Ian Wall

About Us

How we work

We work closely with our friends and clients to turn their ideas, dreams and aspirations into a practical, smoothly delivered reality using our experience and understanding of both our Western and Nepali cultures and with an immense wealth of mountain based skills, connections and experience. We use this strong foundation to create imaginative Himalayan experiences for people who appreciate doing things a little differently but remain secure in the knowledge that there is a well structured and caring family based support team behind them. We do not offer fixed departure treks, instead we allow our clients to maximize their time availably and will work closely with them to fit into their schedules.

Our backgrounds

Ian and Sarita

Ian is from the UK but has worked in Nepal for 10 years where he has lived for seven years. He has over 40 years of experience of working in the mountains including leading people in Europe, Scandinavia, Africa, Ladakh, Tibet and Nepal. This experience backed up with the experiences of working in the National Mountaineering Centre in North Wales and other outdoor establishments gives him a good insight into what friends and clients expect and how to look after them in the mountains and foreign countries to enable them to get the best out of their visits.

Sarita Lama is from the Tamang community and has a background in community health and trekking issues. She worked for 6 years as a nurse and has lived in many remote communities in the middle hill districts of Nepal delivering community health care programmes, empowering the work of the Mothers' Groups and offering support with many different aspects of community life.  This has given her a good insight into the many different ethnic cultures of the mountain people of Nepal.

She now use her experience to ensure their friends and clients have good medical back up on trek and at the same time she involves her many contacts with friends in the remote communities to provide that little bit of extra special value for their trekkers.

In the mountains

Sarita has travelled extensively in the mountains of Nepal and is familiar with many local situations that might be encountered by clients, helping Off the Wall Trekking to cover most eventualities. Her extensive knowledge of Nepali history and the rural way of life allows Off the Wall trekking to provide a detailed insight into the lives of the regions through which their treks pass.

She has supported many treks using her nursing skills and experience and her work in providing helicopter rescue support means that Off the Wall trekkers will receive the very best attention if they are in the unfortunate situation of requiring outside help.

In Administration

Sarita has not only got a good working knowledge of the requirements and administration involved in setting up and delivering treks, but, she also has the contacts to enable all the 'behind the scenes' paper work to be effectively delivered. Many of Sarita’s friends and contacts in the remote areas contribute to the smooth operation of Off the Wall Trekking.

During the season and when not on trek Sarita provides trekker support in Kathmandu organizing extension trips and dealing with general customer care issues.

Supporting staff training

Ian’s experience as a teacher and lecturer has provided him with the skills to develop training opportunities for their Nepali staff and others working in the trekking industry. This is complemented by Sarita’s nursing training and deep understanding of Nepali culture. This empowers staff to realize their own potential and helps them to understand exactly what their clients expect from their visit to the mountains and ensures the very best service, care and attention is offered. We believe that our staff are setting the standards that many try to emulate. We actively support our staff in raising their own educational standards and also to help develop their communities when they return home after the season.

 

In Development work

Both Ian and Sarita have worked in a professional capacity in many remote hill communities and understand the villagers’ thinking and outlook on life, as well as their aspirations for their communities. They understand the consequences of trekking for the local people. To this end they are actively involved in supporting and developing the Porter Protection Programme in the Khumbu region. This program provides both accommodation and practical support for the Nepalese staff working in the very harsh conditions and remote environments of the Everest region.

Ian also works with many local organisations in an effort to promote Nepal and provide more opportunities for the Nepalese staff to earn a living and develop a more sustainable life. He is a representative and Nepal based partner for the Himalayan Stove Project, an International Advisor for Kathmandu Environmental Education Project, Porter/Guide training course advisory / coordinator, member of the Advisory Committee for the Great Himalayan Trail and a member of the Organising Committee for the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival.

Recognition

Ian received the International Civil Service Award from Jagriti Samaj Nepal for the establishment of Social, Educational, Environmental and Cultural Development in 2011.

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Ian and Sarita's help and knowledge was invaluable, they really smoothed the way, and Ian was fantastic company and a great guide on my first trip to Nepal and trek through the simply beautiful Helambu region. Unforgettable!

tim-hall

Ian and Sarita provided full logistical support for our exploratory expedition to Jobo Rinjang in 2011, everything ran really smoothly and the clients who accompanied our team to base camp with Sarita had a brilliant time. The experience and support Ian and Sarita provide always exceeded my expectations. Their flexibility and organisational skills overcome even the most complex of problems which allowed my team and clients to get the best experience out of their expedition and trek.

steve-holmes

I visited Nepal as a solo trekker and enlisted the expertise of Ian and Sarita to help me plan my trip.  Ian gave me lots of practical advice regarding the different treks that I wanted to do and helped me to decide on the perfect itinerary.  Ian and Sarita's assistance was invaluable - they organised everything from my airport transfer and guesthouse in Kathmandu when I first arrived to my guide and porter on the trek, my flights, insurance, permits, the lot.  Sarita's help in getting my trekking permits was particularly useful as it meant I didn't have to travel all the way across town to the permit office and queue for hours! Ian and Sarita continued to look after me throughout my trip and it was great to have someone always looking out for me.  It ended up being the trip of a lifetime and I could not have done it without them.

rachel-botterill

In 2010 I planned a trip to Nepal and through mutual friends I met Ian and Sarita. I was going over to run the Everest Ultra Marathon but found out 2 days before I left home that the race had been canceled. I decided to continue with my visit as Ian and Sarita had planned a 24 day trek in the Everest region for our group. Once in Nepal Ian and Sarita met with us in person, they explained how everything would work and what to expect and they introduced us to our guide and porter. Ian also went over all the safety stuff and what gear to take. The airline lost my luggage so Sarita took me to a local place to buy all new gear including running shoes; she brokered a deal and set me up. It was incredible how far they went to help us out and make us happy. Once we were on the Everest Trek and we did every- thing one could do in the Everest region... three passes, Kala Pattar, Everest base camp, Gokyo Ri, it was amazing. We met other organized trekking groups, but we had way more fun and did way more stuff. Ian...

sean-run-bum-blanton,-usa

I have known Ian as a friend for many years and now that he lives in Nepal I have found him to be a really good source for peak information. This helps inspire me to do more interesting routes, usually solo, but knowing both Ian and Sarita are there with all their skills, connections and ability to deal with logistics is very reassuring. Ian has an excellent knowledge, and an eye for the mountains that few other agents have; he actually goes into the hills!Ian and Sarita are good friends and always provide a welcoming haven after what is often a long and arduous trip in Nepal.

andy-parkin,-chamonix

While leading an expedition on Kyajo Ri, Nepal in 2011 it was good to know that Ian and Sarita were backing us up in Kathmandu when things got difficult due to bad weather.

adele-pennington

Ian and Sarita arrange a trek in the Helambu area of Nepal for us in 2009, we had a great time on trek and were particularly well looked after by their guide Pemba.

alun-davis