Thorong La for beginners - Heading to the mountains (üBERGlücklich)

15. November 2013, 14:55 Terminal 2, Munich Airport Franz Josef Strauss

We started our journey at the Munich airport at noon. We were booked a via-Doha-flight to Kathmandu with Qatar Airways. A giant Boeing 787-8 Dreamline was accurately waiting for us to board in. At 3 p.m. we slowly took off towards Doha.

It took quite a long to get something to drink at first. Around 2 and a half hours after the start, we were served some lentils salad, noodles with chicken and a chocolate cake. Afterward I watched Blue Ginger. By that time, I did not know how many awards the film was predestined to receive, but if anyone had asked me back then I would have granted it.

Shortly after midnight, we arrived at Doha International airport. It is currently being moved to a new terminal so that it feels really basic. We were pretty tired and had to spend 4 hours until our next flight on the terminal. The premium lounge would have cost around 35 € per person. It looked like a café however with no real option to stretch feet. We decided to pass and take a look around in the terminal.

It was really small, a two-floored, temporary building of no charm at all which offered a couple of very expensive luxury goods stores, 3 mosques, 1 female and 2 male, and 4 fast-food restaurants. We went for a veg curry and then moved to one of the numerous chairs in the sleeping area.

Soon after that, we were called for boarding on our flight to Kathmandu. After we were served bread and butter, and a poisonous omelet with sausage, I decided to skip the meal and fell asleep.

16. November 2013, 10:30, Tribhuvan Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal

We arrived in Kathmandu in the morning next day. The Tribhuvan Airport is a relatively small airport and was very well organized so that we could be in our hotel room just around an hour later. We were welcomed by our guide with a flower girdle of fresh odorous marigold. After a short husband and wife dispute, we decided to use the time to rest instead of going for sightseeing. Having left the wintery German weather, it was easy to relax and fall asleep at almost 30°. And so we did.

We woke up at 3 p.m. and went for a walk in the area of Thamel. Countless little shops for trekking equipment, clothing, traditional and not so traditional Nepalese arts and souvenirs shaped the little streets where pedestrians, automobiles, and bicycles fought for distinction. It was not a chaos, but a riot out there. In less than 2 hours we were tired and decided to head to dinner in the recommended restaurant Mandap. And for the first and last time for the upcoming 2 weeks, we ordered a Nepalese Strong Beer and a veg curry. Exhausted from the jet leg, the huge temperature amplitude and the long flight we went to sleep at 7 p.m.

We had booked our trekking trip with Himalaya Fair Trekking which turned out to be the dream tour operator for me since we were neither organized in any massive or inconvenient way nor did we feel somehow lost in any particular way throughout the whole trip. I can recommend the company to everyone who is heading to Himalaya. After picking up from the airport, we were asked for our documents. It turned out that we lack 2 pictures each for the Trekking permit. Everyone walking through the mountains in Nepal needs to hold a valid one. So we went and made pictures in one little photo booth for 1000 rupee. We also found and bought a cover lid for our Canon camera which we had lost a long time ago and could never buy in Germany. Back to the hotel, we realized that the lid does not fit and were disappointed at first. But surprisingly enough the photo shop owner was very kind and exchanged the lid against another one with a smile on his face.

17. November 2013, Kathmandu (1400m) to Bhulbule / Beshisahar / Khudi (790m)

Wake up	Departure	Arrival	Distance	Altitutude	Go to sleep	Food
06:30	07:45	15:30	160km	840m	19:30	Breakfast: Omelet and Coffee Lunch: Dhal Bat Set Dinner: Curry rice

Early next day we settled by feet to pick up a private bus for our group of 5 travellers. The adventurous vehicle with a Bob Marley poster on the inside was waiting for us at 1 km distance from the hotel. The journey could begin.

