How to choose a mountain guide for a private trip

Look for experience relevant to your objective

Ask about the guide's work in the destination, familiarity with the proposed route, language skills, and the partners involved. Trekking in Nepal, climbing Mexico's volcanoes, and planning a Kilimanjaro-and-safari journey call for different practical knowledge.

Craig Van Hoy is an AMGA-certified Alpine Guide with decades of international experience, fluency in Spanish, and proficiency in Nepali. His background is a reason to start a conversation with GoTrek; the next step is understanding how that experience applies to your proposal.

Travel with Craig himself

Craig Van Hoy personally guides every GoTrek trip. You travel with Craig himself, bringing his mountain experience and destination knowledge to your journey. Discuss the route, preparation, communication, and local support arrangements directly with him.

Also discuss group size and what private guiding means for the program. GoTrek plans private groups from one to twelve people, but the appropriate structure and any extra costs depend on the agreed itinerary.

Ask questions that change a booking decision

A clear proposal should make preparation, included services, exclusions, payments, and contingencies understandable. Ask for clarification while you can still compare options and adjust the plan.

• What experience is required, and how will mine be assessed?
• What local support, equipment, and services are included?
• What is the route and proposed acclimatization schedule?
• What happens when weather or team needs change the objective?
• Which costs are fixed, excluded, or still awaiting a quote?
• What cancellation and balance-payment arrangements apply?

Start with enough context

Send your destination, possible dates, party size, and a short account of recent trips. Explain what you enjoyed, what was difficult, and what you want from this journey. That gives Craig Van Hoy something useful to respond to before registration.