SASANE Sisterhood Trekking & Travel

What SASANE Sisterhood Trekking & Travel does

SASANE Sisterhood Trekking & Travel is a Kathmandu-based survivor-led social enterprise founded in 2016 by Jeny Pokharel that operates a dual-structure model combining a non-profit arm (Samrakshak Samuha Nepal) with a for-profit travel company. The non-profit runs a 6-month professional training programme through which over 200 trafficking survivors have become Nepal-government-certified trekking guides with a 90%+ certification pass rate. The for-profit arm sells guided Himalayan expeditions (Everest Base Camp at $3,000, Manaslu Circuit at $2,300, Upper Mustang at $1,950, Annapurna Circuit at $1,500, Langtang Valley at $1,600), Kathmandu cultural walks, Nepali cooking classes ($50), wellness retreats such as the Hot Springs Retreat ($850), and dedicated impact tours (Behind the Movement at $150, Women Empowerment Tour at $790, Survivor Stories Journey at $1,050). All tours are led by survivor guides and channel revenue directly into training the next cohort.

Name

SASANE Sisterhood Trekking & Travel

Legal name

SASANE Sisterhood Trekking & Travel

Website

https://sasanesisterhoodtrek.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SASANE Sisterhood Trekking & Travel is a Kathmandu-based survivor-led social enterprise that trains trafficking survivors as Nepal-certified trekking guides and sells guided Himalayan treks, cultural tours, cooking classes, and impact experiences to international travelers, with revenue funding further survivor training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adventure Travel Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Hiking, Trekking & Backpacking Tour Operators (THAAADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adventure & Expedition Travel Agencies (THAKAFAB), Technical Outdoor Guiding Services (Hiking, Trekking, Mountaineering) (THAAALAA)

Keywords

• Trekking tour operator
• Cultural heritage tours
• Women-led travel
• Impact tourism
• Adventure travel Nepal

Headquarters

HQ city

Kathmandu

HQ country

Nepal

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Trekking and Adventure Tours: Guided Himalayan trekking experiences including Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, Manaslu Circuit, Langtang Valley, and Upper Mustang expeditions. These multi-day treks at premium price points ($1,050-$3,000 per person) constitute the primary revenue stream and directly fund survivor guide employment and training programs.
2. Cultural and City Tours: Kathmandu Valley cultural walking tours and heritage site experiences led by certified survivor guides. Combines tourism with cultural education and anti-trafficking awareness.
3. Culinary Experiences: Nepali cooking classes teaching dal bhat, momo-making, and traditional preparations. Includes market visits and education on Nepal's food culture. Priced at $50 per person for half-day sessions.
4. Wellness Retreats: Hot springs retreats and meditation experiences combining wellness tourism with survivor-led guiding. Examples include the Hot Springs Retreat at $850 per person.
5. Impact and Empowerment Tours: Specialized tours focused on showcasing the SASANE model including behind-the-movement experiences ($150), women empowerment tours ($790), and survivor stories journeys ($1,050). These combine tourism with education about trafficking prevention.
6. Custom Private Tours: Tailored solo women travel experiences and custom itineraries designed around individual interests. Pricing varies by package requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SASANE Sisterhood Trekking & Travel is a survivor-led social enterprise that arranges guided Himalayan treks, cultural city tours, culinary experiences, and impact-focused journeys in Nepal. All tours are led by female trafficking survivors who have completed a 6-month professional training program and hold Nepal government certification as licensed trekking guides. The organization operates a dual-structure model, combining a non-profit rehabilitation arm (Samrakshak Samuha Nepal) with a for-profit travel business, where every booking directly funds survivor training and community anti-trafficking programs.

Product overview

SASANE Sisterhood Trekking & Travel is a survivor-led social enterprise offering a portfolio of tourism experiences centered on women empowerment and anti-trafficking impact. The core offerings include Himalayan treks (Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, Langtang Valley, Manaslu Circuit, Upper Mustang), cultural tours (Kathmandu Valley walking tours, cooking classes), and impact-focused experiences (Behind the Movement, Women Empowerment Tour, Survivor Stories Journey, Hot Springs Retreat). All tours are led by trafficking survivors who have completed a 6-month professional training program and earned government certification. Solo Women Custom Treks provide tailored private experiences. Every booking directly funds survivor training and community anti-trafficking programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Everest Base Camp Trek A 14-day women-led challenging adventure trek to the foot of the world's highest peak, led by SASANE-certified guides who completed 6 months of intensive training including high-altitude certification. Priced at $3,000 per person.
• Annapurna Circuit A 12-day moderate to challenging adventure trek circling the Annapurna massif, crossing Thorong La Pass at 5,416m, led by SASANE-certified survivor guides. Priced at $1,500 per person.
• Langtang Valley Trek A 10-day moderate adventure trek through the valley devastated by the 2015 earthquake and rebuilt through community-driven tourism, guided by SASANE-trained women. Priced at $1,600 per person.
• Manaslu Circuit Trek A 15-day challenging adventure trek on a restricted trail with only 3,000 permits issued annually, led by SASANE-trained women who know every teahouse family on the route. Priced at $2,300 per person.
• Upper Mustang Expedition A 13-day moderate to challenging expedition into the ancient kingdom of Lo, a restricted region that only opened to foreigners in 1992, led by SASANE women guides with advanced expedition training. Priced at $1,950 per person.
• Solo Women Custom Treks Custom tailor-made solo women travel experiences in Nepal designed around individual interests, featuring private custom itineraries with SASANE survivor guides. Pricing provided upon consultation.
• Behind the Movement A 1-day easy impact tour offering an inside look at SASANE's training centre, including meeting founder Jeny Pokharel, observing live training sessions, and lunch with the team. Priced at $150 per person.
• Women Empowerment Tour A 6-day easy impact tour meeting graduates working as professional guides, current trainees, the founder, and communities SASANE serves, visiting community centres in Nuwakot and Sindhupalchok. Priced at $790 per person.
• Survivor Stories Journey An 8-day easy to moderate impact tour witnessing the full SASANE arc from trafficking awareness programmes through the 6-month training centre to professional guides leading real treks. Priced at $1,050 per person.
• Hot Springs Retreat A 5-day easy to moderate impact retreat trekking to natural hot springs hidden in river gorges beneath the Annapurna range, featuring mineral-rich thermal pools and mountain panoramas. Priced at $850 per person.
• SASANE Cooking Classes Culinary experiences teaching traditional Nepali cuisine including mo:mo making, dal bhat preparation, and Newari food trails, led by trafficking survivors trained as professional cooks, with an educational component on human trafficking. Priced at $50 per person for half-day sessions.
• Kathmandu Valley Cultural Walking Tour Cultural heritage tours covering UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath, and Bhaktapur, led by SASANE-certified survivor guides with deep local knowledge.

