Review of Nepal Planet Treks and Expedition

We trekked with Sanjib Adhikari from Nepal Planet Day Tours from 15.4.2015 to 28.4.2015. On 4.25.2015, the massive earthquake struck while we were on our descent from Base Camp, in Namche.

Sanjib picked us up from the airport when our flight arrived 12.4.2015. He took us to our hostel, and visited us again the next morning, taking us to various places to get final provisions prior to our trek. His office is very nice and he served us tea.

He picked us up the morning of our flight to Lukla. Upon arrival in Lukla, we met our porter and we had breakfast. The cost of our trek was extraordinarily competitive and everything was included. The only thing I had to pay for was if I wanted something like a candy bar while trekking–and then only if it weren’t a scheduled meal or break. I honestly feel we had the best deal available for this trek in Nepal.

Sanjib commands a certain amount of respect from the Nepalese and other guides. He is very tall and in excellent shape. He seems known by everyone on the trail, from the teahouse owners to the other guides to airport personnel. It seemed as if he arranged everything in advance, getting us excellent lodgings in teahouses. Each of our dinners came with pomegranate seeds and tangerines–but no one else in the dining area had these. To this day, I don’t know where Sanjib found this stuff.

My travel partner and I are 57 and 53 years old respectively. Sanjib did not push us to make our miles in any amount of time. It was a leisurely pace, although still very difficult. He explained many of the sites and cultures. He knew everything it seemed. His English was good enough where we had absolutely no problems with communication.

Sanjib has an excellent sense of humor, and even with the extreme difficulty, I found something to laugh about daily. On the day from Tengboche to Lobuche, I ended up very ill. I couldn’t even carry my pack. I would say this is one of the sickest I’ve ever been. When we reached Lobuche, I immediately laid down under two sleeping bags and two huge wool blankets. I could not get warm. I had no appetite.

Shortly after, Sanjib appeared with a bowl of porridge and cup of tea. He very calmly but sternly explained that it was necessary I choke this down if I had to. He left. I choked it down, and within 1/2 an hour, my strength began returning and I started tow arm up. The next day I woke up about 80% of my usual strength, able to continue on to Gorekshep. It wasn’t until later I found out we were headed out in a helicopter the next morning if I woke up in the same condition.

On our descent, while in Namche, the earthquake struck. This isn’t a review of the earthquake, so I’ll say no more about that event. Sanjib decided, along with my travel partner (I was overruled) to head out the next morning to Phak Ding. The trek to Phak Ding was treacherous, with earth clearly waiting to slide off the mountain. We reached a landslide area that destroyed the trail, so we had a vertical climb up and around this landslide.

The ground we had to climb was very loose and I was fearful it would not hold our weight. Sanjib made steps with his feet, after taking my pack, and assisted me with getting to the top. I was fearful, knowing I left a kid back at home.

A half hour after we got off the trail, a 6.9 aftershock occurred. Sanjib had insisted we be off the trail by noon because of “tales” of another earthquake. I told him that was superstition and he should not worry. He said ok, but we need to hurry up and get off the trail. The 6.9 aftershock occurred 12:30.

Upon arrival in Lukla, so many people were waiting to get out of the airport and back to Kathmandu. Our flight was cancelled, so we were now at the end of the line of hundreds of trekkers trying to get out. We were looking at that time at a good one week delay. Somehow, and he has not told me how this happened, he got us on the first flight out on the day after we were scheduled to leave.

People who trekked the same time as us were stranded for up to two weeks. We were delayed one day. You tell me what kind of pull Sanjib had, to get us out of Lukla only one day later.

When we arrived in Kathmandu, our hostel was closed because of damage. Sanjib found us a very good high rise hotel at a very reasonable cost who took us in. He visited us everyday until we left.

I owe this guide my sincere thanks for the best trek we’ve ever taken–and we are world trekkers–and for in all likelihood, saving our lives.

I cannot wait to again visit Nepal and visit Sanjib Adhikari.