My partner and I booked the Khopra Danda trek in mid March.
Before arriving in Nepal, Bisnhu was excellent at communicating with us; often responding on the same day (depending on time zones). We were able to organise trekking poles and sleeping bags through him, which was convenient.
Ram (our guide) met us at the airport and had arranged transport to our hotel in Kathmandu, where we met Bishnu and settled the outstanding balance of the trip. Everything was smooth. Bishnu accepted either cash or card (3 % bank charge for card). Conversion from USD to NPR was very transparent, by using the rate on the day.
From day 2, Ram managed everything effectively (logistics, accommodation, admin, and navigation). Ram as a guide was very friendly without being overbearing. This made for a relaxing and enjoyable experience. With the Covid-19 situation bubbling, Ram even offered for us to stay at his family village if we had any issues, which was very kind.
The trek itself starts off on a more touristy part of the circuit up to Ghorepani (Poon Hill), before you go off the beaten path. This mix allows you to ease into the trekking lifestyle after a long flight, with the first few nights spent in more hotel-like accommodation. After Ghorepani until Tadapani, the accommodation does become a lot more basic (due to limited options), but the views and experience are even more exceptional.
Worth noting that all accommodation in the mountains is basic compared to the cities. It's the nature of trekking, not a reflection on the tour quality.
The 'Trip Grade' is marked as easy; however this is dependent on the conditions. We were challenged by some unseasonable levels of snow (waist high in places), which meant that there were some difficult, but rewarding sections of the trek. If you're not experienced or comfortable when things get a little sketchy, I recommend going later in the season. Ram was fairly 'hands off' with us over these sections, but we are quite experienced and were comfortable with the terrain, so this was our preference. If we weren't, I'm positive he'd help at any step of the way.
Bishnu had planned to meet us for dinner when we returned to Kathmandu, as we arranged to stay in Pokhara after the trek. Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 situation this wasn't possible, but this evidences the high quality of customer service that Bishnu, Ram, and the rest of the team aim to deliver.
When we inevitably return to Nepal, we'll be using Nepal Hiking Adventure Company for any guided trips/treks.
