Nara Bahadur Bohara has been my friend since 2000 when he was my guide/porter for a Jiri-Jiri trek to Everest base Camp. Since then he has either been my guide/porter, or more recently my trek organizer for 9 treks, either to Everest Base Camp, the Annapurna Circuit or Annapurna Base Camp. He has always been at the airport to meet & greet me, and always accompanied me back to the airport, feeling fit, refreshed and in good spirits.
He has many characteristics that make him perfect for the job he does. He is a diligent organizer with incredible attention to detail. He’s great at helping to arrange trekking permits in Kathmandu, helping to change airline tickets or accompanying me on shopping or sightseeing trips.
Many trekkers have remarked on how fortunate I have been to have had such a great companion. His English is very good; he has a natural charisma & sense of humour and laughs easily. On trek he always dusts off my rucksack before putting it in my teahouse room; he takes my order for food, and serves it and is always a useful extra pair of hands in lodges, helping light and feed the stove and helping out in whatever way he can. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of Nepalese folk songs, and entertains guests and fellow porters alike with his expert singing and dancing.
Most importantly, Nara is a wonderful companion. He always helps me across icy trails. The first time I crossed the Annapurna he took me by the arm and helped me down through the snow; with darkness approaching, he carried my rucksack and led me to Muktinath. In short, Nara enabled me to achieve goals I never thought I could achieve.
At the end of a trek, back in Kathmandu, he knows how to have a celebratory party. As another contributor so succinctly wrote, “Nara Bahadur Bohara embodies the wonderful spirit of the Nepalese people. He was in a word, perfect. I truly cannot recommend him enough”. Hear hear!