About Us

Thank you for your interest in our trips. Canadian Himalayan Expeditions Ltd. , has been organizing very special active holidays for over twenty years. We are a small, highly experienced “boutique” travel company designing and operating primarily our own unique adventures to a few select destinations. We are not a large impersonal “tour operator” sending thousands of people on boring pre-packaged holidays!

Our specialty is arranging small-group adventure trips throughout Nepal, India, Pakistan/China, Bhutan, Tibet, and other parts of the Himalaya. We also offer great trekking trips to Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya, wildlife safaris in East Africa, journeys to Southeast Asia and some very special customized private touring programs in different regions of the world.

If you desire a well-organized yet unregimented adventure, where you can actually speak to the people who design, organize, and lead many of the trips, we are the company for you! We offer excellent trips at reasonable prices and our reputation for quality, safety, leadership, and environmental responsibility is second to none.Join us for the best travel experience of your life!

Joe Pilaar, Director

Who Joins Our Trips?

Our treks and other adventures are comprised of small and friendly groups made up of a variety of interesting and adventurous individuals from all walks of life. A typical group has about 8 to 12 people, most between the ages of 25 and 50 with approximately equal numbers of men and women, half singles and half couples.

Most people who join our trips are easy-going, open-minded individuals with a positive mental attitude who enjoy new experiences and the occasional challenge to their expectations. They don’t want everything to be exactly as it is at home, otherwise they wouldn’t travel! No matter what your travel experience or fitness level is, we are bound to have a trip that suits you if you have the desire to go.

The Director

JOE PILAAR, the founder and President of Canadian Himalayan Expeditions Ltd. , has been leading trips to the Himalaya for over 20 years.

Joe lived and studied in India for 5 years and speaks Hindi and Urdu fluently. He has travelled extensively throughout the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, East Africa and South America, and has organized and led over 50 expeditions in Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bhutan, China/Tibet, Kenya, Tanzania, Argentina, Chile, and Peru.

Joe continues to escape the office as much as possible to lead as many trips as he can!