Founder Hema Patel is the driving force behind Extollo Adventures. Each itinerary that she helps craft reflects her passion for adventure, ambition to improve by overcoming mental and physical barriers, and an authentic respect for the Himalayas and their vibrant communities.
Hema’s love for trekking first began whilst in college in India. She immediately felt a natural connection to the tall mountain peaks and wanted to share this feeling with her friends and loved ones. Ever since that trip, she has been on a mission to encourage everyone around her to overcome challenges by finding their “mountain” and to find happiness by pausing their busy lives to look at the world around them.
In 2012, Hema’s life changed forever when she trekked to Everest Base Camp and crossed an item off her bucket list. Inspired and motivated upon her return to California, she created Extollo Adventures and immediately began researching the best local providers for logistics and operations. Armed with great partners, she next reviewed standard itineraries from her perspective as a doctor and avid trekker. Her goal was to create unforgettable experiences that addressed both the needs of working professionals and their deeper desires.
Hema’s extensive experience as a trekker across the USA, Rockies, Andes, Alps and Himalayas taught her the importance of having an awesome guide. Having a great trip leader can truly make or break a trip, and she was thus especially careful when selecting the team to lead her expeditions.
Upon reviewing existing safety procedures in Nepal she recognized areas for improvement. This was especially true with regard to high altitude sickness as commonly practiced AMS response and rescue protocols fell short of US standards. The doctor in Hema sprang to action and she immediately began working with her medical colleagues to improve safety procedures and guide training to ensure that her clients were always in safe hands.
As Extollo Adventures continued to grow, Hema decided to devote more time to growing her passion. She loves encouraging trekkers of all levels to push their boundaries, to find themselves in the freedom of nature and to respect the mountains by practicing ethical and eco-friendly trekking. Hema is a proponent of the Leave No Trace movement and would love to connect with you to customize a trek that helps your group make the most of an amazing trip to her beloved Nepal.
Hema likes to make short notes from her personal travel experiences and would like to share her journeys with you.
Naba Raj Amgai, the Travel Consultant of Extollo Adventures stepped into the world of travel and tourism in 1996. Coming from a humble family of farmers, he grew up in the mountains of Gorkha. Climbing hills was an everyday affair and each day he had to walk several kilometers to get to school. When he saw trekking guides from his village leading large groups of tourists across the mountainous trails, he wanted to be like them.
Beginning his journey in the tourism industry as a humble Porter Guide, he has come a long way. In a career spanning more than two decades, he has achieved more than anybody dreams of achieving. Along with his professional achievements, his selfless contribution towards his community and society has won him a lot of accolades and praises. His philanthropic projects include employment schemes for retired porters and guides, financial aid to schools and orphans, free mentoring and training to budding tourism industry professionals etc. He is a story of true grit, determination and passion; one that will motivate everybody involved not only in the tourism sector but in all spheres of life.
Chhewang Palden Sherpa is a veteran mountain climbing leader with more than 25 years of experience. Young Chhewang stepped into the tourism industry and worked as a porter, kitchen boy, assistant guide, and cook before being a trekking guide. Gradually, he learned the art of climbing with senior climbers. With time and training, he honed his mountaineering skills. His passion and proficiency in mountaineering are evident in his long list of achievements in mountain climbing. He has been working with us since our inception and has successfully summited many trekking peaks and 8000m peaks, including Everest. He summited the tallest mountain in the world, Mount Everest (8,848m), 4 times. He has also scaled over 8,000m Tibetan peak Mount Shishapangma (8,013m). His long list of achievements includes summiting Island Peak (6,189m) more than 300 times, Lobuche Peak (6,119 m) over 250 times, and Mera Peak (6,476m) around 100 times. Moreover, Chhewang successfully climbed Kyajo Ri Peak (6,186m) more than 30 times and Nirekha peak (6,069m) over 20 times.
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Climbing Experiences:
A veteran mountaineer with around 25 years of experience is Gadul Bahadur Tamang. His list of achievements speaks volumes about his love for climbing. He has summited 6th highest mountain in the world Cho Oyu Peak which is 8,188 meters high. He has achieved the feat of summiting Mera Peak (6,476m) over 200 times, Island Peak (6,189m) around 200 times, and Lobuche peak (6,119 m) over 100 times. Additionally, he accomplished climbing Pokalde Peak (5,806m) 200 times, Yala Peak (5,520m)10 times, Naya Kanga Peak (5,846m) around 15 times, and Chulu East (6,584m) 4 times. He is one of the very few who have crossed challenging Ganja La Pass (5,122 m) of the Langtang region around 10 times.
Gadul was born and bought in the lap of the Himalayas in the Everest region of Nepal, Khotang. Gadul was only 14 years of age when he started his career as a porter. During his early years, he worked as a cook and helper and further went on to work as a trekking guide. He has trekked all over Nepal, as a trekking guide, including regions like Everest, Annapurna, Langtang, Mustang, Upper Mustang, Kanchenjunga, Manaslu, Dolpo, Rara, among others. Traversing Ganja La Pass of Langtang region which lies at an elevation of 5,122 meters is considered challenging. Gadul has crossed Ganja La Pass around 10 times.
Rishi was born in 1977 in the beautiful village of Gorkha and has been working in the tourism industry for over 20 years. He is a highly experienced trekking leader who has guided and led hundreds of trekkers in various regions of Nepal including the most famous trekking zones along with remote and less traveled trails. He has led travelers to the popular Everest, Annapurna, Upper Mustang and Langtang regions numerous times and is also well familiar with Mount Kailash in Tibet, Helambu trek, Panchase trek just to name a few more. Rishi can speak English and Hindi well. He gets praised quite a lot by our clients for his humbleness and friendly nature with a dedication to his job and providing utmost care to his clients.
