Page 2 of londontravellor Travel Blog Posts


Asia » Nepal » Namche November 3rd 2012

Namche 3420m - Syangeboche 3790m - Khunde 3840m - Khumjung 3780m - Namche 3420m Time taken: Namche - Khunde 1 hour 30 mins Khunde - Khumjung 30 mins I'm woken this morning by gentle ring of the yak train passing by my room. The sun illuminates the tips of the peaks as I stare out at them over breakfast this morning which I take at the leisurely time of 7.15am this morning. Why the late start? Today is a designated acclimatisation day as we have gained significant altitude on yesterday's trek. The idea of today is to walk up a few hundred metres above Namche and then return to sleep here tonight, the so-called 'walk high, sleep low' theory of Acute Mountain Sickness prevention. There are several options today but we opt for to visit the ... read more
Airstrip at Syangeboche
Helicopter landing Synagboche
Helicopter takeoff

Asia » Nepal » Namche November 2nd 2012

Monjo 2840m - Jorsale 2830m - Namche 3420m - Chhorkung 3540m - Namche 3420m Time taken: Monjo - Namche 2 hours 45 mins At breakfast this morning it hit me how lucky I am to be here, doing this. This trek is something I have looked forward to for almost three years. I came to Nepal in 2010 but was unable to fly to Lukla due to bad weather so instead changed plans to do the Annapurna Circuit. I really enjoyed this trek and vowed to return to complete the EBC trek as well. With an early start, we began on the trail out of Monjo. We start ploughing rapidly along the trail in the knowledge of the strenous climb to Namche. We quickly come to the Sagarmatha National Park entrance check point where I find ... read more
The roaring rapids
First glimpse of Everest
Ladies with fruit on the trail

Asia » Nepal » Lukla November 1st 2012

Kathmandu 1337m - Lukla 2800m - Phakding 2610m - Benkar 2710m - Monjo 2840m Time taken: Lukla - Phakding 1 hours 50 mins Phakding - Monjo 1 hour 30 mins An early morning start from sunny Kathmandu airport aboard a tiny plane is followed by a nerve-wracking flight. Turbulance is to be expected in this size of plane flying so close to the mountains, i'm told by those who have flown it before. As the plane leaves the valley over a ridge, the plane shakes and jolts enough to cause a few white knuckles on arm rests. From the small windows of the cramped cabin, the mountains are above and to every side it seems, almost close enough to touch. Small waves of pre-panic give way to exhiliration at the scenery. As the plane tilts forward ... read more
Start of the EBC trek
On board
Pilot's eye view

Asia » Nepal » Pokhara November 26th 2010

Today we arrived in Pokhara after a long journey from Jomsom via Beni! It's difficult to describe just how weary and dusty and tired we felt after spending so long in one of the local buses. To be fair they are entirely comfortable, have plenty of fresh air in and out of the windows and there is a lot going on to be entertained by. The general slow speed of progress with the seemingly fast speed on precipitous turns in the highlands do make for a long journey though despite the entertainment from the bus driver, conductor and various radio stations. Beni is a sort of transport hub in rural Nepal. We stopped there briefly for lunch in a cafe about which, I must admit, I had suspicions regarding hygiene. The flies were persistent they were ... read more
We're actually getting on a plane!
Beers in Kathmandu
Mountain & Lakes, Pokhara

Asia » Nepal » Muktinath November 25th 2010

Today was the last trekking leg of our journey. Due to the rescheduling as mentionned in my earlier blogs , we didn't have time to complete the whole of the Annapurna circuit so our plan was to trek to Jomson, then drive to Beni from there we would make our way back to Pokhara, spend a day or so there and then fly back to Kathmandu. We rose and had breakfast in Muktinath with a overly friendly cat and then hit the road, initially just as far as the local Gompa. This had several different types of buddha in the form of golden statues. This place had the feel of a real living, breathing gompa and as we left we found many buddhist locals circumnavigating spinning the hundreds of prayer wheels outside. The views from such ... read more
Breakfast at Muktinath
Breakfast time Muktinath
Tsechen Kunga Choeling Gompa

