KATHMANDU: A 71-year-old blind Israeli woman has completed the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trek, describing the experience as a form of therapy that allowed her to experience Nepal’s mountains through sound, touch and smell.

Margalit Shachar, a psychological therapist, shared her experience at a talk session organised at the Nepal Tourism Board on Wednesday. She said the sound of rivers, smell of bamboo, touch of wind and other elements of nature made the trek a deeply positive experience.

Shachar, who is completely blind, celebrated her 70th birthday last year by completing the Annapurna Circuit. She returned to Nepal this year for the ABC trek, saying she found some sections challenging but continued slowly, one step at a time.

“Because I cannot see the trail ahead, I do not anticipate how difficult the road might be,” she said, adding that she did not find the trek as difficult as she had expected.

She praised the support and hospitality of Nepali people during the trek and said she was already planning to return next year to celebrate her daughter's 50th birthday and trek in the Langtang region.

Chargé d’affaires of the Israeli Embassy in Nepal Janan Mishleb-Bebar said Shachar’s experience showed that nature could be experienced beyond sight and could encourage more visually impaired people to explore adventure destinations with appropriate support.

Khom Raj Sharma, inclusive adviser at the Nepal Association of the Blind, said persons with visual impairment required additional care and support but disability should not be viewed as a barrier to adventure activities.

Trekking guide Shiva Prasad Adhikari, who has worked in the sector since 2003, said trekking with visually impaired travellers could be managed with proper training, mutual understanding and support. He also called for greater government attention to accessible tourism infrastructure and support systems for persons with disabilities.