Our Story
From mountains to trails, we create experiences that inspire and connect.
Who We Are
At the heart of The 108 Peaks is a small team of people who live and breathe the mountains and the culture of India. We’re not a travel company, we’re travelers, guides, and friends who’ve walked these paths ourselves. Our goal is simple: to share the beauty, depth, and truth of the Himalayas with those who seek something real.
Each journey we create is guided by experience, respect, and love for these lands and their people.
Manoj Singh Rana
Gemma Colell Testagorda
Mercè Pérez Torres
Sanjay Singh Rana
Manoj Singh Rana
Manoj Singh Rana, co-founder of The 108 Peaks Project, is one of India’s youngest high-altitude mountaineers. Coming from Bank village in Chamoli, Uttarakhand, he grew up close to the Himalayas and naturally developed a deep connection with the mountains.
He has trained at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) and with Soul of Steel, gaining the skills and discipline required for extreme expeditions. His major achievements include summiting Mount Trishul (7,120 m) in 2023 and Mount Mukut (7,242 m) in 2024, for which he received Certificates of Excellence from the Indian Army. In October 2026, he joined the Indian Army expedition to Nanda Devi East (7,434 m), a powerful experience that deepened his respect for the mountains and the lessons they hold.
Beyond these, Manoj has climbed several peaks above 6,000 m, such as Black Peak, Kang Yatse II, Nanda Ghunti, and UT Kangri, building a solid record of Himalayan ascents.
For him, mountaineering is not about conquering nature but about learning from it, and inspiring new generations to live with courage and responsibility. Through The 108 Peaks Project, he combines his passion for exploration with a vision of sustainability and respect for the Himalayas.
Gemma Colell Testagorda
Gemma, co-founder of The 108 Peaks Project, is a graphic designer by profession and a Yoga instructor by calling. Since 2015, she has worked in design, later completing a master’s in art education and training as a Yoga teacher in Catalonia, where she also specialized in Yoga for children and Yoga philosophy. She has taught future instructors and shared her knowledge through courses and community programs.
Her journey in India began in 2022. The experience was transformative, from volunteering at ashrams like Rikhiapeeth and Parmarth Niketan, to teaching Yoga and immersing herself in the culture of simplicity and devotion. On her second trip in 2023, she decided to settle in India, where, while continuing her personal practice and connection with Yoga, she discovered the Himalayas through her travels in Nepal. The mountains deeply moved her, revealing a sense of purpose rooted in service, humility, and connection.
That same year, she trained in mountaineering at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) in Uttarakhand. Since then, she has explored the ranges of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, and Nepal, joining alpine-style expeditions in remote, wild landscapes that reflect her love for pure and simple living.
Now based in a remote Himalayan village in India, Gemma lives close to the rhythm of nature, embracing the peace and simplicity of local life, far from the rush of modern society. She continues to work as a freelance designer for clients worldwide, teach Yoga online, and nurture The 108 Peaks, a space where mountains, culture, and spiritual consciousness meet.
Mercè Pérez Torres
Mercè Pérez Torres is a Yoga and Ayurveda teacher from Catalonia, Spain, whose journey beautifully weaves together her passions for travel, conscious living, and ancient wisdom.
With a Diploma in Tourism Studies and several years of experience in the tourism sector, Mercè found in Yoga and Ayurveda a new way of understanding health and life. What began as curiosity became a lifelong path, one that led her to India for the first time in 2022, an experience that deeply transformed her and awakened a strong connection with this land and its philosophy.
Today, she continues to share her knowledge through La Nova Llavor, her wellness centre in Catalonia, where she offers Yoga, Ayurveda, and holistic health practices. She is also part of the training team at Joviat School, guiding new Yoga instructors in their professional journey.
Mercè collaborates with The 108 Peaks, leading with Gemma the Yoga & Ayurveda journeys, where she combines her experience in tourism with her deep understanding of these ancient sciences to offer truly transformative experiences in India.
Sanjay Singh Rana
Sanjay Singh Rana, co-founder of Northern Himalayas and brother of Manoj, was born and raised in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. With over 15 years of experience managing travel logistics and operations across Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Ladakh, Sanjay ensures that every journey runs smoothly from start to finish.
His deep understanding of the Himalayan terrain and his long-standing relationships with local communities make him an essential part of the Northern Himalayas team. Sanjay’s quiet dedication and practical wisdom reflect the grounded spirit of the mountains, reliable, steady, and deeply connected to the land he calls home.