Asia » Nepal » Annapurna » Annapurna Circuit November 24th 2010

At what felt like an unearthly hour our alarms went off and the adrenaline kicked in. This was it, the crossing of the Thorong La. I know that Clarisa and I both had our worries that we'd be up to the challenge but once you're this far, there really is no backing out! I'd been pleasantly surprised with my performance on the mountains so far but as we got up and dressed in the freezing cold I must be honest there were certainly plenty of nerves about making it! I was also slightly concerned that Clarisa wasn't eating much. Aside from lethargy (and this was only at the end of a day trekking) and loss of appetite she had no other symptoms of altitude sickness so we encouraged each other that although we had the high ... read more
Himalayas by night
Dawn breaking
Starting for the high pass

Asia » Nepal » Thorung Pedi November 23rd 2010

We left Manang after another pretty cold's night sleep. The snow had fallen quite heavily over night and the quilts left out on the balconies of the tea lodge were not just still wet, they were now a bit crispy too!! Without something as sophisicated as a thermometer we guessed this meant the temperature was now below freezing! We packed up, forced down a filling breakfast of tea and pancakes, eating is more like stoking an engine than an enjoyable activity at the moment. We loaded up our bottles with as much boiled water as we can carry and were ready. We set out at a nice steady pace, as we knew we didn't have far to go. In terms of distance we could reach Thorong Phedi today, the altitude dictates that we must take an ... read more
At Thorong Base Camp 4540m
Snow at Thorong Phedi
Clarisa makes it to Thorong Base Camp

Asia » Nepal » Manang November 22nd 2010

Today I woke up to the most fantastic view I have ever had on my way to the bathroom! Gangapurna sat there huge, pristine and white and I couldn't help smiling to be this deep in the Himalayas, effectively sandwiched between Gangapurna (7454m) on the west side and Chulu East (6300m) on the east side, amazing! The sun was blazing down on us and there were clear blue skies! Magic! Only problem was it mine and Gansa's turn to get the shits! We both drank cold lemon drinks on arriving yesterday whilst Clarisa sensibly stuck with tea so this may be the culprit! Either way feeling glad we're not straight on to Thorong Phedi today! Without going into specifics I was fairly sure this was bacterial and opted for my course of ciprofloxacin earlier than I ... read more
At the Glacial Lake Manang
Gansa on the glacier
Team shot at the Lake

Asia » Nepal » Annapurna » Annapurna Circuit November 21st 2010

It took us some time to get going today after a bitterly cold night at Lower Pisang. We woke early and drank several cups of hot tea to warm up. I decided that since the cold was getting serious I would revert to porridge for heat and energy. It came with chopped up apple throughout it for flavour which is good because otherwise it would just have been hot and flavourless! Maybe the altitude is affecting my taste? Anyway with what felt like a lead weight in my stomach we pulled on the boots, now looking suitably walked-in and dusty. I think I may have damaged a toenail on my left foot and have a blister on my right heel but other than that my feet are holding up pretty well. Clarisa's are fine too, she ... read more
Path to Manang
Trekking to Manang
New snowfall & different angle Pisang Peak

Asia » Nepal » Annapurna » Annapurna Circuit November 20th 2010

We woke to the sound of the Marsyangdi river thundering down the valley and a repetitive creaking from the suspension bridge . It was a damp, overcast morning and the cold was creeping in to our room and looking out from our window I could see a large group of army men jogging across the bridge in just thin army uniforms and big heavy boots. They must have been frozen but were smiling and waving as they passed, wow these guys must be tough! We had breakfast, Clarisa's stomach is now fully recovered and she is making up for it, it seems by eating as many eggs as possible! Our trek today took us up through Bhratang (2950m) and Dhukur Pokhari (3200m) to Pisang at 3240m and what a day it was! The mountain views were ... read more
Alpine views
Path blasted out of the mountain
Sonam & Gansa




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