Landing in Kathmandu hits all at once—noisy streets, honking horns, vibrant signs, smells of spices and incense everywhere. Mountains peek faintly in the distance, teasing what’s to come. A warm welcome at the airport, a quick ride to the hotel, and a briefing about the trek. The mountains feel far away, but they’re calling already.
Flying to Pokhara , Pokhara itself is calm, lakeside streets buzzing gently. Evening stroll along Phewa Lake, watching boats, maybe sipping tea. Feels easy and light after the city.
The road ends at Samrung,a suspension bridge separates samrung and jhinu danda . From here, the trail begins, climbing through terraced fields, little villages, and thick forests. Chomrong perches on the hillside, Gurung houses dotted along the trail. Views of Annapurna South and Machapuchare are just… wow. The village feels alive but calm, like time slows a little here.
The climb continues through rhododendron forests, bamboo groves, little villages tucked in the hills. Occasional glimpses of towering peaks. Himalaya, the settlement for the night, is quiet and perfect. The air is crisp, the sky wide, almost unreal. Nights are still, broken only by wind or distant dogs barking.
Alpine meadows, streams, rocky trails. Peaks rise like giants around Annapurna South, Machapuchare, are sharp and dramatic. Machapuchare Base Camp feels close enough to almost touch. The air is thinner, but the views are thick with awe. Clear skies make the mountains shine, and the evening feels like the world paused for a moment.
The climb is tougher now, with moraine trails and high-altitude terrain. But reaching Annapurna Base Camp is worth every step. Peaks surround, glaciers shimmer, the scale of the mountains humbling. Afternoon spent wandering around the camp, snapping photos, sometimes just staring. Nights here are quiet; stars so close it feels like reaching up might touch them.
Descent begins. Rocky paths, rhododendron forests, small villages appear along the trail. The mountains change as altitude lowers—still big, but somehow different. Bamboo, small and tucked in the forest, welcomes with calm and quiet. Muscles are sore, but the heart feels full.
Through forests, terraced fields, and villages, the trail drops to Jhinu Danda. Hot springs! Finally, tired legs can soak while water steam rises into crisp mountain air. Evening feels slow, birds, water, wind—easy to forget the world below.
The ride back shows the mountains from a distance. Rivers, fields, villages—life carrying on as usual. Pokhara welcomes again with calm streets, Phewa Lake, markets. Easy evening, strolling or maybe just watching the sunset reflect in the water.
Return to Kathmandu. The city feels familiar, chaotic, but somehow softer after the mountains. Streets buzzing, smells, sounds—but now there’s memory of the silence and scale of the peaks. Evening drifts, last shopping, last walk through Thamel, last tea before departure.
A transfer to Tribhuvan Airport, last glimpses of the city. Mountains, villages, rivers, trails—they linger in memory. The trek wasn’t just walking—it was being, feeling, noticing. Steps taken, hearts full, and memories heavy with beauty.
