Native Tour Guide

Sonu from Tours by Native was the tour guide for myself and 6 secondary school students on a school trip to Dharamshala. He was very professional as well as friendly, supportive and patient with students, who all gave positive feedback on the hikes and tours we went on. Sonu was very informative and answered all our additional questions. I would highly recommend Sonu for not only school trips, but group and solo travellers too.

Sonu is an efficient planner and well aware of local history along with spots as per one's time availability and interests.
Highly recommended for in and around Dharamshala, Mcleodganj and Dharamkot.
Treks to Triund, Snowline and other nearby mountains.

Our guide Sonu was very professional, on time, had good social interpersonal skills, informative and was able to answer all our many questions. He made our stay in Dharamshala pleasurable and exciting. He went well above and beyond his duties. We would thoroughly recommend him.

Sonu is exactly the type of native guide that a visiting tourist needs. He made our visit to upper Dharamshala a real pleasure with his expert knowledge, excellent English and wry sense of humour.
Thoroughly recommended!

Sonu was a fantastic guide. Took us on a beautiful walk through a village and Buddist prayer site. He talked about cultural differences and our lives. A very interesting day. I would highly recommend him
Debbie and David

Amazing day understanding the Tibet culture and exploring the Dalai Lama residence and temple. Sonu is an amazing guide, highly recommend him. His knowledge is amazing.

Sonu was an amazing guide! He started by giving us a local walking tour, something we would never have done without him. We were able to visit monasteries and the Norbulingka Institute. He gave us cultural, cuisine and artistic recommendations in the area. Highly recommend!

Spending the day with Sonu from Tours by Native was one of the most enjoyable days from our India trip. He was very knowledgeable, fun to be around and adaptable to all the situations. He would ask us if we wanted to spend more time and certain places and accommodated for our wishes. He genuinely wanted us to have the best possible day. That’s what it was. This is a guide and tour I would recommend to all my friends and family back home.

Sonu was a great guide. His pace and his manner were perfect, and he clearly loves and knows the area well. He was polite to and easy with the people that we met during the village walk and the workshops tour, and he regularly checked in with us and gave us options. As well as being introduced to the culture of the area, we enjoyed the sharing and playing of music during the car journey home, and we hope to have made a new convert to the sport of Irish hurling!

Throughout our day and a half with Sonu, we visited a variety of places but were given sufficient time to absorb everything. We enjoyed speaking with Sonu about his trekking interests and his ancestral culture:) And we appreciate all the candid pictures/videos he took of us! Thank you for an incredible experience in Dharamsala.

Sonu was our guide on a morning nature walk as well as a tour of McLeodganj and its attractions in December 2022. He is incredibly informative, friendly and patient - easy to talk to about things related to the tour and beyond, which certainly adds value to the experience! I would highly recommend taking his tours - as a local, he knows the place like the back of his hands and has stories to tell:)

Sonu was our tour guide for Dharamshala, McLeod ganj. He constructed the day very well, including a village walk, providing all the flavours the region has to offer. During the tour we also came to know about the local customs etc. Overall an enjoyable and informative day.

Very well planned and personalised tours. Understands the needs of the travelers without much effort. He took us on lesser known hikes to enjoy a serene view. Thank you!

If you are looking for a fabulous guide in and around Dharmshala then Sonu is the one. Being a local he has the knowledge of everything you would be interested to visit- the monasteries, mountains, villages, activities and so much more. He does the Triund trek too.
He is extremely soft spoken and well behaved. Highly recommended.

Last September, my family and I spent five days with Sonu.
The perfect guide for us was Sonu, who was professional, kind, and had excellent communication skills. His knowledge of the area makes him an excellent guide. You will have an unforgettable experience with Sonu.
Definitely recommended!

We had a wonderful tour of Dharamsala thanks to Mr. Sonu. The village walk was the highlight of the tour.

The full day excursion was very well planned and worked out. Not once did we feel rushed. I highly recommend tours by native.

I had a great trekking experience with Sonu and his team. They were very kind, patient and extremely helpful during my journey. Thank you for a wonderful experience Team Tours by native! Can not wait to be back!

