PopularPrivately guided, locally rooted journeys across Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet — designed in Kathmandu, one traveller at a time, since 2016.
Every itinerary hand-built by a Kathmandu specialist who has personally walked the trail.
Nepali-owned and Nepali-led since 2016, with porters and guides drawn from the villages you'll pass through.
TAAN-licensed, NMA-permitted, transparent pricing, free cancellation up to 60 days before departure.
5–10% of every trip funds schooling for porters' children in remote Nepal.
We are licensed, audited and accountable — to the regulators, the mountains and to you.

“The most carefully crafted trip we've ever taken”
Ajay and the Swotah team built our 14-day Nepal itinerary around exactly who we are. Our guide Bijay knew every family along the route. It never felt like a tour — it felt like being a guest in someone's world.

Recognised by Tripadvisor every year since 2018 — seven consecutive years of verified five-star reviews from travellers across the UK, USA, Australia and Europe.
See our Tripadvisor profile →A carefully crafted Himalayan journey connecting the vibrant culture of Nepal, the serenity of Bhutan, and the mystique of Tibet.



Three Himalayan kingdoms. One operator with a permanent office, a permanent team and a permanent reputation in each.

Home to eight of the world's fourteen 8,000m peaks — trek through Sherpa villages, ancient monasteries and the most spectacular mountain scenery on the planet.

The last Shangri-La — where Buddhist culture thrives, forests cover 70 % of the land and happiness is a national policy.




From first-time 6,000-metre peaks to full Himalayan expeditions, led by NMA-certified climbers who live where they lead.












Cultural journeys, wildlife safaris, pilgrimage circuits and multi-country adventures — curated for travellers who want more than a trek.



Hand-built itineraries our travellers come back asking for by name — small groups, named Sherpa guides, and a safety margin built into every day.
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PopularFor ten years we’ve designed private Himalayan journeys for travellers who measure a trip not in photographs but in the way it changes them. Every Swotah itinerary is hand-built by a Kathmandu specialist, led on the ground by a Nepali guide we’ve personally trained, and quietly underwritten by the village families who’ll welcome you in.
Get the most out of your Himalayan adventure by tapping into the expertise of Swotah's local professionals.
We promote responsible travel practices to minimize our environmental impact and provide a sustainable experience for our travelers.
We are committed to giving back to the communities we visit. For every booking, we donate a portion of the proceeds to local schools and charities in Nepal.
Our trips are designed with a focus on community involvement, such as homestays and village-to-village treks, to provide an authentic and immersive experience.




Between 5% and 10% of the price of every Swotah trip funds schooling for the children of porters and remote-village families. Our Millennium Homestay Trek directs spend to ten Newari ethnic communities.
Carbon-conscious by design — we publish a transparent footprint estimate with every itinerary.



