The People Behind the Mountains: Why Supporting Nepal's Local Guides Matters

Ganga is a Nepalese mountain guide who has spent years helping people experience the incredible trails of the Himalayas.

Like many guides in Nepal, he worked incredibly hard throughout the trekking season before returning home to continue supporting his family in other ways. Alongside guiding trekkers through the mountains, he also worked as a taxi driver in Pokhara, often moving straight from one job to the next to provide for those closest to him.

For Will, Ganga was far more than just a mountain guide. From the very beginning of the trek, Ganga shared not only his years of experience navigating the Himalayas, but also his calm approach to helping people achieve something they never thought possible. Whenever anyone in the group felt overwhelmed or questioned whether they could continue, Ganga was always there with patience, compassion and one reassuring phrase that quickly became a mantra for the whole team:

"It's not a race – we'll get there together."

Those simple words gave people the confidence to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

One moment, in particular, has always stayed with Will.

One member of the team was struggling with the physical and mental challenge of the trek, feeling anxious about whether they could continue. Ganga quietly took them aside, listened to their concerns and offered the reassurance they needed to believe in themselves again. His calm leadership and genuine care transformed the situation, and by the end of the adventure every member of the group successfully completed the trek.

Looking back, Will believes moments like these perfectly demonstrate what makes an exceptional guide. They don't simply lead the way through the mountains – they help people discover strengths they never knew they had.

Away from the trails, Ganga's personality shone just as brightly.

By the end of the trek, he'd jokingly given Will the family name "Will Rai", a nickname that has stuck ever since. Some of Will's favourite memories weren't of reaching mountain passes or taking summit photos, but of the evenings spent together after a day's trekking, laughing over endless games of cards.

One game in particular became legendary.

Will introduced Ganga to a card game called Red King, only to discover he was probably the most competitive person he'd ever met. There was never any chance of calling it a night until Ganga had won at least one game back!

Then there was the dancing.

Whenever the opportunity arose, Ganga loved filming TikTok dances with the team, bringing laughter and energy to the trek even after long days on the trail. It was impossible not to smile around him.

These are the moments that stay with people long after they've left Nepal.

They're the moments that remind us that while the mountains may draw people in, it's often the people they meet who leave the biggest impression.

Sadly, earlier this year, Will received devastating news.

Ganga had suffered a brain haemorrhage.

The current prognosis is that he is likely to be left with paralysis in his left hand and left leg, making it unlikely that he'll be able to return to the work he relied on to support his family.

For someone whose livelihood depended on guiding trekkers through the mountains and working tirelessly for those around him, the impact is unimaginable.

Like many people working in Nepal's tourism industry, Ganga dedicated his life to helping others experience the country he loved. Now, he and his family face an incredibly difficult road ahead.

Stories like Ganga's are a reminder that behind every unforgettable adventure are people whose livelihoods depend on tourism.

The guides, porters, drivers, cooks and tea house owners who welcome visitors into Nepal don't simply make trekking possible; they create experiences that stay with people for a lifetime. Their encouragement helps people push beyond what they thought they were capable of. Their knowledge keeps people safe. Their warmth turns strangers into lifelong friends.

At EverTrek, we're incredibly proud to work with local guiding teams across Nepal. They aren't just our colleagues - they're an extension of the EverTrek family.

Supporting responsible tourism has always been about more than visiting incredible places. It's about supporting the people and communities who make those experiences possible.

Will often says his trip to Nepal genuinely changed his life, and Ganga played a huge part in that.

The conversations they shared throughout the journey, Ganga's leadership, kindness and passion for helping others experience the mountains all left a lasting impression. They inspired Will to follow a similar path himself.

Today, he feels incredibly fortunate to be living that dream through his role as an Adventure Expert at EverTrek, helping other people take on their own life-changing adventures.

One memory stands above all the others.

As the group reached the highest point of the trek at 5,106 metres, they stopped to celebrate everything they'd achieved together.

"I was overwhelmed with emotion," Will recalls.

"I did my best to hold back the tears—thankfully I was wearing sunglasses! I'd completed Ironman Wales before and hadn't shed a tear, so I never expected this moment to affect me so deeply. I think it was because we'd shared the whole journey together. Seeing every single person reach the highest point, knowing what we'd all overcome, and feeling such immense gratitude towards Ganga and the guiding team made it one of the most memorable moments of my life."

It's that feeling of shared achievement, encouragement and gratitude that has stayed with Will ever since.

Long before hearing the news about Ganga, Will had already committed to running the width of Wales - 77 kilometres (48 miles) - alongside members of his family.

When he learned what had happened, the challenge suddenly took on a whole new meaning.

Instead of simply being another personal endurance event, it became an opportunity to give something back to someone who had given so much to others.

"I genuinely believe that stepping outside your comfort zone and challenging yourself can have a profound impact on your life, no matter how big or small the challenge is. My own journey started with the Cardiff Bay 10K and has grown into bigger challenges over the years.

The moment I heard the heartbreaking news from Nepal, I knew I wanted to do whatever I could to help. I've been overwhelmed by the support from my family and friends, and I knew EverTrek would get behind me too.

I've only been part of the team for a short time, but I'm already incredibly proud to work for a company that genuinely cares about the people and communities it works with. I hope this challenge allows me to give something back to Ganga after everything he gave to me." - Will Winterbourne - EverTrek Adventure Expert

We don't often ask our community to support fundraising campaigns.

However, this one feels deeply connected to everything we believe in.

The mountains may be what inspire us to travel, but it's the people behind those adventures who make them unforgettable.

If you'd like to support Ganga and his family during this incredibly difficult time, any donation - no matter how big or small - will make a genuine difference.

Donate here

Thank you for helping us support one of the remarkable people who has spent his life helping others achieve their dreams.

Ganga's story is a reminder that the mountains are only part of what makes trekking in Nepal so special.

The people who guide you, encourage you, share their culture and welcome you into their country are the ones who leave the biggest impression. They're the reason so many of our trekkers return home talking not only about the views they saw, but the friendships they made along the way.

That's why, at EverTrek, we believe responsible travel starts with the people who make every adventure possible.

We work with experienced local guides because nobody knows Nepal better than the people who call it home. Their knowledge, leadership and passion don't just make for a better trekking experience - they help keep local skills, jobs and traditions alive, ensuring that tourism continues to benefit the communities it depends on.

By choosing to trek with experienced local teams, you're doing more than ticking off a bucket-list adventure. You're helping to support local livelihoods, invest in Nepal's tourism industry and ensure that future generations can continue sharing these incredible mountains with visitors from around the world.

We're incredibly proud of the relationships we've built with our local guiding teams over the years. They aren't simply the people who lead our treks - they're trusted partners, friends and an essential part of the EverTrek family.

If you're thinking about trekking in Nepal, we'd love to help you experience it with a company that champions local expertise, builds lasting partnerships with its guiding teams and believes the best adventures leave a positive impact on both the people who travel and the communities that welcome them.