Mystik Mountains

Mystik Mountains Adventure and Holidays is an experiential travel company that specializes in designing and organizing life-changing travel experiences for travelers worldwide who seek to explore the beautiful Himalayas of Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet. Mystik creates unique experiences that enable travelers to connect with local communities, people, and places while promoting socially responsible and purposeful travel. Whether individuals are in search of adventure, leisure holidays, cultural tours, or spiritual well-being, Mystik Mountains Adventure and Holidays works closely with travelers to tailor their holidays accordingly. Mystik offers unparalleled customization to ensure travelers receive the best experiences possible, providing unique and immersive experiences beyond typical travel offerings, drawing on extensive travel experience and insider knowledge.

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Mission

Mystik's core value is to positively change the lives of mountain people and help them transform into a prosperous and happy community. Mystik is changing the way travel impacts local communities by engaging and supporting local community projects to improve Education, Health, Community tourism, Agriculture, Trail Building, and Tourism Infrastructure Development.

Sustainability Efforts

Sustainable tourism is at the core of Mystik's vision, mission, and ethos, with a commitment to responsible travel practices, supporting local communities in areas such as education, health, and employment, and contributing 10% of profits to READI Nepal to educate underprivileged children. The company's commitment to sustainable practices extends to its choice of vehicles, guides, and accommodations. Vehicles provided are clean air-conditioned tourist-level vehicles equipped with new health and safety guidelines, with an average fleet age of five years. Guides are licensed and experienced in tour and trekking activities, and fluent in languages such as English, German, Spanish, or French. Accommodations are boutique, locally owned, and sustainable, carefully selected to align with the company's values. All suppliers undergo a thorough evaluation, with direct access to owners or top management to ensure quality and sustainability standards are met.

Mystik Mountains Adventure and Holidays aims to continue its commitment to sustainable tourism through its TravelLife Engaged initiative, seeking to engage, partner, and certify sustainable practices in its operations by mid-2025.

As strong advocates, followers, and believers of sustainable and responsible tourism, 10% of the profit for each trip goes to support NGOs they endorse, which work relentlessly for the development of people and communities in Nepal. These organizations include Rural Empowerment and Development Initiative Nepal (READI Nepal) and Great Himalaya Trail Nepal Alliance (an association working for the environment, tourism trail management, and community development in the Himalaya).

Programs:

Rural Empowerment and Development initiative Nepal (READI Nepal)
Every time you travel with us we give 10% to this organization.This partially pays for the education of 82 underprivileged children.

Great Himalaya Trail Nepal Alliance
We contribute regularly to this alliance, so we can get more people employed in tourism as a trek guide.

Immediate Earthquake Relief for Rural Nepal
There are way too many disasters in Nepal, and we make sure we stay engaged, we pack our backs, roll up our sleeves and head out to the disaster area.

When individuals travel with Mystik, they are not only traveling for themselves but also supporting the sustainable development of the Nepalese community and contributing to a noble cause.

Responsible Travel Policy

Mystik Mountains operates with a mission to connect travelers with local communities, supporting socially responsible and purposeful travel. Their core value revolves around positively impacting mountain communities, and fostering prosperity and happiness. They engage in various community projects including education, health, community tourism, agriculture, trail building, and tourism infrastructure development.

As advocates of responsible sustainable business, the operator adheres to the following guidelines and policies:

Respect for the diverse cultures, religions, languages, customs, and traditions of local communities.
Employment of local staff to directly create local jobs and support the economy.
Encouragement for clients to interact with local communities to gain better understanding.
Implementation of fair employment practices and fair wages for employees.
Promotion of purchasing from local markets and social enterprises to support the local economy.
Opposition to child labor in all areas of operation.
Support for gender and indigenous people equality, giving priority to women and indigenous community members for employment and empowerment.
Advocacy for animal rights and opposition to animal cruelty, avoiding trips involving activities like elephant rides in Chitwan.
Promotion of environmentally friendly trips, conservation efforts, and using eco-friendly transportation.
Contribution back to the communities by supporting local NGOs working for development, funded partially from profits.

FAQs

Culture Shock - Be Prepared

Traveling to Nepal means encountering significant cultural contrasts, which may lead to a profound sense of culture shock. To navigate this, remain flexible, open-minded, and observant without judgment. The initial moments in Nepal can be more shocking than months in Europe, with chaotic airport scenes and unconventional traffic practices. Expect to witness bustling streets filled with colorful attire, unexpected animal encounters, and a cacophony of honking horns. Prepare mentally for these differences to enhance your travel experience and ease adaptation to unfamiliar situations. Conducting research beforehand will help manage expectations and maximize enjoyment amidst Nepal's unique cultural landscape.

Some Cultural Tips to Remember

Manners

Nepali Cultural Etiquette:

Sharing food from plates is considered rude in some areas.
Always ask for permission before taking someone's photo.
Spitting and littering are common but try to use designated bins.
Nepali people may not directly tell you if you're being rude.
Avoid stepping over others and obstructing pathways.
Give and receive items with two hands.
Avoid pointing your feet or fingers at people.
Refrain from giving gifts to local children.
Avoid purchasing antiques or items made from protected species.
Be cautious with giving to beggars and avoid giving food to children.
When shopping, ensure fair prices are paid.

Visiting Religious Sites

Do not eat, smoke, or be loud at religious sites.
There are a few rules written on walls for you in specific temples.
Pay attention to signs.
Some temples only allow Hindus to enter inside.
Walk clockwise around stupas or places of worship.
Never touch or step over offerings like red powder or rice/flowers.
When you travel to certain places of worship you may or may not be permitted to take photos or film these sacred places.
Make sure to take note if you are supposed to take your shoes off before you enter.
For the most part, just be aware of your surroundings and pay attention to what the locals are doing and any writing on the wall.

Inquire

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I could not be happier with my Adventure Life experience, from beginning to end. I travel a lot, and I think your company and personnel do an outstanding job. I truly appreciate your professionalism, attentiveness, and flexibility. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend your company and would be happy to serve as a reference.

Constance Block

TrustScore 4.8 | 178 reviews

TrustScore 4.8 of 5

Based on 178 reviews on

8 hours ago

I received a quick and friendly response from my contact, Christina Mayo, both in email and phone calls. My request for information was provided in less than a day. She took a few minutes to chat about family and events. Dealing with her has always been a pleasure!

Mary Ann

1 day ago

First class all the way. Enjoyed our Guide, Karla, Driver Mark so much. Personalized tour of Antigua during Easter was like a National Geographic in person. Trip of the Lifetime. Such a spiritual and magical tour. Many Thanks. Ben Shaver

Ben Shaver, Jr.

3 days ago

Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.

Scott Trochim

5 days ago

The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!

Susan Campo

1 week ago

The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent. Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio. In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day. Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took. Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.

Kenneth Dropek