Trek booking opened for 2025/26 ! A notice for Lukla flight diversion through Manthali Airport from March, April and October and November 2025 !
I have been trekking earlier but this time was the first ever to under take a Himalayan trek and that too this long! My friends signed up with NATE for the trek and I got on with it. My experience with Tej Bahadur Gurunji and NATE I can sum up in 4 words – Knowledgeable, Caring, Flexible and Warmth!
Tejji was leading our group and the briefings before each days trek was very useful and gave us a realistic picture of what to expect and prepare. His knowledge not only of the terrain but also on what to watch out for, background on cultural set up etc is interesting. It was pepping up talk and never discouraging to any of us but always gave a realistic picture including our learning of Nepali flat ? (little up little down).
Not only Tejji but his entire team of support staff (porters included) were very affectionate and caring. They always looked out for us. None of our team members were left on their own irrespective of how fast or slow they were going – some one from NATE was always around to shadow and guide. Some of the porters even offered and carried bags of our team members who were struggling on a climb for a certain day!
Flexibility was the epitome of trekking with NATE. I had heard abt the strict schedule and approach followed by my friends during their Himalayan treks however with Tejji, be it changes to the schedule to suit the climbing needs of the team and altering plans to ensure overall schedule was not compromised or be it accommodating requests of changes to the diet (read additions and changes) were done without breaking a sweat!
Lastly, the kind of exposure we got to the local culture including the dance performances by the village folks and local cuisine we tasted at various locations we may not have received with a strict regimental Organizer. This all stems from the deep passion Tejji and he was keen for us to experience it all. No matter how many times we asked him the same thing, he Wud always explain it with same fervour and excitement! This warmth was heart felt and summaried when we bid adieu to the support staff where the entire group partied together and felt the journey traversed was as one and not as client and organizer! We will surely cherish this experience for long!
All in all a very fulfilling adventure and experience trekking with NATE. And look forward to doing this again soon for EBC!
Other Reviews
Mera Peak Climb – go on, give it a go!
From the first email to the last hug, I cannot recommend Tej and his team at Nepal Alternative Treks and Expeditions enough! I've just returned from a Mera Peak attempt and can safely say - after 15 years of travelling back and forth to Nepal, that this trip has taken the proverbial cake. Nothing was a bother for Tej - a brain filled with detail and attention and an abundance of knowledge about his team, the regions and how best to cater the trip for his clients. Despite the weather having other plans for us - the climb/trek was a complete success, not just on a personal level, but thanks to planning, fantastic support from my trekking guide Ugal and climbing guide Gyalje, the porters, chefs and each village we stopped at. We were some of the first to open the trails for the season, so it was super quite and peaceful during our walks. We went up in sunshine and blue skies and came down in some of the most incredible snow i've seen in a long time. Not once did I think my safety was a concern - despite falling off Mera La at 5500m and maybe even into a cheeky crevasse at one point. The food on trail was delicious and hygenic. The tea houses were comfy and warm and so very welcoming. I've never had the comfort of a heated blanket at 5000m in all my travels to Nepal - but Refuge Mera at Khare has you covered - some of the best, well-rested nights of my life, which is an achievement at altitude. A last minute decision by me meant plans down the line needed changing - which was a non-issue and done without any hassles, and everyone involved was supportive and excited to participate. I ended up travelling as a solo female when our second member had to cal last minute - and i was treated with such respect and dignity, as I have been during all my travel to Nepal. Again, Tej and his team of experts were fantastic and I highly recommend if you're planning a trip to Nepal to get in touch and see what they have to offer.Erin Hosking
Australia
Mear Peak !
"Trekking through the Himalayas is a magical adventure that everyone should experience. We wanted to explore a quieter, higher and more technical region than Everest Base Camp - Mera Peak was the perfect challenge. We also wanted to work with a local Nepalese company so that any money we spent went directly to the community. After a thorough "Google" search, we came across Tej at Nepal Alternative Treks. He communicated quickly and efficiently with us via email to arrange our trip, from start to finish, and easily answered all our questions. Our trek guide, Nauser, is a credit to the company. We were very lucky to have such a fun, organised and knowledgeable guide with a permanent smile on his face! Thank you team :)."Maria Bentley
Hamilton, New Zealand