I'm Never Homesick. Then I Trekked in Nepal.

Here's one you won't find on any packing list. You've trained for the stairs, packed your thermal layers and read everything about altitude sickness. And then, somewhere between one teahouse and the next, it hits you: you miss home. Your own bed. Your food. Your people. A hot shower that actually is hot. Everything.

Not the homesick type

Here's the thing: I've traveled without my family many times. I'm not the homesick type. But my trek to Mardi Himal was the first trip ever where I was truly homesick. Maybe the physical challenge took its toll. Maybe I was simply exhausted. Or maybe Nepal was just so different from anything I knew.

I had so much time to think

But I think it was something else too. There was so much beauty around me that I kept wishing my family could see it with me. And with all those hours of walking, grasping for breath on yet another steep climb, I had so much time to think. About my life, my people, and all the reasons I'm grateful for what I have. Sometimes gratitude and missing someone feel exactly the same.

Homesickness is real 

So if it happens to you, know this: homesickness on a trek in Nepal is real, and it's more common than anyone admits. Here's what homesickness on the trail really looks like, why it hits harder up there, and what I found actually helps.

At home, when you feel a bit low, you call a friend, or your mom, curl up on the couch or make your favorite dinner. On the trail, all of that is gone at once. That's why even seasoned travelers, like you and me, can be caught off guard.

A few things make it extra intense in Nepal:

• You're exhausted. Long days, steep climbs and bad sleep at altitude make every emotion bigger. Tired feelings are loud feelings.
• You're cold. Fatigue makes you feel cold and ill heated teahouse rooms with no privacy at all don't exactly feel like home.
• Everything is unfamiliar. The food, the toilets, the language, the rhythm of the day. Trekking also means there's nothing to hold on to.
• Connection is patchy. Wi-Fi and phone signal come and go. Often the connection was too weak to FaceTime, and higher up you might be offline for a day or more.
• There's zero privacy. You spend all day with your guide, porters and travel companion(s), and there's hardly a place or moment to just be on your own.
• You have endless time to think. Hours of walking, one step at a time, leave a lot of room for thoughts about home.

Put all that together, and even the most adventurous woman can find herself in tears over a cup of ginger tea thinking about her doggie at home.

It doesn't always look like missing home. Sometimes it shows up as:

• Suddenly not caring about the view anymore (you stop taking selfies)
• Irritation at small things, your travel buddy or trekking peers included
• Checking your phone for signal again and again
• Counting the days until you're back
• A heavy, flat feeling in the evening, when the day's walking is done
• Wondering why on earth you signed up for this

Can you imagine? That's homesickness. And it's usually at its worst in the late afternoon and evening, when the adrenaline of the day is gone and the cold and the quiet set in.

1. Name it

Just saying "I'm homesick" out loud, or in your head, takes some of the power out of it. You're not failing. You're having a feeling. Feelings come and go, especially up there.

2. Check your basics first

Before you decide your whole trip is a mistake, ask yourself: am I hungry? Cold? Tired? Dehydrated? More often than not, homesickness gets a lot smaller after a hot meal, a warm layer and a good night's sleep. Deal with your body first, then your mind.

3. Remember it comes in waves

Homesickness rarely lasts the whole trek. It comes, it peaks and it passes, often within hours. Tomorrow morning, with the sun on the mountains, the world usually looks very different. Tell yourself: this is a wave, not the whole ocean.

4. Plan your contact with home

Instead of checking for signal every hour, agree on a rhythm before you leave, for example a short message every evening when there's Wi-Fi. Let your loved ones know you might be offline for a day or two, and that a video call might not always work. That way, silence doesn't turn into worry on either side.

5. Bring a little bit of home

Small things can make a big difference. I had a photo of my family as my phone's screensaver, so every time I checked for signal, there they were. Your favorite tea bags, a scarf that smells like home, or a playlist or audiobook downloaded before you leave can do the same. Small reminders that home is still there, waiting for you.

6. Create a small evening ritual

Evenings are the hardest. A little routine helps: write in your journal, read a few pages, listen to a meditation, or write down three things that made you smile that day. It gives your mind something familiar to hold on to.

And if, like me, you wish your loved ones could see what you're seeing: write it down for them. Describe the view, the people, the moment. You can share it when you're back, and in the meantime it feels a little like they're with you.

7. Talk about it

With your travel companion, your guide, or other trekkers in the teahouse dining room. You'll be surprised how many people feel the same. And guides have seen it all before. A good guide knows how to lift your spirits, even if it's just with a joke or an extra cup of tea.

8. Shift your focus to the next small goal

On a hard day, don't think about the whole trek. Think about the next viewpoint, the next tea stop, the next teahouse. Small goals feel doable. The whole mountain doesn't.

9. Remember why you came

Somewhere in your bag or your phone, keep a note of why you wanted to do this trek in the first place. Was it a dream you'd had for years? Proving to yourself that you still can? Read it when the magic wears off. It's amazing how quickly that brings you back.

For most trekkers, homesickness comes and goes. But sometimes it sticks, and the trek becomes something to get through rather than enjoy. If that happens, it's okay. Talk to your guide about your options: a shorter route, an extra rest day, or even turning back. Ending a trek early isn't failing. Knowing your limits is part of being a good trekker.

And if you've had a hard time on the trail, or feel lost after coming home, you're not alone in that either.

What I learned from being homesick in the Himalayas

Being homesick surprised me. I'd always thought of myself as someone who travels easily. But Nepal asked more of me, physically and emotionally, than any trip before.

Looking back, I don't see my homesickness as purely a beginner's thing. Standing in front of those mountains, out of breath and far from home, I realized how much I love the people waiting for me. My daughter, my family, even my little dog. That's not a bad thing to be reminded of.

Homesickness isn't a sign that you don't belong on the trail. It's a sign of how much you love what you left behind. And coming home with that OMG, I freaking did it! feeling is all the sweeter for it.

Is it normal to feel homesick on a trek in Nepal?

Absolutely. Long days, cold nights, unfamiliar food, patchy connection and little privacy make homesickness common, even for experienced travelers who normally never get homesick. It usually comes in waves and passes within hours or days.

Why do I feel homesick when I'm only away for a relatively short time?
On a trek, it's not about how long you're away. Physical exhaustion, cold, bad sleep, a completely unfamiliar environment and hours of time to think can make you miss home much sooner than on a normal holiday.

How can I stay in touch with home while trekking in Nepal?
Many teahouses offer Wi-Fi, often for a small fee, but the connection is often too weak for video calls and may be unavailable higher up. Agree on a check-in rhythm with your family before you leave, and let them know you may be offline for a day or two. Also, buy a local sim card, that'll work for quick whatsapp messages.

Can homesickness be confused with altitude sickness?
Low mood and irritability can come from exhaustion or altitude as well. If you also have a headache, nausea, dizziness or unusual tiredness, tell your guide straight away, as these can be early signs of altitude sickness.

What should I do if homesickness ruins my trek?
Talk to your guide about your options, such as an extra rest day, a shorter route or turning back. Ending early isn't failing. Your wellbeing matters more than finishing.

How can I prepare for homesickness before my trek?
Plan how and when you'll contact home, bring a few small comforts from home, like a family photo as your phone's screensaver, download music or audiobooks, your favorite scent and write down why this trek matters to you. Knowing homesickness might come also makes it easier to handle when it does.

Ready to prepare for the mental side too?

Your legs and lungs will carry you up the mountain, but your mind decides how you'll experience it. See more tips on how to prep mentally: Preparing for your first trek in Nepal.

Have you ever been homesick on a trip? Tell me in the comments. You're definitely not the only one!

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