Srijan and I recently led a group of friends (Anjan, Avash and Bimal) on the Khopra Ridge trek, located in the foothills of the Annapurna range. The trek began in the scenic village of Ghandruk. The weekend brought a lively atmosphere to Ghandruk, with music playing late into the night. Some of us woke up early, eager to escape the festivities and find some peace on the trails. As we […]
State of emergency evacuation in Nepal
Short answer – it is largely driven by profit motive, long answer below. In October, I was leading a camping trip in the Kanchenjunga region of eastern Nepal. During an acclimatisation trek near Ghunsa our client experienced a sudden onset of arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). Following consultations with two doctors, including HAL’s remote trip doctor, Dr. Pranav, we decided to urgently evacuate our client to a hospital in Kathmandu. I called […]
HAL’s new logo and story behind it
In the crisp autumn of 2016, Seth and Sudeep began their minimalist adventure, the “Langtang Lollipop” fastpack, right from the doorstep of Kathmandu. They journeyed through the lush forests of Shivapuri National Park, eventually ascending to the grandeur of the Langtang National Park. Nights were spent huddled around smoky fires in yak herder huts, and days were filled with breathtaking Himalayan vistas. It was during one of these contemplative evenings, […]
Kanchenjunga to Kathmandu valley rim – Trip report
The stage was set for an exciting adventure – a trek from Kanchenjunga to Makalu. Two teams embarked on their journeys at different times, with the plan to converge at Ghunsa, where they would transition to a camping setup and continue westwards towards Lumba Sumba, entering the Makalu Barun National Park. My team, consisting of Daniel and Mingmar, started the trek from Taplejung. Opting for the higher route through Linkhim […]
Snowman Fastpack 2024 Trip Report
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 […]
Manaslu Fastpack 2024 Trip Report
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 […]
Annapurna Circuit reimagined
The classic Annapurna Circuit trek, once a 21-day journey, can now be completed in 3-5 days due to a new road network built on top of some trails. Nepal’s Annapurna region received 191,558 visitors in 2023, with most spending less than a week on the trek. While visitor numbers have increased, the average time spent on the trail has significantly decreased. Economic Impact: This trend has negatively impacted tea houses […]
Spring Update from HAL
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 […]
Kanchenjunga Makalu Traverse: A Three-Part Adventure
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: […]
Cambodia by Kayak: 500+ Km of the Mekong with a Splash of Fear
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 […]