Oh My, what an extraordinary trip….again…with DASH Adventures! The way our group became family was magical - we encouraged each other during the hard and emotional times, threw in plenty of belly laughs, endless antics, all leading to group success at our highest point. Dave Ashley’s ability to lead and inspire a motley group of folks is second to none. Expedition Himalaya was outstanding, what a honor to trek with and be cared for by Dawa, Kami and Pasang. It will take time to process all that I learned on this amazing trip - I’m still savoring it like a fine wine. Thank you to all my friends, new and old, on this trip. Namaste.

The trip exceeded any expectations I had. Every detail was taken care of for us, and allowed for an incredible experience where we didn’t worry about anything. The people, food, experiences and planning made for the trip of a lifetime. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of a DASH trip and not only had an amazing experience but life long friends. Thank you for everything!

Absolutely fabulous experience! From beginning to end, DASH Adventures took care of every detail and ensured our trek in the Himalayas exceeded all expectations. Dave, founder and owner, set the tone from registration with regular, helpful communications about preparation, timeline and what-to-expect. He encouraged our group to share physical training activities, questions, and ideas on our chat which (by design) began to coalesce us as a team. That team felt more like a family by the end of the trip. When it was time to fly to Nepal, my wife and I almost had to cancel because of some difficulties at home. Any average outfitter would have expressed condolences, taken our money and parted ways, but Dave was able to coordinate for special ground transportation allowing us to catch up with the group. This type of extra effort is Dave's norm, and testament to his passion for sharing the mountaineering experience. DASH Adventures enjoys a network of colleagues in Nepal with equally dedicated and professional people. Our lead sherpa, despite having summitted Everest seven times, was as approachable and patient as could be. His knowledge of the terrain, culture, and local highlights added color at every turn. With innately sage advice, this partnered expertise pushed for a 2:30am start to get over the Thorong Pass and avoid what might have been untenable winds. The tea houses chosen by DASH were surprisingly comfortable given the remote locations. Meals were hot, timely and tasty. Accordingly, our pace allowed for some down time to relax, socialize and review key items for the next day. It was during these times Dave would masterfully foster meaningful conversations that deepened the bond between team members, and unleashed the cathartic power of the mountains for all of us. So many unexpected teary smiles...priceless. Our trek's highest elevation was about 17.8k' and our group had varying levels of ability. At every stage, the DASH team made deliberate moves to successfully get everybody across the finish line, which was admired and appreciated by the whole group. It wasn't easy, but it was the right thing to do. Overall, I couldn't be more satisfied with DASH Adventures. The mountains are a special place for Dave and he shares that energy with the team while seamlessly handling all the administrative details so his clients don't have to. What cherished memories. Highly recommend!

Just finished DASH Adventures’ 12 day Annapurna Circuit trek, 2026. We ALL made it over the authoring La Pass at 17,800ft. That says so much for our leader Dave Ashley. We had a mixed group, women and men 30s? to 70 some with mountain experience and some with very little. We stuck to our plan and all completed the trek. This trip was planned and executed with both precision and flexibility as needed. It was amazing to see all the behind the scenes work required to pull off this well planned trek. I highly recommend an adventure with DASH. Climbing Mountains and Making Friends is more than a motto. It’s what happens when you book with DASH.

