By RUHX Events Manager, Ellie
Last month, I was lucky enough to accompany our twenty-one superstar supporters on a five-day trek in the foothills of the Himalayas.
We began our adventure in Delhi, where we were thrown in at the deep end of the local hustle and bustle. I’m sure many of the group would agree that our challenge started before we even reached the Himalayas at Old Delhi Train Station, where we were catching our overnight sleeper train. It was definitely a once in a lifetime experience!
Waiting with our luggage in the busy train station in Delhi
We eventually made it to Dharamsala, spiritual home to the Dalai Lama, on day three of our travels. This was our starting point for the trek, but first we had an afternoon to relax, and the chance to sleep in a bed (luxury!) after two nights of overnight travel, to get our energy levels up and ready for the trek the next morning. We were very privileged to visit the home of the Dalai Lama and explore this beautiful area with a strong Tibetan influence.
Jenny and Terry spinning the Tibetan prayer wheels inside the Dalai Lama temple
The following day, we were raring to go. With our back packs at the ready, we headed to the start point of our trek. On our first day of trekking, we followed undulating and rocky footpaths through a forest. We also crossed a few questionable bridges, which were made from iron and were rusting away in places. You know it’s a bit questionable when the dog that had joined our ‘pack’ refused to cross the bridge! (Luckily it hadn’t rained much, so after some howling, he did make his way across by hopping over the rocky river bed.)
Emily and ‘King Rab’ the dog
Natalie and Jenny on the first rickety bridge
The landscape and terrain changed throughout the six to eight hours we walked each day, with impressive mountains looming over us as our backdrop. Over the next few days, we trekked through pine and rhododendron forests, in beautiful valleys next to rivers and small waterfalls, through villages, and by mountain cafes and temples.
When we reached our campsites in the late afternoon each day, we would be met with a cup of hot tea or juice from our trekking guide team and were rewarded with beautiful sunsets and stunning landscapes. This made up for the clouds that we often found ourselves walking through, obscuring the views along the way!
Eggy bread and porridge for breakfast at campsite number 3
Best view point?
I have to admit that I did well up when I first glimpsed the peak next to us through the cloud, with the sunset giving it a warm pinkish orange glow. It was truly magical.
Terry and Dawn at Triund
On day four, I woke up early and got up to watch the sunrise with a few others in the group. If you saw the ‘sunrise/sunset’ category of our Trek photo competition, this is when a lot of those photos were taken! This was a breathtaking experience that I will never forget.
Sunrise at Triund campsite
That same day, we climbed to our summit of 3,250m. This final ascent was one of the most challenging moments of the trek, having spent the previous day walking continually up to our campsite on Triund (2,850m). Our whole bodies were tired at this point, from both the trekking and the camping. It was a rewarding and emotional moment reaching the top, especially when the cloud cleared for just a few minutes to reveal the mountain behind us.
Team RUHX at the summit!
On the morning of our final day, we were able to take part in the special tradition of hanging prayer flags on the mountain. Although all there for one common reason, each trekker had their own personal motivations for supporting RUHX. Whether they had lost a loved one, experienced care at the RUH first or second hand, or looked after patients during their most vulnerable times, we were able to reflect on our reasons and set intentions for the future.
In good spirits, we then began our descent down into Bhagsu Nag, back to the hotel we had stayed in the night before the trek, completing our satisfying horseshoe route!
Through teamwork and determination, the group braved fears of heights, completed long steep ascents, pulled through sickness bugs, and made it to the end with smiles on their faces.
Lifelong friendships were formed through their shared goal of helping the RUH. The team have now raised over £37,000 for RUHX and I would like to say how immensely proud I am of each and every one of them.
Rich enjoying being a tourist at the Taj Mahal
If you would like to find out more about joining our next trek, the Kenya Great Rift Valley in 2026, please get in touch by emailing fundraising@ruhx.org.uk or by calling 01225 825823.