Waking up early in the morning, we went to the domestic terminal on the airport, being booked on the 6:30 flight to Lukla. It felt like a structured chaos, a lot of people were eager to get the opportunity to make it to Lukla (high season), but even more important, the weather can prevent flying for several days, hence this is an opportunity not to be missed. So, the 3 companies that traffic the line to Lukla try to complete as many journeys as possible on one day. Needless to say, our flight was fully booked.

The flight is an adventure on its own merits, the small carriers have to reach a high elevation, and then surpass the narrow passes that take us to the Phakding valley. After watching the upwards sloping landing strip at YouTube, I expected a gnarly trip and a hairy landing, but apart from some midway turbulence, this was more of a joyride.  

After eating breakfast in Lukla, our trek finally begun. The goal for today was the Phakding village, a descent of 400 meters of altitude, the easiest part of the trip. Even so, this is our first encounter with the Himalayas, Jaks, rivers with glacier meltwater, and the dramatic landscape. The smell of the pine trees is sweet and thick, if you close your eyes you could be walking along a trail in a Swedish forest.  The landscape feels familiar, yet different. Only 1000 times more dramatic. Weather has been varying, from t shirt weather, do a light rain.

Arriving at Phakding, we checked in at the Tashi Takey guesthouse, which has the feel of an American timber lodge, married with a Swedish fjallstuga, and something from Tintin in Tibet. Very cosy and clean. 

Now we gonna have a dinner, and then relax and read some books. we could not ask for more.
Fanny and Erik

Heading towards Lukla

Jopkyo carrying loads

after reaching Phakding