51: Davinia and Chan X 02 Pax, Canada.
Classic Annapurna Trekking, 04 Dec 2013.
Comments: Here is my feedback of our tour with Adventure Treks Nepal on the Classic Annapurna Circuit Trekking guided tour.
We had a great time in Nepal! We enjoyed experiencing life in Nepal from the big cities like Kathmandu and Pokhara to the small remote villages in the Himalayas during the trek.
We were pleasantly surprised that we had a private tour. Lucky that no one else joined our group as it was the off-season. Shambhu and Budi are really nice people and very professional. Shambhu is very knowledgeable of the sites and mountains along the trek and of Nepal itself. He answered most of my questions quite easily. Also we felt like he really took care of us especially in the later part of the trek when we got headaches and when my knee started to hurt during the descent to Muktinath. He made sure we had enough to eat, stayed warm with extra blankets, and got plenty of rest. Budi is a workhorse. He never complained and didn't look like he was cold even at the top! Your driver, though we did not spend too much time with him, was professional and courteous.
The hiking itself wasn't that bad. It was the cold up high and the lack of oxygen that made it difficult in the latter stages. But it was not anything we didn't expect. We've experienced high altitude before (4600m) and our bodies dealt with it better this time.
The food during the trek ranged from OK to a few dishes/drinks that we really enjoyed such as Tibetan bread, masala tea, real mint tea, garlic soup, dal bhat (at lower altitudes because of the saag), and aloo parotha in Muktinath.
One of the highlights of the tour was the tour of Muktinath Temple. Shambhu walked us through the grounds explaining the significance of the temples, the number 108, the trees planted in memory of loved ones, and the roles of the monks and swamis. I could tell that this was a special place to him. It would not have been the same had we walked through on our own.
Some not-so-good feedback:
To be totally honest, the tour did not have the best of starts. The car ride from Kathmandu to Besi Sahar was quiet and a bit awkward. I expected the tour to start right away. If not in the car then in the hotel before the drive. I tried to engage Shambhu in conversation but it wasn't as much a conversation as it was a question-answer period. He and the driver talked to each other. I suspect that he is of the personality that takes a while to warm up to people. That is ok. I understand. We are all different. I am just telling you this as feedback. Of course you can tell him what I said but he should know I'm not mad. It is just my observations and how I felt at the time. As I said earlier, the guiding portion of the tour and the relationships improved. Other than that, everything was great and we had a memorable time in Nepal.
Oh, one more thing Gyan. I think you should start guiding again. I find you very funny, with a contagious laugh and easy to get along with.
