I was in central Thamel, Kathmandu when the earthquake struck Nepal 25th April 2015. After experiencing the earthquake firsthand, I was lucky to walk away with my life. Read more about my earthquake experience in Kathmandu.
When I was finally reunited with our team on the ground in Kathmandu, the weight of what had happened was written all over their faces. There was no need for words, you could see the shock, the pain, and the quiet determination as they prepared to face yet another challenge in life.
And yet, without hesitation, they moved into action. Their first thought wasn’t for themselves, but for others. They immediately began securing food, tents, and essential equipment, doing everything in their power to make sure our clients were safe.
In the midst of chaos and uncertainty, their strength, resilience, and selflessness stood out in a way I will never forget.
The 2015 Earthquake
After the immediate needs were met, the conversation quickly shifted to something deeper, our team’s families back in their villages. The question was simple: how could we help them rebuild their lives?
In just five minutes, nearly 9,000 people lost their lives during the 2015 Nepal earthquake. Entire communities were devastated. Homes were destroyed, livelihoods vanished, and hope was shaken. For many in remote regions, it was not just a natural disaster—it was another setback in an already difficult life, bringing more uncertainty, pain, and hardship.
In the aftermath, millions of dollars in aid flowed into Nepal. But the reality on the ground told a different story. Much of that funding remained tied up at higher levels, with very little reaching the remote mountain communities where the need was greatest.
That’s where our focus changed.
We know we cannot fix every problem. But we can take responsibility for one area, and do it properly. By focusing our efforts on specific communities, we can ensure that support reaches the ground and creates real, lasting change.
Our goal is simple: to invest in communities so they have access to the essential basics, safe shelter, education, healthcare, and opportunity. Not just short-term relief, but long-term support that helps people rebuild with dignity and strength.
Because real impact doesn’t come from spreading resources thin, it comes from showing up, staying committed, and making sure help reaches those who need it most.
Goli Village, Nepal: Supporting the Heart of the Khumbu Region
The remote region we have chosen to support is Goli village and its surrounding communities in Nepal. This wasn’t a random decision—it’s deeply personal.
Our head guide, Dawa, is from Goli, and many of our team members call this region home. These are the people who have stood beside us on countless expeditions, helping our clients reach their goals in the mountains. Supporting Goli is not just a project—it’s a responsibility. It’s our way of giving back to the communities that have given so much to us.
Goli village sits in the lower Khumbu region of Nepal, a part of the Himalayas that is often overlooked. Every day, trekkers fly overhead on their way into Lukla, focused on reaching Everest Base Camp. But few realise that beneath them lies a network of remote villages, ancient trails, and resilient communities rich in culture, history, and mountain heritage.
At approximately 7,500 feet (2,300 metres), Goli is spread across steep hillsides, where terraced farmland and traditional homes are carved into the landscape. Life here is simple and remote, shaped by the rhythm of the land and the challenges of mountain living. Access to basic healthcare, education, and infrastructure remains limited—making support in this region not just valuable, but essential.
Rising high above the village is Pikey Peak 13,335 feet (4,065m), one of the most underrated viewpoints in the Himalayas. From its summit, you can witness a breathtaking panorama stretching across the highest mountains on earth, from Kanchenjunga in the east, across Mera Peak and Mount Everest, to Cho Oyu and beyond. It’s a view that rivals, and in many ways surpasses, what many experience on the classic Everest Base Camp trek.
Yet what truly defines this region is not just the landscape, it’s the people.
This is the real heart of Nepal. Less crowded, more authentic, and home to the communities who make Himalayan trekking and climbing possible. By focusing our efforts here, we are investing in people, in families, and in a future where these communities have access to the basic needs and opportunities they deserve.
Where Is Goli Village, Nepal? A Hidden Gem in the Lower Khumbu Region
Goli village is located in the lower Khumbu (Everest) region of Nepal, one of the most remote and least-visited areas in the Himalayas. While thousands of trekkers fly overhead into Lukla each year on their way to Everest Base Camp, Goli remains quietly hidden below, nestled among rolling hills and deep valleys that form the gateway to the high Himalaya.
Its location is both beautiful and isolating.
Reaching Goli, highlights just how remote this region truly is. By helicopter, it takes around 40 minutes from Kathmandu, offering breathtaking aerial views as green hills rise into the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas. But for most locals, the journey is far more challenging. Travel typically takes two full days by road, navigating winding mountain highways and rough dirt tracks that cut through steep valleys and isolated villages.
The final stretch is often the hardest. Narrow, unpaved roads, frequently affected by weather and landslides, make access unpredictable and, at times, extremely difficult. This level of isolation is part of what has preserved Goli’s authenticity. Here, traditional Sherpa culture, farming practices, and daily life continue much as they have for generations, largely untouched by mass tourism.
Goli sits at approximately 7,546 feet (2,300m), perfectly positioned between Nepal’s lowlands and the towering peaks of the Everest region. It also serves as a gateway to Pikey Peak (4,065m), widely regarded as one of the best viewpoints in Nepal. From its summit, you can experience panoramic views stretching from Kanchenjunga to Mount Everest, an unforgettable perspective of the Himalayas without the crowds.
But behind the beauty lies a deeper reality.
For remote villages like Goli, recovery after the 2015 Nepal earthquake has been slow and challenging. While cities began rebuilding, many rural communities were left to recover on their own. Years later, the effects are still felt, highlighting the urgent need for long-term support, infrastructure, education, and access to basic healthcare.
