They say it’s about the journey rather than the destination and our guides Raj and Kamal helped hold this statement true. This was the first guided trek I’d ever been on, so my expectations were wide open. It was a relief to find 2 guides who really enjoy their job, always smiling, joking, and making sure your experience was as enjoyable as it could be this high up in the mountains. Conveniently, Raj was also a pharmacist by trade, knowledge that came in handy almost every day when ailments struck our group. One of our most memorable evenings, a friend I was on the trek with even received a surprise birthday cake (with candles!) big enough for our entire group. Not a simple task in the mountains! Later on, I would find out that Raj’s own birthday was only a couple days afterward and we had never heard a peep of it. This is the kind of selflessness you can expect from the guides at Ace. If I ever return to the Himalayas for another trek, they will definitely be at the top of my list.