After a good night’s sleep in the lovely hotel, we were all ready for the final day of our hike, stretching from Renchi to Dunai.
After freshening up and our usual rounds of tea, we packed up and posed for one last group photo.
Sandesh planned to reach Suligad quickly and wouldn’t join us in Dunai, as he was set to return on his motorcycle and was already gearing up for his next trip to Rara. Anup sir had wanted to join, but the plan didn’t pan out.
After a few minutes of walking together, we waved goodbye, realizing the trek was nearing its end.
Sandesh took the same earlier path, while our group chose the other route that Team B had taken earlier—lured by the chance to taste fresh apples along the way.
It turns out this path was comparably more challenging, likely the reason Team B had arrived so late the previous day.
Confused about our teams? Find out about the unofficial team division here.
This time, Nisha took charge and picked a few apples for us.
Everyone grabbed a few apples for the road, with Ram enthusiastically eyeing a whole basket. Samundra and I suggested we grab more from Dunai instead, and the rest agreed.
Anup sir, perhaps tired of the breaks, went on ahead to catch up with Sandesh. Soon after, Prashosan followed, while the rest of us moved at a slower pace, savoring the last day of our hike.
Since we didn’t have a chance to charge our devices the previous night, everyone’s phone was almost dead. Fortunately, I had a power bank, so I was able to keep my phone alive to snap some shots I’d missed on the way up.
Although everyone was lost in their own conversations, we still had a long way to go before reaching Chhepka.
I decided to pick up the pace, hoping others would catch up, and kept moving while playing some music. I told Didi I’d stop at the tea house from the day before.
I paused at different spots, resting by the river, and eventually waited for half an hour near the tea house until the others arrived. With Chhepka as our next main stop, we decided to press on.
I still wasn’t feeling my best—my cold had flared up again, and not to forget about the prominent pimple on my nose.
Nisha, the professional nurse, advised me some special medicine, which I took after lunch. I marched on and when I arrived, I found Prashosan, Anup sir, and Sandesh already there, almost ready to leave.
Anup sir had already arranged lunch for us. Since I didn’t want to waste any time, I joined them, while the others ate together later.
Meanwhile, Prashosan and I had a nice chat, and I took the medicine, which helped a lot by the time we reached Dunai.
When we reached Raju Hotel in Kageni, those who’d left extra clothes gathered their items, making their bags now heavier.
Ram excitedly bought some walnuts and apples, eager to take those “koseli” home. Nisha and Didi also picked up some local raksi for their families.
Nisha served us tea since Raju was busy with new guests. After a final rest, it was time to head to Suligad as quickly as possible.
As evening approached, we reached the landslide-prone area.
Sahil and Samundra were already way ahead, while Anup sir and Prashosan were likely already in Dunai.
Ram and Didi managed to cross it, leaving just Nisha and me behind. I took a quick video since I hadn’t before, and took one of Nisha‘s walking sticks to help her cross safely.
At one point, I had to throw the sticks aside and jump, as there was no proper footing. Right after I did that, a rock fell dangerously close to Nisha!
That was almost the end of us. We looked up and there were even more coming below. Startled, Nisha instinctively tried to block them with her hands, but that wasn’t the right choice here.
I shouted, “Bhaag Nisha Bhaag!” and, channeling our inner Milka Singh, we made it through. Ram and Didi, already on the other side, were praying for our safety.
We made it—protected, we had to be, right? Afterall, it was universe’s sign that brought us all here.
By now, darkness was setting in, and though everyone wanted to speed up, we realized there was no need to rush.
Dhakal ji wasn’t in the best shape, and we also felt the pull to savor these final moments. Ram, a bit ahead, was gazing at the moving stars, a breathtaking sight we had almost missed.
As soon as we joined him and looked up, a shooting star streaked across the sky. Overcome with emotion, a single tear rolled down my cheek as everyone excitedly made wishes.
Later, we learned it wasn’t just an 81-year event but something that happens once in every 81,000 years (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet). This realization left us all in awe, grateful for such a rare experience. This celestial moment renewed everyone’s energy.
We walked under the stars, deepening our bonds and living fully in the present. What happened was meant to be, and we owed it all to the universe.
As we continued, we marveled at how far we had hiked on that very first day. We could see the Suligad checkpost‘s light, yet it still felt far.
Meanwhile, Sahil and Samundra were having mixed feelings, as they hadn’t caught up with the others, and we weren’t joining them either—a bit like our initial journey to Shey Karnali.
The guys ahead had arranged a jeep for us, something I had manifested with Ram, Nisha, and Didi.
Finally, we reunited and moved forward. And at last, we reached the Suligad checkpost, from where Ram gathered more of his belongings, and after a final ten-minute walk, we all arrived at the starting point.
The jeep awaited us. We piled in, made some final videos, and reached Dunai.
The trek was over, but it was rich with life. The friendships we forged, the memories we made—each choice, each moment, was meaningful.
Phoksundo Lake had worked its magic on us, leaving us profoundly grateful. Now it was time for one last night together, and we intended to make it unforgettable.
You might like reading: 8 Days Phoksundo Lake Trek—Itinerary, Bus, and Budget Breakdown
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Hello how can I contact Raju Hotel i cant find their social media or anything
Hello Eshani,
This is Raju’s TikTok handle: @rajuchetri63. You can contact him here.