Review

Mera Peak - 2014

Mera peak : the highest trek in Nepal is not a technical climb, you can reach the summit in 9 days from Lukla, the last day only 4 hours is necessary to be on the top, you just have to follow a daily vertical higher of 500, 600 meters (walk only in the morning), with only 2 nights in tent. The view is unique and wonderful. In May the rhododendrons are in bloom!

Lovers of the mountains will not be disappointed. But the temperature is very cold, it often snows, you need to wear a big jacket and to have a good sleeping bag, there's no heat in the lodge and no shower: if you want it you have to pay. You eat rice, potatoes, noodles, eggs, soup, and drink a lot of hot tea. The guide gives you goods advices not to have a headache. Katmandu is a very big town, a difficult city to live: too much polluted, noisy, dirty and crowded but you need to see in 2 days Durbar square, the Indian and boudhiste temples and Baktapur borrow. You will be welcomed by Khum the Director of Unique Adventure International P.ltd. very friendly and attentive in a nice hotel and the restaurant is good with dances in traditional dress!

Willim Deler

Mera Peak climbing

Our experience in Nepal was very gratifying. Your company contributed enormously to it. This is more or less, our experience. I hope to meet you next time we go to Nepal.

"In the autumn of 2013 we contracted the services of Uniquetreks c ompany . We climbed Mere Peak on October 13. Our initial intention was, once finished the climb of Mera, go to Hinku valley and cross the Amphu Lapsa to arrive Chukung. Unfortunately, the second part of our trekking was not possible due to the great quantity of snow fallen during the 13th and 14th of October.

With regard to the Agency Uniquetreks, we have to say that the service was very good, with a limited price, which makes the relation quality - price excellent. The guide (Sherpa Llacpa) is a very high qualified professional, who knows the route very well, as well as the possible ways of approximation. To come to Honku's valley, we follow an alternative way to Khote, not crossing Chatara pass, which was very beautiful one, despite the bad weather.

The rest of the team - Nima, Phuri, Pasang, Norbu, and Tzambo-always with an exemplary behavior. The food has been of sufficient quality and quantity at all time. The manager-Khum Subedi - always bore in mind any suggestion for our part.

Definitively, it has been a very positive experience with an absolutely advisable Agency."

Jose Miguel Goni

Everest North Side Advanced Base Camp - (6500m)

My friend traveled with Unique Adventure several years ago. So, it was an easy choice for us, when we decided to reach Advanced Base Camp (ABC), 6500 m, on the North side of Everest. We just contacted Khum.

Unique Adventure is a Nepalese company. To arrange trekking in Tibet, the company collaborated with the Tibet Kyunglung Travel Service, making sure that all necessary logistics is in place. With their well coordinated efforts, we became legal in Tibet and smoothly crossed the Chinese border in both directions.

We had a Tibetan guide, Paldin, responsible for booking and transportation in Tibet. We also had a Nepal Sherpa guide, Tenging, who arranged a permit to the ABC 6500m on the North Face of Everest and with his small crew and yaks helped our successful trekking (see everest6500.com), while providing us with food and comfort to the degree possible above 5,000m.
Thank you, Khum, Paldin, Tanging!

Jeff Zhuk

Mera Peak

I was on a 12-day Mera Peak climbing with Unique Adventure International, Mar 18 to Mar 29, 2013. We started from Lukla and ended up there. My original itinerary was to go Mera Peak, then take Amphu Lapcha and finally climb Island Peak. I consider myself very lucky about the offered price; Mr. Khum.Subedi (director) had offered me a very competitive price for my trip. Unfortunately, the way to Amphu Lapcha was almost closed with very deep snow and would be very dangerous, so we deleted the Amphu Lapcha & Island Peak due to the snow and time frame. This trip involved 2 days of tenting on high camp at 5800 meters. All other days were at lodges, which really helped me avoiding AMS, and also to enjoy the good food, and hospitable people.

For the climb, UAI provided a Sherpa guide (Lakpa) and 2 porters (Mondok and Pasang). The trip involved taking 4 days of trekking to get to Kothe, 3500m, from Lukla. This allowed me plenty of time to acclimatize to the higher elevation; the highest pass we came over was around 4600m at Zatrala Pass. Along the way we saw beautifully blooming rhododendrons and magnolias and different ethnic group villages. By the 7th day of trekking we were camped on the high camp, 5800m, and ready for the final push to the summit.

