TESTIMONIALS

Everything on this trip was first class. Our guide, porter, city hosts, driver and everyone else were on top of all our needs and delivered impeccable service. The only negative was that I learned that in this computer age I had almost forgotten how to write in a journal. I’ll have fun trying to decipher my chicken scratching. Despite having a cold and sore throat, our porter, Sukbir pressed on each day. Diamox was very helpful getting us acclimated to the lack of oxygen. We felt our trip to Base Camp was saved due to our guide, Puru deciding that we could go a day early and cut a future long day in half. As it turned out, had we not made this modification we would have been hiking in snow/rain and probably wouldn’t have seen Everest. The day we reach Base Camp we had sun and a clear sky. When we needed to make a travel adjustment, Puru worked with his fellow associates and made things happen. We kept saying that Puru “….knows a guy who knows a guy!” Anytime we needed help or advice, Puru had our back. He literally put himself in between us and the yaks! Goyko was beautiful. The lake was like a mirror reflecting the sky and the mountains. Our final night’s dinner was fantastic and ended with Puru and Tshering singing a little Elvis. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone fit and open for the challenge. I can now say, bucket list item #1 completed!

There really aren’t adequate words in the English language to accurately describe this trip. Somewhere in the middle of the trip I realized how fortunate I was to have booked with Hobnail Trekking and to have Puru as the most amazing guide (based on stories other trekkers were sharing about their companies/guides). Puru greeted us everyday with a smile and unshakeable optimism. Our porter, Sukbir, was equally amazing and we were blessed to have them as our dynamic duo. The Nepalese people are truly special and some of the kindest, humble, generous and hard working people I have ever had the privilege of meeting. The Himalayan mountains are breathtaking and hiking under the towering peaks of Thamserku, Kantega, Kusum Kanguru, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Everest is humbling and centering. Though exhausted much of the time- I never felt more at rest. Gokyo Lakes was stunning- beautiful bright blue still waters underneath a cloudless blue sky. I met some amazing families who ran tea houses, had summited Everest, and trekkers from all over the world. We saw 16th century monasteries and hiked through what felt like rain forests. Base camp was a bustling blur of photo ops and celebration. I had the most amazing time- and I owe much of that to Hobnail and Puru for making it such a personal and memorable experience. 5 of 5 stars.

The experience is really beyond words. Hobnail does an amazing job both here and in Nepal. From the moment I walked out of the airport in Kathmandu to the minute I walked back in, I felt incredibly cared for by Dawa and his team. There was never a moment of fear. Those guys go SO above and beyond the call of duty in their attentiveness and thoughtfulness; it’s just mind-blowing.

I chose Hobnail Trekking Co. for my trip to Everest Basecamp and Gokyo Lakes. Hobnail helped create one of the fondest memories and experiences I have ever had. Mark and Holly were so incredibly attentive and had thought of every little detail to make our trip special. Our guides were so present and supportive to the group and made every day on the trail incredible. I can’t recommend this company more!! Don’t wait any longer, sign up NOW!

From the very beginning, Hobnail Trekking provided a clear and well-structured itinerary, outlining every route, stop, and scheduled event. Because of this, I knew exactly what I was getting myself into, and there were no unexpected surprises — only incredible experiences. Their organization allowed me to focus entirely on enjoying the trek, immersing myself in the culture, and taking in the breathtaking scenery without any logistical worries. (See Luis’ “Featured Hobnailer” interview HERE.)

Everest Base Camp Trek with Hobnail was an incredible adventure. I was taken care of like family and so thankful that I said Yes to this opportunity. If you are thinking about going, I hope you say Yes as well. Cheers to Adventure and Making Dreams Come True!

My experience with Hobnail made me change my preference between a solo trek and a group trek. For me, a group trek is better than a solo trek. The other trekkers and Sherpas definitely improved the overall experience. Plus, being with an organized group allowed me to focus on the trek and not the compulsory logistics (flights, lodging, where to eat, what to eat, etc). This adventure was exactly what I was looking for.

I love the personal touch Hobnail provides with meeting your team before you leave the U.S. Also, all the swag they give us and the respect and trust they have in their Nepali team. I highly recommend this group! They take the best care from start to finish.

Our trip to Nepal was nothing short of magical. Despite numerous attempts by the elements to keep us pinned down, our thorough and adaptive trekking company, Hobnail Trekking, came through every time to provide an experience which was visibly superior to every other group we passed on our way to Everest Base Camp.

I had an amazing experience with Hobnail Trekking on my recent to trip to Peru! The app they’ve created has everything you need including your flight info, detailed itinerary and even recommendations for places to check out for each city you’re in. Mark and Holly were easy to reach and communicate with prior to the trip as well as during. Felt very informed, supported and prepared each step of the way. Would 10/10 recommend anyone thinking about going on one of their trips to say YES!!

