End of trekking, celebration and thank you meal this evening - then off to Chitwan tomorrow!

Typical trekking scenery, Annapurnas

The group made excellent time on trek and arrived in time for lunch in Pokhara. Everybody has settled into their rooms and freshened up after their experience in the mountains.

Badges of honour & bravery!

Terry was the most popular with the leeches on trek ... he had 20 (!) at the last count which was taken as the group headed into Tirkedhunga yesterday.

Everyone loved the food and playing lots of card games in the evenings with the Sherpas and Porters. Udaya, Dawa Senior and Dawa Junior are just excellent. The expeditioners are going to take them all out for a fun evening meal in Pokhara by way of thanks for all their help. There will be, without doubt, much music and laughter.

Tomorrow, off to Chitwan, home of the Bengal Tiger!

Waterfalls in Annapurnas

Village Children on trek, Annapurnas 

Look at me Mum and Dad ... I made it to the top of Poon Hill (3,210m) in the Himalayas!

Photos .... just in!  After a 4 am start the expeditioners made it to the highest point on their trekking itinerary this morning (Monday) ... Ghorepani & Poon Hill! 

A break in the clouds allowed for fantastic views of the snowcapped Himalayan peaks.

Congratulations everyone - fantastic achievement!

We made it ... here's the proof!

On top of Poon Hill, Annapurna Himalayas

A break in the clouds for spectacular views!

Wet, wet, wet ... but all in good spirits on reaching Tadapani on trek!

Expedition leader Matt finally has a signal and reports to Fee Bellamy (on Saturday) …

Wow what a wet day! We arrived here at Tadapani at about 12.30. I think we have had the whole monsoon on us today.  Stopped at a village and Udaya, one of our Nepali guides, managed to source some hot mango juice and biscuits. The team loved it. Megan brought ginger biscuits ... the Sherpas loved them :) 

We have all been playing cards and games this afternoon, great spirit! The museums yesterday were great, 6 of the girls and 3 of the boys got dressed in traditional Nepali clothing … was great!  Off to dinner now.  

The natural stone staircases - going up, up, up and then down, down, down. 

Nepali mother and daughter, Annapurna Himalayas

Nepali porter, often Sherpas, in Annapurna Himalayas

Made it to Ghandrung, visited school, views of hills ...

Expedition leader Matt makes contact with Fee Bellamy and reports:

We have made it to Ghandrung and have had lunch. We managed to look around a school in Kimche. Martine took the contact details of the teacher. I have made a donation to the school health project on behalf of the expedition and the girls wrote in the journal to say who they were. Very good.

Clouds are down. Everyone is resting now after the tough day of trekking.
Unfortunately no views of the famous ' Fish Tail' mountain today (perhaps tomorrow?)* but views of the hills. We may go to museum later.

Typical scenery on trek

Typical trekking scenery

 

 Dawa one of our expedition's experienced and popular Nepali Guides

*Fish Tail Mountain 'Machapuchare'

*For information: Fish Tail Mountain ... Machapuchare  ("Fish Tail" in English), is a mountain in the Annapurna Himal of north central Nepal. It is revered by the local population as particularly sacred to the god Shiva and hence is off limits to climbing. It is one of the most photographed and distinctive mountains in the world.

First day of trek ...

Fee Bellamy reports following contact with expedition leader Matt: 

First day of trek went really well. They've tried rice from the paddy fields, played volleyball with the locals, had cockroaches and bugs in their rooms, eaten a fab Dhaal Bhaat now going to bed. It's raining now. 

P.s. Leaders have sorted the bugs!

Terraced Rice Paddies

Have arrived in Pokhara ... trekking awaits!

The flight to Pokhara has landed safely and everyone is now on the bus heading for the Annapurnas and the start of their trekking phase of the expedition!

Himalayan Annapurna views from Pokhara

Lake Phewa - Pokhara