Welcome to the March edition of Alemaari Adhyaya by TrekNomads.

We'll be honest, we almost didn't know where to start with this one.

Not because nothing happened in March. Quite the opposite. March happened so fully, so completely, that sitting down to write about it felt a little like trying to describe a meal while you're still at the table. Too much. Too good. Too recent.

So let me just start with this.

Somewhere this month, a woman who almost didn't come on her first trek stood at Everest Base Camp and called it a miracle. A woman from Madhya Pradesh walked to the same place, alone and found a quiet she'd been looking for without knowing it. And on a hillside in Karnataka, a group of strangers watched the sun rise together and descended as something more than that.

None of these people were extraordinary in the way we usually mean the word. They weren't athletes or adventurers or people with something to prove. They were just people who said yes, some eagerly, some reluctantly, one only because her husband refused to go without her.

And the mountains did what mountains do.

That's what this edition is about. Not the trails exactly but what happens to people on them.

Editor’s Desk — Alemaari Adhyaya

Kang Yatse II Expedition You know what nobody tells you about what goes behind running a trekking company?

That the hardest part isn't the logistics. It isn't the altitude protocols or the gear checks or the 6 AM calls from Kathmandu.

The hardest part is watching someone board a flight to a trail they almost didn't book, someone who held back for months, who had every reason not to go and just hoping the mountains are kind to them.

They always are. But the hoping doesn't stop.

March had a lot of those moments for me.

A woman who held on till the very last minute before saying yes to EBC. A woman who flew to Nepal alone, no group, no familiar face, just a decision he'd been carrying quietly for years. A couple who found something on a trail together that I don't think they were even looking for.

I watched all of it from here through messages and photos and that particular kind of voice note people send from teahouses when they're tired and cold and absolutely glowing and I felt, the way I always feel in March when the season truly opens, that this is the most alive work there is.

So let's start from the red soil trails of Karnataka before sunrise, to the thin cold air of the Khumbu, to the rhododendron forests of Annapurna. This month had it all, and I want you to feel every bit of it.

 Arshalakshmi

Editor, Alemaari Adhyaya

Stories from the Last Month

Let me start with the one that's been on my mind the most.

Our first EBC batch of the Nepal 2026 season was one person. Just one.A solo trekker from Madhya Pradesh who decided at some point that only she knew that this was the year.

No waiting for a friend to be free. No searching for a group with the right dates. Just her, a packed bag, and a one-way ticket to Kathmandu.

Can I ask you something? Have you ever wanted to do something so badly that you finally stopped making it conditional on everything else lining up perfectly?

That's exactly what she did.

Did you know that the trek to Annapurna Base Camp passes through more distinct landscape changes than almost any other trek in Nepal?

You start in a subtropical forest along with warm, green, the smell of earth and moisture. Then the rhododendrons take over, enormous trees draped in deep pink and red, especially in March when they're just hitting their bloom.

Then the valley narrows, the air cools, the trees thin out, and suddenly you're walking into a high alpine world that feels like it belongs on a different planet.

And then you turn a corner and Annapurna I is right there. Not far away. Right there. Filling the entire sky.

Our ABC batch this March got exactly that moment. And what we love — what we always love about this trek is that it doesn't build to it gradually. It just appears. Like the mountain decided you'd walked long enough and it was time to show you why you came.

I genuinely think about sometimes, why do people get so honest on night treks? I've noticed it again and again. Something about starting a trek at 2 AM, cutting through the dark, the whole world asleep around you, it strips away the performance. Nobody's performing anything at 2 AM on a hillside. That’s what Makalidurga does that every single time.

Our group this March climbed through the dark, reached the top as the sky started turning from black to deep blue to that first thin line of orange and then the sun came up. And everything that felt difficult an hour ago just quietly stopped mattering.

I'll be honest with you, Kaiwara Betta is the trek I recommend to people who tell me they're not sure if trekking is "for them."

Not because it's easy. But because it's uncomplicated in a way that lets you actually pay attention. Red earth under your boots. Boulders scattered like someone left them there. The smell of the Karnataka morning before the heat arrives. No flights, no acclimatisation schedule, no three-week leave required.

Just a drive, a trail, a sunrise, and the version of yourself that shows up when you take away all the noise.
Some batches are defined by numbers. This one, by the people. Our 21st Everest Base Camp batch was a close-knit team of six but what they carried with them went far beyond backpacks.

A mother and daughter duo who turned this journey into something more than a trek, a shared memory etched in the mountains.

