About Us

Welcome to Beyond The Clouds, your gateway to the breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and profound spirituality of the Himalayas. As a boutique Himalayan tour operator, we are more than just a tour company—we are storytellers, explorers, and passionate travellers. Our mission is to provide extraordinary Himalayan travel experiences that immerse you in the heart of the Himalaya's timeless traditions, incredible nature and warm hospitality.

Our Purpose

At Beyond The Clouds, we believe that travel should be meaningful and transformative. Every journey with us is carefully crafted to offer authenticity, adventure, and personal connection. Whether you're trekking through the majestic Himalayas, exploring ancient monasteries, or sharing a meal with a local family, we ensure that your experience is immersive, insightful, and unforgettable.

Our Story

Beyond The Clouds was set up by the Nepali and British directors of the charity First Steps Himalaya to showcase the best of the Himalaya and to raise vital funds to support the running of the charity. All profits from Beyond The Clouds help support the charity’s life-changing education projects in rural Nepal. Our customers can enjoy a Himalayan adventure while contributing to a worthwhile cause.

The Beyond The Clouds team are passionate travellers with a wealth of experience in the Himalaya. Each of us has lived in or has close connections with the Himalayan region; we love these countries like our own. It is our privilege to share these places with our customers by creating unique itineraries, using hand picked accommodation and restaurants, sourcing the best local guides, and getting just as excited about these trips as our customers!

We meticulously plan each journey and pride ourselves on exceptional customer service and willingness to go the extra mile. We want our clients to have the best experience possible so they will continue to spread the love of this beautiful part of the world. Whilst we operate a range of fixed-date departure small-group tours, we also offer a wide selection of thoughtfully designed tours that run throughout the year, allowing our customers the flexibility to explore the Himalayas at their preferred time.

Giving Back

Our commitment goes beyond tourism. We proudly support the work of First Steps Himalaya, a charity dedicated to uplifting local communities through education, healthcare, and environmental conservation. All profits from  our tours contributes to the work of First Steps Himalaya improving early years education in rural Nepal. By travelling with us, you become a part of this meaningful impact, leaving a positive footprint on the land and lives you encounter.

Why Travel With Us?

  • Specialist Knowledge and expertise: Our team are extremely knowledgeable about each of our destination and have travelled widely in the region. We frequently inspect the hotels and restaurants that we use.

  • Authentic Himalayan Experience: Our team of knowledgeable local guides ensures that you experience the Himalaya through the eyes of its people.

  • Sustainable & Responsible Tourism: We prioritize eco-friendly practices and support community-based tourism initiatives.

  • Personalized Itineraries: From cultural festivals to high-altitude treks, we tailor your journey to match your interests and aspirations.

  • Commitment to Giving Back: Your travel funds contribute to social and environmental projects that make a difference in rural Nepal.

Join us in exploring the Himalayas while making a lasting impact. Let’s journey together, not just as travellers, but as global citizens creating meaningful change.

Discover the Himalayas. Embrace the Journey. Make a Difference!

Meet our Beyond The Clouds team members:


Fionna heiton - NEW ZEALAND

CO-FOUNDER / DIRECTOR & CEO

Co-founder Fionna Heiton has travelled extensively in the Himalaya and personally checks out our accommodation (from resorts to village homestays) to ensure our clients' needs are well taken care of. She's also a foodie who tests out every single eating place to make sure it's top quality!

DURGA ARAN - NEW ZEALAND / NEPAL

CO-FOUNDER / DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Durga Aran, our Nepali co-founder, has worked in tourism for over 25 years, and has been running treks, tours and adventure holidays for most of that time. Durga's warm and hospitable personality, alongside his extensive local knowledge, ensure the ultimate Himalayan experience.

CHRISTINE WILKINSON - NEW ZEALAND

TOUR CO-ORDINATOR

Christine is a keen traveler and has visited Nepal twice, once with Beyond The Clouds and been a supporter of First Steps Himalaya for many years. Christine’s attention to detail helps ensure trips run smoothly and to plan so everyone can enjoy themselves. She lives in Wellington, New Zealand with her family.

LAUREN PALLISER - NEW ZEALAND

OFFICE MANAGER / ADMINISTRATOR

Lauren is our administrator, who looks after all aspects of our systems operation and finance. She has a wealth of experience in administrative roles, both in NZ and Australia. She also has a strong interest in community work and has held a number of volunteer positions. Lauren lives in Nelson and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons).

why travel with beyond the clouds

We are Himalayan Experts

We have been planning treks in the Himalayas for 25 years and really know our destinations. We only plan trips that we would love to do ourselves! We use excellent handpicked accommodation, and restaurants.  Our itineraries are meticulously planned to give you the ultimate travel experience.

We give back

All profits from our journeys support the work of our charity First Steps Himalaya, providing quality education to children in rural Nepal. 

We go the extra mile

We strive to exceed our customers' expectations.  We provide a professional and personalised service, and go the extra mile to ensure you are happy every step of the way. 

We support ethical travel

We support sustainable tourism ensuring economic benefit to local people.   We use local guides and where possible stay in eco-friendly hotels.  Beyond The Clouds is a responsible tourism company; we care about the places we travel to.