When I created my five-year travel plan (five years ago), Brazil was supposed to be the final trip.
I thought working at the World Cup and living in Rio de Janeiro would be the perfect climax to all my Latin America adventures.
From there, I’d return to the States, start the next business, find a wife and begin making little townies.
What happens however, when your passion becomes your business?
What happens when your last trip only strengthens your desire to continue, to get better, to do more?
You go to Mt. Everest of course!
Next Friday, March 27th, I’ll be flying to Kathmandu, Nepal to begin a three-week trek with Active Adventures to Mt. Everest Base Camp.
Over the past five years, each of my “T2T Missions” has focused on the social aspects of a foreign culture; however, this trip will have the additional twist of being tremendously physically and mentally challenging.
The person I have to thank for this is friend and fellow traveler, Clint Johnston of Triphackr.com.
Clint and I met back in 2013 at a traveler’s conference in Toronto and we got together again in Rio during the World Cup.
When I recently returned Stateside from Brazil, we started chatting about upcoming plans and he mentioned this trip with Active Adventures. I was immediately hooked on the idea and did everything I could to get onboard.
**Follow Clint via Instagram, Facebook & Twitter**
Here are some details of the trip and what you can expect to follow along with…
Nepal and Mt. Everest
We have a few days in Nepal’s capital of Kathmandu before beginning our ascent, where we will load up on supplies and begin acclimatizing to our new environment.
From there it will take nine days to reach Base Camp at 17,589ft. You can see the day-by-day route by location and altitude above.
My biggest concern for the entire travel adventure is my reaction to the altitude. This will be the highest I’ve ever been (including college), and no matter my training, it will be difficult. Luckily, we will have a great team around us who know the mountain and how to deal with the altitude.
Bhutan
Upon returning to Kathmandu after the trek, we will be crossing over to neighboring Bhutan to explore the country with Yeoong Tours and Travels.
One of the most exciting things about the Bhutan trip that Clint and I are both really looking forward to is visiting the “Tiger’s Nest” monastery located in the cliffside of the upper Paro Valley. This sacred Buddhist site looks absolutely incredible!
We will be spending a week exploring Bhutan before flying back to Kathmandu so Clint can catch a flight home.
Meanwhile, I have one more stop planned…
Tibet
From Kathmandu, I’ll take a quick flight over to the Tibetan city of Lhasa to explore this region of China for eight days with Budget Tibet Tours.
It will be an overland trip that will include stops in many historic cities and landmarks including Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse, Tingri, Old Tingri and Zhangmu (I’m not making these up).
We will also get to see another side of Mt Everest Base Camp from the Tibetan side.
One of the things I’m most excited about on this leg of the adventure is The Potala Palace in Lhasa. The palace was home to Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India during the late 1950s.
So, this is the plan for the next two months of my life…
It’s a completely new region, new culture, new challenge, and I couldn’t be more excited.
It will be so much different than Brazil, and anything else I have ever done… that’s the point right?
I’m looking forward to teaming up with a fellow traveler to discover a region and culture that I know next to nothing about.
I’m also excited about the opportunity to work with such well-established tour operators who have made this trip possible.
Be sure to follow along on all the travel adventures via YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter and stay tuned for a completely redesigned Tourist2Townie.com coming very soon!
And follow Clint as he delivers his take on the entire experience on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as well.
9 Responses
That’s a great trip! I did something similar last year. I liked Bhutan a lot, it’s very special place. Tibet is beautiful but somehow sad, and full of Chinese flags…
Maja recently posted..Falkland Islands – Albatross
Bhutan is so nice place to travel. I have seen many good Monasteries. I would love to travel again here.
John Mayer recently posted..Things To Do in Cabo San Lucas
I haven’t visited Nepal but I recently have published a couple of posts on Top places to visit in Nepal and Top things to do in Nepal. The posts are written based on pure online research. Anyway, whatever I have found during my research is wonderful and in no way you can leave out Nepal if you are an adventure lover.. In fact, it’s a blend of Adventure, nature, and culture that you can expect to experience in Nepal… best wishes…. I have a plan of visiting Nepal very soon…
Tajirul Haque recently posted..Top Places to Visit in Sri Lanka
I know it makes no sense at all, but I miss you being in Rio 🙁
Hey Gareth, I’ve never commented before, but I’ve been following from the start when I came across your brand new blog on some Buenos Aires blogs directory back when I was planning a trip there. I could tell your blog was going to be good so I’m glad you’ve stayed with it, it’s been great!
Also glad to see the fresh new site design, looks good and must mean everything is alright with you. I’m guessing you were out of Nepal just before the earthquake?
f.d. walker recently posted..The Personal Evolution of Photographic Interest
It must be good adventure, Bhutan and Tibet are very interesting to visit.
Komang Gede recently posted..Tanah Lot | Bali Temple on Sea Rock & Amazing Sunset View
Wow the ” Tigers Nest ” looks amazing i would love to hit it up there one day when i am all grown up haha …. meaning when i actually plan and get the time .www.travelingrate.com
Hi thanks for sharing this valuable information you have shared its really glad to be here or the pictures you have shared are really cool
Reading your adventures makes me believe I too can live a above average life. My business takes up all my time and I like to save alot. Someday I will build enough courage to take a break from business and security and go on a long trip.