I Had the Trip of My Life in Nepal Last Year With Backpacker. Now It’s Your Turn.

On one of the final nights of our trek up the Langtang Valley, a dance party broke out. We were cozied up in the dining room of the Buddha Inn in Kyanjin Gompa, our highest overnight at 12,700 feet. More than a week into our trek, my companions and I were embroiled in a competitive round of Dhumbal, a card game that our guide, Chandra, had taught us. Rowdy matches over cups of tea had become our evening routine. But on this night, someone turned on music. 

Some friends from Kakani Adventure Camp, where our group stayed while helping construct classrooms during their first week in Nepal, had arrived at the Buddha Inn earlier that afternoon. It felt like a family reunion as we swapped tales about our trek up the valley. From the dining room windows, we watched snow-covered peaks turn pink in the evening light while devouring bowls of steaming Sherpa Stew with fluffy Tibetan bread. Then someone broke out a speaker, and the guides and porters were on their feet. Soon enough, we all were.

The evening felt celebratory. That morning, we’d hiked to our high point on Kyanjin Ri (over 15,000 feet). Tomorrow, we’d descend back down the valley and soon go our separate ways. Tamang folk music, classic rock, and disco rang out while trekkers and porters showed off their best moves. 

When I agreed to join a group of Backpacker readers on this trip in partnership with Wildland Trekking, I envisioned breathless climbs under towering Himalayan peaks. We experienced plenty of that. These moments of connection in between the miles, however, made up some of my unexpected favorite memories. In teahouses warmed by wood stoves, I learned Nepali vocab words from our three wonderful guides. I swapped trail and gear recommendations with other members of the group. I chatted with a couple of teenage trekkers who were venturing across Asia after graduating from high school. I played many card games and drank many cups of tea. 

This fall, you can do the same. Since 2019, Backpacker and Wildland Trekking have teamed up to facilitate Himalayan adventures that most backpackers dream of for years. After exploring Kathmandu, you’ll join a team in the village of Kakani, where you’ll put your hiking muscles to good use on a construction project aiding in earthquake and Covid-19 recovery. Then, you’ll head to the mountains where you’ll trek between teahouses, monasteries, and villages, catching sight of yaks and langur monkeys along the way. If you’re lucky, you may even be treated to a high-altitude dance party. 

With two trek options, we offer a trip for every kind of hiker. Climb high passes on the Nar Phu Valley trek, or take a more gradual ascent on the Langtang trek. I hope you’ll join us. Read more about both treks, plus how to sign up, here.

Want more? In the coming weeks, we’ll be rolling out stories from previous trip attendees, stories about what the service component entails, and more.