Reviews

Text can’t entirely describe my experience on the Manaslu circuit trek because it’s how I felt on the inside that made it feel so worthwhile as each day passed. It was excellent and so different from the other two treks I have taken with Mountain Monarch, which was in the Everest region in 2010 and 2014 and which I both loved. What I really loved about this trek was the fact that there were fewer people on this circuit compared to the Everest region. Most of the trekking days were spent by the beautiful river, where the sound of raging rapids filled the air. The sound of water while going to sleep was calming.

Larke pass was a long and tough day but a rewarding one. 5,106 meters, and every breath means something as you push on and reach that final flag. And a big highlight for me personally happened one night around 3 am when I went outside and, for a minute, just stared at the magnificence of Mt Manaslu before me, bathed in white alongside the night sky awash with all of the major stars of our universe. At that moment, all I thought was just maybe I was the only one on earth looking at it during that very moment in time. Felt great.

As for the staff, Netra, our leading guide, was so knowledgeable and great to talk to. Pimba, our assistant guide, did an impeccable job as well. Our porters, all young guys, were a joy to be with. My fellow trekkers and I were happy with the complete service. If I return to Nepal ( which I am sure I will), Mountain Monarch will be my first choice again.

“Three passes and peaks trekking - 18 days” is a fantastic trekking, unforgettable, thanks to the perfect organization of Mountain Monarch. Our guide, Mingma Chiri sherpa, was competent, kind, and understanding. The idea of one trekker-one porter is fair and greatly appreciated. The material we did borrow from Monarch was top quality. Our special thanks go to the managing director Pradip, who closely followed our trip from the beginning to the end.

Wonderful and Safe custom trek around Manaslu and Annapurna in 17 days with our guide Yam. Thanks, Mountain Monarch, for the trip of a lifetime.

Nov 2016 – Excellent experience – doing the combined Everest Base camp and Island Peak trek.

The Island Peak part is incredibly strenuous; however, the acclimatization treks leading up to IP are well-designed to help prepare you for the hard slog to the top. The support Sherpas and porters are all first-class with lots of experience. Enjoyed meeting up will all my fellow companions from all over the world.

I participated in a "Mountain Monarch" peak climbing tour to Mera Peak in Oct/Nov 2016. It was indeed a journey of a lifetime. The trekking was very professional and well-organized. There was a high focus on safety with an itinerary that minimized the risk of high altitude sickness. The group – with Ngima Sarki Sherpa as an excellent leader – was competent, very friendly, and helpful. The kitchen staff produced tasty and hygienic prepared food even under difficult conditions. On the summit day, no less than three climbing guides allowed the 8 clients to split into three groups according to individual physical capacity. This contributed to the summit's success rate being 100 %. I had a wonderful trip to Mera Peak with the most astonishing views of the beautiful mountains. I can highly recommend "Mountain Monarch" as a trekking tour operator.
Klavs Wurgler Hansen, Enebaervej 68, 8600 Silkeborg, Denmark

I just want to say thanks to all the folks who made my trip one of the best I have ever had in my life. I did the EBC acclimatization hike and climbed Island Peak with Monarch, and I can only say they made the trip fantastic. I was met at the airport, and all the details were taken care of.

The guides were excellent! And above all else, they were safe. I will be booking another trip with them next October. Thanks to the folks at Monarch!

We sincerely thank Mountain Monarch and our wonderful team, who ensured us a lifetime trip. From Prakash, our excellent mountain guide; Arjun, our super climbing guide; Shambhu, our young assistant; Mila, our cook with his kitchen team; and all the porters and helpers – a great team!

We chose MM for our Mera Peak ascent (Sept 2016) because of their professionalism, value for money, and because they are a locally based company in Kathmandu. We were so impressed by the friendliness, knowledge, and attention to detail across this company, from the Managing Director to the porters.

The MM team showed great care and motivation in our endeavor to reach the summit of Mera (6476m). Without their help and guidance, it is clear that we would not have made it! Plenty of time was allocated for acclimatization, and the trek and climb were well organized. While trekking, we stayed in some teahouses that were of a decent standard and clean and comfortable. We also utilized tents that the MM team was excellent in assisting with quick and efficient setting up and breaking camp even in the wettest and snowiest weather! Food was good, and there was always plenty of it.

