Arjun Jamkatel

A friend and I travelled to Nepal in November to complete the Everest Base Camp trek.Arjun, our guide, was amazing. He met us at the airport as we arrived and arranged transport to our hotel. Tired from travelling, this was just what we needed, a perfect start. The "Hotel Buddy" was of an excellent standard and a welcome break from the busy Kathmandu streets.

After a couple of days touring around Kathmandu with Arjun, we headed back to the airport to catch our flight to Lukla (already pre-booked by Arjun before our arrival). This flight was a great experience in itself, flying through the Himalayas and then safely landing at such a unique airport.

Throughout the 12 day trek, Arjun was an excellent leader and guide with knowledge of the environment and culture that is second to none. We were so glad that we had booked a private guide rather than one of the many group packages that we saw along the route. It felt like a much more personal experience, which we gained so much more from than other generic large groups.

Every night's accommodation was pre-booked by Arjun, rooms ready as we arrived each day. Food options were much better than we expexted, all included in the trek price, this catering system worked really well. In the evenings, rather than always sitting with the other guides, Arjun would often play cards with us (after a few days we had 3 or 4 guides regularly sitting with us). This really gave our trek a personal touch, we were able to learn much more able their lives and culture than we would have done in a big group.

As we got to higher altitude safety became more of a concern. Arjun's knowledge of altitude related illnesses was excellent, keeping us aware of signs and symptoms. If we were feeling rough we had the option of taking a rest day or trekking more slowly. This is an essential acclimatisation factor, an option that you may not get in a larger group or organisation.

Overall, we could not have wished for a better guide for our Base Camp trek. Arjun provides a professional, educational and, above all, friendly and social experience.

Would recommend to friends and family of any age or ability, he's that good!

Thank you Arjun!