Our Story
Back in 1998, a Nepali couple migrated to Australia with their 9-month old baby boy. The parents worked hard to build a life; they integrated themselves into Aussie society, bought a home and raised a couple of kids out in the suburbs of Melbourne, doing everything they could to provide the best possible future for their family.
Diwaker and Neera have now spent over 25 years in a country they call home; however, despite the enormous effort and dedication inside Australia, their roots and ancestry remain in Nepal. Caught between their own ageing parents and the now grown up children, it was Dewansh who started to succumb to the idea of returning back. In another decade, his grandfather would begin a victorious march to his century.
The grand tour occurred in 2016, a quiet honouring to the route travelled over fifty years ago, retraced, by grandfather and grandson. It sparked the inspiration for pilgrimage, for family, for love and, and for respect. At Hotham Himalaya, we carry that heartbeat forward. We tend to the fire, keeping it alive. We're stoked to celebrate Nepali culture and traditions, whilst maintaining a sense of Gorkhali pride.
There were still opportunities to spend time with the elders and listen to the mother tongue, a grandmother who still spoke. A crucial cross between Australia and Nepal had to be sewn. At the head of the patriarchy was Dr. Tej Bahadur, born in a rural village of Nepal, who at the age of eight, charged his way over the border into India to eventually become a veterinarian. He began the family trend of working hard to provide for children and it is with his initial energy that Hotham Himalaya came to be.
Dewansh Basnet has spent his adult life travelling and working away from the suburbs he grew up in. After a decade of experience in the outdoors, he realised he was being pulled back to the mountains from his birthplace. Dewansh has been developing the concept of Hotham Himalaya, a project grounded in nature, adventure, culture and of course, the mountains that shape it all.
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To ensure that the work serves a higher purpose, Dewansh established the Gorkhali Diaspora Trust: an entity that guides the company. As many Nepali diaspora children are maturing into adults, clashing with their identity, ghar and ethnicity, Hotham Himalaya strives to provide a pathway back to the homeland.
Our Mission
To bridge Nepal and Australia, its people and cultures, through immersive mountain experiences that foster self-reliance, intercultural exchange and an integrated community.
"This isn't just a travel company — it's a homecoming in motion."
Our mission goes beyond adventure, it’s about creating a space where our two cultures meet, grow, and learn from one another. We believe the mountains are a powerful setting for this type of cross-cultural understanding as well as personal challenge and growth.
Nepal is the home of mountain heritage and Australians have a vast, natural landscape of outdoor spirit. Through Hotham Himalaya, we're building a bridge between these worlds, one that is rooted in respect and shared experience. A sustainable path that gives all people the chance to walk away changed.
Our Values
At Hotham Himalaya, our values are shaped by mountain culture, family roots, and the belief that meaningful travel can create real connection. We stand for cultural integrity, responsible adventure, and a commitment to people over profit. Every journey we run is guided by respect—for the land, for tradition, and for the communities we work alongside.
We’re here to build something lasting: a shared path between Nepal and Australia that’s immersive, sustainable, and grounded in trust.