Planning the trip to Tibet turned out to be super difficult. Even though this country still is a must-visit destination for me, the incalculable Chinese clampdown makes visiting Tibet less attractive. I read plenty of field reports about delayed flights or refusal of a visa. BUMMER! On location, we will at least try to organize a trip to Lhasa ///

Hence, Nepal turned out to be the country we will visit. To go on a tour in Bhutan would be fantastic too. But we will have to see while being there because German travel agencies all have horrendous price offers (1800 € or more) __ (WTF??11??). 

In Nepal the only areas we can go on our trekking tour are Mustang (North) and Dolpo (North-West). They are the only regions not affected by the monsoon in July/August. It sucks that we’re not able to go there in September/October (best season to travel the Himalaya region!!) because of job-related issues. 

The trip will start in Kathmandu where we will first have to get used to the thin air. Many people run the risk to show symptoms of the Acute Mountain Sickness. This is why at least two days of acclimatisation are necessary. Many lodges in Nepal even have an emergency oxygen tank next to the beds __ creepy.

Our average trekking time in the Annapurna Sanctuary will be around 5 - 6 hours a day. Luckily, we will be accompanied by a crew of “real” Nepalese: a tour guide, a cook, and several so-called “sherpas” who carry the equipment during the tour. 

I am so excited already. But kind of nervous, too … so far I have never left Central Europe.