This is why places like Goli matter.
Not just for their natural beauty, but for the people who live there, and the opportunity to create meaningful, lasting impact.
Visiting the Village of Goli in Nepal
Arriving in Goli in 2023 to open the third and fourth schools should have been one of those perfect moments, and in many ways, it was. Hundreds of children, parents, and villagers gathered to welcome us. There was laughter, excitement, and a sense of pride that something meaningful had been created together. It’s hard to put into words what it feels like to stand there, knowing that these schools will shape the futures of so many young lives.
But in the middle of that celebration, something stopped me in my tracks.
As I walked through the crowd, an older man, struggling just to move, reached out and gently pulled me closer. He didn’t speak loudly. He didn’t need to, simply whispering, “We need medical support.”
It was a quiet moment, but one that cut through everything.
Later that day, I asked Dawa a simple question: Where is the nearest medical facility? His answer stayed with me, there isn’t one in this region.
In a place filled with such strength and community, access to even the most basic healthcare simply doesn’t exist. People rely on each other. Basic medicine is shared when available. Guides and climbers carry supplies back from Kathmandu at the end of each season, doing what they can to bridge the gap. But it’s not enough.
And that’s the reality.
You can stand in a village full of hope, children in school, families working together, and still see the fragility of it all. Because without access to healthcare, everything is at risk.
That moment changed the conversation for us.
It wasn’t just about education anymore. It was about building something more complete. Something that truly supports the community in the way they need it most.
What Risks Do Locals Face in Remote Nepal?
Life in Nepal’s remote mountain villages comes with incredible beauty, but also significant risk. One of the greatest challenges facing these communities is access to basic healthcare.
Healthcare in the Himalayas is shaped by extreme geography, limited infrastructure, and deep economic constraints. For many families living in these regions, even the most routine medical care can be difficult, or impossible to access.
Here are the realities locals face every day:
Key Healthcare Challenges in Remote Nepal
- Severe shortage of medical professionals
Remote mountain regions struggle to attract and retain qualified doctors and healthcare workers. - Urban concentration of doctors
Most medical professionals are based in cities like Kathmandu, leaving rural areas underserved. - Rural–urban healthcare inequality
This imbalance creates a major gap in access to care between cities and mountain communities. - Limited local medical facilities
Many “clinics” are staffed by health assistants with minimal training and very limited equipment. Specialist care is often unavailable. - Lack of access to advanced treatment
Around 66% of Nepalis lack access to tertiary healthcare, meaning complex or life-saving treatments are out of reach. - Basic hospital conditions
In remote areas, a “hospital” may be a small room with a few beds and minimal medical supplies. - Financial barriers to healthcare
Even when care is available, it is often unaffordable for families in remote trekking regions. - High cost of emergency evacuation
Helicopter evacuations in the Everest region can cost $3,000+, making them completely inaccessible for most locals. - High-risk emergencies
Situations like trauma injuries or childbirth complications carry significantly higher risk due to lack of immediate care. - Delayed treatment due to isolation
Long travel distances, poor road access, and lack of transport often result in delayed or inadequate medical attention.
Why This Matters
Even compared to other rural regions around the world, the Himalayan and hill regions of Nepal present some of the most challenging healthcare environments on the planet.
This is not just about inconvenience, it’s about survival.
For these communities, improving access to healthcare isn’t a luxury. It’s essential. And it’s one of the most important ways we can create real, lasting impact.
Where we Currently Stand
We’ve already taken the first step. We have $7,000 ring-fenced for the medical facility, but to bring this to life, we need an additional $93,000 to build it.
And building it is only the beginning.
The real challenge, and the real commitment, is sustainability. It will take approximately $35,000 per year to staff, equip, and operate this facility, ensuring it delivers consistent, life-saving care to the community.
This isn’t just about constructing a building. It’s about creating something that works, every day, for years to come.
What Happens Without Care?
It’s difficult to imagine, but this is the reality. In remote parts of Nepal, a minor injury can become life-threatening. A simple infection can go untreated. A complication during childbirth can turn fatal.
Not because the solutions don’t exist, but because access doesn’t.
When there is no nearby medical support, no transport, and no affordable options, people are left with very little choice. What would be routine care anywhere else becomes a serious risk here. This is not rare, it’s daily life.
We Need Your Help
This is where you can make a real difference. Whether it’s contributing toward the construction of the facility or helping us meet the annual running costs, your support directly impacts lives. Every dollar moves us closer to providing consistent, reliable healthcare in a region that has gone without it for far too long.
We are also working toward building a $2 million endowment fund, a long-term solution that would secure the future of this project year after year, without uncertainty. But we don’t want to wait a decade to make this happen. The need is now.
Call to Action!
The time to act is now. At the Ian Taylor Trekking Foundation, we operate with a simple promise:
no salaries, no overheads—just impact.
Every contribution goes directly toward creating real, measurable change. We need to build this facility sooner rather than later, and we need the right people alongside us to make it happen.
We are actively looking for strategic partners, donors, and supporters who believe in doing things differently, people who want to see their contributions create immediate and lasting impact.
You can help by:
- Donating toward the build or annual costs
- Connecting us with potential supporters or partners
- Sharing this mission with your network—family, friends, and colleagues
Because real change happens when people come together. We cannot do this alone, but together, we can build something that will save lives for generations.
If this speaks to you, we would love to hear from you.