A sunrise farewell to the Himalayas.

Before we get to today, there’s something we missed from yesterday’s post — a moment too special to leave out.

It was Diwali, the Festival of Lights. After dinner, our incredible support crew built us a fire beside our tents, overlooking the twinkling lights of the city far below. As we sat watching fireworks sparkle in the distance, they surprised us with fireworks of their own — and sparklers too!

Forget health and safety; we were right in the middle of it, cheering and laughing. Together we shouted “Happy Diwali!” — a magical moment we’ll never forget.

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A Bittersweet Morning

And so to today.

Can you believe it’s actually here — the last day of our trek? Packing up our tents for the final time was a little bittersweet (though our aching muscles might say otherwise).

As I write this, the sun is rising for the last time over the snow-capped peaks that have been our home for the past five days. It’s a cloudier morning, the light softer, breaking through in long golden streaks across the ridges.

It’s time to head back down the mountain — time to celebrate what we’ve achieved.

Before we set off, we took a moment to thank our amazing support team — the guides, cooks, porters, and helpers who looked after us so well. Each one of them played their part in keeping us safe, fed, and smiling through every challenge.

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Downhill All the Way

Then we were off!

One last push — this time all downhill, which turned out to be as much a test of our thighs and mental stamina as the climb up. Every step jarred, every turn reminded us of how far we’d come.

We stopped for lunch along the way, where a friendly young man struck up a conversation about our trek. With a grin, he said,

“You’ve done well — even at your age.”

We’re still deciding whether that was a compliment or not!

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The Finish Line

By early afternoon, the first rooftops of the town began to appear, faint dots that grew clearer as we descended. We could hear the sound of a waterfall in the distance — the sound of civilisation calling us home.

Theo and Julia asked us to take a short break before the final stretch. Then, as we rounded the last corner, we saw them — holding a “Congratulations” banner high, smiling, cheering us in.

We each walked beneath it to receive our medals.

We’d done it.

We had survived the Himalayas.

There were hugs, laughter, and a few tears. Exhausted, emotional, and unbelievably proud, we stood there — six friends who had just conquered mountains.

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Celebration (and a Cow)

Back in town, priorities first: a cold beer at the German Bakery.

It tasted like nectar — pure, fizzy victory.

Then came an unexpected highlight. Throughout the trek, Laura and Deb had been terrified of cows (and there are a lot of cows in India). Fueled by post-trek adrenaline — and perhaps one celebratory beer too many — Deb announced she’d donate £100 to charity if she and Laura could both touch one.

They did it.

There’s video evidence.

Macmillan and the British Heart Foundation say thank you!

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The Final Evening

After the world’s best shower, we dressed up for our celebratory dinner. Theo had arranged a feast in McLeod Ganj — laughter, stories, and maybe a few emotional toasts.

It’s hard to put into words what this experience has meant. We’ve met the most wonderful people — Catherine and Rich, Anna and Fiona, Jackie and Tim, our amazing trek doctor Julia, and our fearless leader Theo.

We’ve laughed, cried, supported, and inspired each other more than we thought possible.

From the six of us — Kirsten, Laura, Deb, Traysi, Deb, and Loren — thank you. Thank you for following our journey, for your donations, your encouragement, and your kindness. You’ve all been part of this story too.

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A Thought to Leave You With

On the way down the mountain, I saw a stone painted with these words — a reminder of what this trek, and life itself, is all about:

“Nothing is permanent. Don’t stress yourself too much.

Because no matter how bad the situation is — it will change.”

With a happy heart and weary legs, we couldn’t agree more. 💚

We’ve got a couple of days left before we head home. We’re heading off to Agra to see the Taj Mahal! One last blog still to come. Stay tuned!

Please donate at Macmillan Cancer Support and/or The British Heart Foundation.