On The Top of the world (🌎)(NEPAL🇳🇵)
🛬 07 SEP 2024 – 20 SEP 2024 🛫
Nepal – a land of the world’s highest mountains, where Buddhists and Hindus live side by side, rising higher together. It’s a place that challenges you, pushes you to your limits, and lifts your spirit above the clouds.”.
After running the Dubai Fun Run in November 2024, I felt like I needed a new challenge — something bigger, deeper. Nepal popped into my head out of nowhere. I didn’t even know the capital or what Nepali people really looked like. But the next day, November 25, I packed up and left Dubai.
Airport
✈️ Quick Tip:
Nepal offers a visa on arrival for just $25, valid for 30 days — super easy.
I landed at night, grabbed a SIM card, ordered an Indrive (like Uber), and headed to my hostel. People were surprisingly friendly, and I was super hungry. Ordered a burger — it hit the spot.
Kathmandu Capital city
Next morning, I decided I wanted to trek the Annapurna Circuit. I went to the tourism office, got my trekking permit for $20, grabbed some gear (water bottle, sunglasses, purification pills), and got ready.
The hostel owner told me, “Sleep early. Tomorrow at 6:30 AM, I’ll show you where to go.”
Journey Begins: Kathmandu → Besisahar → Chame
At sunrise, the hostel guy ordered a cab to the bus station. I said I was heading to Besisahar, and that’s where I met Andrew (a Russian traveler) and two Brits living in Australia. We squeezed into a local bus and shared tea and boiled eggs on the way — I avoided the spicy noodles, but the Brits dug in.
At Besisahar, I remembered something an old guy back in Kathmandu said:
“It’s no fun to hike where jeeps can pass.”
So I caught a jeep to Chame (2,650 m), arriving after sunset. Rooms were overbooked, so I slept in a shared space with workers. The next day I got my own room.
💡 Tip: In Nepal, if you eat dinner and breakfast at a guesthouse, they often give you the room for free.
A Surprise Detour to Lamjung Kailas
A hotel staff member invited me to hike with him to their old base camp — I said yes without thinking. We hiked up late and arrived in the dark. No other hikers, just yaks, silence, and the cold. It dropped to -15 to -20°C after sunset. I couldn’t sleep at all.
By morning, I knew I wasn’t prepared. We hiked back down, had a little fallout (our adventure styles didn’t match), and I returned to town. Called my girlfriend to let her know I survived the coldest night of my life.
New Friends & Dal Bhat at Upper Pisang
Heading to Upper Pisang, I met three French hikers (two brothers). Super fit, no bookings, just a map and bold energy. We hiked together and landed at a guesthouse with hot showers and cozy vibes.
At dinner, one of them introduced me to Dal Bhat — endless refills of rice and lentils for $2.
“You’ll never go hungry,” he said. He was right.
That night, the guesthouse lobby turned into a storytelling circle. No one was scrolling on phones. Just hikers sharing laughs and tales.
The Long Trek to Manang
On our way to Manang, we stopped by a beautiful sacred lake called Green Lake. The trek was long (15+ km), and the altitude hit hard.
Manang itself is a gem — a mountain town with ATMs, cafes, and a mini museum. We stayed two nights to acclimatize. Then we split up. My French friends went to Tilicho Lake, I continued to Ledar.
Lost Paths, Long Bridges, and Lucky Breaks
I started late from Ledar and took the wrong trail thanks to maps.me — steeper, longer, and a bit sketchy. Crossed a crazy bridge that took 10 minutes to walk across (scary stuff).
Arrived at the next camp first but no one was there. I almost broke into a room until someone finally called me into the kitchen. Warmest welcome ever. Got the best room.
Thorong High Camp — Almost There
Met two solo female travelers (French + Italian). Took some selfies from a nearby hill.
That night, I ran into the Brits and Carlito (a Spanish guy). We had pizza and more Dal Bhat. Next morning, I left early while they all slept. Hiked to the top of Thorong La Pass and celebrated with a bottle of Sprite at the summit.
Muktinath
Started feeling a headache, so I rushed downhill. Met a Norwegian guy who looked like Bjorn from Vikings. We crashed at Bob Marley Hotel in Muktinath. The Brits and Carlito arrived later and stayed too.
We walked all over the village that night looking for music or a party. Nothing. But hey, the hotel had good tunes even if it was empty.
Pokhara Vibes
Caught a bus with the crew to Pokhara. It was packed with locals and blasting fun Nepali songs. No plans, no bookings — we just arrived and found a place.
We stayed for four days. Souvenir shopping, lake boating, and full-on chill mode. Pokhara was the reward after all that hiking.
Back to Kathmandu (aka The Worst Road Ever)
The road from Pokhara to Kathmandu is legendary — in the worst way. Bumpy, slow, and uncomfortable. I regretted not taking a flight like the others.
Back in the capital, I reconnected with Andrew (the Russian), and we flew together to India the next day.
Final Thoughts
Nepal isn’t the place for party scenes or clubs. But if you’re looking to disconnect from the noise and reconnect with yourself, this is the place.
You’ll meet people chasing the same peace, the same growth, the same mountains. Would I go back? Absolutely. But first, more countries are calling.
