Sherpa Expedition and Trekking

What Sherpa Expedition and Trekking does

Sherpa Expedition and Trekking is a Kathmandu-based, privately-held adventure tourism operator founded on January 7, 1977. It is the fifth trekking and adventure company authorized by the Tourism Board of Nepal and operates as a TAAN-registered agency, enabling it to process restricted-area permits across all 15 restricted Nepalese districts. The company serves international adventure travelers, mountaineering enthusiasts, and solo trekkers through guided Himalayan treks, technical peak climbing, and high-altitude expeditions across Nepal and Bhutan.

The core product portfolio is organized by altitude and region: 8000m expeditions (Everest South/North, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu), 7000m expeditions (Baruntse, Pumori, Tilicho Peak), 6000m peak climbing (Mera, Island, Lobuche, Chulu), and regional trekking across the Everest, Annapurna, Langtang, Manaslu, Dhaulagiri, Kanchenjunga, Dolpo, and Makalu regions. Supporting offerings include helicopter tours, cultural day tours in Nepal, Bhutan tour packages, jungle safaris (Chitwan, Bardia), adventure activities (paragliding, bungee, rafting, mountain biking), guide-and-porter hire, and restricted-area permit processing for solo trekkers. Pricing is publicly disclosed with tiered group-size discounts ranging from $350 for budget Annapurna package itineraries to $5,690 for Eastern Bhutan 17-day tours and $3,390 per person for luxury EBC.

The business runs a direct-to-consumer model with online booking, custom trip inquiry forms, and guaranteed departure dates, supplemented by regional representative offices in France, Malaysia, Thailand, Spain, and Australia, and distribution listings on TourRadar, GetYourGuide, Bookmundi, TripAdvisor, and Trustpilot. Revenue is generated through one-time package purchases and professional services fees for guides, porters, and permit handling. The company is independently owned with no documented PE/VC backing, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed revenue; key leadership includes CEO David Holmes and Manager Ram Barakoti.

Name

Sherpa Expedition and Trekking

Legal name

Sherpa Expedition and Trekking Pvt. Ltd

Website

https://sherpaexpeditiontrekking.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Sherpa Expedition and Trekking is a Nepal-based, TAAN-registered adventure tourism operator founded in 1977 that serves international travelers with guided Himalayan treks, mountaineering expeditions, and cultural tours across Nepal and Bhutan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adventure Tourism & Trekking Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (56152), Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services (5615), Travel Agencies (561510)

akta.pro primary industry

Hiking, Trekking & Mountain Guiding (THAJABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Multi-Activity & Expedition Packages (Guided Adventure Trips) (THAJABAL), Technical Outdoor Guiding Services (Hiking, Trekking, Mountaineering) (THAAALAA), Adventure & Expedition Travel Agencies (THAKAFAB), Safety, Permitting & Logistics Support Services (Trip Leaders, Route Planning, Rescue Support) (THAAALAL), Private Adventure & Expedition Experiences (Custom Hikes, Safaris, Backcountry) (THAJALAG)

Keywords

• Guided himalayan trekking
• High altitude expeditions
• Peak climbing services
• Nepal adventure tours
• Bhutan cultural tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Kathmandu

HQ country

Nepal

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Trekking Packages: All-inclusive trekking packages including guide, porter, accommodation, meals during trek, permits, and domestic flights. Pricing varies by duration, altitude, and group size with tiered group discounts.
2. Expedition Services: High-altitude mountaineering expeditions to 8000m peaks including Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu. Includes logistics, base camp services, and professional mountaineering support.
3. Peak Climbing: Technical peak climbing experiences including Island Peak, Mera Peak, Lobuche Peak, and other 6000m-7000m summits.
4. Adventure Activities: Supporting adventure products including paragliding, bungee jumping, river rafting, and mountain biking.
5. Tours: Cultural tours in Nepal including Kathmandu Valley tours, Bhutan tours, and helicopter tours to Everest and Annapurna base camps.
6. Guide and Porter Services: Standalone guide and porter hiring services for independent trekkers.
7. Travel Insurance and Permit Services: Facilitation of travel insurance, trekking permits, and restricted area permits for solo trekkers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Sherpa Expedition and Trekking is a Nepal-based adventure travel company that organizes guided Himalayan treks, high-altitude mountaineering expeditions (6,000m to 8,000m peaks), peak climbing trips, cultural tours in Nepal and Bhutan, helicopter tours, and adventure activities. The company delivers end-to-end trip logistics including permits, accommodation, meals, domestic flights, licensed Sherpa guides, porters, and high-altitude safety support.