Watch their EBC Journey: https://youtu.be/TMlgBXk_yns

A family of three, parents with their 10-year-old girl, reminding everyone that the mountains don’t belong to a certain age group. Watching the young one adapt, push through, and smile through the trail became a daily dose of inspiration for the entire team.

Check their EBC journey in their words: https://youtu.be/8mwTgDjMjhQ

And then there was Sarthak, the solo nomad. Walking his own path, yet becoming an integral part of the group. Somewhere between the long trails and tea house conversations, solo turned into shared stories, laughter, and moments that didn’t feel so solitary anymore.

Six individuals. Different reasons. Different journeys.

Watch his EBC Journey: https://youtu.be/phq6V43uKcc

But somewhere between Lukla and Base Camp, they became a team.

Nepal Dispatch: What the Trails Actually Look Like Right Now

If you're planning Nepal any time between now and May, let me tell you what it's actually like on the ground not the brochure version, the real one.

The season is open and the trails are alive but not yet overwhelming. April is when the crowds peak. Right now, lodges are warm, skies are largely clear in the mornings, and the rhododendrons are in full bloom on the lower sections of EBC, ABC, Langtang, and Ghorepani.

It's genuinely one of the most beautiful windows to be in Nepal.

Nights at Base Camp are cold. We're talking -10°C to -15°C. Daytime trekking is completely manageable if you're layered properly — more on that in the practical section below.

One thing I want to say clearly: acclimatisation is not a suggestion. We always build proper rest days into our itineraries at Namche and Dingboche, and we take them seriously even when trekkers feel fine and want to push ahead. The mountain will wait. Your body needs time. Trust the schedule.

If you've been sitting on an EBC or ABC plan and waiting for "the right time" — this is genuinely it.

Don't wait until May when the pre-monsoon clouds start building and summit views get harder to come by.

Let me be honest with you about something people don't always say out loud.

If you're thinking about doing EBC in May yes, it's still technically the season. But here's the real picture: by mid-May, the pre-monsoon clouds start building. Mornings are often clear, but afternoons can close in fast. Summit views at Kala Patthar get harder to count on. The lodges are more crowded, the trail is busier, and the experience, while still incredible, is just a little noisier than it needs to be.

Does that mean don't go in May? Not at all. If May is your only window and you're well-prepared, physically strong, and okay with variable weather — go.

The mountain is still the mountain. But if you have flexibility, April is where the magic lives. Clear skies, rhododendrons still blooming on the lower sections, Namche Bazaar buzzing with just the right amount of energy.

And if Nepal has been on your radar but spring just didn't work out - breathe. Autumn is coming.

September through November is arguably the most beautiful Nepal has to offer, and we'll be running full batches across all our trails.

Now — let me tell you what's actually out there, because Nepal isn't just EBC. Not even close.

Everest Base Camp Trek

Everest Base Camp is the one everyone knows. 16 days, Lukla to Gorak Shep, Kala Patthar at 5,545m with the best views of Everest you'll get without a climbing permit. It's iconic for a reason.

But if you want more from the Khumbu, add Gokyo Ri and the Chola Pass to the itinerary. The Gokyo Lakes alone are worth the extra days, and standing on Gokyo Ri looking at Everest from a completely different angle while four other 8,000m peaks line the horizon is something most people don't expect to love as much as they do.

Annapurna Base & Mardi Himal Base Camp Trek

Annapurna Base Camp + Mardi Himal Base Camp brings together depth and drama in one journey.

The first half takes you inward through quiet Gurung villages, stone trails, and dense rhododendron forests slowly building up to the surreal amphitheatre of Annapurna, where peaks rise in a complete 360° around you. Mardi Himal takes you higher along exposed ridges, where Machapuchare feels close enough to touch, and every step comes with uninterrupted views. One trek grounds you. The other lifts you.

Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake

Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake, now this one deserves more attention than it gets. The Circuit alone is 100+ kilometres circumnavigating the entire Annapurna range, crossing Thorung La at 5,416m, descending into the Kali Gandaki valley which happens to be one of the deepest gorges on earth.

Add Tilicho Lake, one of the highest lakes in the world at 4,919m and you have a trek that genuinely has everything. Diversity, culture, altitude, remoteness. If you have 16-17 days and you're asking me which Nepal trek to do once and do properly, this is often my answer.

Annapurna Base Camp

Annapurna Base Camp is the trek I recommend to people who want Nepal to feel both dramatic and personal at the same time.

13 days, subtropical forest to high alpine sanctuary, with Annapurna I right above you at the end. The trail passes through Gurung villages where life moves at a completely different pace, and the rhododendron forests in March and April are genuinely some of the most beautiful terrain I've seen anywhere.