Rishi has taken all necessary pieces of training including Trekking Guide Training from the Government of Nepal, First Aid Training and English language training from the Kathmandu Environment Education Project, Basic Rock, Ice Climbing & Mountaineering from Nepal Mountaineering Association and is a licensed trekking leader by the Nepalese government.
Rishi is an integral member of Extollo Adventures and also the backbone of trekking leaders in the company.
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Trekking Experiences:
Dol Prasad began his career in the tourism industry starting in 2002. In course of time, he has taken different pieces of training to sharpen his skills. From Gorkha and born in 1983, Dol has garnered enough experience starting from working as an assistant leader and eventually as a trek leader. His honesty and hard work have helped him achieve this feat making him a competent guide. He has been on various treks with our guests and has always come up with good reviews about his work. He is one of our most demanded trekking leaders as recommended on Tripadvisor and other reviews from our past clients.
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Trekking Experiences:
Bimal Thapa was born and brought up in the beautiful village of Gorkha. Bimal is one of the best trekking leaders of Extollo Adventures. He has been an avid trekker since childhood and started working as a trekking guide in 2003. In almost two-decades-long career, Bimal has trekked to every trekking region of Nepal. Over the years, his hard work and perseverance have earned him some loyal international clients. Everest Base Camp Trek, Annapurna Circuit Trek, Annapurna Base Camp Trek, Upper Mustang Trek, and Gokyo Lakes Trek are among the major treks he has done more than 100 times in his career. He has also trekked to Gosaikunda Lakes more than 15 times, Mardi Himal Base Camp, and Khopra Danda more than 10 times. Furthermore, he has done Tibet Lhasa tour, Everest Base Camp Trek from Tibet, Mansorabar, and Mt Kailash Tour. And there’s more. He has undertaken all the essential training and courses for his professional life.
Training:
Trekking Experiences:
Shiva Bhatta is a popular trekking guide of Extollo Adventures. He is a licensed guide and has been in the tourism industry for more than a decade now. Born in the beautiful village of Gorkha, Shiva spent early in his career as a Mathematics Teacher. His love and passion for travel made him plunge into the tourism industry, and now he is among the best trekking guides in Nepal. He has led more than a hundred trekking groups to all the major trekking regions of Nepal. He is a certified trekking guide from the Government of Nepal and has undertaken major training and courses for his professional career.
Training:
Trekking Experiences:
Born in the beautiful village of Solukhumbu, Parbe Tamang has been in the tourism industry for more than a decade now. Parbe started his career as a trekking in 2010 and has earned countless appreciation and admiration for his noteworthy and invaluable contribution. In his more than a decade-long career, he has trekked hundreds of times in the popular trekking routes of Nepal. He has done all prominent trekking in Everest, Annapurna and Langtang Region; including but not limited to Everest Base Camp Trek, Annapurna Base Camp Trek, Gokyo Lakes, and Gokyo Ri Trek, Upper Mustang Trek, Everest High Passes Trek, Tamang Heritage Trek, Khopra Ridge Trek, Poon Hill Trek, Langtang Valley Trek, and Annapurna Circuit Trek. In a nutshell, Parbe has trekked to Everest Region more than 100 times, the Annapurna region more than 50 times and more than 30 times in Langtang region.
He is a certified trekking guide from the Government of Nepal. He has completed “Trekking Guide” training. Additionally, he has completed Professional Eco-Leadership Trekking Course. Parbe has also completed several significant training including English Language Course, First Aid Training, Photography Training, and skill development training program- all in all to hone his trekking expertise.
Parbe with his obsession with mountain trekking started his career at the early age of 15 years old. And since then, he has been excelling at his career as a trekking guide. He knows the nitty-gritty of the Himalayas and hence delivers exceptional services to his clients. Parbe, among his clients has earned countless commendable reviews about his work- his friendly demeanor is praiseworthy.
Ishwor Thapa is an energetic and professional tour guide who has been working as a tour guide for more than 8 years. He is a government-licensed tour guide with extensive knowledge of the major places of Nepal. He has received training from NATHM (Nepal Academy of Tourism & Hotel Management), one of the premier tourism academies in the country. He has guided clients from all over the world. He is obsessed with traveling and exploring new places. In his leisure, you can see him hiking and exploring unexplored parts of Nepal.
Sonam Gyeltshen is a Bhutan Tour guide hailing from the beautiful city of Bhutan. He is a highly experienced tour guide and has a good command of the English language. He knows the nitty-gritty details of trekking in Bhutan and is considered one of the best tour guides in Bhutan. He is energetic, helpful, and friendly, with a never-dying passion for traveling. His happiness comes from the wave of satisfaction from his clients. He worked as a tour guide since 2015 after graduating from the Royal University of Bhutan. He is a friendly and enthusiastic person and fulfills his responsibility with utmost sincerity.
Usha Rai is the senior content writer and editor responsible for creating the overall content of Extollo Adventures. She writes informative and engaging articles and marketing copy to promote our trips and services. She has been in the tourism industry for over a decade now. She has traveled widely in the Himalayas and has been to most places in the Indian subcontinent. Apart from writing, her other passions include reading, music, movies, traveling (obviously!), crossword puzzles, and food.
Ashish Shakya is the IT Manager of Extollo Adventures, who manages technical operations and handles the design and deployment of IT systems in the company. From a very early age, Ashish was obsessed with technology and gadgets. He is a full-stack developer by profession and loves to troubleshoot hardware and software issues. He enjoys traveling and admires what nature offers through long rides and adventure trips. He possesses superior IT technical skills and is the main head for the smooth running of the IT system.