Amazing guide, sweet and caring, will make sure you’re safe and share a lot of knowledge about the flaura, fauna and geographical history of the place

10/10 would recommend! The guides were excellent, knowledgeable and had lots of stories to share. Effective safety measures were in place, and we were able to do a pretty long trek at a pace that felt challenging yet comfortable. The food that was arranged at the campsite was also very good and nutritious. Do not hesitate to contact Tours by Native for a great time!

The Tour was amazing with very nice and friendly guide. He was able to show us a miracle of his hometown with very nice commentary. I really recommend his professional approach.

It was a wonderful experience. Sonu is extremely available and very attentive to your needs. He leaves you all the time you need to enjoy every single place. As a guide he really takes care of you. And in addition, without being noticed, he also takes some pictures of you. Thanks sonu! Namaste

Lovely and enriching experience. Got to know so much about the region, and the perfect weather while on the trek was a cherry on the top.
Sonu's connection with nature was an inspiring thing to experience.
Would totally recommend everyone to go through tours by native.

Sonu is the best guide you could ask for. He has answered every question we have asked, and took us to some beautiful places, with full consideration of our requests and needs. He speaks English fluently and has a lot of knowledge. Sonu, we hope to travel with you again soon!

Me and my daughter's had a wonderful experience with Sonu Kapoor! He looked after us with patience and understanding. Since this was the first snow trek for us - we didn't have proper gears yet the climb was possible due to Sonu's expertise.
A very warm, gentle and friendly person! We have wonderful memories of the trek and his company.

He has very good knowledge of treks and interesting places around Mcleodganj!

The best! Sonu knows the city and the trails, and will guarantee you have a memorable experience in or around Dharamshala. Hiking Triund? He will get you safely and smoothly to the top. Visiting the Norbulinka Institue? He knows every detail and the artisans know him.

You will be very pleased if Sonu is your guide. I recommend his services and will hire him again.

Did a one day trek to Triund and back. Sonu who was my guide was very helpful, friendly and accommodating. Highly recommended!

We have used his services for Triund trek. Although Triund is easy trek but We had climbed in February 2022 and trek was covered in snow. There was no visible trail because of snow. It was slippery and there was no way I could have found my way to the top on my own. I have seen couple of groups turned back as well.

Thanks to Sonu, He created the trail for us and we reached at the top. Sonu is well informed about the trek, local culture and plants of the area. He knows what speed to maintain, and when to take break. We didn't feel exhausted when we reached at the top

Also He clicked some of amazing pictured and videos for us as well.

Trek can be more exciting when you know it’s safe and entertaining with same amount of adventure which is possible with Mr. Sonu. He is so friendly and helpful. Provides with all the knowledge he has. It was so much fun.

Had a great experience! All the arrangements were up to the mark. We enjoyed throughout the trek. Sonu bhaiya was very polite and friendly.

We had a fantastic family vacation at Himachal Pradesh. The most memorable one being the Triund Treck at Meclodganch. The treck is of moderate difficulty but the final "22 Mor" (hair pin bends) as they call it, is very challenging.specially after you have climbed almost 6 Km.
We had availed the service of a professional guide as recommended by our hotel owner and I think that was a very good decisions that we made.
Sonu our guide was a through professional who was passionate about his job. Right from the initial briefing itself we could make out that he had an in-depth knowledge about the area and knew the nuance of trecking. They way he conducted himself and explained to us made the treck so easy. Every thing from the pickup to drop was so precisely planned and executed. The Quality of service is really praise worthy.
I would strongly recommend Sonu's name if anyone wants to avail the service of a tour guide at Maclodganj/ Dharamshala.
Thank you Sonu for all that you did for us.
Capt Jones Alex (Retd)

It was an amazing experience for me and my entire family with Sonu. We felt like we are with a friend who knows the place like back of his hands. We enjoyed the treks and felt safe with him.

Enjoyed thoroughly. Sono Kapoor, our guide was excellent. He was very friendly and I enjoyed having him take us through the trails

He ensured we had a genuinely wonderful experience.

