Although there were options to fly via India, I elected to take a Flydubai flight, the only airline to fly direct from DXB to KTM.


Then flying on from Kathmandu to Tenzing-Hillary Airport, and then trekking on to Namche Bazar and hopefully to catch a glimpse of Mount Everest.



Day 0.

About to catch the Flydubai flight to Kathmandu on Wednesday afternoon after work, with another Flydubai 737 taking off in the backgroud.


For the 4 hour flight I bought a couple of chicken wraps and a can of 7Up for a reasonable 45 AED ($12) for dinner.


Arriving at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport at 11pm. I was expecting the weather to be cool, but was actually quite warm and was fine in my t-shirt.


With my $25 15 day tourist and about to pick up my pack. They were checking everyone's luggage tags with their baggage slips and was causing a bit of a queue.


In the hotel shuttle winding through the narrow alleys of Thamel in the middle of Kathmandu.


Checked into my hotel at about midnight, and got a welcome note from the guide for the trip since I missed the pre-trip meeting earlier in the day. 5am meeting in the lobby for the ride back to the airport so just enough time for a bit of sleep.



Day 1.

Got up at 4:30am, had a quick shower and shave, and met up with the rest of the group in the lobby. Just five others on the trip, with a couple from Perth, Australia, a couple of German girls living/working in Beijing, and a Swiss girl on her big OE.

The front entrance of the hotel. The path ahead has names written on it of famous guests, including the Beatles, Ricky Martin and Jeremy Irons.


After catching a ride to the airport, we queued up outside the domestic terminal. A bit of construction going on, so quite dark and lots of things to trip on.


Got through security and into the check-in area. Both check-in and hand luggage had to be weighed since we were flying on a small turbo-prop for the flight out to Lukla.


About to board the Tara Air DHC-6 Twin Otter at dawn.


Banking left after takeoff over Kathmandu in the early morning sun.


Definitely the most colourful boarding pass I've ever had! We would be trekking up to Namche Bazar on Day 2.


Amazing scenery as we fly through the hills and up into the mountains.


After a successful landing at Tenzing-Hillary Airport (LUA), the 'world's most dangerous airport'.


LUA airport is at an elevation of 2,860 metres, has a runway length of only 460 metres, and has a gradient/slope of 12% (uphill for landing, downhill for take-off).


Outside arrivals after picking up our packs.


At a Lukla restaurant to get some breakfast to fuel us for the morning trek to the village of Phakding.


After breakfast, I headed back to the airport to watch the early morning flights that were still coming in. As the planes literally land/take-off from a cliff, there can often be updrafts of wind that startle the pilot as he approaches the runway threshold.


Also, as the runway directly faces the mountain, there is no option to abort the landing on short final.


We had some time before we started the trek to Phakding, so our guide Ramesh took us for a walk around Lukla. Some locals playing a game similar to snooker, but with small discs on chalk covered board.


At the local morning markets.


Eggs for sale.


Spicy.


Dried chilli's.


Morning smile.


Got my TIMs card checked and signed off by the police before heading off on the trek.


And leaving the main gate out of Lukla just after 9am.


After an initial steep drop, the track was fairly easy going.


With Granddad.


Front door.


Little girl.


Dhaka topi (Nepali hat).


Perfect weather for trekking with the sun out and not too hot either.


Quite a few swing bridges to cross and take in the view below.


Nose ring.


Buddhist prayer wheels which you could spin for good luck.


Vege patch.


Some religious script etched into the cliff face.


After 3 hours of trekking, we arrived at our lodge in Phakding at about 12pm. Elevation of 2,440 metres, or ~400 metres less than Lukla.


We then had some lunch, and I chose chicken steak with some local vegetables.


My cabin, room #108.


Quite cosy and clean inside, and a western toilet in the back too. I was pretty knackered after the flight, early morning and then 3 hour trek, so crashed out for a few hours.


I got up at 4pm and had a walk around the village, including the waterfall right in the middle.


Two porters baskets loaded up. Everything must be brought in either via donkey, yakow (yak/cow hybrid) or on a porter's back.


I then met up with our guide and the rest of the group at 5pm for a trek into the hill's. Unfortunately soon after I paused to take a photo on the bridge I lost sight of the rest of the group! I set off to explore on my own instead.


The Dhudh Kosi River.


I trekked up into the hills and came across a picturesque farming village.


After trekking up further into the hills, I came across a couple kids dresed in religious clothing. Unfortunately they couldn't speak english, but I managed to use a bit of sign language to ask them if I could take their portrait.


Further up the hill I found their Monastery.


The main monastery building.


They seemed quite surprised to see a westerner this far off the main track.


At 6pm it was starting to get dark, so I headed back down the hill.


Shepherds.


Another porter carrying up fresh supplies.


I made it back to Phakding and found my guide in the porter's cabin, wondering where I had been.


Playing cards with the rest of the guys at the lodge in the evening.


And having some tasty meat momo, or steamed dumplings for dinner.