Manaslu Circuit Trek

Manaslu Circuit, if Langtang is the quieter option, Manaslu is the one for people who want serious remoteness. This is a restricted area trek, which means fewer people, more intact trail culture, and a genuine sense of being somewhere most tourists never reach.

You circumnavigate the eighth highest mountain in the world over 14 days, crossing the Larkya La at 5,160m. The teahouses are simpler, the villages are smaller, and the whole experience has a rawness to it that the more popular trails have started to lose.

Langtang Valley Trek

Langtang Valley is the one I recommend when someone says they want Nepal but without the crowds of the Everest or Annapurna regions.

The trail follows the Langtang River through forests of oak and rhododendron, past waterfalls, into the high valley where the Langtang Lirung stands at 7,227m and the yak pastures stretch out under big open sky. It's quieter, it's beautiful, and the Tamang villages along the way carry a culture that feels almost untouched.

Mardi Himal Base Camp

Mardi Himal is the one I'd send someone to who's doing Nepal for the first time and isn't sure how their body handles altitude.

Shorter, more intimate, with the best close-up views of Machapuchare and the Annapurna range you'll find on any trail. It feels like a secret even when you're on it. And, if you’re looking to do something for adventurous then add Annapurna Base Camp with Mardi Himal.

The point is — Nepal is not one trail. It's an entire world. And whichever window works for you, spring or autumn, there is something waiting there that will change the way you look at mountains.

Trekker's Journey : The Mountains Had Other Plans

Meet Mrs. Revathi & Mr.Balaji N. Some couples do dinner and a movie on weekends. Some travel. Some find a rhythm together that feels comfortable and safe and good.

And then there are couples like Revathi and Balaji, who somehow ended up at Everest Base Camp as their very first trek. Together. With zero trekking experience between them.

Let me tell you how that happened. It was during COVID that they first came across TrekNomads. The world was paused, plans were piling up, and a group of Balaji's friends had been excitedly planning an EBC trek. But things fell through schedules clashed, plans changed and the group couldn't make it work.

Balaji and Revathi went anyway. Not with a different group for something easier. Not with a short weekend trek to test the waters first. Straight to EBC. October 2024. Their very first trek, ever.

Now, I want you to understand something about Revathi before I go further.

By her own admission, she was a complete newbie. Not just to trekking, but to walking long distances at all.

She'd done some yoga. That was the sum of her physical preparation. And right up until the last moment, she was holding on genuinely unsure if she could do this, genuinely considering not going.

What changed her mind? Mr. Balaji N

He told her simply, if you don't go, I'm not going either.

That's the kind of thing a lifelong partner says when they know you well enough to know that you need someone to jump first with you. She went. They both went. And what happened next she describes the only way she knows how as life-altering.

The Khumbu welcomed them the way it welcomes everyone slowly, on its own terms. The trail, the altitude, the sheer scale of everything around them. Revathi says that reaching Namche Bazaar felt like a miracle. Not a small miracle, a real one. The kind where you sit down somewhere at 3,440 metres and think I am actually here. I actually did this.

And then something shifted around day three. The pace settled. Her body stopped fighting and started moving. Everything, the rhythm of walking, the cold air, the trail ahead clicked into place. From that point, she says, she started enjoying every single bit of it.

The accommodation, the food, the Sherpas who paced alongside them with a patience and warmth that she still talks about everything, she said, was top notch. But what she carries back most isn't a logistical memory. It's the feeling of stepping completely out of her regular life and discovering that the scary thing was also the refreshing thing.

That those two feelings can live in the same moment.

So when March 2025 came around and Balaji suggested Sandakphu Phalut, Revathi was a different person than the one who'd hesitated a year earlier.

This time, she knew.

Sandakphu was shorter, gentler in altitude, and they wanted something at a quieter pace after the enormity of EBC. But even here, the trail had its own gift waiting for her.

21 kilometres in a single day. For someone who, by her own description, is not a walking pro 21 kilometres on a Himalayan trail in a single day is not nothing.

It's actually everything. She finished it.

She ended our conversation with something that I've been thinking about ever since.

"People there believe, if the mountains don't call you, you won't see them, they have to call you."

But I went, I saw them with my own eyes, and it was pure bliss. She didn't feel the call before she went. She held back, she hesitated, she almost didn't come. But the mountains, she says with complete certainty, had other plans for her.

She recommends TrekNomads to anyone who'll listen. She's already thinking about what's next. And she believes with the kind of quiet conviction that only comes from having actually done the thing that a strong mindset can take you further than you think.

