Reviews

Four weeks trip with 23 days of trekking and climbing from Lukla to Mera (6419) and Island Peak (6189m) via Amphu Laptsa Pass (5845m). Amphu Laptsa Pass is graded D and the second hardest in the Himalayas region. It was a fantastic experience to land and took off at the world's most dangerous airport. The feeling is indescribable until you experience it. Twelve were in the group, plus five guides, 12 porters, and seven kitchen crew throughout the hike. We stayed in tents for 20 days and the last three days in the local tea houses. One of the highlights of our trip is no shower for 23 days, and the toilets are fundamental. The higher the altitude, the more basic the bathroom will be. We were amazed that we survived without any problems. The weather is freezing, and the daily temperature is below zero degrees Celsius. Waking up daily with snow/ice on the tent, sleeping bag, and beanie is no joke. Hail and snow are expected during our hiking period. Twenty-three days without connecting to the outside world is another good experience. No electricity was available, and I charged my watch and camera with a solar charger. Thank you, Mountain Monarch and the team, for this memorable trip.

We were on the first expedition to Ama Dablam that Mountain Monarch organized themselves. The company was open and forthright about that fact and provided plenty of support to ensure a safe and successful summit. They provided all the technical gear except for double boots. This included the harness, helmet, ascender, Carabiners, accessory cords, ice axe, sleeping bag, and much more if needed. The acclimatization plan was comprehensive and explained to us right at the beginning. Before we left Kathmandu, the climbing guides reviewed our gear to ensure we were well-equipped for the climb.

Outside the gear, we had plenty of guides to help us along the way. By the time we were ready for the summit, we had more than one guide per person. The luxury of this arrangement is that we had individual checks of our safety lines to give us immediate support if we needed it.

The itinerary had built in a lot of acclimatization before reaching Ama Dablam. We trekked through Renjo pass and Chola pass and climbed Lobuche East (6119 m) to refresh our technical skills. For those unfamiliar with using a Jumar/ascender, we spent a rest day reviewing gear and training on a large boulder. We were all very comfortable with the elevation when we reached Ama Dablam base camp. On top of that, the climbing schedule for Ama Dablam is comprehensive. There is no reason to be if you are worried about rushing up the mountain. On the contrary, we spend a lot of time exposed to the elements, so staying warm and healthy is essential.

The plan generally had a week of contingency in case of bad weather. We were hit with high winds during this trek during our summit window. Mountain Monarch allowed us to descend to Pangboche to wait for the weather to clear. This was an extra cost to them that was not passed down to us!

At base camp, we were equipped with a group dining tent, personal sleeping tents (with a down Exped mattress), an outhouse, and an altar for the Puja ceremony. Having our tent to rest in was a comfort I never expected. Another luxury was the charging station that would kick on every night during dinner service. We had about 3 hours to charge our phones and battery packs in the dining tent. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were provided and served with a smile. When we returned from our successful summit, they made us a cake to celebrate!

Overall, I felt much attention was given to us to ensure our safety and comfort. The plan was thorough and well-executed by all of the guides and Sirdar. We even had a helicopter take us back to Lukla to catch a flight out to Kathmandu on the same day! All 4 of us who left the base camp for the summit bid climbed the Amadablam peak together – an outstanding achievement. I’m thrilled I picked Mountain Monarch to go up Ama Dablam.

Fantastic trip to the summit of Mera Central. All credit to the handsome Nima and his brilliant team of guides, cooks, and porters. Support from arrival to departure was superb. Highly recommend it and hope to visit and climb again.

Mountain Monarch organized a great trip. The climbing guides, our cook, and our porters were all excellent. Friendly, helpful, and very competent. We were provided with sound equipment and well-supported in our trek up the Langtang Valley and our ascent of Yala Peak. Many thanks to Pradip and his team.

“What an experience – it was my life-long dream to one day go to Base Camp of Everest, and I can honestly say that were it not for the excellent services of Pradip, the owner of Mountain Monarch and its very professional and expert staff, I would never have made it. I am 73 years old, so I needed a lot of help in preparing for the trip and also help along the difficult trail for a guy my age, but Netra, our guide, and the rest of the porter team and Mountain Monarch made it happen for me, for which I will be ever grateful. Their constant encouragement, wise advice, and expert guidance during the trek were invaluable. The trek was beautiful, and Netra and his team made it enjoyable. In addition, mountain Monarch gave me the best value for the price, which was already competitive, because a lot of things were included, such as a transfer to and from the airport to the hotel, a half-day tour of Kathmandu, a Duffle bag, a warm parka, sleeping bag with liner, and all meals. When you add up all these extras, the cost savings can be hundreds of dollars. I would have no hesitation in recommending Mountain Monarch to my family, close friends, and everyone.”

