Tour Operators - World Expeditions

Just researching World Expeditions as we want to trek to Everest Base Camp - reading Marin's comments has left me a little perplexed. Sorry to criticise you but why on earth would you expect your guide to speak good English when you are in HIS country?!! For me the language barrier would only add to the whole experience - I'd find it really entertaining to have to communicate and muddle through as best we could. Also, camping as opposed to lodging would simply add to the feeling of remoteness within such spectacular scenery. I could not think of anything better than sleeping under the stars with mountains all around me - it's not about meeting lots of people in busy teahouses, it's about absorbing every second of where you are. Each to their own, I know, but when you do a trip like this you are not in the Western world any more - why anyone would you want to go there and have the ease of Western trimmings is beyond me.

I stumbled up on on this site and read the above review from Marin and could not disagree more with her. I simply had to write this review as I believe Marins expectations sounds a little unreasonable. I thought World Expeditions did a fabulous job and was particularly impressed with the way they treated their porters and staff. I believe they choose to camp rather than use tea houses for environmental reasons. My guide was superb and could not do enough for our group. He carefully watched over the slower members of the group. I believe in choosing companies that utilise local guides as it assists with employment for poorer countries. I found many opportunities to interact with local people along the way I guess the trick is to take advantage of opportunities rather than wait for them to be handed to you.

I actually used World Expeditions from my recent trek to Everest and I had a great time. I fabulous guide, Tinzin, he is Nepalese, spoke great English. The local team were simply fantastic, I would recommend them. It is a bit cool at that time of year but I think that there environmental philosophy of staying away from teahouse is actually the best way to trek to Nepal.

I did Everest Circuit with World Expeditions in Feb 08 and had the most fantastic time. It was part of my Gap year, and even though a little bit more expensive, you definitely get what you pay for. The WE staff were just so amazing and the bond at the end of the trip was something i could never of imagined. The porters and sherpas had a smile on their faces everyday, and were always happy to teach about Nepalese life. Our guide Rupan, was always looking out for us, and helped everyone complete the whole trip at their own pace. I am glad we camped as we were away from the busy teahouses and it was fun having our own dining tent, where we could chat and play cards in the evenings. Nepal is just such a special place and I would recommend everyone who likes trekking to go there. It was a life changing experience and am looking forward to my next trip with World Expeditions, hopefully somewhere in South America!

I think world expeditions may be hijacking this feedback! Having travelled with WE before I rate the company but these responses after negative feedback sound suspisciously like testimonials.

I recently took a World Expeditions trip to Everest base camp and I would not recommend anyone use this company for travel. We had very few opportunities to interact with the Nepalese people, our guide could barely speak english and the equipment provide was very poor quality. If you do choose to use them I would recommend you bring all your own equipment, tent, sleeping bag etc. or else you will FREEZE! The majority of the trip was camping versus teahouse lodging which doesn't allow you to interact or get to know the very friendly Sherpa people, huge lost opportunity. I wouldn't go unless a company has an english speaking, western guide, our local guide was next to impossible to understand and it created a lot of communication issues. The country of Nepal is amazing, I can recommend the destination just not the guide service.