Testimonials for Bill's Trips

Opening the Door

Hi Bill

Once again, I’d like to thank you for opening the door to Charlie, Morgan and myself to a spectacular fragment of the snow covered world. We had a brilliant time in the Highland Park Hotel and the surrounding slopes, and I know everyone else in the group did too. Of course the location is superb, but you, and your guides, and your flawless organisation were the underpinning of it all.

So Bill, thank you again… your Trip was a life changing experience,(in that now I have to repeat it at least a few times.)

All the best

Trip of a lifetime!

Hi Bill,

Thank you very much for organising our trip to Gulmarg. We had an absolutely awesome time. Trip of a lifetime for sure! We were very privileged to ski with Mark, Sam and yourself, who all showed us such patience, expertise and good humour. We hope you also enjoyed your season in Gulmarg, despite the unusual weather!

Insane

Cheers again for an insane couple of weeks away.

Scratch that Itch! 

Bill and Natasha

I trust you are well and back into normal life back in Oz. We had an incredible time in Gulmarg.  Certainly ‘scratched’ the itch but I think it may need more scratching! It appears to be that sought of place….

Naan and Paneer

Hey Bill

I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the trip…still grinning ear to ear.  EPIC would be an app description… I really enjoyed myself and the whole Kashmiri experience. It was one of the greatest trips I’ve had.  I could spend another 2 weeks……..missing the mountain and snow now that I’m back in the city.  Thanks for everything. Really!  Super impressed with your operation and the quality of all the guides.  Tops!  I wish you guys good snow and weather for the next weeks!  Man….bummed just writing this email…I miss the mountain, exhaustion every night, and all that

Naan and paneer……mmm

Cheers

Matt

Hey Bill

I just wanted to say thank you for a great trip, you and your team are so friendly and welcoming. Even during the minor military issues it never felt like we would be in any trouble. Some of the best snow I have ever had, and was great to learn more about touring while I was there.

I can see why you get on so well with the Kashmiri guides and staff.  They are so friendly and just seem glad that we made the effort to come in a slightly difficult time.

Thanks again …and see you in a Feb 2021.

Sir William

Sir William of Kashmir – good to hear you have returned back safely to the motherland! It was a truly epic trip! Every time the boys get together it’s still all we can talk about. See you in another part of the world one day I’m sure. Cheers.

Memories to last a lifetime

Kashmir is an eye popping experience that challenges you physically and confronts you emotionally. The skiing is epic, but is best skied with guides with serious local knowledge. Our guide, Billy Barker is hugely respected by the locals and provides a level of professionalism that is second to none. Relaxed, patient and fun – all importantly, our group’s safety was his first concern. Going exploring with Bill in Kashmir has provided memories that will last a lifetime.

Safety

Let me thank you for the great experience I had in Gulmarg. The way the tour was conducted was great, showing the guest a good time, skiing through trees and touring to remote areas without the need to compromise safety and trying to go beyond the envelope. The emphasis on safety and understanding of the snow pack was well brought out during the time l spent in Gulmarg, especially the last few days when we decided to forgo skiing a remote ridge from the top and return to the main bowl area. Avalanches triggered that day and several days later by seemingly experienced persons show the need for prudent decisions. I congratulate you and the members of your team. Keep up the good work. Cheers.

Totally delivered

Thank you very much for the great trip!  You and your crew totally delivered.  I’m still amazed at how well ten days of skiing was, with most of the front side terrain off limits due to high avalanche danger.  Normally that sort of thing would be a trip killer, but you guys made it work out great.  A true testament to your collective skill and knowledge. Thanks again!  I will be strongly recommending Bill’s Trips to anyone who asks me about Gulmarg.

World class – a great experience

Recently my two teenagers and I had the good fortune to spend two weeks skiing in Kashmir, India. Bill Barker was excellent company and provided wise guidance in a relatively remote and raw skiing experience. His expert judgement enabled us to access terrain we could not otherwise have safely managed and he taught the fundamentals of safe back-country skiing. Bill was ever keen to allow us access to new experiences all in a spirit of good cheer. Nothing was too much trouble for him and whatever problems or difficulties arose were managed effectively and without fuss. This is not your average ski holiday you need to be fit and it tests your resilience on a number of levels, but you could not have a better host and guide-world class. A great experience.

The way to go

Thanks again for the trip. Having got to know Gulmarg and some of the other options that are around, your trip was definitely the way to go. I am totally in love with Gulmarg and I will definitely be back next year, so, I will see you then, or, at Mount Hotham this year. Until then, enjoy the surf!

Luck of the Irish?

