View of the Lukla airport
Beyond Base Camp: My Trek Through the Himalayas
Some trips are said to leave a lasting mark on your soul. This was one of them – my first-ever trek to the Himalayas.
Flying into Lukla always feels like dropping into another world. One minute you’re on a tiny prop plane brushing past jagged peaks, and the next, you’re walking into silence, wind, and trail dust. It’s the kind of journey that strips everything down to what matters.
Landing in Lukla: Boots on the Ground
The trek kicked off from Lukla, weaving through Phakding, Namche Bazaar, and Tengboche — iconic stops along the Everest region. Each night, I stayed in no-frills tea houses: thin wooden walls, zero heating, and nights so cold I slept fully dressed inside my sleeping bag. Traveling in November meant fewer crowds — and colder nights.
The glaciers weren’t icy and crisp; they were sandy, dusty, and dry, leaving a film in your lungs that you feel every time you breathe.
My Sherpa, Man (Yes, M-A-N)
My guide was a character. His name? Man. Just like that. And unlike the quiet, stoic Sherpa stereotype, Man was a storyteller. He loved snapping photos and filming videos, and made every tea stop more entertaining.
My sherpa, Mr Man
He also had rules. “We don’t eat the meat,” he said. Turns out the yak meat served at high altitudes has been carried on someone’s back for 3–5 days. “I don’t eat that, you don’t either,” he knew better, and I followed him.
So it was carbs on carbs — pasta, potatoes, and rice. High-altitude fuel, Sherpa-tested.
Gokyo Lakes & Cho La Pass: The Hard Way Is the Best Way
We took a less-traveled route through the Gokyo Valley. The Gokyo Lakes were hauntingly beautiful: deep blue in the center, and surrounded by absolute silence.|
Gokyo Lakes, the view from the top
Chola Pass,the moment when I had to stop a second
But then came the Cho La Pass.
A brutal, steep climb. Ice, scree, rock, and finally a glacier crossing. It was one of the most physically exhausting days I’ve had in years.
But on the other side? A completely different view of the Himalayas. Worth every step.
The Moment
Rather than head straight for Everest Base Camp, I chose a different summit: Kalapatthar.
Mt.Everest view from Kala Pathar
From there, I had one of the most incredible views of Mount Everest — unobstructed, glowing gold in the sunset. It was quiet. No crowd. Just me, the camera, and the mountain.
Base Camp is a great milestone. But it doesn’t give you Everest. Kalapatthar does. That was the moment I came for.
Final Words: Cold, Raw, Real
I crossed glaciers, met yaks, and stood beneath Ama Dablam — one of the most stunning peaks I’ve ever seen. I woke up cold, sore, and grateful every single day.
Ama Dablam, left me speechless
This trek wasn’t about a checkbox. It was about the space between steps, the silence between mountains, and the stories shared with strangers.
Would I do it again? No doubt.
Would I eat the yak meat next time? Still a hard no.
