Mardi Himal 2024

The Mardi Himal trek Oct 18 - Nov 9, 2024

Getting over jetlag at the Vajra hotel, Kathmandu

The Mardi Himal is essentially a ridgeline walk to 

 

Trekking the Langtang October 2022

An early morning start from Syabru Besi

This keen group got up early after a day on the bus from Kathmandu over rough roads, heavy traffic and  experiencing 6 hours of travel into the foothills of the Himalayas.

First day...a morning tea stop in Chunama

Each day starts with breakfast at 7am, trekking by 8, tea around 10am and dal bhat lunch noon or thereafter. 

Approaching old Langtang village which was buried in the 2015 earthquake. 

New Langtang Village, Village View Hotel

Suspension bridges over the Langtang Khola

Earthquake memorial to those lost :(

Langtang Lirung 7234m

Woman carrying fodder for Yaks

Jangbu Tamang and his wife at Tibet Guest House, Langtang

Sunset, Red Panda Lodge, Sing Gompa, 

Welcoming family in Thulo Syabru

A view from lodge in Lama Hotel

Following the Langtang Khola river

Gompa in Thulo Syabru

The high point in Langtang - Kyanjin Gompa 4100m

Boudhanath Stupa, Kathmandu

Trekking to Manaslu March 2018

Our destination - trekking the Manaslu circuit - one of the more challenging treks in Nepal!

Mt. Manaslu 8163 m - 8th highest peak in the world

Some narrow trails following the Budi Gandaki river

Lots of stone steps with gain and loss of elevations

Many suspension bridges

New bridging above the river to avoid flood seasons

Many lodges and homes being rebuilt post 2015 earthquake

Narrow trails, valleys, and bridges

Bridge to Philim

Lots of variety in geography

Namrung

Manaslu at sunrise from Lho

Naike - 6211m

Samagaon 3500m) after rest day and a 25 cm snowfall - 

this view to the north and to Samdo,

then Larke La pass at 5100m

Soti Khola Tea house

What was left to do? With no time to wait for the Larkya la pass to open
we opted to fly back out to Kathmandu!

Yoga & Culture 2017

A friend at Yoga for Today asked me to run a trip for her studio to Nepal, and 9 wonderful yogis joined me to Kathmandu in mid February. It is always nice to briefly walk about in shirtsleeves and practice yoga in some amazing places in +20C warmth while winter is still happening back home in Canada.

Yoga in the garden at Begnas Resort

A short day in Hong Kong allowed us to visit the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island not far from the airport, then the evening flight to Kathmandu, where our Nepal adventure began!

Big Buddha on Lantau Island

The 'silent" boat ride to Begnas resort

Organic Coffee family

A quiet boat ride on Begnas lake took us to the Begnas Lake resort, in comfortable cabins, western washrooms, yoga in the garden and delicious meals including fish from the lake! An ayurvedic doctor and spa for massage and warm oil treatments was very welcome for all. We walked local villages, visited a school and enjoyed organic coffee at the Begnas Coffee place.

Breakfast at Pokhara Damside

We spent 3 nights in Kathmandu and then off to Pokhara (the second largest city in Nepal) where it is a bit warmer (+23C) days and more of a resort town. We visited the Tibetan refugee camp, the International Mountaineering museum, several schools and shopped the Lakeside streets of Pokhara.

Sunrise on the Annapurna's

An early rise (5am) and short drive up a ridge to Sarangkot to see the sunrise on the Annapurna's, allowed us to experience the start of another amazing day. It was a bit hazy, but we could see Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail).

A short 30 minute flight back to Kathmandu, and visits to Thamel shopping, a Nepali Culture show and visit to Patan, another royal square in the valley, and then final preparations to return home.

Boudhanath Stupa, Kathmandu - now rebuilt after EQ