Prakash, our mountain guide and an excellent leader, looked after our daily needs and ensured that our trekking was hassle-free. Our climbing guide Arjun is a beautiful character with extensive experience. They confirmed that our climb went without incident, and it was a real pleasure to spend time with them (we now consider these guys our mates!). Our MM crew was fantastic and looked after us well, resulting in the time we spent in Nepal being thoroughly enjoyed.

We found Mountain Monarch, a leading company offering SAFE & RESPONSIBLE trekking throughout the Himalayas. Many of the big-ticket trekking equipment items are catered for by this company at NO extra cost. This included the down jacket, sleeping bag & liner, crampons, gaiters, trekking poles, ice picks, helmets, harnesses, and some excellent additional training!

We are proud of our decision to trek with Mountain Monarchs and glad we made new friends among the team, our trekking group, and the locals. We look forward to our next trip to Nepal, which will definitely be with Mountain Monarch!

Dhanyavad from the Merlano family!

We would like to thank Mountain Monarch Team for organizing a memorable trek to the Annapurna Round for us (Sep-Oct, 2016). We did a fair bit of research before deciding on the walk and booking with Mountain Monarch, and we are delighted with our choice!

At the outset, their website was very helpful and provided good information on various treks. Subsequently, Mr. Pradip quickly responded to our queries via email and phone, and these discussions helped us plan well for the trip, sitting far away from Nepal!

Once in Nepal, we met our guide Arjun and our porters and pretty much relied on them for the next few weeks during our hike. What we liked the most about Arjun and other Mountain Monarch guides we met en route was their professionalism, knowledge (of local conditions + medical), and friendliness. Arjun was well equipped with a good medical kit and an understanding of what conditions to look for in customers. Arjun was also extremely thorough in his daily briefings and flexible in adapting to our constraints and interests.

We could also see Arjun and other guides constantly communicate on trail conditions and updating each other. We felt safe with that kind of meticulous planning. We were also impressed with the policy of “One porter for one customer,” We could see our porters were taken better care of by their management than those porters from other companies.
As we did a teahouse trek, we relied on Mountain Monarch for an excellent local network to get us the better teahouse for stay or lunches at the villages where it got crowded, and they did indeed meet or exceed our expectations.

As a result, we had very less to worry about in terms of logistics, trail difficulty, etc. We could free our minds to enjoy a beautiful trekking experience and spectacular views.
Starting from 800 m to crossing the Thorong La pass at 5,400 m and climbing down to Muktinath at 3,800 m while enjoying great views of Annapurna ranges and diverse landscape each day was an experience we will never forget in our lifetime. If we go back to Nepal for another adventure in the future, it will be with Mountain Monarch!

Thank you and all the team for our wonderful trip to Nepal and the Annapurna Panorama trek. It has been one of the most enjoyable and extraordinary trips I’ve ever experienced. From when we stepped out of the airport to when we left Nepal, Yam was a considerate guide, and the organization was faultless. There was nothing to feel concerned about; we were just free to walk and open our eyes and hearts to Nepal.

We wish Mountain Monarch every success in the future.

I had a brilliant time with MM on my first-ever trekking holiday. I appreciated being in a small group of two as it meant our plans were easily adapted to suit more of what we wanted along the way. CP was an excellent guide who looked after us significantly when my fellow trekker fell ill and was hugely entertaining, friendly, caring, and passionate about the trek, Nepal, and life itself! Just when I thought nothing could top our day at Annapurna Base Camp (ABC), our last day during the Dashain festival was so beautiful that it caused a lump in my throat of gratitude and emotion, especially when we were playing on the festival swing with the children after walking through the beautiful paddy fields with the endless variety of pretty butterflies and dragonflies.

Prasun, our porter, was amazing; I wish I could have spoken Nepalese to him! In comparison with another tour company (compared notes with another group post-trek), ours was much better organized. The service was far better and more respectful with private transfers between KTM and Pokhara. I definitely recommend MM and would use them again.