We don’t do trekking. We like a good walk, but at a nice pace and without lugging about loads of gear. We like the gentle nature of walking, when you can hear the birds and smell the spring blossoms. We like stopping to admire some rhododendron flowers. We like starting at the top of the hill and strolling our way down to a really good lunch stop. We like slow travel.

We work really hard to make the joys of Nepal and Bhutan accessible to a wide range of travellers. Over a decade of personal experience has given us insight into some gorgeous places, some stunning trails and the best pancakes in the Himalayas. A good cup of tea and a pancake is the ultimate reward for a decent walk. Slow travel is not about trekking.

Some walks are about an hour. Some are several hours. There’s usually one or two sections that are easy to begin with but get really steep at the finish. We just take them slowly. Never rush. A lot of walking trails are far more enjoyable when you’re not in a rush. Our tours have extra guides at every step of the way so some people can walk a little faster while others walk a little slower. If you find our itinerary is too slow, we can arrange one of the guides to take you on a longer stretch instead. Flexibility is built into the tours.

The experience in Bhutan and Nepal are very different to each other. Bhutan is rich in trees and steep valleys, and altogether more comfortable. Nepal is more varied and some of the places we visit cater to the trekking market almost exclusively. We do our best to take off the rough edges. These guesthouses are always super happy to see our groups though, because we stay for longer and our guests don’t have smelly socks like the trekkers!

At one of our favourite villages in Nepal we spend four nights on the tour, giving us a chance to do small walks in nearby valleys, catch a ride higher up the hill to enjoy sunset, and chase the goat herds through town of an afternoon. The kitchen does a great job and they serve perhaps the second-best apple-pancakes in the Annapurnas. They also have an espresso machine for those afternoons when a cup of tea won’t quite cut it.

Trekking is integral to tourism in Nepal. But it’s not the only way to experience it. You can join us for a slow travel experience and skip the treks. Walking yes. Trekking no.