Swotah was founded in 2016 by Ajay Kumar Shrestha — a Kathmandu-born mountaineer who guided his first informal Himalayan trek before he owned a business card. A decade later, the company he built is one of the most-reviewed independent operators in Nepal, working across three Himalayan kingdoms with a permanent local team in each.
Ajay still personally briefs every private-itinerary client before departure — because the trail is not abstract to him; it’s where he grew up. When you book with Swotah, you’re not booking with an agency. You’re booking with the man who’ll text your specialist guide the night before you summit, asking how the wind looks.
…and a team of named mountain guides: Bijay Gurung, Sijal, Tika Ram, and others — most repeatedly praised by name in our Tripadvisor reviews.
Founded in Kathmandu. Our first Annapurna group departs — eight travellers, one guide, one shared conviction that the Himalayas deserve more than a hurried itinerary.
Honest accounts from travellers across a decade of guided journeys and 150+ Himalayan routes.
“Our trip to Nepal was fuelled by my husbands long help dream of seeing Everest but turned out to be so much more. Swotah put together a perfect itinerary to mee...”
“I had an amazing experience travelling with Swotah for my Everest Three High Passes Trek. I would highly recommend them to everyone and will travel with them again. I researched many other companies, including larger international ones which I had travelled with previously but decided on Swotah. For me, after communicating with others I found Swotah extremely prompt and informative with their communication. When I arrived in Nepal, everything they had organised (money exchange, SIM card, crampons, copies of my documents) was ready and waiting for me. Swotah and it's employees will do ev”
“We have done a trek around the Manaslu through the Larkya Pass, with our guide Bijay and his porters Surya and Casi, they have done an incredible job, they have made us feel safe and very comfortable at all times, the human quality of these 3 professionals has been an experience that we will not forget. Thank you SWOTAH TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE for offering us these professionals for our trip, we will recommend 100%”
“I thought this three week tour of Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet was great - it did what it said on the tin! My tour mostly ran during May, but the last part - Tibet - was in June. This was not a good time of year for mountain views (except in Tibet) but it was great for seeing wildflowers and jacaranda in Bhutan and to benefit from fresh lychees in Nepal! The description indicated quite a lot of overland travel, especially in the Tibet part, so it wasn't a surprise. Bus travel in Nepal is a bit gruelling mostly due to large road infrastructure improvement schemes, so road travel should be smoother i”
“It was a wonderful journey visiting Pashupatinath and Muktinath. The Swotah Travel team not only planned everything perfectly but also stayed connected with us throughout the trip to make sure we were always at the right place and had no issues. They were extremely responsive, caring, and professional, and their constant communication gave us great comfort and confidence during the entire journey. Overall, it was a memorable and well-organized experience. Highly recommended to anyone planning a spiritual or adventure trip to Nepal!”
“We enjoyed an incredible 3-week journey through Nepal from mid-September to mid-October, organized by Swotah Travel in Kathmandu. The entire trip was individually tailored to our interests, combining trekking, nature experiences, cultural highlights, and historical insights into a well- balanced itinerary. From the first planning steps, Swotah impressed us with their professionalism and thoughtful suggestions. Every detail was handled with care, and the execution on the ground was flawless. Our guides, drivers and porters were punctual, reliable, friendly and service-oriented, making us feel ”
“We had a fantastic time in Nepal. Swotah arranged everything beautifully and was always available for any questions queries or if Travel plans had to change or when the flights were cancelled. The properties we stayed at were completely amazing with spectacular views of the Annapurna range and the weather was wonderful, allowing us to see the Himalayas in all their glory. Would highly recommend a trip to Nepal with Swotah travels.”
“A beautiful trek (14 days arrival to departure) with 9 days trekking. The scenery was truly amazing, and Nepal is such a lovely country. The days were up to 20km with up to 1300m of ascent, so not for the faint hearted. The rate of ascent and pace were really good, so that there was no issue with the altitude. By guide Bijay Gurung was excellent, really friendly and adaptable. I would happily go with him on another trek.”
“Awesome experience. SWOTAH is a great agent and highly recommended. The best part is, whatever they wrote/inform before the trip vs what we got during the trip are all aligned. Their quality of handling people are simply great. Will use them again.”
“We've recently returned from a great 2-week cultural trip to Nepal and Bhutan on a customised itinerary for 3 of us. The Swotah team were responsive to feedback throughout and a WhatsApp group helped with communications during the trip. Everyone we met was warm and welcoming, guides/drivers were punctual and accommodation was comfortable. My personal food favourites were Thukpa (a flavoursome noodle soup) and all the chilli cheese (datshi) dishes in Bhutan. Nepal tour highlights included sunrise at Sarangkot and our stay at the Sapana Village Lodge in Chitwan. Bhutan highlights were the Th”