Thank you Sono &Tours by Native!

Was on a short trip to McLeod Ganj and was introduced to Sonu by our hotel manager. We thoroughly enjoyed the day we spent with Sonu. He’s ensured we saw and experienced the best Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj had to offer given the limited time we had. We could not go for a trek with him but would highly recommend it if you have the time. He’s an excellent guide who ensures that you have the best experience. Thank you for the wonderful time Sonu.

My family and I went on the trek to Triund with Tours by Native. Our guide Sono was exceptionally good. He explained to us the route and the trail that would best suit us. Which was very apt. On the way he made the trek easier by keeping us engaged in conversation. I had my parents with me who find it a little difficult to complete a trek. Sono was very patient and helped them overcome the challenging areas of the moderately difficult trek

Overall it was a great experience and u would recommend to all.

Our guide was Sonu Kapoor, very professional, humble and nice human being. He understands the need of his clients and extends his support and services accordingly which is very important aspect. Keep up the good work.

From the very first moment I contacted Sonu, he was incredibly responsive and insightful. He understood exactly what we were looking for and made sure to curate a plan that was fitting for our group.

He also went above and beyond during these Covid times. With regulations implemented regarding the need for a PCR test, Sonu did everything in his power to make it possible for us to still travel.

Overall, his professionalism, knowledge and transparency was one of the best we've experienced in a guide. Sonu isn't simply here for transactional work, but to ensure his guests have a truly genuine and memorable time.

Thanks Sonu!

This was my first trek. Sonu, an extremely knowledge guide made it quite awesome and refreshing experience.

Amazing first time experience and I think I had best guide for this. Explained everything in detail and don’t know when track got finished. Want to go more longer track with him

Sonu was very professional, arriving early to meet us and staying late to answer our questions. He was clear and prompt with communication, and helped us to sort out drivers, and even researched covid testing centers for us in Dharamshala. As a local tour guide he has formed relationships with the community which allowed us to get a personal look into their lives and work. I chose not to trek with the group one day, and he set me up with an alternative activity, which was lovely. Sonu went out of his way to help me find authentic singing bowls, and has been a pleasure to get to know. Definitely avail his services if you visit!

Tours by Native Sonu is an excellent local tourist guide in Dharmansala, McLeodganj for hikes and cultural tours.

Thanks to Sonu I was able to have my best trekking experience to Triund on a snowy morning. Right from the start he was meticulous sharing advice to how to prepare correctly for a winter trek and also being punctual and courteous.

Throughout the trek Sonu was extremely careful and provided the right guidance on all aspects of the arduous trek. Other than being proficient at his work, Sonu is also an amiable traveling companion sharing his stories and experiences.

Once again I would like to Thank Sonu for his exceptional service.

Sonu went out of his way to help us (A family of three with a four year old kid) complete our trek to Triund when we were ready to give up. He lifted our kid when she was tired and cranky and helped us climb up through the difficult patches on the trek. He pushed us to do more, motivated us, educated us and helped us, made our little daughter comfortable and ultimately we reached to the top and it was all worth it.he has a very good knowledge of local flora and fauna and well versed with the trail. Thank you Sonu for making our trip comfortable and successful, and we highly recommend his skillful services.

"I was so pleased with the trip. Sonu was outstanding: knowledgeable, friendly, safety-conscious, and have great knowledge about the surroundings. We had a wonderful memorable experience during our Tirund Trek. He made sure we were at ease, he took care and encouraged my younger son throughout the trek. I will be recommending your tour and I will also be taking another in the future - Thank you for a wonderful journey! "

We went on a trek to Triund, Dharamshala with Sonu. Being a native of the region, he is very knowledgeable and shared some really good insights and stories throughout the trek. He was amazing at helping and motivating us since we were all ameturs. Highly recommend his guidance if you are looking for an authentic and safe experenice.

