NILIMA JAHAN

One is five years old, the other is seven. At an age where most milestones are measured in classrooms, Abyaz Adrito Bhuyan and Anabia Audree Hossain were measuring theirs in Himalayan altitudes.

​On April 4, 2026, the young siblings stood at the Annapurna Base Camp, perched 4,130 metres above sea level.

The moment marked the culmination of a demanding nine-day trek, an achievement made notable by the fact that it was completed entirely on foot.

Accompanied by their parents, Shaila Amin Bhuyan and Fahad Hossain, the siblings had traversed one of the world’s most iconic and physically challenging high-altitude treks.

For the family, originally from Bangladesh and now based in Portland, Oregon, the journey was about far more than reaching a destination. It was, as Shaila described, “coming full circle.”

“Growing up in Bangladesh, the Himalayas always felt both close and distant,” she said.

“They were present in our stories, geography, and imagination, yet never truly within reach.

“We wanted our kids to grow up knowing where they come from while feeling confident about where they can go.”

From the outset, the family set one simple rule: the children would walk every step themselves.

Over nine days, the young trekkers maintained a steady rhythm, hiking between four and seven hours each day.

By the third day, their determination had already turned heads, earning them something of a “celebrity” status among fellow trekkers and local guides.

This achievement, however, was no accident. While Anabia and Abyaz viewed the journey as ‘a big mountain walk with family,’ their parents had overseen two years of gradual preparation.

The siblings had previously completed a two-day backpacking trip in Norway and tackled multiple day hikes in the Italian Dolomites.

To prepare for the thin Himalayan air, their parents introduced them to a 13,000-foot altitude simulation environment ahead of the expedition.

The most difficult moment came just one kilometre before reaching base camp. After setting out hours before sunrise in sub-zero temperatures, both children hit a wall.

“They were exhausted, cold, and emotional,” Shaila recalled. “But after a short break, with encouragement and their own determination, they pushed through that final stretch.”

At the summit, the rewards were both simple and profound.

“My favourite part was seeing the big snowy mountains,” said Anabia, 7. “I felt super proud of myself when people said ‘good job’ and gave me high-fives.”

Abyaz, 5, had his own takeaway, delivered with a hint of sibling rivalry: “I liked that I was faster than my sister.”

To ensure safer acclimatisation, the family chose a longer route via Poon Hill, beginning their journey from Ulleri on 27 March and passing through Ghorepani, Tadapani, and Machapuchare Base Camp before reaching their final destination.

Logistics were handled by the Nepal Hiking Team, while the parents remained closely attentive to hydration, rest, and overall health throughout the climb.

Reflecting on the journey during their return to Kathmandu, Shaila said the experience reinforced a powerful lesson.

“Children are capable of far more than we often assume when given the right support and environment,” she said. “As a family, we didn’t just complete a trek, we grew stronger together with every step.”