After a lot of planning, some last minute panic packing of our 10kg duffles for the porters, we were ready to start the trek!
The first leg of the journey is by bus from Kathmandu. The journey takes about 7 hours.
Walking by terraced rice fields, up rocky steps, and through sub-tropical forests.
And we are off!
We walked by terraced rice fields…
through tunnels…
and had our first glimpse of real mountains.
It was SO HOT. We were unprepared. 35 degrees and full sun. We had prepared for the high altitude cold, but not risk of heat stroke, so it was a hard start to the trek. We were very glad to see our first teahouse of the trip!
First encounters with terrestrial leeches!
Turns out, leeches love to hang out on the paths and grasses. As I padded back from the shower, I noticed I was making little blood prints on the ground. I found my first big leech between my toes, the harbinger of very leechy days to come.
Lovely Outliers 