Quantifiable outcome

• 22% reduction in trafficking rates across 11 partner communities where SASANE operates active tourism routes
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, major and notable.

• TravalystcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024SASANE was welcomed into Travalyst - Prince Harry's global coalition advancing sustainable, community-led travel. This membership connects SASANE with leading sustainable tourism operators worldwide.
• Roundtable Human Rights in TourismcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSASANE became a board member of the Roundtable Human Rights in Tourism in 2024. This is a prestigious position indicating SASANE's leadership role in the global human rights in tourism movement and their influence on industry standards.
• Equality in TourismcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with Equality in Tourism, an organization focused on gender equity in the tourism industry. They have recognized SASANE as 'a model of gender equity in action.'
• Sustainable Hospitality AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSASANE's model was featured in a case study by the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance as an example of female empowerment through hospitality. The organization was also recognized as 'World's Leading Sustainable Female Empowerment Initiative.'
• International Labour Organization (ILO)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerILO has cited SASANE in research on tourism's role in human trafficking prevention, validating the economic logic of the model at the highest institutional level.
• Tourism Watch (Bread for the World)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTourism Watch, the tourism arm of Bread for the World, covered SASANE's work including detailed profiles of survivor guides. Provides platform for sharing SASANE's model internationally.
• IPD (Initiative for Sustainable Tourism)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerIPD works directly with the German government in promoting sustainable travel. SASANE has been collaborating with IPD for many years and was recognized as IPD Business Women in 2023.
• GIZ BMZnotableGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman development cooperation (GIZ BMZ) supporting SASANE's sustainable tourism and women empowerment work through dedicated coverage in their newspaper column.
• World Justice ProjectnotableGTM or Marketing PartnerSASANE recognized by the World Justice Project for advancing access to justice and dignity through its survivor-led model.
• 11 Partner CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner11 partner communities across Nepal where SASANE operates active tourism routes and where trafficking rates have dropped 22%. These communities are where prevention programs operate alongside tourism activities.
• Partner NGOscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner NGOs identify and refer women rescued from trafficking situations to SASANE's training programme. This referral network is essential for survivor recruitment.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Intrepid Travel: Global certified B Corp adventure and small-group tour operator with strong Nepal/Himalayan trekking products. Comparable on the values-led adventure-travel promise but operates at vastly greater scale across many countries and tour types.
• Wild Frontiers: Off-the-beaten-path adventure tour operator with Nepal/Himalayan expeditions. Comparable on experiential multi-day guided trekking for impact-conscious travelers, but broader geographies and specializations than SASANE.
• G Adventures: Large global adventure-travel brand offering guided tours in Nepal (including community-led models). Comparable on multi-day guided trekking and community-tourism narratives, but as a much broader portfolio incumbent across 100+ countries.

Direct peers

• Nepal Hiking Team: Nepal-based guided trekking and climbing operator covering Everest, Annapurna, Langtang. Same DTC model, same international trekker audience, and same premium experiential trekking product.
• Adventure Alternative: B Corp-certified adventure travel company running guided treks and climbs (including Nepal, Kilimanjaro). Comparable as a values-led trekking operator with similar premium guided-expedition product in overlapping geographies.
• Nepal Social Treks & Travel: Kathmandu-based social enterprise trekking company running guided expeditions across Nepal (Everest, Annapurna, Manaslu). Nearly identical product set, direct overlap with SASANE on certified guides and small-team DTC operations targeting international trekkers.
• Himalayan Glacier Trekking: Established Kathmandu trekking operator running guided Everest, Annapurna, Manaslu, and Mustang expeditions. Direct overlap on premium multi-day treks, equipment-supported guiding, and DTC international customer base.
• Responsible Treks Nepal: Kathmandu trekking operator focused on sustainable, community-rooted itineraries across major Nepal circuits. Strong overlap on responsible-tourism positioning, small-team model, and the same core trek portfolio.
• Third Eye Trekking: Nepal-based women-owned trekking operator offering guided Himalayan treks, cultural tours, and homestays. Closely comparable in service mix, customer segments (international trekkers), and women-led guide positioning.

Emerging players

• ME to WE Travel: Social-enterprise travel brand offering immersive volunteer and cultural trips including to Nepal. Directly comparable on the model of social-mission-driven tourism that funds community programs through traveler bookings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SasaneSisterhoodTrekking
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sasane-sisterhood-treking-travel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SASANE Sisterhood Trekking & Travel