What travellers say about HSJ

Lau Yim May

Singapore · Annapurna Base Camp Trek

My husband and I came from Singapore to Nepal for the Annapurna Base Camp trek, and one of the best parts of the whole trip was our guide, Mingmar Sherpa.We have travelled quite a bit before, but honestly, Mingmar’s hospitality was something different. He was not just doing his job as a guide. He genuinely cared about us and made sure we were comfortable throughout the trek. Whenever we were tired, he would patiently slow down, help us and make sure we were okay. He was always checking on us, and even the small things he did made us feel very looked after.What I really liked was his personality. He was friendly, funny and very easy to talk to. We shared many laughs during the trek and after a few days, it really felt like we were travelling with a friend. Mingmar has a very warm way of taking care of people. I honestly became very attached to him during the trip and really loved having him around. It is not often that you meet a guide who makes you feel this comfortable and welcomed.Of course, Annapurna Base Camp and the scenery were amazing, but Mingmar made the experience even more special for us.Very thankful to Mingmar Sherpa and the Himalayan Social Journey team. We will definitely remember him for a long time!

14 Apr 2024

Mingmar looked after us really well the whole way through. He was patient when we were tired and gave us practical advice that made the higher sections a lot more manageable. We loved hearing about the local communities and learning about the mountains from someone with that much actual experience of the area. Challenging journey, but one we'd happily do again.

29 Nov 2025

Our trek with Indra was a genuinely good experience. He was professional and approachable, always around if we had questions. On the more difficult sections he helped us find a rhythm we could keep, and made sure nobody got left behind. His knowledge of the region made it feel like more than just following a trail from point A to point B.

24 Nov 2025

Ranbir made a genuinely challenging trek feel manageable. He knew when we needed to slow down and kept us going with encouragement through the long climbs. We also appreciated how much he taught us about the local villages and the mountain environment along the way. The final approach to Annapurna Base Camp was incredibly rewarding, and the views were beyond what we'd expected, even after all the photos we'd seen.

16 Nov 2025

Mingmar was a huge help throughout the trek. He kept checking on the group, made sure we were eating properly, drinking enough water, and not overdoing the pace. His calm personality made the harder days feel a lot less stressful than they could have been. And the way the scenery changed from the lower villages up into the high mountains was amazing, really.

10 Nov 2025

One of my favourite trips so far, honestly. Mingmar had a lot to do with that. Whenever someone in the group was tired he'd adjust the pace and make sure we actually had time to rest instead of just pushing on. He was happy to answer pretty much any question about the mountains, the villages, the Nepalese way of life. The scenery from Machapuchare all the way to Annapurna Base Camp was spectacular, and having someone that knowledgeable with us made it even better.

5 Nov 2025

Great introduction to the Himalayas. Santosh stayed attentive the whole way and helped us figure out how to pace ourselves, especially once we started gaining altitude. Having someone with his experience around gave us confidence whenever the trail got difficult. We especially enjoyed his stories about life in the mountain communities, which stuck with us almost more than the views themselves. Reaching Annapurna Base Camp was a moment I won't forget.

3 Nov 2025

Annapurna Base Camp went beyond what we expected. Santosh balanced being professional with being genuinely friendly, which isn't always the case. He helped us manage the altitude, kept us encouraged on the steep sections, and made sure we actually had time to enjoy the scenery instead of just powering through it. The sunrise over the Annapurna range was easily one of the highlights of our whole trip to Nepal.

28 Oct 2025

One of our more memorable trips, easily. Ranbir was supportive from day one and made sure we always knew what to expect for the day ahead. When the trail got demanding he told us to take it step by step instead of rushing, which sounds simple but genuinely helped. His knowledge and just his general attitude made a real difference. Reaching Annapurna Base Camp together as a group felt like a real achievement.

24 Oct 2025

We really enjoyed doing Annapurna Base Camp with Indra. He was friendly, patient, and genuinely seemed to care more about us enjoying the journey than just getting us to the destination. He helped us through the steep sections and told us about the mountains and communities around us as we went. The whole trek felt well supported and, honestly, a lot more personal than I expected.

22 Oct 2025

This ended up being a lot more than just a trek. Santosh was friendly, professional, and paid attention to how we were all doing the whole way round. Those long stone steps on the harder sections nearly did us in, but he kept encouraging us without ever rushing, and let us set a pace we could actually keep up. He also helped us make sense of the local culture and the mountain environment around us. Coming from Singapore, honestly nothing about this trip felt like anything we'd done before.

18 Oct 2025

Ranbir made our first Nepal trekking experience genuinely memorable. He knew the route well and was good about giving us a heads-up on what the next section of trail was like before we got there. When we got tired he'd adjust the pace and kept the group together rather than letting people fall behind. The scenery through the Annapurna Sanctuary was incredible, better than I expected.

15 Oct 2025

From day one Mingmar made us feel comfortable and looked after. The trek turned out more physically demanding than we'd imagined, but he helped us manage our energy and never made us feel rushed to keep up. Having his experience around was especially reassuring once we got higher up. Annapurna Base Camp itself was breathtaking, and getting there felt like a genuine achievement, not just another stop on the itinerary.

10 Oct 2025

Santosh was honestly one of the best parts of the whole trek. He knew the route inside out and always seemed to know we needed a rest before we'd even said anything. On the longer walking days his encouragement really did help keep us going. He also made it more than just a walk by explaining the local villages, the traditions, the landscape around us.

5 Oct 2025

Challenging trek, but incredibly rewarding. Indra stayed calm and friendly through all of it, and was genuinely attentive. He made sure we knew what to expect from each day and stepped in whenever the altitude or the long climbs got tough. His knowledge of the area added a lot to the whole experience. Seeing the mountains at sunrise is something I don't think we'll forget.

18 May 2025

We were pretty nervous going in about trekking at altitude, but Santosh put us at ease pretty quickly. He was patient about explaining how to pace ourselves, kept reminding us to drink water, and could tell when we needed a short break before we even asked. Knowing the trail and the local communities as well as he did made the whole trek feel more meaningful than just walking from point to point. The sunrise at Annapurna Base Camp was unforgettable.

11 May 2025

First Himalayan trek for us, so we really didn't know what to expect. Ranbir was supportive the whole way through. Whenever the trail wore us down he'd encourage us rather than push, and helped us find a pace we could actually sustain. He also introduced us to the local culture and told us about the different villages as we passed through them. Fantastic experience from beginning to end.

3 May 2025

Mingmar made the trek feel a lot easier than we'd braced ourselves for. He kept checking how we were feeling, reminded us to drink water, and made sure we took our time once we got higher up. His knowledge of the trail was impressive. He helped us notice the smaller moments we'd probably have walked straight past otherwise. And the views of Annapurna and Machapuchare, honestly, spectacular doesn't quite cover it.

20 Apr 2025