Let’s be honest we could’ve booked one of those polished, Instagram-ready treks where everything’s picture-perfect. But we’re three Canadians who wanted the real deal, and boy did HC Treks deliver. Imagine exploring monasteries so remote Google Maps hasn’t found them yet. Laughing with monks over butter tea while your calves are screaming from the climb up. Trails where the only filter was the thin mountain air.
The HC Trek’s crew nailed the logistics (seriously, how they got fresh bread at 4,000 meters is still a mystery), but never lost that personal touch. Our guide turned what could’ve been just another trek into this wild mix of comedy show, history lesson, and pep talk all while keeping us alive through mountain passes that’d make your Instagram famous… if you survived the climb.
Was it tough? Absolutely. One morning I woke up convinced my legs had mutinied. But watching the sunrise from 5,200 meters, sharing chocolate with new friends, and realizing you’re following paths walked for centuries, that’s the stuff that sticks with you.
