We approached Paro airport with excitement about the journey ahead. As we entered the airport’s arrival area, we were greeted by beautiful wood carvings, with vibrant colors and paintings. It felt like entering a boutique hotel!   This was HAL’s inaugural Snowman trek, and the goal was to trek the first half also known as the Laya-Gasa route. A dream that Tony and Sharon had nurtured for years. Our team consisted […]

This year’s Manaslu Fastpack marked our third edition, and it was only the second time we included Tsum Valley in our route. For those interested, you can check out last year’s trip report to learn why we decided to incorporate this beautiful and culturally rich valley into the Manaslu Circuit. Our 2024 Manaslu team consisted of Jeremy and Sudeep, while Srijan unfortunately had to sit this one out due to […]

Sun’s Out, Gear Up! Summer’s in full swing, and we hope you’re soaking up the sunshine (with sunscreen, of course) after a (hopefully) refreshing spring. Here in Nepal, the pre-monsoon is keeping things interesting with some surprise showers – just another twist in the ever-unpredictable mountain weather! This Adventure Season This season, the HAL team has scattered like hungry squirrels at a nut buffet – each on their own epic […]

Eastern Nepal, particularly the eastern section of the Great Himalayan Trail (GHT), had lured me for a while. And explore I did, venturing into the region a total of three times in 2023, each journey adding more trails to my map. First Trip: May 2023 Sijan, a close friend of mine, having gotten into grad school, was fulfilling a vow to visit Pathivara 3,794 m (Nepali: पाथिभरा देवी मन्दिर, Limbu: […]

Haunted by a near-drowning experience in high school, I spent fifteen years terrified of water. It wasn’t until early 2022, in preparation for a sailing trip in the Orcas Islands, that my friend Seth (a great mentor over the years, we started Himalayan Adventure Labs together, but he has stepped back now) nudged me back into swimming lessons. Overcoming that fear felt like a victory, and when Seth floated the […]

Welcome to 2024 and a Decade of Trailblazing with HAL As the crisp mountain air of a brand new year embraces us, we at HAL extend our warmest greetings and wishes for a year filled with epic adventures, stunning vistas, and unforgettable memories. 2024 marks our 10th anniversary, and we’re not just looking back on countless miles traversed, but looking forward to pushing boundaries and creating even more incredible experiences […]

During our orientation, over dinner, I mentioned to Maria that the most important thing to remember during any trips in Nepal was to be flexible on any given situation. But, little did I know, as we got on the bus from Kathmandu a little over an hour after midnight to get to the airport in Ramechap for our flight to Lukla, that with the first rays of light the previously […]

Buckle up, folks, because Langtang Fastpack 2023 was more of an epic tale than your grandma’s Sunday yarns! Our spirited adventure kicked off with blessings from Hindu priests at the Budhanilkantha temple. We’re Team Reindeer (yes, with the antlers and all), and our adventure began in the heart of Budhanilkantha. From there, we plunged headfirst into the lush wonderland of Shivapuri National Park, where adventure and memories awaited. When we […]