I initially engaged Sonu as a guide for Triund trek. Even though he is a pro climber himself, I was surprised at how thoughtful and communicative he was as a coach to an amateur like myself. The trek with him was an absolute blast! He is a nature loving adventure coach who is very knowledgeable about this area. He is a true environmentalist. After, finishing the trek, I participated in another local experience curated by Sonu that involved exploring the tea gardens in the foothills near the Norbulingka area. I can't wait to take another trip and trek with Sonu!

We had an absolutely wonderful experience using Sonu as a guide during our trek to Triund. He was extremely friendly, very informative and also supportive to our friend with a knee problem. We would gladly use him as a guide again (and hope to do so in the soon future!) and recommend him to our friends for either a city tour or a trek:)

Very nice good nd knowledgeable guide. The best quality i found in him is he is very honest which you cannot see in every one now a day i highly recommend him for tourists going to dharamshala please take him with you.he is worth for 10 stars.may god bless you sonu bhai you made our day.

We were fortunate to Spend 3 days with Sonu whilst visiting Dharamsala.
Unfortunately the weather was not kind to us. But Sonu made sure we had a great experience regardless.
He is very knowledgable, enthusiastic, polite and considerate. Very happy to answer any questions we had.
He is very good company and it was a pleasure to spend time with him.
Debbie Spray March 14th 2020

A wonderfully enriching tour today. My guide Sonu went above and beyond the description of the Dharamsala tour, explaining everything we saw in great detail. His knowledge on so many different subjects was very impressive, his English was excellent and his enthusiasm infectious. He was warm, friendly, polite and considerate. This was a brilliant way to learn about many aspects of Indian and Tibetan culture and an amazing way to spend a day. Thank you, Sonu!

Great time with Sonu in order to learn from him the beleived of the people that lives in this region.

His candor made a difference.

Sonu was a fabulous guide. Friendly, knowledgeable, funny and very helpful. We would highly recommend him!

My wife and I booked a tour with Sonu for our short stay in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, and I've gotta say it's one of the best things we have done.
From the get go when I messaged him on whatsapp to initiate our contact, Sonu was a top, top pro and even more than that, a really nice guy. He was so helpful, friendly, it was what made us decide to book with him in the first place. And once we did book, he helped take care of all the little details and went above and beyond.
He arranged a great little itinerary for us over the few days we were in town. He also recommended spots where we could eat and he got it 100% everytime.
Sonu was on hand to take photos whenever we asked and answer any questions (in flawless English btw. Couldn't believe it when he told us he was self taught!) that we had about the history, area and life in India in general.
Sanjay who drove us around on the tour was also a great guy and a very good driver, he took us all the way to Amritsar for our next stop.
Prices very reasonable too.
All in all, book with Sonu. You'll have a great time and you won't regret it!
I'd definitely use his services again if I'm ever in India (fingers crossed!)

We spent a day with Sonu, he is the perfect guide being informative, pleasant and considerate. He went the extra mile to ensure everything we wanted was met. He was a pleasure to be with, highly recommended.

It was a real pleasure having Sonu as my guide while in Dharamshala. He was very knowledgeable but also really interesting to talk to and spend time with. Highly recommended.

We recently had the pleasure of being on a 5 day trek with Sonu. His knowledge of the area and culture was invaluable and attentiveness to our group was amazing. He anticipated our needs and exceeded our expectations. I would definitely recommend Sonu for any cultural tour or adventure trek! Thanks again Sonu

A very polite and knowledgeable guide who gave us an excellent insight into Dharamshala and its surroundings. It was a real pleasure to spend the day with him.

We did a overnight trek to Triund with Sono as our guide. He truly made it unforgettable experience with his guidance and knowledge of the area. It was great to enjoy this scenic and varied trek in his company. He also went the extra mile to get some beautiful photos of our group for us to remember the experience.

We had Sonu as our guide for 4 days. The first 3 days we explored the local culture, experiencing aspects of both Tibetan and Hindu society. In both areas Sonu was knowledgable and he was able to give us personal insight from his own experiences (as he’s local) and knowledge that was more general from history. On our final day we went for a hike which took about 8 hours in total, we felt very safe and it was very enjoyable. All in all wonderful experience and we are all eager for my next visit.

