Dear Shyam,

Apologies for the delays in returning the evaluation/comments on our recent trek to EBC/Island Peak. Janet and I returned to the UK to face a whirlwind of work (typical story). We nonetheless wanted to feedback to you that we had an absolutely incredible time – truly a trip of a lifetime. Below I’ll go through each of the sections listed on your ‘Confidential Report’.

Communication: the communication was excellent. In fact, that was one of the main reasons we decided to go with Eco-Trip rather than one of your competitors. We were investigating several different companies, and had sent emails to a few different organisations. However – you were by far the most prompt in responding, and the most flexible in terms of designing an itinerary around what we wanted rather than trying to force us into a ‘standard’ plan that didn’t really suit our needs.

Itinerary: as I’ve mentioned above, we were very pleased with the itinerary you set for us – particularly the inclusion of a weather day for Island Peak (which almost became necessary). None of the days were too long, and it was sufficiently slow to allow us to properly acclimatise.

Our Trekking Staff: we cannot say enough good things about Lakpa and Tsiring.  Both were absolutely fantastic. Janet and I were recently reflecting:by the time we were climbing Island Peak, we had been trekking with Lakpa for almost two weeks – we knew him well, we trusted him, and we enjoyed his company. This made the trek all the more enjoyable (put simply: we were climbing with a friend, and not just a guide).

Services: If this item is referring to the facilities along the trek – we were extremely pleased with the accommodations, etc. Lakpa was extremely efficient in terms of arranging accommodations for us at each step, and took very good care of us while in the teahouses. We always seemed to get the room with the nicest view(!). One minor point was that we weren’t provided with a duffel before leaving Kathmandu (a small oversight), which meant we needed to give Tsiring one of our rucksacks. We managed to make it work – but next time, we’ll be sure to bring an extra bag to facilitate gear sorting and transport.

Climbing Trek Guide: was Lakpa – who was amazing. He is such a nice fellow, with a very calm and relaxing manner. He also gives off a sense of quiet confidence and competence – exactly what you want in a climbing guide. We both felt very safe during the climb. He also did a very good job of catering for our different levels of experience (one experienced mountaineer and one who was completely new to it).

General Comments:
What more can we say – we had an absolutely amazing time and we haven’t stopped talking about since we returned home. The service you provided – from meeting us at Himalaya’s home, to escorting us through Thali, etc. was all wonderful. You also provided us with both an excellent guide and excellent porter, who were both excellent travelling companions. I hope the enclosed pictures convey the sense that we were a single team. Speaking for myself, I had a few minor issues with altitude sickness, insects (tick), and one somewhat dramatic episode of extreme fatigue. In all cases, Lakpa and Tsiring took very good care of us – showed genuine concern, and did everything they could to make us comfortable and keep us safe. I hope we have the opportunity to return to Nepal soon – and if /when that happens, we will be ringing you to arrange our next trip – and requesting that Lakpa and Tsiring join us for our next adventure.
Many thanks!!

Andrew and Janet