Keep trying. The mountains are more patient than your doubts.

Check out their journey here: Sandakphu & Phalut Trek

A Monumental Feat at 5,364 M: Arya Godbole’s Journey with us.

en-year-old, Arya Godbole from Mumbai recently achieved a remarkable milestone by successfully completing the trek to Everest Base Camp, a journey made possible through the expert coordination of TrekNomads. Located at an altitude of 5,364 metres in Nepal’s Khumbu region, the feat is a testament to the young trekker's grit and the seamless logistics provided by TrekNomads.

Arya, a Class V student and avid badminton player, utilised her active lifestyle to build the stamina required for this demanding expedition. The idea took flight when her father, Tejas Godbole, shared his dream of celebrating his 40th birthday in the mountains.

Arya enthusiastically suggested the Everest Base Camp Trek, and the family turned to TrekNomads to turn this ambitious dream into a reality.

Preparation and the Climb

Preparing for such a high-altitude journey required rigorous discipline. Arya trained by climbing 30–35 floors of stairs twice a week, while TrekNomads provided the necessary guidance on gear and physical readiness. We would also like to subtly thank Naveen Mallesh for his efforts in sharing this inspiring press release, ensuring Arya’s achievement reaches aspiring adventurers everywhere.

The journey, managed by TrekNomads, began in Kathmandu before the family flew into Lukla.

From there, the trail wound through Phakding, Namche Bazaar (3,440m): The gateway to the Everest region. Deboche (3,850m) Dingboche (4,410m) Lobuche (4,950m), Gorak Shep (5,100m)

When Arya experienced breathing discomfort and headaches due to the thinning air, the TrekNomads Sherpa guides provided the critical support and acclimatisation schedules needed to keep her safe and motivated.

Victory at Base Camp

Despite freezing temperatures dropping to –17°C, Arya’s determination—bolstered by the constant encouragement from the TrekNomads team—remained unshakable. On March 30, 2026, she reached Everest Base Camp, describing it as "the best moment of my life so far."

Over the 128-kilometre journey, TrekNomads ensured that every one of the 2.5 lakh steps was taken with safety as the priority. Arya’s story is a shining example of what happens when youthful energy meets the professional expertise of TrekNomads.

Check their EBC journey in their words.

A Note from Naveen Mallesh, Founder of TrekNomads

"At TrekNomads, our mission has always been to bridge the gap between human curiosity and the majestic peaks of the world. We take immense pride in helping people of all ages explore mountains safely and comfortably, ensuring that age is never a barrier to adventure.

I firmly believe that parents are the first and most influential inspiration for children. I deeply appreciate parents like the Godboles for taking the initiative to introduce their children to the mountains at such an early age. These experiences do more than just provide a view; they build resilience, respect for nature, and a perspective that lasts a lifetime. TrekNomads remains committed to supporting these family milestones with the highest standards of safety and care." - Naveen Mallesh

Kilimanjaro: The Summit that's been on your list long enough

How long has Kilimanjaro been on your list?

A year? Three years? Since that documentary you watched at 11 PM and couldn't stop thinking about?

Here's what we want you to know about Kilimanjaro, the honest version. It is the most accessible high-altitude summit in the world. At 5,895 metres, it stands higher than anything in the Alps, higher than anything in Europe or North America, higher than mostpeople will ever stand in their lives. You don't need ropes or crampons or technical training.

What you need is fitness, a good acclimatisation schedule, and the willingness to walk very slowly on summit night. That's genuinely it.

We're running a batch on 10 August 2026 which is the one I'd choose if I were going, because the approach through the rainforest and moorland before the alpine desert is staggeringly beautiful on its own, even before you factor in the summit and best of all being able to summit on Independence Day.

August is an excellent window. Clear skies, stable conditions, and the kind of summit morning that makes everything that came before it feel like it was always leading here.

If 2026 is finally the year, talk to us. We'll walk you through exactly what preparation looks like between now and August, what to expect on each day of the route, and how to make sure you're standing on that crater rim when the sun comes up.

The summit has been waiting. It's very patient. But at some point, so should you stop waiting too.

What's Coming on the Trails?

What's Trending in the Mountains

Japanese to Attempt First Ascent of 6,000’er Near Manaslu

Quietly, without much fanfare, a Japanese team departed in late March to attempt the first ascent of an unnamed 6,000-metre peak near the Manaslu region — one of the last unclimbed summits in that part of Nepal. No commercial route, no teahouse infrastructure, no fixed ropes waiting for them. Just a team, a mountain that has never been stood on, and the particular kind of ambition that doesn't need an audience.