Dear Sonu,
we thank You so much for Your very personal and kindfull guidiance. Your knowledge about Your country and people is perfect, always admirable and You are able to transport it in a very relaxed way!
Go on!

Dolgormaa + Thomas

Sano you are an awesome leader, it was our pleasure travelling with you and knowing you
Most recommended one!

A talented and resourceful guide who made our visit to Dharmsala a truly memorable experience. Although we are of slightly advancing years he catered for our needs and led us on treks and tours which gave us an excellent insight to the area.

Sono is great tour guide. Our visit to Dharmasala would not be the same without his guidance
His English is great and easy to understand for non English native tourists
He knows all about the area and clearly he have lots of experience
His recommendations were perfect for restaurant and other logistics we wanted to know.
It’s highly recommend

We spent one day with Sonu walking and driving around his home town area Dharamshala. Sonu is highly professional and knowledgeable and his English is excellent. We had many questions and in case he did not know the answer he didn’t just say something general but did some research and got back with a solid answer. We particularly liked his politeness and good manners.

It was my first trek and first Trip to Dharamshala, so I was a little nervous with how strenuous the trek would be. Meeting Sonu and his professional and warm attitude took away most of the worry on the first meeting. He is very knowledgeable and knows what he is doing and fun to be around. Thank you Sonu for making this lifetime memory such a joy to cherish. Good luck to you!

Had a full day tour of Dharamshala on Thursday 1st August. Was a really good day! Really enjoyed the walk around the local village and the visit to the Dalai Lama temple. Very knowledgable guide! Would highly recommend to anyone visiting the area!

Sono Kapoor is an amazingly humble and generous person I met during my Dharamshala stay. He was our guide, with the proper mixture of knowledge and sincerity towards his work. He is by far the best tour guide I have met. It wasn't just the theoretical knowledge we gathered from him but also the emotional connection he has with the place made the place feel and look even more beautiful. Thank you so much Sono. Lots of love and best wishes for your now and future ️

One of the best guides in Dharamsalla. He knows his job and communicates well. I recommend Sonu for any tour in and around Dharamshalla.

Highly recommend Sonu to maximize your time in the splendor of Dharamshala! Attentive yet easy going and flexible to your needs, knows his way around. Excellent english speaking and understanding (ask him how he learned to speak perfect english!), very communicative. Get the perfect pictures of your trip- Sonu has a great eye for photography and knows how to handle a camera. If hiking or trekking is on your agenda, he can easily handle that also. Great, caring person that wants to share his hometown – you will leave Dharamshala with Sonu as a friend!

We came to India for the first time, and met Sono in Dharamshela for a day tour.
He took us to a walk thorough a beautiful village and the intresting side of Dharamshela. Sono is very nice, funny and friendly. He has a great knowledge about the sites we visited, the differnt cultures and history. Sono takes care of all the small details and the vibe was fun. We had an amazing time in our tour with Sono and we really recommend to check him out.

July 2017 we took 15 School students from New Zealand to Explore India for 3 weeks. Part of our 3 week adventure, included 5 days trekking. We started in Mcleodganj, Dharamashala, and went up the mountains, then came back down. We had Sono as our guide. He was the best guide we could of hoped for. He was very kind and caring towards our girls, and very encouraging when they were exhausted. He spent time with them, asking questions, getting to know them, practicing his English (which is very good), and teaching us all about his beautiful country. His knowledge about the area, and the people was incredible. We learnt alot from him.
For most of our students, 5 days Trekking was the best part of the 3 week trip to India. To this day, they still speak of Sono. I would highly recommend his guiding services and hopefully will be back one day to explore more.

Sonu was our tour guide on the triund trek, and boy were we lucky! My fiancé proposed to me at the top of the mountain, and Sonu was there to film the whole thing and take photos. He was such a calming presence, and a lot of fun. He was the perfect guy to have with us on that special day. And his English is perfect!

