Hey there, I'm Sandra — founder of Nepalnewbies.com.

Born in the 70s, raised in the 80s, an expat kid turned world traveler.
The Himalayas fascinated me since I was a child — I just never expected it would take me until my fifties to actually stand among them...

In 2024, I finally did it: my first trek in Nepal, to Mardi Himal Base Camp (4,500m / 14,764ft). Before I left, the self-doubt was real — Am I too old for this? Too out of shape? I'm a woman in her fifties from the flattest country on earth (the Netherlands), with zero "multi-day trekking in high mountains" experience. On paper, I wasn't exactly the poster child for this trip.

I did my homework, though — researched literally everything: altitude
sickness, gear, high-mountain hiking technique, the best beginner
routes. Before leaving, I trained by walking up and down a 7-story
stairwell 10 times a day. I thought I was ready.

Then I got there. And nothing — not the research, not the stairwell —
truly prepared me for what it was actually like!

Take the cold. I'm a snowboarder, so I'm used to freezing temps. But
cold combined with extreme fatigue and a lack of oxygen? That's an
entirely different beast. Or the stairs — those endless, uneven stone
steps have nothing in common with the smooth stairs of a modern
apartment building.

I feel like most blogs out there sugarcoat all of this — the trails,
the altitude sickness, the basic facilities. Trust me, reality hits
different. And standing among those giant peaks, doubts and all? It
proved to me that age really is just a number. What actually matters is
showing up prepared.

That's exactly why Nepalnewbies.com exists — to give beginners like me the real story, not the sales talk, so you can prep smarter and hit the trail with absolute confidence.

A quick note: I'm not a medical professional, a certified fitness
trainer, or a mountain guide. Everything I share comes from my own
experience plus research from trusted sources like the CDC and UK
travel-health guidance, linked throughout this blog. Always check with your doctor before a high-altitude trek, especially if you have any
health conditions.

Today I'm based in Amsterdam, and beyond Nepalnewbies, I work as a certified life coach — where I've discovered every day the same thing trekking taught me: real growth rarely comes from the comfortable path.

A portion of my coaching revenue supports care for Nepalese children with Down syndrome, a cause that found me on the trail and hasn't let go since — more on that below.

Sandra 

The jeep ride down from our trek, my mind still on the mountains, we had to brake for a boy walking the road with the most joyful smile — a boy with Down syndrome. I'd overheard trail talk about how overlooked kids with Down syndrome often are in Nepal. That image stayed with me. It felt like a sign I couldn't ignore. So a portion of my coaching revenue now goes toward supporting the care of Nepalese children with Down syndrome. It's a small thing. But after everything that trip gave me, it felt like the least I could do.

info@nepalnewbies.com — I read every message myself.

The Nepal trekking blog for beginners who want the real story. First-hand experience from a fifty-something beginner, honest tips and practical guides for your first trek in Nepal. Squat toilets included. No sugar-coating.

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