Hem Raj Bastola

Hem is an outstanding guide.  Everything was effortless when organizing our custom two week journey trekking through the Himalaya with him.  He was easy to communciate with and responded quickly.  He helped us organize all of our permits etc., accommodation, rental sleeping bags and walking poles prior to arrival in Nepal.

We always felt safe with Hem, even if we came across a tricky path or had to change our direction due to weather - he always knew what to do.  His calm and friendly demeanor always ensured an enjoyable trek.  We really appreciate his ability to be flexible, it made the journey comfortable and stress free.

What I find the most valuable about Hem is his vast knowledge.  You can see how passionate he is about his country because he really takes the time to understand it's history, people, and culture.  He was so willing to share all of that information with us and we really feel like we got to understand Nepal in a way that many other travellers don't.  He taught us a lot about the history of Nepal, food, culture and also language.  Because he took the time to teach me how to  speak many useful phrases, it allowed me to navigate Nepal over the following 2.5 months with ease.  He also gave excellent suggestions of things for us to do after leaving Pokhara.  I saw many other guides engage with their groups while trekking and none of them ever gave the kind of quality information or depth that Hem shared.  I believe that if you truly want to know Nepal, not just surface level ideas of Nepal - then Hem is the perfect guide.

We were lucky enough to spend some extra time with Hem and his family after the trek.  I think that he went far above our expectations as a guide and truly became a friend.  We absolutely adored all of the amazing stories and poems he would share.  It made for a journey and memories that we will cherish for the rest of our lives.  Whenever we come back to trek in Nepal - there is only one guide we will ever need.