Responsible Travel
The Himalayas are extraordinary because they are still largely unspoiled. We intend to keep them that way. Responsible travel is not a marketing position for MountainKick — it is how we have operated since our first trip in 2016, and it is personal. Our guides, porters and founders come from these communities. The mountains are their home.
Here is what responsible travel actually looks like on a MountainKick trek.
How We Travel Responsibly
- We brief every traveller on local customs, dress codes and appropriate behaviour before the trek begins — not as a formality, but because it matters.
- We do not encourage or tolerate behaviours considered disrespectful or taboo in local communities.
- We support businesses that promote cultural heritage and authentic local experiences over tourist-facing imitations.
- We never impose outside values on the communities we walk through.
- We hire local guides, porters and support staff. Every person on your trek is from Nepal — most from the regions you will walk through.
- We purchase supplies from small, locally owned businesses and encourage our travellers to do the same.
- We ensure fair payment to every service provider in our supply chain, from teahouse owners to transport drivers.
- We choose community-operated guesthouses over larger lodges wherever possible, so your accommodation spend goes directly to local families.
- Read more about our community work.
- We follow strict Leave No Trace principles on every trek. What comes in, comes back out.
- We minimise waste by using reusable water bottles and actively reducing single-use plastics on all our routes.
- We support eco-friendly accommodations that use sustainable energy and water practices.
- Our guides run regular trail cleanup campaigns, collecting waste left by other trekkers and carrying it out to appropriate disposal sites.
- All guides and porters receive fair wages, proper equipment and comprehensive insurance. No exceptions.
- Our porters carry a maximum of 15kg — well below the international standard of 25kg. We enforce this on every trip.
- We ensure our team has comfortable sleeping arrangements and proper meals throughout the trek.
- Our guides, porters and Sherpas are part of the MountainKick team. They are not hired help picked up at the trailhead. Meet our team.
We are a small company and we are honest about what that means. We do not have a corporate sustainability report. We have a team that comes from these mountains and takes this personally. We train our guides on sustainable practices every season, support local conservation initiatives, and keep improving how we operate.
When you trek with MountainKick, you are not just experiencing the Himalayas — you are helping preserve them for the people who live here and the trekkers who will come after you. See why booking local makes the difference.
Trek Responsibly With Us
Get in touch with the Kathmandu team to plan a trek that respects the mountains and the people who call them home.
Tales from the Himalayas
Fresh stories and expert insights from our mountain adventures
Nepal Cross-Country Biking: The 550km Route Most Cyclists Never Ride (2026 Guide)
Ride 550 km from Kathmandu to Muktinath through jungles, Chitwan wildlife, Annapurna views, and the Kali Gandaki gorge on a 13-day adventure.
Remote Trek, Adventure, Essentials, Travel
Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek: Complete Guide (2026)
Two base camps, four passes, 21 days. The honest guide to the Kanchenjunga Circuit: difficulty, permits, best time, costs, and whether you're ready for it.
Annapurna Region, Everest Region, Adventure, Essentials, Travel
Luxury Trekking in Nepal: What It Actually Means (2026 Guide)
No five-star hotels. No heated rooms. Here is what luxury trekking in Nepal actually delivers and why the private guide matters more than the lodge.