In a season dominated by Everest headlines and permit debates, this is the story that reminds you what mountaineering looked like before it became an industry.

Everest Climbers About to Arrive As New Regs Kick in

The spring climbing season at Mount Everest is officially kicking off, with base camps preparing for incoming climbers. This year, authorities are also implementing stricter regulations around safety, waste management, and expedition practices, aiming to improve sustainability and reduce risks on the mountain.

India’s most iconic treks for the summer extreme adventure

As snow begins to melt, iconic Indian Himalayan treks are reopening across regions like Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Sikkim. Summer (June–September) is expected to be the peak trekking window, offering access to high-altitude trails that remain closed during winter months

Everest Scam Raises Safety Concerns

A major controversy has emerged around Mount Everest, where authorities in Nepal are investigating a $20 million insurance fraud scam involving trekking operators, guides, helicopter companies, and hospital staff. According to reports, some climbers were allegedly intentionally made ill or misled about their health to trigger unnecessary helicopter evacuations, which were then used to file inflated insurance claims

Ladakh Season is Almost Here And We’re Already Excited

Every year when Ladakh season starts approaching, I feel a very specific kind of restlessness.

It's not the same as Nepal anticipation. Nepal is lush, layered, cultural, and full. Ladakh is something else entirely. It's stark. Enormous. Quiet in a way that doesn't feel empty, it feels ancient. Like the landscape has been there so long it stopped needing to explain itself.

We're opening our Ladakh season soon, and I want to walk you through what we're running - properly, not just a list of names.

Markha Valley Trek [premium]

This is our flagship Ladakh trekl and the one I'd recommend to anyone doing the region for the first time who wants the full picture. You start in Leh, acclimatise for a day (non-negotiable at 3,500m, your body needs it whether you feel fine or not), and then the trail takes you deep into one of Ladakh's most spectacular hidden valleys.

Markha Valley trek 2026The Markha Valley sits between two mountain ranges and has been home to small farming and pastoral communities for centuries. You walk through villages where people still live exactly as they have for generations stone houses, fields of barley, prayer flags catching wind from passes that barely see tourists. The views of Kang Yatse peak following you through the valley are something I genuinely don't have the words for.

What makes this trek special beyond the landscape is the cultural access. You're staying in homestays and small guesthouses where the hospitality is completely genuine — not packaged. You're eating local food, meeting people for whom these mountains are simply home. That's rare, and it matters.

Batches start from April. Spots are limited and Markha fills up faster than most people expect.

Sham Valley Trek [premium]

If Markha is the deep dive, Sham Valley is the perfect introduction to Ladakh and I mean that as a compliment, not a downgrade.

The Sham Valley sits at a relatively accessible altitude, which means you're not spending energy fighting your body the whole time. You're actually there. Present. Noticing things. The Indus River valley, ancient monasteries perched on cliffsides above the trail, apricot orchards in bloom in early season, the Zanskar River confluence where two rivers of completely different colours meet, it's the kind of trek where you stop constantly, not because you're tired, but because every corner has something worth standing in front of for a while.

It's also a trail where the villages are close enough to each other that the trek has a social warmth to it. You end days in small communities, share meals, and see a side of Ladakh that the highway tourists never access.

If you've never trekked in Ladakh and you're not sure where to start, start here.

Lasermo La Trek [premuim]

This one is for a specific kind of person. And if you're reading this thinking "that might be me", it probably is.

Lasermo La is a high-altitude pass trek that most people simply don't know exists. It's not on the popular trail maps. It doesn't come up in the "best treks in Ladakh" lists that get shared around. And that's exactly its value.

Lasermo La Trek 2026The pass sits high, genuinely high and the route to it takes you through terrain that feels like the edge of the world in the best possible way. Rocky, vast, windswept. The kind of landscape that makes you feel very small and very alive simultaneously.
We won't oversell it: this is not a comfortable trek. It asks for fitness, mental steadiness, and a genuine comfort with remoteness. But for the right person, that's not a warning.

If Lasermo La is calling you, reach out to us directly. We'll have an honest conversation about whether it's the right fit for where you are right now.

March gave us a solo trekker finding his quiet at the foot of Everest. It gave us a group watching Annapurna fill the whole sky. It gave us night climbers on Karnataka hillsides having conversations they probably needed to have for a while.

It gave us a lot.

And now April is here and somewhere out there someone is finally booking the trek they've been thinking about for three years.

Maybe that someone is you.

Until the next edition — may the mountains stay somewhere in your thoughts.

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