It is almost 5 years since I was introduced to the best climbing and trekking company in India – there you go, colours nailed firmly to the mast! – and the high standards of WM never cease to amaze. And impress. And reassure.
I just returned a few days ago from climbing Banderpoonch, a 6316m peak in the north Indian state of Uttarakhand. We made it to 6120m, before Avilash Bisht, one of the owners & founders of WM & our leader on this climb, made the decision to turn us all round, since the remaining approx 200 vertical metres were, in his expert opinion, just too difficult and risky for us.
And it is for moments like that – when Avilash, in consultation with his brilliant team of Sherpas makes a tough call – that I love and respect White Magic Adventure Travel.
Safety is their undisputed #1 priority.
There was absolutely nothing to fault about our expedition.
Nothing at all.
WM carried out another perfectly organised trip, despite potential obstacles. Like Avilash having a serious family emergency a couple of days before departure. 
Sanjeev Rai seamlessly took over the reins, and it was a joy to meet such a serious and competent young man. Sanjeev guided us from Dehra Dun to Uttarkashi to Forest Camp to Base Camp to Camp One, when Avilash finally joined us, after a mammoth trek up the mountain. Now THAT is called devotion to duty.
We were a team of 7 climbers + a Liasion Officer from the IMF + Sanjeev, Avilash, the one and only Mohan, a cook & an assistant cook, and 4 sherpas. Plus teams of porters to ferry our luggage and supplies to and from Base Camp.
Everything was flawless.
No sooner arrived in camp, than our tents would be up in a jiffy, along with a mess tent and toilet tents – ladies & gents – such luxury.
Every need was catered for, from loads of good, nutritious food, to twice daily monitoring of our oxygen saturation levels, from clean water for drinking to warm water to wash our hands in before meals. WM runs an efficient set up, with every member of their staff pitching in for any and every job, and always with a smile. Imagine the luxury of being woken up every morning in your tent with a cup of “bed tea” – though, actually, I suppose “sleeping bag tea” is a more accurate name. Even at Summit Camp, sleeping on the ice, we were woken up with tea and a smile.
We were treated to a delicious birthday cake, carried up from Base Camp to Camp One, for Vandana, one of the climbers.
We had a celebration cake on our last night under canvas. Don’t miss Banderpoonch iced onto the cake!
We had pakoras and endless cups of tea, soup to keep us warm, popcorn, Maggi – the cooks kept producing delicious food, regardless of the altitude. Heck, Avilash & Sanjeev even made us a thermos of coffee in the dark and cold of summit night, to give us all that extra kick to keep on going.
I am a diehard White Magic Adventure Travel fan, and cannot envisage travelling with any other climbing or trekking company. Ever.
Our climbing party of 7 stands testament to the loyalty WM engenders. We were all repeat clients and we spent most of the descent planning and discussing our next climb – a discussion that has continued on our WhatsApp group since we all, reluctantly, got back to our daily city lives
I cannot recommend White Magic Adventure Travel too highly.
Safety, skilled staff, the kindest team of Sherpas going, good equipment – I have nothing but praise for this company.
Would I use them again?
Of course!
As I said, we’re already planning our next climb…
I paid my own way, and even though the guys at WM know I blog, they have never, ever once made mention of the fact. Total class act.
Here are just a few moments from a lifetime of memories:
Waking up to a view like this from your tent (above & below) is too, too fabulous.
Forest Camp (below)
Picnic lunch on the go (above).
Sanjeev checking the route (& looking pretty damned impressive as he does so!)
Mohan (below) the heart and soul of every climb I have done with WM.
