life, wildlife, and culture. Renjo La and Cho La were tough, long days, but we got there at the steady walking pace set. We had great rooms in the teahouses, and they really looked after us well with dinners, teas, and chocolate bars. One of our parties had a medical problem, and Nima dealt with this expertly. Horizon gave good advice on our capabilities, including getting myself and my wife to EBC and then to the top of Kalapatthar the next day. We decided to skip the final Pass and make a leisurely way down the Khumbu - Horizon was happy to switch the itinerary to meet our needs. After 18 days of trekking, Nima and Horizon became friends and Guides. Once back in Kathmandu, we were met again by Pradip, and then he personally took us to the airport for our trip home. Everything was so well organized and ran smoothly - I would totally recommend this local Nepalese company for a future trek.

  • R
    Rachel 5.0CanadaDecember 05, 2022logo

    Amazing Adventure

    My partner and I completed the EBC trek with Mountain Monarch in October/November 2022 and had a fantastic time!! The trek itself was breathtaking and a unique challenge. It was great to have the whole thing planned for us, so all we had to worry about was the next step in front of us. Everything from picking us up at the airport to flying to Lukla and back was easy and smooth. MM somehow got us on a flight straight from Lukla to Kathmandu. We would not have been able to do it if we were on our own. Pradip even helped us get bus tickets to Pokhara after our trek! The price is slightly higher than other companies, but we thought it was worth it.

    We especially loved that they are a 100% Nepali company, so all money goes to support their economy and one porter for each trekker policy. We got boiled water instead of plastic water bottles to save plastic. We had a great group of people from around the world to hike with. Our guides (Santosh, Roshan, and Fingo) were super knowledgeable, patient, and helpful! We learned much from them about Nepal, the Everest region, the wildlife, and Buddhism. On our way back down, the plan changed slightly, resulting in walking for over 9 hours one day, walking into the dark even, and it was hard to understand the plan due to language barriers fully. It just would have been nice to have it communicated to us better. But other than that, we loved the route and loved that it went off the beaten path a bit, so we had a few much quieter days to take in the area and the culture (the areas where there are no other paths were often quite busy, I will say). Highlights were visiting EBC (obviously), Kalapathar summit (more complicated than anticipated but so worth it!), and the quiet village of Phortse, where we saw the rare musk deer and all the dal bat! I would definitely recommend booking with Mountain Monarch!

  • G
    Glenn Fine 5.0United StatesNovember 20, 2022logo

    Everest region photography trek

    This was my first visit to Nepal and my trip could not have gone more smoothly. Pradip and all the folks at Mountain Monarchs were easy to work with and handled everything from my arrival in Kathmandu until my departure 22 days later.While hiking in the Khumbu region, Mountain Monarchs’ guides and porters were more than helpful and always seemed happy to be sharing the trek with us. We took many side hikes, some steep and at the end of the day, and we were always encouraged to spend as much time as we liked hiking and taking photographs. Being a photography trek, we spent multiple days in some of the most picturesque areas, like Gokyo and Ama Dablam. If you’re thinking of trekking in Nepal, I highly recommend Mountain Monarchs.

  • A
    Abhishek 5.0IndiaNovember 14, 2022logo

    Island Peak Climb

    I’m so glad I had Mountain Monarch as my first expedition team and Chheten as my guide. The whole team was like a happy family and our lead guide Chheten planned the summit day like a boss. We were at the crampon point right when the sun came out which really helped us a lot with the body getting warmer and the ice wall got a lot easier once we got to see the summit (in my opinion). Mr.Pradip was great with the itinerary and Chheten and Mingma made sure everything else was taken care of.I know for sure I’m meeting all of you again very soon.

  • S
    Steve Pikula 5.0CanadaNovember 13, 2022logo

    Simply the best on many levels!