With a population of 27 million, and area half the size of Germany, Nepal is a huge country. 50 languages are known to be spoken in the country. Most of the people live from farming. The landscape we drove through looked accordingly. The vastly underdeveloped infrastructure was evident even at the lower altitude of 500 to 900m. For 160km to Bhulbule we needed around 7 hours. Beshisahar is a small village around 15 km from Bhulbule.

The next days belong to the real experience so that I will skip the numerous stories everyone should experience oneself and just list the data. Good luck on your journey and give me a sign when you return.

18. November 2013, Beshisahar (790m) to Jagat (1300m)

Wake up	Departure	Arrival	Distance	Altitude	Go to sleep	Food
06:30	07:40	15:30	20km	1300m	19:30	Breakfast: Tibetan Bread and Coffee Lunch: Fried potatoes Dinner: Dhal Bat Set and Masala Tee

19. November 2013, Jagat (1300m) to Dharapani (1860m)

Wake up	Departure	Arrival	Distance	Altitude	Go to sleep	Food
06:30	07:30	15:00	20km	1860m	19:30	Breakfast: Tibetan Bread and Coffee Lunch: Fried rice with potatoes Dinner: Momo and Masala Tee

20. November 2013, Dharapani (1860m) to Chame (2700m)

Wake up	Departure	Arrival	Distance	Altitude	Go to sleep	Food
06:30	07:50	14:45	18km	2670m	19:30	Breakfast: Champa porrige Lunch: Fried noodles with Tanchhok Dinner: Spring rolls and noodle soup

21. November 2013, Chame (2700m) to Pisang (3200m)

Wake up	Departure	Arrival	Distance	Altitude	Go to sleep	Food
06:50	08:00	14:30	16km	3240m	20:30	Breakfast: Tibetan Bread and Coffee Lunch: Fried pasta Dinner: Dhal Bat Set and Masala Tee

22. November 2013, Pisang (3200m) via Nawal (3660m) to Manang (3400m) 

Wake up	Departure	Arrival	Distance	Altitude	Go to sleep	Food
06:30	07:40	16:15	19km	3550m	19:30	Breakfast: Noodle soup Lunch: Spring roles Dinner: Chyomen and Masala Tee

23. November 2013, Manang (3400m) to Ice Lake (4220m) to Manang (3400m)

Wake up	Departure	Arrival	Distance	Altitude	Go to sleep	Food
06:30	07:40	15:30	10km	4600m	19:30	Breakfast: Vegetable Thanthuk Lunch: Sandwich with fried potatoes Dinner: Fried rice and Jasmin Tee

24. November 2013, Manang (3400m) to Latar / Yak Khark (4000m)

Wake up	Departure	Arrival	Distance	Altitude	Go to sleep	Food
06:30	07:40	15:30	5km	4750m	19:30	Breakfast: Noodle soup Lunch: Curry and Chiapati Dinner: Fried Rice and Mint Tee

25. November 2013, Latar / Yak Khark (4000m) to Thorong Phedi (4500m)

Wake up	Departure	Arrival	Distance	Altitude	Go to sleep	Food
06:30	07:40	15:30	20km	3960m	19:00	Breakfast: Tibetan Bread and Coffee Lunch: Fried potatoes Dinner: Fried potatoes

26. November 2013, Thorong Phedi (4500m) via Thorong-La (5415m) to Muktinath (3800m)

Wake up	Departure	Arrival	Distance	Altitude	Go to sleep	Food
04:00	04:30	16:30	22km	5460m	19:00	Breakfast: Potato soup Lunch: 2 boiled eggs Dinner: Dhal Bat Set and Masala Tee

27. November 2013, Muktinath (3800m) to Jomsom (2730m)

Wake up	Departure	Arrival	Distance	Altitude	Go to sleep	Food
07:00	07:30	15:30	15km	2730m	19:00	Breakfast: Potato soup Lunch: 2 boiled eggs Dinner: Dhal Bat Set and Masala Tee

28. November 2013, Besichtigung der Tempelanlagen, Jomsom (2730m) to Pokhara, Aufenthalt in Pokhara, Flug nach Kathmandu