Namaste and Kuzuzangpo – a wonderful trip through Nepal and Bhutan, April 2025
We started in Kathmandu – the accommodation at the Kathmandu Guest House is very pleasant, especially because of the central location. During sightseeing, Sharmila (our guide for Nepal) expertly showed us all the important sights and gave us a lot of background information. Our luggage for the trekking was carefully checked by Sharmila and together with her we set off the next day. Here we were to learn for the first time that the weather in the Himalayas is unpredictable – our flight to Pokhara took off six hours late. Nevertheless we managed to keep to the schedule and were able to start our 5-day Muldai Peak Trek – albeit somewhat bumpily.
We spent the nights in Ghandruk, Tadapani, Dobato and Ghorepani in lodges that are simple but completely fine. Already on the first morning we were rewarded with wonderful views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machapuchare. The route was good to walk, but with all the stages combined, was a real challenge for us.
All the happier we were that we managed it all, thanks also to the good support from Sharmila. The jungle-like landscape, the wonderfully blooming rhododendron forests, monkeys and great views over and over again were great motivation. And of course arriving at Muldai Peak at sunrise was a great experience. The giants of the 8,000ers, especially the views of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna I, were overwhelming.
The jeep ride back from Bathanti was adventurous and we were very glad to be welcomed in Pokhara at a very nice hotel. The return flight to Kathmandu was smooth (unfortunately only clouds again) and we had one day to relax.
The next day we went to Bhutan. Here too the adversities of the weather demanded a lot of patience. Instead of landing in Paro, our plane flew to Kolkata, where we had to wait five hours in the plane until we could attempt another try. With a 7.5-hour delay, we were warmly welcomed by our guide Jigme, who accompanied us for the next 10 days and expertly and courteously showed us Bhutan. We started right away with the Paro Festival, a real experience. Our trip led us as far as Bumthang, on the way visiting all the important cities such as Punakha, Trongsa, Jakar, Gangtey and Thimphu, and in between always took some shorter hikes, for example through the rice terraces in wonderful landscape. So variety was provided, since the driving routes are very long indeed. The dzongs and monasteries were architecturally and spiritually very impressive. Jigme introduced us intensively to Mahayana Buddhism. In Thimphu we also had the opportunity to take part in a festival at the astrological university of the monks, which deeply moved us. The hike to the Tiger’s Nest was sweat-inducing, but an absolute highlight of the trip.
And the return flight from Paro to Kathmandu (on schedule!) was our last hope to see the mountains, after on all three previous flights the clouds had not revealed any views. Here we were rewarded: a fantastic view of Mount Everest and other 8,000ers.
We drove from the airport directly to Bhaktapur, an impressive royal city, and to round off our trip we were for one day in Pharping at the monastery, where we could take part in the evening and morning ceremony. That too was a very special experience. We are filled with many beautiful trip experiences and would like to thank geoDiscovery Tours most warmly for the outstanding organisation of the trip. The hotels and the meals were very good, and the drivers also drove us safely.
It was extraordinary that we were even welcomed by Mrs Kolay in Kathmandu and had the welcome dinner together with her. Questions were immediately clarified via WhatsApp and the whole team made it possible for us to feel very comfortable throughout the entire trip. Monika and Ludwig
