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This interview is part of evoTrip’s storytelling series, taking a closer look behind the scenes with a few of our favorite tour operator partners around the world. We spoke with Prem Khatry, Founder and Managing Director of Ace the Himalaya, who runs all of our adventures in Nepal. Here’s what Prem had to say about the dream that fueled starting his own company, the impact of Covid, how to help the local community in times of crisis, and how to make the best out of the worst.

What led you to create an adventure travel company, and what's your passion behind it?

I started working in the travel industry when I was 15 years old, in the Himalayas. I was a porter for 2 years and then got promoted to a guide. I loved guiding my clients to their chosen destinations, arranging their logistics, showing them the beauty of my country and our incredible Himalayas, and helping them create unforgettable memories. I was passionate about travel. I started dreaming of my own company, being my own boss and helping others -- to do so meant not only could I share my passion for travel with others, but I would have access to resources that would allow me to help local communities for their betterment. Ten years after starting in the travel industry, the dream came true when Ace the Himalaya was established in 2006. 

Would you please share with us how COVID-19 has impacted you and the Activexpedition team?

COVID-19 is the biggest hurdle we have faced since our starting year. Our business, like many others, has come to a temporary stop since March. We’ve stopped working from our office for safety as well as abiding by the lockdown imposed by our government. It’s been difficult as our guides & porters have no source of income without our help. But some of us are working from home. We’ve been mostly focused on being prepared for the upcoming season and 2021 onward. It’s a great challenge but we are doing what we can to stay safe, open, motivated, and looking towards the future. At the same time, we have supported our employees such as guides and porters with relief items and food, to make sure they don’t have to worry about going hungry during lockdown. During this difficulty, I and my company are doing our best to look after them. 

Through our partnership with local NGO Sambhav Nepal, we are supporting medical professionals and remote villages to make it easier for them to fight this virus. We have distributed thermometers, over 25,000 masks, and over 2,000 viral transport media to the remote health posts of Gorkha district, deep in the Himalayas (and where my home village is located). In addition, we have provided various food items to 850+ families in Kathmandu city and several remote villages of Gorkha. The benefiting families are those who have lost their job due to the pandemic, to ease their burden during these difficult times.

What challenges has COVID presented for you?

COVID has thrown many challenges, including how to run the office as minimally and remote as we can without any source of regular income, figuring out how to sustain the company for a long time without major regular revenue, and taking care of my family and my own health as I have been active out in the field helping others for the food and medical goods distribution.

What opportunities has COVID presented for you?

COVID has provided us some opportunities, including the time to rethink company operations and prepare for the future, including how to plan for the worst and having a backup plan. We’re also making improvements to our website and other platforms that we use, and looking at how to market more in the digital space. This lockdown has also given me time to think more about how to make our trips as environmentally and socially sustainable as possible.

Are there any new hobbies or interests that you and your team are pursuing during these times?

I’m improving my mountain biking skills and enjoying being close to nature. I’ve always been busy with work and this downtime has given me lots of free time and the ability to look after my health. My team members are working on their own hobbies like reading, writing, running, making videos and so on. Many are learning new things and acquiring new skills that will help them in their jobs in the future. And we all are learning to stay positive in the face of great difficulty.

What positive impact do you see for travel in the future as a result of COVID?

I see that we will be ready and plan for future situations where there may be mass trip cancellations and postponements. Next time we face a similar situation, we will know what to do to survive and get back to our feet. Technologies that allow for remote work from home are very important, so we will continue to invest in these and train our employees. We are learning we can quickly adapt to a new environment and still maintain productivity and hard work while effortlessly serving our clients.

What are you most looking forward to when the world returns to a new normal?

Going out on trips! Working from my office again, and meeting our clients face-to-face -- these are the things I’m most looking forward to.

What would you most like to share with future travelers?

I would like to share my country, the Himalayas and time with future travelers. I request that they dream now and stay safe in their homes, and travel later when the situation has improved. We are also offering the ability to book now, securing today’s price, and travel anytime until 2025. Once the clients book, if they have to postpone the trip due to Covid-19, they can do so for free. They also wouldn’t need to pay anything extra if the trip increases in price in the future.

Anything else that you would like to tell us?

This pandemic has affected all of us. Every country, every person - we are all in this situation, together. Better times will return and we will all be able to travel to our favorite destinations again. 

 

Interested in going to Nepal when the time is right?

Explore these mountain biking and trekking trips in the Himalayas. You can book 2021 dates and beyond, and flexible terms include the ability to reschedule through 2025.