We were on a college tour in 2018 at Dharamshala
Upon arrival there, we were warmly welcomed by Our Guide Sono Sir, The introductory session had such a friendly atmosphere, we had a fantastic start! We had two great days there, which obviously also added up to the experience.  
Sono Sir is such a warm personality and highly motivated guide (truly recommendable!). Sir took us around Dharamshala, exploring places like naddi village, mcleodganj and the mountains showing a complete understanding of not only the beautiful history but also of the cultural aspects and weather conditions that place experiences. The scenery was surreal it was a relieve to explore such a quiet and peaceful environment.
All respect and thanks to Sono Sir who does a great job there; truly an excellent tour guide!

Sonu was a wonderful and enthusiastic guide, brimming with adventure and knowledge. Being with him enhanced our stay in Dharamsala and we appreciate him and, of course, recommend him.

We five strangers arrived at Norbulingka Institute at lunchtime and were met by our man in Dharmasala called Sonu Kapoor. He is a freelance tour guide, (who was employed by our tour company out of Boston. They have many strict requirements & rules, so I knew Sonu was the
best expert in his job.) He was friendly and
he took charge and showed us around. He quietly arranged lunch and ground transportation wherever we needed it. He effortlessly made our luggage come and go on cue. He arrived each morning at our hotel to collect us. We were safely cared for and he looked out for us. He knows all the “good” Photo-op sites and restaurants as well as the most famous places people come from all over the world to see. Don’t miss The Tibet Museum. He encouraged interaction with those we came in contact with and assisted in translating and bartering. I observed his organized planning, his joy and happiness in telling us of his life in “Little Lhasa” and he always went one step further in showing us his world. He is bi-lingual and knowledgeable, highly educated and honest. He is a licensed and trained mountaineer & tour guide, adept at trekking and hiking, and is eager to take the curious on a stroll just “off the beaten path. ” Little dogs come to him and follow, I noticed. As we walked around and we chatted, he whispered to
me that HH the Dalai Lama would soon be driving out of the nearby gate he pointed to, asking if I wanted to wait and watch for His Holiness. Well, yes.and in just a few moments, HHDL appeared, slowly driving by us & waving.
I was so thrilled that in my upcoming free time I wanted to visit a Tibetan Handicraft Center to support their local artisans. Sonu located the Tibetan Carpet factory I sought and accompanied me to assist. We walked thru the factory and I selected various carpets. They are the most beautiful. Sonu translated for me with the Tibetan manager and the purchase was completed. Upon our return to “that gate” two hours later, we again encountered the Dalai Lama as he returned to his residence. All this day was definitely Providence. Some say Karma.
I am glad to recommend Sonu - you’d be lucky to travel with him in his neighborhood in the Himalayas. Thank you India. I will never forget.
Alli from California

So much to say! Sonu came highly recommended from the travel desk at Fortune Park Moksha, and for good reason. He was an amazing tour guide. So knowledgeable about his native town and the treks I’m Mcleod ganj. We did triund trek with Sonu and he set the perfect pace. Good to know you’re in the company of an expert trekker who has experience on mountains of all shapes and kinds.

I proposed to my fiancé on the top of Triund trek and Sonu knew the entire time. He helped me plan the perfect moment and even took pictures and made the moment so special/memorable. Can’t recommend Sonu enough. I will be connecting him with anyone who makes it to dharamshala/McLeod ganj.

Thanks Sonu

My sisters and me were on a trip to India last October. During the five-day trip in Darmesala with Sonu. Sonu is patient and caring guide.he is caring for every detail, attentive to every request and need. We enjoyed the stay in Darmesala and Sonu's guidance and we recommend it to anyone visiting there. Thanks Sonu

I had met Sonu during my tour to north India in 2016. Sonu is a great tour guide with a broad knowledge about the history and calture aspects of Daramshalla. Sonu is very friendly and generous. His English is very good. I recommend him as a tour guide. The experiance with him is much more than guidence!
M. P.

My name is oren.i'm a tour operator from israel.i had a group in dharamsala and manali last april with suno as our guide.the guy is a pro.he took us to places off the beaten track.his knowlege is amazing.his english is very good.i did not have to translate anything.l recommend you to hire this guy.