As always, MMA delivered on a great trek. If you are viewing this review, there is no need to heap further accolades on MMA. They are one of the best guide services, and their one porter, one trekker policy is highly commendable.

The Everest Circuit trek is a highly recommended alternative to the traditional EBC trek if you have a few extra days. You get to go up the less crowded Gokyo valley and return on the more crowded EBC route (in just two days). Going up gives you tremendous views of Cho Oyo and the 180 panoramas of Cho Oyo/Everest/Lhotse/Makalu from the top of Gokyo Ri. Crossing Cho La pass can be work, but it is an incredible experience crossing the pass and glacier. The balance of the trip is the classic EBC route. This trek is well worth it if you have a few extra days!

Lakpa, our guide, took great care of us and was a great guide. He seemed to know every other person we passed on the trek! Another trip of a lifetime with MMA!

I just returned from climbing Mera Peak; what a fantastic trip with our guide Ngima and the other excellent supporting guides and Sherpas. The accommodation was mainly in tents with some nights in tea houses, and I have to say that it was a wonderful experience.
The trip from start to finish was outstanding, and I have come away with many great pictures of five of the world's 8000m peaks and memories that will last a very long time.
The whole group also became friends very quickly and supported each other so that we would stay very close for many years.
Mountain Monarch took care of everything from meeting everyone at Kathmandu Airport, transportation to and from the hotels, internal flights, and generally making sure the whole trip was well organized and safe; this allowed everyone to climb their mountain.
Thank you, and I hope to see you again very soon.

Once again, let me express our gratitude for the excellent service and personal attention given to our recent JEEP TOUR of Upper Mustang. It was a difficult and stressful trip with the weather, road conditions, and flight cancellations but made so much easier by the handling of you and your staff. I “thank” our stars that when choosing a tour company, we decided on MOUNTAIN MONARCH, a local company with hands-on for every delay or problem. Mustang had been on my radar for many years, and I was not disappointed. If anyone is searching for a tour company, I highly recommend Mountain Monarch and give them a 5-star rating. You will leave Nepal feeling like a member of an extended family

Mountain Monarch is an excellent tour company. We had a fantastic ten-day trek on the Manaslu Circuit over Larke Pass, using helicopter services to fly in and out. We appreciated the attention to detail from MM and would definitely use them again for planning and trekking purposes. We fully endorse the one trekker and one porter responsible for guiding that MM provides. What an incredible way to see the Himalayas if limited in time! Highly recommend it to any adventurer!

An absolutely fantastic trek. This combines both the Circuit with the Sanctuary. These two treks complement each other perfectly. The Circuit is a complete immersion into Nepalese culture and the environment starting in the lowland valleys and culminating with the high-altitude crossing at Thorung La Pass. The Sanctuary is the perfect climax for this trek, with unbelievable close-up vistas and panoramas. Mountain Monarch did a fantastic job of guiding. Their policy of one trekker: and one porter is to be commended. During our trek, we saw many instances of porters carrying excessive weight (double duffels!). By reducing loads and creating additional jobs, MM is doing a great thing. Keep up the great work, Pradip!

When we got sick in Manang, our guide (Yam) adjusted our itinerary (we skipped Tilicho Lake) to allow us to get better. This allowed us to break up the long day & climb from Tatopani to Ghorepani into two days. This change in itinerary worked wonderfully.

Our guide produced a bottle of antiseptic hand wash at every meal before being served—an effortless but nice touch.

As we approached high altitude, Yam pulled out a blood oxygen saturation meter to measure our blood oxygen levels at every dinner. This is the same meter used by the HRA clinic in Manang. The meter gave us objective data to reinforce the fact that we felt no ill effects from the altitude. A very reassuring thing. This was so unusual that other trekkers around us asked to try it out!

We give our highest recommendation to MM and the combined Annapurna Circuit and Sanctuary trek. We plan to return in a few years to do Everest with MM!