Long-standing international mountain guiding business Adventure Consultants, known for its guided trips to Mt Everest and throughout the Himalaya, is getting ready to resume guided trips to Nepal and the Seven Summits (the highest peak on each continent).

The Wānaka-based company made the decision to relaunch after downsizing a year ago due to the impact of Covid-19 restrictions.

“More than half of all our trips are in Nepal so it’s really about returning to Himalaya and Nepal,” Adventure Consultants general manager Suze Kelly told the Wānaka App. “Our Sherpa team is raring to go again.”

The business had shrunk by 98 per cent with the temporary loss of its international expeditions following the Covid-19 restrictions.

Government subsidies enabled the business to keep its staff on until September 2020. There was some hope that Australians would be able to visit that summer, so the business operated a small team, Suze said. However, with no overseas clients it wasn’t viable.

In March last year the business decided “to mothball things”, she said. 

The company had sold its Brownston Street property, but Suze said it is able to relaunch without having a dedicated space, focusing on international expeditions.

The company’s Nepalese staff are “raring to go”.

“We will build back up in a measured and planned way,” she said. “In the future it would be great to have a dedicated office again.”

The company originally had 16 Wānaka based staff, but will be relaunching with a smaller team.

While Adventure Consultants was one of the largest NZ guiding operations, it is probably better known overseas than in its home country, Suze said.

The company has an operation in Chamonix, France, and because Northern Hemisphere clients have been able to travel that operated in a limited fashion last year, Suze said. This year is looking much busier.

“Before we announced we were going to be resuming we were already experiencing high levels of enquiry from all over the world.

“People should get in touch with us if they’re considering climbing or trekking in the Himalaya,” she said.

Adventure Consultants has been based in Wanaka for more than 25 years: The business was established by Rob Hall and Gary Ball in 1992, and Guy Cotter guided on its first commercial expedition to Mt Everest in 1992. Guy took over the business in 1996.

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PHOTOS: Adventure Consultants