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SUPPORTING THE MOUNTAIN PEOPLE OF NEPAL   Donate
SUPPORTING THE MOUNTAIN PEOPLE OF NEPAL   Donate

Our Heritage

Nepal is among the poorest countries in the world and currently ranks 149 out of 189 countries on the Human Development Index. It is also home to eight of the world’s magnificent 8,000m peaks, including Everest.

It is in the heart of the Nepalese Himalaya that our story began. In 1953, Mount Everest was first climbed by Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, on a British expedition led by Colonel John Hunt. It is recognised that this would have been impossible without the support of the Sherpas.

Two years on, the third highest mountain in the world, Kangchenjunga, also in Nepal, was climbed by George Band and Joe Brown, again a first ascent, and again made possible by the tough, courageous mountain people of Nepal.

Mountaineers of this golden age of Himalayan climbing have always recognised the integral part the local people of Nepal have played in the success of their expeditions and the history of mountaineering in this country, and held them in high regard and with great affection. They have also recognised that many come from a background of abject poverty.

It was Edmund Hillary and his companion George Lowe who first felt compelled to give something back to the Sherpas who had so enriched their lives. Ed started the first Himalayan Trust in 1960 and the two Georges helped set up the UK arm in 1989.

Today, as in the past decades, the mountain people of Nepal continue to support climbers and trekkers in the Himalaya and the need and desire to give something back are still very much alive.

“The most important projects in my life have been the building and maintaining of schools and medical clinics for my good friends in the Himalaya…”

Sir Edmund Hillary

Our History

Click on the images below, or click here for more information about our history.

Tribute to HM The Queen

We share in the deep sadness of our nation, and the world, the loss of our dear Queen Elizabeth.  A pillar of strength, dignity, and humility – a steady constant in our lives. With the news of Hillary’s and Tenzing’s ascent of Everest reaching the streets of London on the morning of her coronation, 2nd...
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Jan Morris Obituary

On the morning of Friday 20th November, at home in her beloved Wales, Jan Morris died.  She was 94.  A prolific writer, journalist, once soldier, and novelist, Jan Morris was lauded worldwide for her colourful prose and wit that breathed life into the historical cities of Venice, Oxford, Hong Kong and Trieste, and for Pax...
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Casting for Sherpa, Tibetan or Himalayan men for Tenzing Norgay feature film

Des Hamilton is currently casting for a major feature film for Netflix about the “Life of Sherpa Tenzing Norgay”. They are looking for SHERPA, TIBETAN or HIMALAYAN MEN, 25-40 yrs old Applicants should have an athletic build and NO PREVIOUS ACTING EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY To apply please email office@deshamilton.com ASAP with your name, age, a...
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Learning how to manage risks with our President Sir Chris Bonington

Interesting interview with our President Sir Chris Bonington, one of the world’s best known mountaineers. He started climbing at the age of 16 in 1951 and is still climbing today at the age of 80! He is the author of 20 books and continuous to attract audiences in lectures and presentations to people and businesses...
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Get Involved 

You can make a difference to the valuable work we do in Nepal by donating money or time to help our worthwhile cause