Professional adventurer, guide and luxury travel company founder Oliver Browne has been visiting Nepal since 2014.

“It was a different world then,” he says. “Tourists were still riding the elephants in Bardia National Park back then. Thankfully times have changed and the whole industry has moved forward. New openings have been a huge part of this, offering better platforms for exploration, which in turn has drawn more creative operators to the country with super luxury clients wanting the best and most elaborate experiences.”

His own company, True Summit Adventures, has been at the vanguard of companies offering these new super-luxury trips to Nepal, many of which take in Bhutan and/or India as part of a wider Himalayan journey.

Of course, any visit to Nepal wouldn’t be complete without seeing Mount Everest. Browne knows the region well, having organised and led dozens of adventures to the foot of the world’s highest peak. He also attempted the summit during the ill-fated Covid season of 2021, when he joined an international team that included luminaries such as Kilian Jornet and David Göttler.

Despite not summitting, Browne says the ascent gave him plenty of inspiration for how he would develop True Summit Adventures.

“Icon led adventures are one of our USPs and many of the elite level people we are working with I became friends with on that ascent, including the superstar German alpinist, David Goettler.”

It was also during this period that he forged a deep bond with Tashi Lakpa Sherpa and his brothers, Dawa and Mingma.

“They are Himalayan royalty,” Browne said. “Tashi remains the youngest person to summit Everest without supplemental oxygen, while Mingma was the first Nepali and South Asian to climb all 14 peaks, the mountains on Earth over 8,000 metres. His brother Dawa subsequently became the second.”

But it’s not just their climbing feats that make them essential partners for True Summit Adventures.

Browne continues, “For luxury operations in Nepal you need a very close relationship with the helicopter companies. Other travel CEOs I know complain constantly about the logistics, wait times, delays etc. For us it’s never a problem.”

This is due to his close bond with the brothers who own Heli Everest, which operates four helicopters with access to additional aircraft when required, as well as a dedicated logistics operation.

True Summit Adventures offers the classic Everest Base Camp trek and mountaineering adventures, but it’s their Himalayan epics across Nepal, Bhutan and even India that are winning them renown in luxury travel circles.

“I am proud that we have delivered some groundbreaking trips,” says Browne. “Some have been wild. I want to show people as much of Nepal as is possible during their stay. Using helicopters we get people to Mustang, Bardia, the Everest region and of course show them Kathmandu.”

Some itineraries are even more expansive, taking in Bhutan and Agra. Their signature Bhutan, Nepal and Agra trip takes in 11 different hotels and has almost 10 helicopter flights.

“I love the Between Kingdoms and Empires trip,” says Browne. “Amazingly, the first time we did it was as a super-compressed version for an American client who was very short on time. We saw more of Bhutan and Nepal in four days than most people see in two weeks!”

That’s not to say that he recommends this style.

“I think the full version over 18 days is better. There is so much to see although the cadence isn’t slow. We really pack a lot in.”

The luxury landscape in Nepal is changing and True Summit Adventures has been making the most of this new opportunity.

Browne continues, “Nepal was lagging behind the likes of Bhutan and South American countries like Peru and Ecuador in terms of high-altitude luxury lodging. With the likes of Shinta Mani Mustang and Mountain Lodges of Nepal, we are now able to deliver truly luxury trips in the high mountains. It’s a game changer for the industry and for Nepal.”

The True Summit Adventures Experience

True Summit Adventures has developed a series of signature Nepal adventures that make full use of its relationships, helicopter access and the country’s improving luxury infrastructure.

The company’s signature itineraries include an Everest experience that can be incorporated into a wider journey across Nepal. Rather than undertaking the traditional two-week trek to Everest Base Camp, guests can explore the Khumbu region over four days, using helicopters to access the mountains and combining scenic flights, short treks and stays at luxury mountain lodges, including Hotel Everest View. This allows travellers to experience the Everest region alongside other destinations such as Mustang, Bardia and Kathmandu, all within a single journey.

For those looking for a more demanding challenge, True Summit Adventures also offers mountaineering adventures in the Everest region, including an ascent of Lobuche East at 6,119 metres. These trips combine serious high-altitude climbing with helicopter transfers, experienced Himalayan guides and carefully selected accommodation.

“We have a great team for mountaineering and trekking in Nepal,” says Browne. “Our head guide is Kami Rita Sherpa, the person with the most ascents of Mount Everest, 32. Guests can book him to trek with them. It’s incredible. And of course he goes on our signature luxury trips.”

Beyond Everest, the company has developed journeys taking in the remote landscapes and ancient Buddhist culture of Upper Mustang, the wildlife of Bardia National Park and the temples and historic districts of Kathmandu. Helicopter access allows several of Nepal’s most remarkable regions to be combined within a single itinerary.

Exceptional Accommodation and Personal Relationships

Accommodation is an important part of the True Summit Adventures experience. Guests stay at some of Nepal’s finest properties, including Dwarika’s in Kathmandu, Shinta Mani Mustang, Mountain Lodges of Nepal in the Everest region and the famous Hotel Everest View, perched high above Namche Bazaar with extraordinary views of Everest and the surrounding peaks.

In Kathmandu, guests can explore the city’s temples, historic squares and Buddhist sites with private guides, as well as enjoy dining experiences such as Dwarika’s celebrated Krishnarpan restaurant.

In Bardia National Park, True Summit Adventures works closely with Tiger Tops, one of the most established names in Nepalese wildlife tourism. Browne has a close personal relationship with Jack Edwards, who owns and runs the properties.

“I love Bardia. I took my wife there, before we had our first child. It’s incredibly romantic and the way that Tiger Tops does it all, with such care and attention is wonderful. We saw a tiger on our last day. It was definitely a life highlight,” says Browne.

This level of personal access extends to the logistics of each journey. The company’s local team manages private transfers, domestic flights, helicopter movements and guides throughout, drawing on established relationships to navigate the challenges of travelling in Nepal’s remote mountain regions.

“One thing that sets us apart is the access we have in Nepal. Our team comprises some of the biggest names in mountaineering. World record holders and superstar climbers appear everywhere and our guests regularly meet some of the biggest names in adventure. I think our icon-led adventures are the final frontier in luxury travel.”

For more information about True Summit Adventures and its collection of luxury adventures in Nepal visit the company’s website.