Alpine Adventure Club

What Alpine Adventure Club is and where it operates

Alpine Adventure Club Treks & Expedition is a trekking and adventure travel company based in Kathmandu, Nepal, with its office at Kaldhara-16. The About page calls it "government-registered" and says it was "Established in 2004 by Mr. Binod Thapa, a professional mountain guide with more than 25 years of experience in the tourism industry". Nepal is its main destination, and it also runs "selected travel programs in Tibet, Bhutan, and Sikkim".

For treks and tours it is the operator: the About page describes a team of "trekking guides, mountain guides, tour guides, climbing guides, trek leaders, porters, local staff, and travel professionals", and says the company handles "route planning, guides, permits, accommodation, transportation". Helicopter tours work differently. The helicopter page says the company "arranges private charter helicopter tours" through "strong partnerships with all major helicopter companies in Nepal", so the flights are run by partner helicopter companies, and the company says it can offer "more affordable pricing than booking directly".

The About page says "Since 2004, we have built our company through direct involvement in the field and long-term relationships with travelers, guides, porters, and local communities". It also lists recognition: Lonely Planet Nepal recommended the company in its 9th Edition (2012) and 10th Edition (2015), as did Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya (10th Edition, 2016).

Treks, cultural tours, jeep tours and helicopter trips

The homepage lists trekking, peak climbing, day hiking, cultural tours, jungle safaris, river rafting, motorbike tours, mountain flights, helicopter tours and tailor-made trips. Its "Trip of the Month" is the Everest Base Camp Trek, listed at 16 days with a "5/5 Rating", described as "a spectacular journey through the Himalayas of Nepal, offering stunning mountain views, rich Sherpa culture". The FAQ names Ghorepani Poon Hill, Helambu Valley and Everest Panorama as treks for first-timers.

The cultural tours page lists prices in dollars: the Nepal Cultural Tour (Easy, 13 days/12 nights, $1990), the Halesi Mahadev - Maratika Cave Tour (5 days, $550), the Kathmandu Valley Tour (4 days, $370), the Kathmandu City and Surrounding Tour (7 days, $880), the Kathmandu Pokhara Chitwan Tour (10 days, $1150), the Kathmandu, Pokhara and Lumbini Tour (9 days, $1490), the Nepal Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour (7 days, $1420), the Nepal Heritage and Nature Tour (12 days, $1790) and the Nepal Pilgrimage Tour (Moderate, 15 days, $2100). The page describes a cultural route that starts with Kathmandu Valley heritage sites, then Nagarkot, Chitwan National Park for canoeing, bird-watching and jungle safaris, Lumbini, Pokhara, and Panauti and Dhulikhel for a sunrise view.

Jeep tours are pitched as "a comfortable yet exciting alternative to trekking". The Muktinath Jeep Tour runs 11 days for $2500, the Manang Jeep Tour with Tilicho Lake 14 days for $2950, and the Upper Mustang Jeep Tour 15 days for $3190. The page describes the Lower Mustang route through Jomsom, Marpha and Kagbeni to Muktinath Temple at 3,800 meters, and the Upper Mustang route to the walled city of Lo Manthang. It says it also runs jeep trips to Rara Lake and Kalinchowk, "With experienced drivers, well-maintained vehicles, and customizable itineraries".

The helicopter packages are each 1 day: Langtang Valley at $2150, Muktinath at $2950, Everest Base Camp at $3150 and Upper Mustang at $4300. The page says these tours "often include landing stops at scenic viewpoints, high-altitude base camps, or sacred religious landmarks", and that the company will quote by email for a destination not on the list.

How trips work

The company says guides "have extensive experience in the regions where they lead trips and are familiar with the trails, weather, mountain conditions, villages, and local customs", and that they "provide practical assistance and share their knowledge of local history, culture, traditions, and daily life". Each package carries a grade such as Easy, Easy-Moderate or Moderate, though the site does not define the grades.

The FAQ answers several practical questions. The main trekking seasons are "spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November)". The company runs both private and group treks, and private trips allow "more flexibility with the route and daily schedule". Package inclusions "depend on the trek and selected itinerary" and may cover accommodation, guide services, permits, transport and meals, while "Porter services, flights, and other arrangements vary by package"; the company says it gives "a clear breakdown of what is included before you book". On insurance, it says "We strongly recommend travel insurance for high-altitude treks", covering emergency medical treatment, evacuation and trekking up to the route's maximum elevation.

The helicopter page says "All flights are operated by experienced Nepali pilots with extensive knowledge of the Himalayan terrain and thousands of hours of flight time", and that the partner companies have "a strong track record, especially for dependable emergency and rescue operations". These are the company's own statements about its partners.

Booking and contact

Trips are booked through Book Now buttons, a contact form, WhatsApp on +977 9841353904 or by phone on +977 1 5360765, and the team can build a tailor-made itinerary around "your travel dates, interests, available time, and preferred route". The homepage promises "24/7 support". Testimonials on the homepage name Binod as the guide and organizer, and one describes a group of 7 trekking to Mardi Himal Base Camp with a guide named Bishnu and porters. The footer links to Legal Documents and Terms & Conditions.

What the site leaves open, and who it suits

The site does not show a price for the Everest Base Camp Trek or for any trekking package, does not say whether prices are per person, and does not state a deposit, payment schedule, cancellation window or refund rule. The site does not give group sizes for group treks, and does not publish day-by-day itineraries for the packages listed.

Alpine Adventure Club suits travelers who want a founder-led Kathmandu company that guests describe dealing with directly, whether for a classic trek, a cultural circuit through Kathmandu, Chitwan, Lumbini and Pokhara, or a jeep trip into Mustang. Travelers short on time can add a helicopter day arranged through its partners.