Mr. Binod Poudel

Three thousand stone steps up to Ulleri is no joke on day one. What saved me was the evening session working on legs and hips. Next morning I was fine. Binod set an easy pace and never made me feel slow. Ghandruk on the way down was lovely and the whole thing only took five days, which suited the time I had.

Sikles is one of the largest Gurung villages in Nepal and staying there was as memorable as the lake. Stone houses, slate roofs, and people who genuinely wanted to talk to us. Binod grew up nearby and knew everyone, which changed the whole experience. We ended up eating dinner with a family rather than in a lodge. The trek to Kapuche and Kori after that was beautiful but Sikles is what I still think about.

Nothing prepares you for the moment the valley opens up. You walk for days between steep walls, and then suddenly the whole sanctuary is around you in a circle. I actually stopped and sat down for a bit. Binod gave us plenty of time up there and did not rush anyone, which I appreciated. The tea house at base camp was basic but warm enough, and the dal bhat came fast. Coming down to Bamboo the next day my knees complained, but I would do the whole thing again.

I had my little cup of coffee on the plane, and I swear nothing beats sipping it while watching the Himalayas roll by under the morning sun. The clouds sat low, like a fluffy white blanket, and the mountains just towered above them. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to take a hundred photos or just put my phone down and soak it all in. In the end, I did both and still wished the flight lasted longer haha!

When Everest finally came into view, I couldn’t stop staring. Even from the plane, it looks impossibly huge. You know it’s tall, but seeing it in real life well, from the sky gives you a whole new perspective. Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam were lined up around it, and the way the sunlight reflected off the snow was breathtaking. I kept trying to take photos, but honestly, nothing really captures it like your own eyes. A must experience thing!

The flight started early in the morning, and as soon as we took off, the view of Kathmandu Valley was stunning. Tiny towns and green fields stretched out below and it honestly felt like being on top of the world already. I kept leaning against the window, pointing out every little village I could see. The sun hitting the mountains in the distance made everything glow, and I couldn’t stop thinking about how lucky I was to be up there.