For the founder and Managing Director of Nepal Hiking Team Ganga Raj Thapa, getting into mountain tourism was a natural choice. Having grown up in Dhading, a small hilly town on the outskirts of Kathmandu Valley, he fostered a deep love for nature and the mountains. Beginning his journey as a trekking assistant, Ganga Raj Thapa rose to the rank of Trekking Guide and later started his own company with his brother. An accomplished mountain guide and a passionate traveler, he has trekked across all the trekking regions in Nepal and has visited Europe, Australia and many Asian countries.
After completing high school in 1992, Ganga decided to travel to Kathmandu for higher education as well as to start his career. A local trekking agency appointed him as a trekking staff. The first assignment that he was given was to accompany a hiking group to Shivapuri Hill. It was a short trek of about four days but the experience was unforgettable. Annapurna Base Camp Trek was the first real Himalayan trek he did with clients. Though tough at times, this first trek was a learning experience and it opened his eyes to what service really means in the mountains.
Being a quick learner and having a positive attitude endeared him to clients. After receiving his trekking guide license he became a full-fledged trekking guide. Soon he was guiding large groups of trekkers along the popular trails of Everest, Annapurna, Langtang, Kanchenjunga, etc. After spending 17 years working for other travel companies, he felt he should branch out and start something on his own. With his brother as his partner, Ganga Raj Thapa laid the foundation of his own trekking company – Nepal Hiking Team in 2009.
The first two years were tough for the brothers but they were determined to make their venture work. With very little business it was sometimes difficult to make ends meet in the initial few months. But they persevered and their determination, hard work and patience paid off. Now Nepal Hiking Team is one of the leading adventure travel companies in Nepal. Ganga Raj Thapa heads an accomplished team of mountain guides and travel planners who promise you to take you on an adventure you have always dream of.
Ganga Raj Thapa attributes his success to a supportive team and well-wishers who sometimes went out of their way to help him while his company was struggling. He feels forever indebted to clients who believed in him and recommended his company to their families and friends thus helping him grow his business. He feels the mountain communities have also contributed indirectly to their success and believes in giving back to the community and society. He regularly donates a part of the company’s profit to charitable organizations, educational institutions that need funding, and health posts in the rural areas. He also imparts valuable tips and training to young guides and students dreaming of making it big in the tourism industry.