Hey Bill

Just wanted to drop you a line to say thanks for the trip. I think yourself and all your guys go above and beyond to put us on the best snow. I was a bit concerned when I had no luggage but Mez really did great to get me out with the limited gear at her disposal, and when the luggage thing was getting me down even went and sourced another board she thought might suit me better.  I think yourself and Natasha actually put proper time into trying to match group abilities, and I really appreciated this end of things. I’ve been plenty places where they say they do but really don’t.

I think the Highland and its staff were fantastic, and compared to a few of the horror stories we heard from down the village I was thanking my lucky stars we were where we were.  Sorry I couldn’t make the house boat for the grand finale but I’m sure Stevie kept the show on the road for the Irish.

Hopefully our paths will cross again.

Loved the whole trip

Hi Bill,

Thanks so much for an amazing adventure in Gulmarg.  There were so many things that I loved about the whole trip….  A highlight for me was the day in the high alpine where we skied down the big valley to the avalanche mounds, and also the spectacular view of the Himalaya’s from the Summit.

We were also really lucky with a great group of people we had on board for our trip, and lots of laughs were had by all.  Another highlight for me was being guided by yourself, Sam, Mark, Wally and Mansoor.  I learnt lots just from talking to you guys, and getting feedback about conditions, route finding and the snow pack.

I enjoyed the whole Kashmir experience including meeting and talking with the locals, both at the Highlands Park and around the Gulmarg village.  Always good vibes no matter who you met or what the topic of conversation may have been.

It was a full credit to you and the guiding team the way you managed people and their individual needs, catering for those that wanted to go for another lap, and those whose endurance was fading (like myself) to pack it up and save a bit more for the next day.

Once again thanks for everything, much appreciated.

More than just a holiday

Hey Bill,

I just wanted to say hi and thanks again for an amazing trip. As I settle back into the everyday drudge I look back and realise just how amazing it really was. You guys have a brilliant outfit, from your main crew of guides through to the locals and all the staff. They all made it more than just a holiday.

I am keen to come back next year…

Psyched for next year

Thanks again for a totally f…… insane holiday. I have got a few of the boys at home keen to come back over with me next year. Cheers.

Bottle Bill’s Trips Gold Standard! 

Hello Bill

Many thanks from all of us for a fantastic trip to Gulmarg. It was perfect – great skiing, weather, accommodation and food, but most of all, good people. We had an amazing time and the main challenge now is to work out how we can top it for next year, although it looked from the fresh snow as we left that this week would have been even better- I hope you have managed to squeeze in plenty more turns.

I think we got fresh tracks pretty much all day, every day. We got the best guiding possible; we were fed like kings and it all had the Bills Trips gold standard of incredible professionalism in a relaxed environment. I think you should try and bottle it!

Stoked with everything

Thanks so much for the awesome adventure. We were stoked with everything – the place, the snow, the food, the people, the gear, the learning. It was so much fun and we really hope this isn’t the last time we see you here. Cheers for everything.

Kick arse

Thanks for a kick arse tour mate. Loved it. Onwards and upwards!

Such an incredible experience

Hi Bill,

Missing it so much, I still have moments where I stare at my computer screen dreaming Kashmir powder!

Thanks again to you and the rest of the crew for providing such an incredible experience.

Good Recipe

Hi Bill

I had a fantastic time skiing with you and your team, and I will certainly come back.  There is so much more to do, and I will look forward to bringing my wife and friends next time!

Thanks for making it such a great and funny trip. ….. there is something really special about the way that you manage to keep things so relaxed, and yet so professional on and off the mountain. It is a really good recipe and I think your ability to attract and retain such good guides says a lot about you, the company, and Gulmarg itself.  I look forward to coming again.

See you soon.

Mates

The guides catered well providing the freedom to ride as much or as little as you liked and the terrain that suits.  They were unreal – top bunch of blokes.  I owe Sammy a few pints for pulling me out of numerous powder craters.  The guides felt like they were mates, not just going through the motions.  Definitely made it what it was.  Bill’s experience and forged relationships made you realize you’ve got the best man on the mountain.  Certainly an experience I will never forget.

Knowledgeable friends

I can’t tell you how much we enjoyed our trip.  The entire experience was so much better than our previous trip to Gulmarg and it certainly wasn’t just the snow conditions that contributed to this. You should be extremely proud of the package you have put together. Often at the end of a holiday you are ready to go home but this was certainly not the case. I didn’t want to leave and am trying to work out the logistics of getting back there next season. Mark, Sam and Dave are a credit to you and made our stay and time all that much more enjoyable.  Their knowledge and help on a day to day basis was invaluable and very much appreciated. I felt more like we were skiing with knowledgeable friends rather than guides.