“We've recently returned from a great 2-week cultural trip to Nepal and Bhutan on a customised itinerary for 3 of us. The Swotah team were responsive to feedback throughout and a WhatsApp group helped with communications during the trip. Everyone we met was warm and welcoming, guides/drivers were punctual and accommodation was comfortable. My personal food favourites were Thukpa (a flavoursome noodle soup) and all the chilli cheese (datshi) dishes in Bhutan. Nepal tour highlights included sunrise at Sarangkot and our stay at the Sapana Village Lodge in Chitwan. Bhutan highlights were the Th”
“Awesome experience. SWOTAH is a great agent and highly recommended. The best part is, whatever they wrote/inform before the trip vs what we got during the trip are all aligned. Their quality of handling people are simply great. Will use them again.”
“A beautiful trek (14 days arrival to departure) with 9 days trekking. The scenery was truly amazing, and Nepal is such a lovely country. The days were up to 20km with up to 1300m of ascent, so not for the faint hearted. The rate of ascent and pace were really good, so that there was no issue with the altitude. By guide Bijay Gurung was excellent, really friendly and adaptable. I would happily go with him on another trek.”
“We had a fantastic time in Nepal. Swotah arranged everything beautifully and was always available for any questions queries or if Travel plans had to change or when the flights were cancelled. The properties we stayed at were completely amazing with spectacular views of the Annapurna range and the weather was wonderful, allowing us to see the Himalayas in all their glory. Would highly recommend a trip to Nepal with Swotah travels.”
“We enjoyed an incredible 3-week journey through Nepal from mid-September to mid-October, organized by Swotah Travel in Kathmandu. The entire trip was individually tailored to our interests, combining trekking, nature experiences, cultural highlights, and historical insights into a well- balanced itinerary. From the first planning steps, Swotah impressed us with their professionalism and thoughtful suggestions. Every detail was handled with care, and the execution on the ground was flawless. Our guides, drivers and porters were punctual, reliable, friendly and service-oriented, making us feel ”
“It was a wonderful journey visiting Pashupatinath and Muktinath. The Swotah Travel team not only planned everything perfectly but also stayed connected with us throughout the trip to make sure we were always at the right place and had no issues. They were extremely responsive, caring, and professional, and their constant communication gave us great comfort and confidence during the entire journey. Overall, it was a memorable and well-organized experience. Highly recommended to anyone planning a spiritual or adventure trip to Nepal!”
“I thought this three week tour of Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet was great - it did what it said on the tin! My tour mostly ran during May, but the last part - Tibet - was in June. This was not a good time of year for mountain views (except in Tibet) but it was great for seeing wildflowers and jacaranda in Bhutan and to benefit from fresh lychees in Nepal! The description indicated quite a lot of overland travel, especially in the Tibet part, so it wasn't a surprise. Bus travel in Nepal is a bit gruelling mostly due to large road infrastructure improvement schemes, so road travel should be smoother i”
“We have done a trek around the Manaslu through the Larkya Pass, with our guide Bijay and his porters Surya and Casi, they have done an incredible job, they have made us feel safe and very comfortable at all times, the human quality of these 3 professionals has been an experience that we will not forget. Thank you SWOTAH TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE for offering us these professionals for our trip, we will recommend 100%”
“I had an amazing experience travelling with Swotah for my Everest Three High Passes Trek. I would highly recommend them to everyone and will travel with them again. I researched many other companies, including larger international ones which I had travelled with previously but decided on Swotah. For me, after communicating with others I found Swotah extremely prompt and informative with their communication. When I arrived in Nepal, everything they had organised (money exchange, SIM card, crampons, copies of my documents) was ready and waiting for me. Swotah and it's employees will do ev”
“Our trip to Nepal was fuelled by my husbands long help dream of seeing Everest but turned out to be so much more. Swotah put together a perfect itinerary to mee...”




Every trip is personally briefed by your named Kathmandu-based specialist.
Not just where you want to go — the experience you're after. One message starts it all.
Within 2 hours, a named Kathmandu-based specialist replies. Personally. Not a chatbot.
Two to three tailored options, transparent pricing. Refine until it feels exactly right.
From airport pickup to summit. Never more than a WhatsApp away from your specialist.
Planning a trek in the Himalayas can seem daunting, but our team of experienced guides can help you make your dream trek a reality. With our knowledge of the region and your preferences, we can design an unforgettable trek based on your location, timeframe, and budget. Get in touch with us, and let us help you plan your perfect trek.



Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice every year since — awarded by the people who actually walked the trail.







Six sister companies — each Nepali-owned and deeply rooted in one valley, region or specialism across Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan.
Learn about our networkOne email a month. Trail updates, permit changes, the occasional photograph. No spam — that's a Himalayan promise.
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