Don Norton (Colorado, USA), Indigenous Peoples Trek, Ramechhap District, September 2018, 6 days:

"In September 2018, it was my good fortune to go on a trek with Purna as my guide. He had been highly recommended by a friend, and I am grateful for this excellent advice! I was a little apprehensive about spending a week with someone I had just met, but I needn't have worried. Purna is thoroughly pleasant and easy to be with, and we got along great from start to finish.

On a trek you want someone who is competent and experienced, and Purna is among the best, with tremendous experience to draw on. Above and beyond that, you want someone you can completely trust; someone with a good heart who is not just doing it for the money. Purna is such a fine human being, warm and supportive and with a heart of gold, who genuinely has your best interests at heart at all times. This made it easy for me to relax and enjoy the experience.

I am deeply grateful for the ways that Purna connected me to the land we were traveling through and the people we met, answering my many questions and interpreting so I could converse with locals. These conversations added so much to the richness and depth of my experience. As a result, this trek was a high point of my life I will always remember with great fondness. Thank you, Purna, for this wonderful, fantastic experience!"

Elisabeth Eckhardt (Calgary, Canada), Manaslu-Anapurna-Upper Mustang trek, October/November 2016:

"We were fortunate to be trekking with Purna for 6 weeks in Oct/Nov 2016 along the Manaslu Circuit, Annapurna Circuit and into Upper Mustang. It was an incredible experience largely due to Purna's amazing organizational and people skills as well as his vast knowledge of these areas.

He did an amazing job planning and organizing all the permits, transportation, accommodation and guides/porters for our group. While on the trek he made sure that everything and everyone was taken care of - always with a smile!"

Olivia Northcott (Australia), Khumbu/Everest Region trek to Gokyo Ri, April 2015:

April 2017 testimonial : "Two years ago, Bill and I were experiencing the big earthquake in Nepal. We are very lucky that we only have memories, but our amazing guides, Dipak Khadka and Purna Thapa Magar still live with the consequences of that day and the subsequent after shock on May 12th. I want those special kind men to know I think of them everyday."

Sara Shneiderman, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - Multiple treks 1997-2015:

“I’ve had the pleasure of traveling with Purna many times over the last 20 years. He is a remarkable self-taught leader, with a wealth of experience across many areas of Nepal. I’ve traveled in many of Nepal’s remote regions over time, both as a researcher and as a group leader, and there is no one I trust more in difficult terrain. He’s carried both of my children on his back through Mustang and Dolakha – and they also trust him completely. He’s also wonderful in Kathmandu and on day trips in the Valley. I recommend him in the strongest terms; you won’t be disappointed!”

Joel Harris (USA), Manaslu Circuit with Tsum Valley, Fall 2014:

"Western guide services should take a trek with Purna to learn what client service is all about. Purna was our main guide for the Mansaslu/Tsum valley trek in the Himalayas in the fall of 2014. Our 21-day trek had a very complicated itinerary including a climbing attempt at a 6,000 meter trekking peak along the way, which in itself involved arranging for a Sherpa climbing guide, climbing permit, climbing equipment and base camp.

Purna was very easy to work with from the beginning and was always ready with a smile if we wanted to change plans or needed extra porters. He was extremely knowledgeable of the trekking/climbing permit system and how to arrange for jeep rides; porters; lodging; food; and all the small details needed for a successful trek in Nepal. Our assistant guide and climbing Sherpa were very accomplished and professional, as well as the tour guides in Kathmandu and Chitwan National Park, all arranged by Purna. In the end, Purna created our dream trek surpassing all expectations while keeping us looked-after and safe.

If you are planning any type of trip to Nepal, whether it includes trekking or arranging for guided tours, Purna would be my first and only recommendation."

Manaslu circuit with Tsum Valley, Fall 2014 (USA):

Tom Davies: "Hiring Purna was the best decision. He made all the other decisions so much easier. Purna helped us create our own version of the perfect Nepal trip."

Steve Bower: "Purna went above and beyond (literally) to take great care of us, always with great respect and tact. I look forward to trekking with him again."

Timothy Morey: "Purna is an excellent guide, fixer, program manager and travel companion. He surrounds himself with a great team, all of whom shared his demeanor and attitude. His local knowledge is also top notch."

Laura and Mathias (Germany), Upper Mustang trek, 2013:

"We enjoyed our trip in the prior few years to the Forbidden Kingdom Lo (Upper Mustang), thanks to Purna's creative help. We were very pleased with his organization and supervision. Purna knows the area very well and thanks to his charm we could often come into an intense conversation with the locals and learn about their life and traditions. In our view, Purna is a very talented, balanced guide that, despite the limitations of teaching himself, speaks an excellent English and deals with many topical issues. He is concerned about social and political developments and the future in his country. Moreover, Purna has enormous feeling about us Westerners. I would say that he understands us intuitively and has tact.

There was not a single moment during the entire trip in which there was disagreement. Purna is witty, open, honest and extremely reliable. We met several times after the trekking tour in Kathmandu and he visited us with his beautiful wife and his cute son.

We can recommend Purna with a clear conscience to anyone who wants to trek in Nepal, especially if one wants to know more than the typical vacation packages."

Andreas & Bettina Richtsfeld (Germany), Annapurna Circuit, 2010:

"We were with Purna on the Annapurna Circuit in the fall of 2010, and we so enjoyed his company as a guide and companion. We were also in Pokhara, Chitwan and Kathmandu. He accompanied us for almost a month through Nepal. Although we had the whole month, and almost always spent the whole day together, we never felt bothered for our privacy, and he became over this time a good friend.

Purna has more than 10 years experience as a guide and even more as a porter. With him we have always felt well cared for and he has always estimated very accurately what we can physically withstand and what we can expect. The Annapurna trek he has done many times, he knows many locals on the trek, and also some nice places away from the tourist places. But most other major trekking routes in Nepal are well known to him."

Sabine Deisenroth (Norway), Annapurna and Upper Mustang trek, 2008:

"My first travel and trek in Nepal was with Purna on the Annapurna trek. Very nice experience and i will never forget the time there! Very good! I felt very safe and everything got organised by Purna (the permit, lodges, food... etc.) and even if everything was planned you felt independent and Purna was open for changes during trekking.

Excellent! It felt very safe to go trekking with him and with his friendly and warm way you got easy in touch with the locals everywhere. He knew a lot about the area and we had a lot of fun!

I can only recommend Purna and for sure I will go trekking with him again!"

Liba Cunnings (Calgary, Canada), Multiple treks, 1999-2009:

"I have been to Nepal 8 times and trekked with Purna several times. He is a reliable and a knowledgeable guide. A delightful young man, very respectful and polite, makes friends easily. It turned out at the celebration at the end of our trek, he is also a great dancer!"

Dr. Mark Turin (USA), multiple Dolakha Area treks starting 1997, testimonial from 2008:

"Excellent, Purna and his team are brilliant guides and know the area very well. Perfect, I cannot recommend them highly enough.

Purna Thapa is both a very experienced guide and from the area, so he is the perfect person to travel with.

I have lived in Nepal for many years, and have travelled across Dolakha with Purna and his team. I cannot recommend them highly enough."

Dietrich Deisenroth, Dolakha Area, 2008 testimonial:

"Wonderful trekking area, very friendly people, didn't meet foreign trekkers for more than 2 weeks.

Professional support, warm and friendly guidance.

Supportive and very helpful because Purna, the guide, grew up in this area. I enjoyed the hospitality of the local people when treated as their guest and staying in their homes."