Amazing trips! Great company! Good people! I have been on an EBC trek with Hobnail in 2018 and recently went on one of their Peru trips (2022). Both were unforgettable trips of a lifetime! I will most certainly be traveling with them again.

I have gone on two treks with Hobnail…Nepal and Peru. Both were fantastic. The attention to detail and personal service makes this company special. They create a personalized app to use that has all the info you will need…flights, gear, daily schedule, weather, etc. All our guides and accommodations were excellent. I would highly recommend Hobnail for your next adventure.

I traveled twice to Nepal (Everest Base Camp) with Hobnail in 2018 and 2019. Both trips were extremely good – everything was planned and executed perfectly by Hobnail, from guides (Sherpas), to lodging, to daily itinerary. If COVID-19 had not intervened, I would probably have repeated the trip a third time. I would heartily recommend Hobnail to anyone considering a Nepal trek. If my trips were anything to go by, I am sure any of their newer trips will be just as meticulously arranged!

Mark and Holly (owners of Hobnail) are just plain good people and make the entire process of putting together a trip an easy and personable experience. I cannot wait to try out their new editions to the trekking line up.

Don’t wait another minute to do that bucket list trip!

Hobnail Trekking Co made our trip so simple…we only had to focus on us and taking it all in. They handled any questions/concerns immediately. We were fortunate that we got to meet our lead Sherpa and many fellow trekkers months before going so we were already familiar with one another. Can’t wait to do another trip with Hobnail!!

My wife, Susan, and I attended an informational meeting about trekking to Mount Everest Base Camp just because it sounded cool! Mark and Holly immediately became friends and we took the plunge! Best decision ever! They were true to their word about keeping in contact and preparing us! We joined a Facebook group with our trek mates and did some hikes with them in order to get to know everyone. The trek itself was amazing! We enjoyed every step… The preparation, the learning of different cultures, the food, the people, the smells, the places, the smiles, the different ecosystem changes and especially the VIEWS! This 3 weeks changed our lives and gave us lifetime memories and friends! Pick your trek and sign up now! We’d do Everest again in a heartbeat!

This is an ideal trek for someone who wants challenging hiking during the day with wonderful views and scenery, but also it is very comfortable for overnight accommodations. Of course, like with any trek, it helps to have a good attitude, not expect everything to be like it is here, and be able to be happy with all the good things and let anything else just go. Loved the trek, thought the guides were great, and Hobnail was very responsive and nice about everything. Honestly, I can’t say enough good things about this trek and Hobnail Trekking.

This was an amazing experience!! Hobnail Trekking made all the difference in every aspect. From pre-planning to returning home, they had it covered. I have recommended them to everyone I speak with about my trip experience. After speaking with other trekkers using other companies along the way, there is no doubt in my mind that Hobnail Trekking was the best company I could have chosen. If you’re considering Hobnail for your Everest Trek, don’t think twice; GO DO IT!!!!!

Our trek progressed flawlessly from start to finish.  You’ve really put together a great team, and never once did Jessie or I feel uneasy about anything.

About the guides:

Chenring – Picked us up at the airport with his warm smile and gave us our first experience in Kathmandu traffic.  Chenring is so well spoken, and he immediately instilled confidence in us about the trek and the various steps we would take to get underway.  We joked during the trek that Chenring’s advice at the hotel concerning the trek was “just keep breathing!” By day 12 or so, we finally understood his advice.

Puru – What a wonderful guide he turned out to be.  First of all, his command of the English language is impressive. Also, his patience to answer 10,000 questions from dumb Americans over the course of 16 days was equally impressive.  He has a great sense of humor, laughs easily, and was always “on the job,” from the time we met for breakfast in the morning until we turned in at night. I really appreciated his quiet demeanor, his attentiveness to all our needs, and his knowledge of local cultures and customs.  Plus, he’s a helluva “spoons” player and rummy card player!

Sera – That big infectious smile of his says it all.  We all ended up loving Sera.  His knowledge of the trails and knowing just how to lead us up the mountains in a way that our bodies could acclimatize proved to be very valuable.  He too, was always “on the job”, especially taking care of the old guy, sometimes showing me just where to place my foot on a steep trail, something that Jessie got quite a kick out of seeing, knowing that I’d been climbing rough mountains my entire career in the forest without anyone’s help. But when Sera told me where to step, that’s where I stepped!

Finally, when I made the last step up to the top of Gokyo Ri, and looked around at that 360-degree view, I wept with joy and emotions that I was not expecting.  I turned around and saw Jessie doing the same thing, and we hugged each other in a long embrace that I will always cherish. Ironically, when the trek began, Jessie and I looked at each other and said, “What were we thinking, to add 4 more days to this EBC trek?” Turned out to be the highlight of the trip.