    The company you chose makes a HUGE difference, and I'm so glad I decided on Mountain Monarch for many reasons.1) One to One porter to client ratio: Many people don't realize that numerous guiding companies treat their porters inhumanely by loading them up with unreasonable loads, often over 50kg. As clients, we have a social responsibility and should not allow companies to allow these wonderful people's horrible treatment for a few dollars. Mountain Monarch takes this seriously and treats their staff as well as their clients, and it was VERY noticeable on my trip! Kudos to them!2) Communication Transparency: Pradip (the company owner) always responded quickly and clearly from the first inquiry to the after-trip debriefing. He truly cares about his clients and wants to make the experience positive and memorable. 3) Local: The last time I was in Nepal, I used a Western company and quickly learned that ALL Westerners subcontract the locals to do the work for them anyway. This time, after a lot of research, I chose the best local Nepalese company I could find to put more money into the local economy rather than into Westerners' pockets which would grind down the wages local Nepalis earn. Nepal is a developing country, and I believe every dollar matters. So glad I did this!!4) Quality guides: I can say, without a doubt, that our guides were amongst the best anywhere on the trail or the mountain. The day before my climb, a large group returned from their summit attempt, and I heard them angrily announce to one of their friends at base camp that they were lucky to be alive. Only one set of fixed ropes on the mountain and a big traffic jam created some hazardous situations on the headwall. My guide Nigma and I discussed the situation and my concerns after hearing about the debacle. He quickly told me not to worry because he was bringing more than 80 meters of rope with him and would fix anchors along the way so we could bypass potentially dangerous areas. On summit day, that plan made all the difference in the world and allowed me to sail safely past others jammed up on the lines. I was NEVER concerned for a moment and was thankful I chose the right company. Also, our guides always read their clients well, ensuring we are at the right pace to achieve our objectives. That helped me slow down when I needed to and never pushed me beyond my abilities, not to mention supporting me by taking my trekking poles through tricky sections. Unlike other guides I saw, he was always there for me when I needed him. My wife's guide, Roshan, was also excellent and super supportive. These guys were the best by far, and so grateful to have them there to improve our experience.5) Food & Cook: At base camp, I was fed very well with quality food in a dedicated dining tent that was for me alone. I'm a fussy eater, and it was not a problem for the cook. I had hot drinks of every variety available to me and could eat as much as I wanted. Excellent service with a caring and supportive smile every time! Here are some tips for your trip: 1) Make sure you spend a night at Tengboche. It is a must-stay location.2) Bypass Pangboche if you can. They have a big problem with their out-of-control dog population. They bark, yelp, and howl all night, making it impossible to sleep. I highly recommend Mountain Monarch, and I can't say enough about them. You are in good hands with these guys!

  • J
    Jacob Haahr Ipsen 5.0DenmarkNovember 10, 2022logo

    Perfect

    Thanks to the Mountain Monarch staff for a perfect trip to the summit of Mera. I highly recommend MM, and my next trip to the Himalayas will surely be with Pradip and the team. Every detail was meticulously planned and worked out perfectly. Climbing boots, down jackets, and sleeping bags, all of good quality, were provided as part of the package. This made it possible for us to go on this adventure without the hassle and expense of costly equipment. I appreciate the policy of one porter to one trekker, which provides decent working conditions for the porters and has no extra cost for us compared to other companies. (Normally, companies only have one porter for every two trekkers)Special thanks to Dawa, our Sherpa guide, who not only was an excellent guide providing us with all needed mountaineering guidance but also shared his vast knowledge about local culture, history, and vegetation.

  • J
    John Waldman 5.0United StatesOctober 28, 2022logo

    Lower and Upper Dolpo trek and Nar Phu /circuit

    I completed my seventh trip to Nepal, all with the experts at Mountain Monarch Adventures, this summer (2022). The Dolpo portion of the trek required tents and cooking staff. Upper Dolpo does not yet have the infrastructure to support staying in lodges past Phoksundo Lake. Despite the difficult logistics and unorthodox itinerary MMA provided a near-flawless experience with competent staff who always had my best interests first and foremost. They were responsive to my needs, flexible when necessary, but always positive and supportive. MMA is simply the best. If you are looking for a basic trek or a complex adventure, they will meet your every expectation. Five stars is not high enough for their rating.

  • S
    Sophie Allen 5.0United KingdomSeptember 23, 2022logo

    Great experience!

    Overall a great experience climbing to Annapurna Base Camp. Our Sherpa, Yam, was brilliant and went over and above to look after us when we suffered from altitude sickness. Trek itself had truly amazing views too!

  • Sandra Stone
    Sandra Stone 5.0United StatesJuly 22, 2022logo

    Climbed Mera at the age of 70 with Mountain Monarch

    In April 2022, I joined a group with Mountain Monarch going to Mera Peak with four other independent trekkers. The owner Pradip had assembled an excellent crew of guides and porters for our adventure journey above 6000 meters. Everyone went out of their way to ensure the safety of each participant. Everything was well planned from Kathmandu to Kathmandu, with nothing to worry about. All equipment, down jackets, sleeping bags, high altitude boots, and crampons were of excellent quality and included in the price; a hassle-free adventure. Our guide Nima and assistant, Pasan, were proficient in guiding us up to the top and safely back down. I was provided excellent support in helping me make it to the summit at the age of 70 years. In addition, my guide sometimes assisted me in completing the trek and climb. I would definitely recommend MM to anyone planning a trip to Nepal. I know my next tour to Nepal will be with them.