We believe in the transformative power of travel.
At Mountain Kora, our mission is to transform how you see the world through extraordinary journeys that connect, immerse, and inspire. We specialize in crafting original adventures that forge meaningful connections with local communities and offer unforgettable experiences in stunning destinations. By stepping beyond the ordinary, we aim to revolutionize perspectives and reveal the profound power of travel to shape and enrich our lives.
KORA
(noun) | ko·ra:
pilgrimage or journey around a sacred mountain or site. Origin: Tibetan
ABOUT US
We are a travel operator based in Northern Vermont with big ideas about travel. Mountain Kora’s small-group, active adventures are geared toward travelers that seek to experience deep, cultural connections and transformative moments on the road. To that end, our community-based team of expert guides are local to each Mountain Kora destination we visit, and our itineraries explore far-flung towns and villages in unique regions of the world. With an eye toward the journey, itself, each Mountain Kora trek is designed to be flexible, spontaneous, and take advantage of our local contacts.
OUR ESSENCE
In Tibet, the word kora means a journey made around a sacred mountain or site. This idea speaks a lot to how we like to think about travel, as well.
We all lead busy lives. Most of us don’t get to experience those rare moments of authentic, transformative adventure as often as we might like. Because of that, Mountain Kora’s meticulously designed itineraries are as much about the journey, the road, the getting there, as they are any one iconic site, location, or summit.
Designed for active, independent travelers, our curated trips promote unparalleled connections with incredible people, places, and experiences in some of the world’s most remote and pristine corners.
HOME TEAM
Ashley Nesbitt: With more than two decades of experience in adventure travel -- first as a trip organizer and guide to remote regions of the Himalaya and then as a curator for a luxury tour operator -- Ashley founded Mountain Kora in 2017 to offer active adventures set apart from the mainstream. Directing day-to-day operations and development of Mountain Kora, she brings an intimate knowledge of each trip and passion for organizing custom adventures. Clients interface directly with Ashley from time of inquiry to return from your adventure.
John "Nez" Nesbitt: Nez has been the backstop for Mountain Kora since its inception. He brings in-depth experience as a former ski patroller, educator and guide for wilderness trips and mountain adventures. He has trekked in Nepal, hiked with our inaugural group on the Bernese Oberland Traverse and ventured to the "bush" on our walking safari in Botswana. With his keen eye for collaboration and knack for promotion you may find him preparing tasty appetizers and delivering inspirational slideshows on recent Mountain Kora adventures. For his day job, he serves his local community in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont as an Emergency Physician.
EXPERT GUIDES
LOCAL CONNECTIONS
We work with local guides in each of our destinations who are dedicated to making our adventures exceptional in every way. At Mountain Kora, we believe you cannot underestimate the value of a top-notch guide, and our longstanding relationships with some of the best in the business are a testament to that fact. Our guides are natural leaders, highly professional, safety-conscious, and well-connected with local communities. They are also spontaneous, flexible, and—above all—committed to meeting your every need along the trail, creating a seamless experience from start to finish. Our goal at Mountain Kora is that you will leave your adventure, not only awed by your guide’s service and expertise, but with a new, lifelong friend from a unique part of the world.
CUSTOM ITINERARIES
We craft our adventures based on years of experience on the trails, treks, walking, and biking paths of the regions we explore. By being both innovative and adaptable, we are able to keep our itineraries fresh and relevant. We tailor each adventure to the needs and interests of our private groups, thereby providing unique access to less-visited regions and fostering once-in-a-lifetime connections with local communities.
COMMUNITY-BASED TRAVEL
Our adventures center around giving back to the communities that host us along the trail. It’s our goal to have a positive impact every step of the way—whether that’s staying in small, locally run lodges; engaging with grassroots organizations working to improve livelihoods; eating regional cuisine; or supporting the ban on single-use plastic. Our footprint is light, our exchanges are rich, and our net effect is positive.
HEALTH & SAFTEY
Ensuring that our participants are in good hands and well looked after every step of the way is our top priority, from the food that we eat to general health and safety on the trail. All of our guides have undergone comprehensive training in their home countries, and each one takes these responsibilities seriously. By anticipating the needs of the group while considering each traveler as an individual, our guides will put your mind at ease while seamlessly crafting your experience in a competent and thoughtful way.
VALUE
As a small company that prides itself on personalized attention for each traveler, you will be taken care of from the moment you contact us to the moment you return home. We keep our overhead low and are firm believers in maintaining a consistent, “boots on the ground” approach. Mountain Kora staff travels regularly to each of our destinations, ensuring we keep our itineraries fresh, immersive, and exceptional in every way.
ACTIVE ADVENTURES
Mountain Kora believes that the ultimate travel satisfaction comes when you challenge yourself physically along the way. Each day of our itineraries provide opportunities to push yourself outside your comfort zone, offering a sense of awe and accomplishment at every turn in the trail.
LOCAL CONNECTIONS
Whether enjoying the camaraderie that comes with a cohesive group of travelers or forming new friendships with our guide or local hosts, we believe in fostering connections and creating long-lasting bonds with the people we encounter on our adventure.
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
Our guides, with their extensive local knowledge of the trails and locations we explore, provide our groups with unique insights into the various communities we visit. As leaders, they look after our travelers in every way, creating safe, immersive, and challenging experiences that will forever shape your understanding and worldview.
SMALL GROUPS
By traveling in small, private groups, our itineraries offer a great amount of flexibility, allowing us to foster genuine relationships with our hosts and to maintain a low impact when we’re on the trail. We limit our group size to 8-10 guests, but will often take groups as small as 2-4 participants.
GIVING BACK
Our overarching approach to travel centers on engaging with the communities we visit in a sensitive and thoughtful way. This philosophy is imbued in every aspect of our journeys, where we not only work to minimize our environmental impact, but carefully vet our on-the-ground network of guides, porters, lodge owners, and partner organizations. In this way, Mountain Kora works to foster culturally sensitive exchanges and to contribute positively to the places that we visit. As our guest, you can be assured that your dollars will go directly to local mountain communities, whether it’s a family-run mountain lodge, nuns at the convent where we enjoy a meal, or porters that have been hired at a fair wage.