Product overview

Sherpa Expedition and Trekking operates as a full-service adventure travel company offering a comprehensive portfolio of guided trekking, mountaineering expeditions, and cultural tours across Nepal and Bhutan. The core offering is organized around high-altitude expeditions (8000m and 7000m peaks), regional trekking routes (Everest, Annapurna, Langtang, Manaslu, Dhaulagiri, Kanchenjunga, Dolpo, and Makalu regions), peak climbing (6000m summits), adventure activities (rafting, bungee, paragliding), wildlife tours, helicopter tours, and cultural sightseeing. The company also provides supplementary services including TAAN-registered restricted area permit processing for solo trekkers, professional Sherpa guides and porters, and emergency evacuation coordination. Accommodation options range from teahouse/lodge treks to expedition-style camping.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 8000m Expedition High-altitude mountaineering expeditions to peaks exceeding 8,000 meters including Mt. Everest (South and North routes), Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, and Makalu, with full logistics, base camp support, and professional Sherpa support for experienced climbers.
• 7000m Expedition Expedition-style climbs to peaks in the 7,000-meter range such as Baruntse, Pumori, Gangapurna, Tilicho Peak, and Churen Himal for advanced climbers.
• 6000m Peak Climbing Peak climbing experiences on 6,000-meter summits including Mera Peak, Island Peak, Lobuche Peak, Chulu East, Pisang Peak, and Chulu West for climbers seeking technical summit experiences.
• Everest Region Trekking Guided trekking routes in the Everest/Khumbu region including 10 to 14 day Everest Base Camp treks, Gokyo Valley, Kongma La & Cho La Pass, Everest Three Passes, and Pikey Peak.
• Annapurna Region Trekking Guided trekking routes in the Annapurna region including 7 to 15 day Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Base Camp, and Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake variations.
• Langtang Valley Trekking Guided trekking in the Langtang region ranging from 5 to 9 days through alpine forests, glaciers, and Sherpa villages.
• Manaslu Circuit Trekking Guided circuit trek around the eighth-highest mountain in the world, ranging from 6 to 9 days through remote Himalayan terrain.
• Kanchenjunga Region Trekking Guided trekking in the Kanchenjunga region including Kanchenjunga Base Camp, Lumba Sumba Pass, and circuit treks ranging from 16 to 21 days.
• Helicopter Tours Aerial tours including Mt. Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour, Everest Mountain Flight, and Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour.
• Nepal Tour Cultural and sightseeing tours in Nepal including Lumbini, Kathmandu Valley Day Tour, Janakpur, Bhaktapur, and Patan.
• Bhutan Tour Tours to Bhutan ranging from 3 nights/4 days to 8 days covering western and central regions, priced from $1,590 to $3,790 per person.
• Nature and Wildlife Tours Wildlife safaris and nature tours including Chitwan Jungle Safari (3-4 days), Bardia Jungle Safari, and Koshi Tappu Bird Watching.
• Adventure Activities Adventure sports including Paragliding and Ultra Light flights, Bungee Jumping, Bhotekoshi and Trishuli River Rafting, and Mountain Biking.
• Guide & Porter Service Standalone professional guide and porter services for independent trekkers, including licensed Sherpa guides, experienced porters, and safety equipment for treks across all Nepal regions.
• Restricted Area Permit Processing TAAN-registered agency service for processing Restricted Area Permits (RAP) for solo trekkers across all 15 restricted districts including Upper Mustang, Upper Dolpo, Manaslu, Kanchenjunga, and Tsum Valley.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30+ years of restricted-area permit handling experience
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTAAN-registered agency enabling restricted area permit processing for all 15 restricted districts in Nepal. Sherpa Expedition has been handling restricted-area permits and high-altitude logistics for over 30 years as a TAAN-affiliated member.
• Nepal Tourism Board (NTB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial tourism board partnership for promotion and promotion of Nepal as a trekking and adventure destination.
• Sagarmatha National ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for trekking permits and conservation efforts in the Everest region where Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permits are required.
• Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Annapurna region trekking permits and conservation activities.
• Himalayan Rescue AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth and safety partnership for altitude sickness prevention and emergency rescue coordination.
• Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental sustainability partnership for responsible trekking practices.
• Nepal Mountaineering AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional mountaineering association for expedition coordination and peak climbing permits.
• TrustpilotminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCustomer review and rating platform for credibility and social proof.
• TripAdvisorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor travel review platform for customer testimonials and booking visibility.
• TourRadarminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdventure tour aggregator marketplace for distribution of trekking packages.
• GetYourGuideminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational travel experiences marketplace for Bhutan and Nepal tour distribution.
• BookmundiminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline travel agency for package booking visibility.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nepal Hiking Team: Nepal-based adventure travel operator running guided treks, peak climbing, and expeditions across the same Himalayan regions. Competes head-to-head on EBC, Annapurna, and Manaslu circuits with similar pricing tiers.
• Alpine Ascents International: US-based mountaineering outfitter running high-altitude expeditions including Everest, Denali, and other 8000m/7000m peaks. Competes for the same mountaineering-enthusiast segment, particularly on premium 8000m expeditions.
• Climbing the Seven Summits: US-based expedition outfitter specializing in high-altitude mountaineering including Everest. Competes for experienced climbers seeking guided 8000m expeditions.
• Himalayan Glacier Trekking: Kathmandu-based trekking and expedition operator offering comparable EBC, Annapurna, and restricted-area treks with similar Sherpa-led service. Direct competitor for international adventure travelers booking Nepal itineraries online.
• Mountain Monarch: Nepal-based trekking, peak climbing, and expedition operator offering EBC, Annapurna, and 6000m-7000m climbs. Directly comparable service portfolio and target customer.
• Adventure Consultants: New Zealand-based high-altitude expedition company operating Everest, Vinson, and other premium climbs. Direct competitor for the mountaineering enthusiast segment seeking guided 8000m summits.
• Adventure Treks Nepal: Kathmandu trekking operator running similar regional treks, peak climbing, and adventure activities. Competes for direct-to-consumer bookings on the same core itineraries.

Broad incumbents

• REI Adventures: US-based guided adventure travel arm of REI offering trekking trips including Nepal. Overlaps on the premium adventure-traveler segment, though operates as one of many destinations rather than specializing in Nepal.
• Intrepid Travel: Large global adventure tour operator with a small-group trekking portfolio including Nepal itineraries. Overlaps on the international adventure-traveler customer segment but operates a far broader geographic footprint.
• World Expeditions: Australia-based adventure travel company offering trekking, mountaineering, and cultural tours across many destinations including Nepal. Broader portfolio and established global brand with overlapping Nepal product.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sherpaetrek
• Facebookfacebook.com/SherpaExpeditionAndTrekking
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sherpa-expedition-and-trekking-pvt-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

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 Sherpa Expedition and Trekking