Mr. Nabaraj Simkhada

The first days from Darbang through Muri are villages and farmland and quite gentle. After Dobhan you are in a gorge and then on moraine and it becomes a different trip entirely. Nabaraj was careful about pacing and made us drink constantly. Seeing the Dhaulagiri icefall up close from base camp was worth every hard hour to get there.

The southern approach through Yamphudin and Tortong is greener and feels wilder than I expected, with proper forest before you break out above the treeline. Ramche is a beautiful spot and the walk up towards Oktang with Kanchenjunga south face ahead is superb. Nabaraj managed the food carefully on this section because supplies get thin, and we never went short.

Adding the Manaslu circuit to Tsum makes it a long trip but the two halves complement each other well. Tsum is about culture and the circuit is about the pass. Larke La was cold and windy and the descent afterwards is long, but coming over with Manaslu behind you is a proper finish. Nabaraj watched the weather closely and moved our crossing forward by a day, which turned out to be the right call.

Ghunsa is a proper Tibetan style village and the rest day there is essential, both for acclimatisation and because it is a lovely place to sit still for a day. Nabaraj used the time to walk us up the hillside slowly rather than letting anyone lounge around, which I think is why nobody in our group got sick later. This is a long remote trek and having someone who has done it many times matters.

We left High Camp at four in the morning with headlamps on and it was properly cold. The climb to Thorong La is not technical but at that altitude every step costs something. Nabaraj set a slow steady pace and kept checking how everyone was doing. Standing at 5,416 metres with prayer flags snapping in the wind was the highlight of my year. The descent to Muktinath afterwards is long and hard on the knees, so save something for it.

Honestly, I went to Langtang without any big expectations. I just wanted to get away. But it ended up being one of the most peaceful treks I've done. That drive to Syapru Besi was wild, but once we started walking, everything just slowed down. The views kept getting prettier with every stop. The kind of beauty where you just stop walking and stare. We had a full day to explore Kyanjin, and also did the Kyanjin Ri hike. It was tough but worth every second. I sat up there for a while and didn't even feel like talking. The silence, the snow, the air- something about it just calms you. Coming back was smooth, and by the time we reached Kathmandu again, I felt like I'd been away for a month in the best way. All thanks to Himalayan 360 team!