There is very little technical climbing but I believe Mera is a hard ask for most people. Additionally Mera can be prone to receiving very bad weather. A big dump of snow can ruin everybody's chances of getting to the top. Crevasses can also be a problem. I and Lakpa were up by 3:00 am; the weather was very windy (blisteringly cold wind), and all the way up we were trying to hide our faces from the tiny ice particles that hit with the wind. Deep snow was one of the toughest obstacles you may face after high camp; snow in this time would be fresh and virgin. Crevasses were everywhere, but we were twisted by a safety rope together…so no problem!

Summit day is huge. We summitted Mera Peak at 11:00 am and got back to the high camp at 13:00. The view from the top is one of the best in Nepal with Everest, Makalu and Kanchenjunga all to be viewed.

Do not underestimate Mera. I think UAI does an outstanding job in making the trip safe and comfortable. The guide, Lakpa, is friendly, and very knowledgeable. The itinerary allowed one to acclimatize and give a best chance to succeed on the summit day. I would highly recommend using UAI.

For myself, after trekking in different countries (Iran, Turkey, India and Nepal) during the past three years, and summiting Mount Ararat and Mera Peak, I am planning for Ama Dablam Expedition on October 2014 with UAI. We are looking to form a group for this expedition.

If anybody feels like to join me, you may contact me at my email address or Facebook.

Facebook: Samer Adem
 

Samer AL-Azem

Gokyo and Renjo La trek

The reasons I choose Unique Adventure International P.Ltd. Trekking for a trek to Mustang in 2008, and again a few weeks ago (April 2013) for a trek to Gokyo and Renjo La, is primarily because of the company's responses to specific requests I made. When I shopped around on the web to determine who to trek with, Unique provided me with the fastest and most comprehensive replies to all of my questions. They are also very flexible and can tailor trips to whatever the client needs. I also found that, as a Nepalese company, they are cheaper than Western based outfits. If you book through an outfit in the UK, the US or Australia for instance, you will pay 20-30% more for the "benefit" of dealing with someone local. However most Western based outfits will generally subcontract to companies like Unique for local services, so you are paying more than you should for no real reason. Khum Subedi (one of Unique's owners) and his brother Krishna (who answers most emails) speak and write very good English, so communications have never been a problem for me. Even during the trek, the guides are fluent in English, so you don't need Western based guides that add to the cost.

It is also noticeable how well trained the guides and porters selected by Unique are. A good guide/porter will walk either just ahead, or just behind a client, not too close as to get in the way and not to far either. My guide (who happened to be Krishna Subedi) and both my porters (Nima and Pasang) in my last trek followed my pace and provided the right path suggestions when things got tricky (particularly during the descent from Renjo La in freezing cold near whiteout conditions).

Finally, and I can't stress how important this is in Nepal, Unique provide you with Western toilet seats for any kind of trip! I have bad knees and this made a huge difference in comfort. If you choose them be sure to ask for this little extra service, it doesn't cost anything more but makes life much more comfortable!


Contact me if you need any more information.

Marco Capriz

Mera Peak

In November we climbed Mera Peak together with Unique Adventure International. We were the only two clients and were supported by the guide Lakpa and two porters. Since we were such a small group we adjusted the program to fit us. Some days we trekked longer, some days we trekked shorter. We had a dialog with our guide everyday about were to sleep or eat and he was very responsive to our wishes.

Since we had days to spare after the summit, Lakpa suggested that we should trek out a different way over the Amphu Lapcha pass and then later join the EBC-trek. A very nice trek!

In the end we had a really good time, we went to the summit of Mera Peak, and were always supported by the crew with us. Thank you Khum and Lakpha for organizing this trip for us!

 

Tobias Gustafsson & Annika

Upper Mustang valley with Tilicho

We trekked the Upper Mustang valley and within the Annapurna Conservation area with Unique Adventures. And what an adventure! Upper Mustang was beautiful with its stark high desert landscape and backdrop of Annapurna 1 and Niligiri. When we arrived by jeep, we immediately fell in love with Kagbeni and knew right away that we were in for a great experience. We loved learning about the Tibetan culture of Upper Mustang and thoroughly enjoyed exploring each location we stayed along the way to Lo Manthang, which was incredible!

