WHO ARE WE?
Two people. One long walk. A different idea of travel.
Pangolin Journeys wasn’t built in a boardroom. It was actually built on a trail.
What began as a conversation between two friends became a company. Not because we had a business plan, but because we couldn’t stop noticing how much travel had become about checking places off a list instead of actually being in them.
So we built the opposite. Fewer stops. Slower days. Routes chosen for what they let you notice, not how many places they let you say you’ve been.
THE FOUNDING STORY
HOW THIS BEGAN
As travelers ourselves, we’ve been on those trips.
We’ve stood in places that deserved an afternoon and been given fifteen minutes because the schedule said so. We’ve rushed from one highlight to the next, ticking boxes, taking photos, and moving on before the place has a chance to leave an impression.
And every time, the same feeling lingered: we’d reached the place, but we hadn’t actually been there.
That feeling is where Pangolin Journeys comes from. Not a business plan — just a growing frustration with travel that optimizes for ground covered instead of moments lived. Somewhere along the way, “more” became the selling point, and “slower” started to feel like a compromise.
We don’t think it is. We think slower is the whole point.
So we built something different — small groups, fewer stops, and more time. Itineraries with room to breathe, detours, and conversations that weren’t on the schedule.
Not because we found a formula, but because we were tired of pretending that rushing past something counts as experiencing it.
That’s still what we’re doing today. Creating journeys at a pace that lets you actually be there.
THE NAME
WHY PANGOLIN?
The pangolin moves slowly, low to the ground, unhurried by anything chasing a faster pace. That’s the kind of traveler we wanted to design for — not the kind who covers the most ground, but the kind who notices the ground they’re on.
It’s also the most trafficked mammal on earth — quietly disappearing, mostly unnoticed, while the world looks elsewhere. That felt like the right name for a company built on paying attention to what’s easy to miss.
It’s also why, over time, we plan to support pangolin conservation directly. Not as a campaign. Just because we’d like to give something back to the animal that gave us our name.
THE FOUNDERS
TWO PEOPLE, ONE LONG WALK
We started Pangolin because we wanted to travel differently, and we hoped others did too.
BIBESH SHRESTHA
CO-FOUNDER
Bibesh is as quiet about himself as he is meticulous about a route. Born and raised in Kathmandu, he’s spent over a decade in the trekking industry, building itineraries across Nepal’s hills and high passes long before Pangolin existed. Somewhere in between, he’s never quite adjusted to the idea that travel should be rushed. When not mapping a route or fixing one that’s gone wrong, he’s usually got music on, a book close by, or his hands on something half-finished and creative.
EROSH JOSHI
CO-FOUNDER
Erosh grew up in Bhaktapur, where cultures and traditions are not preserved behind glass but are lived every day. His family’s been in tourism for over 50 years, giving him an early grounding in it. He left for Australia, then came back, drawn back by the mountains, the culture, and the people he never stopped missing. He believes the most rewarding journeys go beyond sightseeing — they leave you closer to a place, not just further into it. On off days, you’ll find him in motion, running city streets in the morning and heading out to the hills whenever he can.
THE PANGOLIN STANDARD
OUR APPROACH
Our approach goes beyond the usual.
WE MOVE SLOWLY, ON PURPOSE
Our itineraries are designed with room to pause, linger, and change direction when something deserves more time. Slowness is not a compromise — it is the point.
WE CAP AT EIGHT
Not eight on a quiet departure. Not ten when demand is high. Eight. A group of eight can move with calm, flexibility, and silence. Larger groups cannot.
SERVICE LIVES IN THE DETAILS
Good service is often invisible. It is knowing when a group needs to slow down, when a plan needs adjusting, or when a traveler would benefit from a quiet moment rather than another activity. Our guides are briefed not only on the route ahead, but on the people traveling it.
SAFETY IS THE FOUNDATION
Adventure should feel exciting, not uncertain. We do not compromise on acclimatization, weather windows, evacuation planning, or guide preparedness. Every expedition operates with trained staff, first-aid certification, satellite communication, and clear contingency protocols. The smoother a journey feels, the more preparation went into it.
WE HOLD THE PLAN LOOSELY
Mountains change. Weather shifts. A valley deserves another morning. A festival appears unexpectedly along the route. We treat the itinerary as a strong intention, not a rigid script — adapting with experience, local relationships, and sound judgment.
WE LEAVE NO TRACE
Our waste returns with us. Our teams are paid fairly, equipped properly, and treated with dignity. The trails we walk this season should remain intact for the next. This is not extraordinary. It is the minimum standard of responsible travel.