I joined the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Dash Adventures in October, 2026. There are so many exceptional aspects about my experience but I’ll share just a few of them that stand out as stellar moments. The Team: Dave Ashley, the owner of Dash Adventures is by far the most experienced and knowledgeable guide I’ve encountered on an adventure trip. With the accolades as a retired military officer, multiple successful 8000m summit attempts, and years of guiding clients up mountain peaks I felt I was always in good hands while doing something that challenged by novice abilities. His partnership with Expedition Himalaya while in Nepal (who coordinated guides, porters, and transfers/details) gave me confidence that all the pre and post arrangements were seamlessly handled from arriving in Nepal to my departure weeks later. The level of professionalism and experience of EH and DA throughout our trek as they catered to our every need was beyond any expectation and our Nepalese guides - Pasang, Dawa, and Kema - had combined years of experience that is renowned and globally respected in the climbing and trekking world. As a group of 8 of us, we were honored and blessed to have such an experienced team leading us through Thorong Pass at an elevation of 17, 769 ft (5,416m) where all of us successfully celebrated completed the ACT. The accommodations: When I signed up for the trek I researched Yak and Yeti to discover that this was “The” location where trekkers and climbers from around the world often stay pre and post for their trips to the Himalaya. Wonderful accommodations, excellent food, friendly service, a great pool, beautiful grounds and the location - walking distance to Thamel - were a few features that I enjoyed during my extended stay prior to and following the trek. What a cool beginning to an adventure I had only dreamed about as I walked into the hotel only to be greeted by Nabin Trital, one of the principals of Expedition Himalaya. Nabin acts as the ground operator or unofficial ‘mayor’ and was always present at Yak and Yeti to handle details for tours, answer questions, solve problems and settle uneasy nerves from clients who were experiencing the jitters from soon to be embarking upon the unknown. Always a busy guy, he never seemed too preoccupied to make you feel important even when you asked the most mundane questions. The tea Houses and hotels: Along the way throughout the trek we had a combination of hotels and tea houses. Typically modest in nature the experience is part of the journey. Master coordinator Pasang kept us fed and on track, always making sure we had our coffee or Masala tea, ensuring we were comfortable and safe and handling the front end of the tea houses and hotels. The hotels chosen by EH and DA were great. One in particular, when we completed the trek, was in Pokhara; Hotel SOALTEE a beautiful gem walking distance to the lake with 5 star accomodations in service, food, to-die-for showers and rooms with lake views. Breakfast provided the day after we arrived was one I’ll never forget; international variety from India, America, France, and Nepal complete with fresh waffles and omelets made to order. The trek: All the advance preparation will make you feel empowered but nothing can match elements that are out of your control when trekking in the Himalaya. Altitude acclimatization, weather, fitness, gear… I continued to second guess my abilities because I was turning the corner into another decade just the previous week. I had been training on 14’ers, having completed 5 in the past few months and felt ready. I’m a Ironman Triathlete. I live at 7,000 feet in the winter and 8,000 feet in the summer. But mentally I needed to be reassured…and that’s where the Team of Dave Ashley and Expedition Himalaya truly made a difference in our group. Anyone who has contemplated conquering a 5400 meter pass for the first time has trepidation. It’s those around you who are feeling the same concerns that will look to the leaders in the group to get you through. That’s where the experience of DA and EH came through - ensuring everyone who came to successfully make the trek gave it their best shot, with confidence and determination, to make it over Thorong pass. I can’t say enough about this group who led us safely up the mountains that final push and got us through the pass. With Dawa at the helm, we were all jubilant… and the weather was a blessing with blue skies and sunshine as the sun rose over Annapurna 2, 3, and 4. There are no words to describe this feeling and an attempt to try to replicate the images of the massive Himalaya only comes if you are physically present. The Group: Anytime you’re signing up for a trip of this nature you’re tossing the dice as to how the folks you’re traveling with can handle flexibility, differences in opinions, attitudes in culture, and group dynamics. As a leader, Dave has mastered the art of getting folks to get along, setting the stage from the beginning the careful consideration of others around you, eliminating such topics of dissension (I.e. politics and religion), timeliness and group etiquette. In my opinion, we totally lucked out; but then again maybe that’s how all DA’s groups are; the bonds we experienced I hope will last a lifetime or maybe at least until the next trip where we might be together. Everyone becomes family; sharing in exceptional moments and deep personal fears where those who opened up felt safe and comforted by those around us. All this happened in 12 days; relationships cultivated that resembled life long friendships. Hearty laughs and compassionate, caring times gave way to encourage everyone to feel confident in waking up each morning anxious to experience a new, exciting day. The result: My experience with Dash Adventures and Expedition Holidays was exceptional. It was a hard goodbye leaving Kathmandu after meeting so many incredible people from our group and our guides. One final note…our Sherpas who carried our gear we were incredibly impressed with; one can see the ‘speed of the leader, speed of the pack” philosophy; the care and concern Expressed by Expedition Himalaya toward their team of Sherpas was exemplary; it gave all of us great comfort to know the hard work of carrying gear up mountains was appreciated and expressed by not only EH but all of us who were so grateful for their services. Thank you Dave Ashley and the team at Expedition Himalaya for an amazing journey I’ll never forget.