From Upper Mustang, we continued to Muktinath and then over Thorong La Pass. By this time we were well acclimated for the pass and ready for the climb. Sunrise on Thorong La was spectacular, and the views dropping down from the top of the pass were, well, the stuff of dreams. We made our way to Tilicho Lake through some of the most beautiful and varied scenery in the world. We enjoyed a day at Tilicho relaxing, thinking, and dreaming before we dropped back down to Jomsom; all the while taking in views of Dhaulagiri and the smells of incense and juniper.

The trek was beautiful and our guide and porters were great and a lot of fun! They spoiled us; always looking out for our comfort, safety, and making sure that we had every opportunity possible. We really enjoyed their company and they did a really great job. Unique made all of the arrangements for us and everything was so well planned that we were able to just enjoy our experience. Thanks Unique for giving us an amazing trek in Nepal!

Angela and Kyle

Mustang, Throng La Pass & Tilicho

I did a 20 day trek through Unique Trekking company from Pokhara to Tatopani and then into the Upper Mustang region, Throng La Pass and visiting Tilicho Lake. I could not be happier with my experience.

The company provided me with as much info as I needed and provided everything along the way they were very clear on what was included, what to expect and the level of health I should be at. The trek itself was incredible a very well put together combination of different areas showing the diversity of the Nepali landscape.

I was provided with an English speaking guide and porter who were both very professional and knowledgeable. Any questions I had along the way they could answer, they wee constantly making sure I was coping and we had a lot of fun together.

There were so many highlights but some of the most memorable things would be the sunrise at Poonhill, experiencing Tibetan culture in the Upper-Mustang, completing one of the worlds biggest passes in Throng La Pass, but I think the highlight was visiting the highest lake in the world Tilicho Lake whilst hearing avalanches crunch down the neighboring mountain :) I would have no hesitation at recommending 'Unique Trekking' to anyone interested in doing any treks available in Nepal.

Anthony Mitchell

Mustang Trek with Tilicho Lake

We chose Unique Adventures because of their professional website and prompt and concise answers to all our queries. It turned out to be a really good choice!
We wanted to see the Rhododendrons, go to Mustang and get into some high altitude areas. Khum and his team put together an exciting trek which is now offered on their website.

We were warmly greeted, with a garland of marigolds, at the airport by Khum. We later met our guide, Krishna and porter, Neema. We trekked with them for 20 days and they were caring, kind and sensitive to all our needs. Krishna a young man of 28, speaks English really well and has a sound knowledge of the mountains, Nepalese politics, education, religions, etc and answered our many, many questions with much patience. Neema, a family man of 32, was an absolute gem. He treated us with respect and made sure we were safe and well fed. He was assisted by Tenzy, only 18, who bravely carried his heavy load over the treacherous high passes.

The Rhododendrons were flowering and fabulous. Fascinating Mustang was sometimes cold and windy, but the rewards were immense. It was definitely the highlight of our time in Nepal and well worth the extra expense of a permit. The high altitude circuit, which took in Thorang La, Tilicho and the Mesokhanto pass, is something we are very proud of having achieved considering that we are two women in our mid fifties.

Thank you Khum, Krishna, Neema and Tenzy. Our time in Nepal was everything we hoped for and a whole lot more, thanks to you.
We highly recommend Unique Adventures and will use them again if we are fortunate enough to visit Nepal one more time.

 

Kathy Priday and Anne Glass

Island Peak Expedition

I spent one month climbing Island Peak (6189m) and Lobuche Peak (6119m) including Cho La Pass through Unique Adventure and had an amazing experience. Everything was very well organized and planned for - transportation, food, lodging, equipment, permits, and schedule.

Khum Subedi was very helpful at introducing me to Kathmandu upon my arrival and getting everything for our trip organized. I was provided an excellent guide - Lakpa Sherpa, and two strong porters - Pema and Pasang.

My guide did a great job of gauging my strengths and weaknesses throughout the trip and adjusting the pace and schedule appropriately, and as a result we reached both summits successfully. He also taught me an enormous amount about the culture of Nepal along the way. Even though I was a solo female traveler I felt very comfortable with everything and am very glad I chose this trip! I can't wait to go back to Nepal!

 

Sarah Strattan