No mountain is too high for the 19 NUS students who successfully completed the Buran Ghati trek and scaled the 4,572-metre summit.
Six days of trekking. Two months of preparation.
That was what two NUS Nursing Year 3 students from NUS Mountaineering—Lim Zhiming and Ashley Yong—set themselves up for when the pair of avid mountaineers led the team of 19 NUS students on a seven-day expedition through the Buran Ghati trek. Together, they conquered one of the highest altitudes attempted by NUS student groups in 2023.
Ten NUS Medicine and NUS Nursing students share their first-hand experience—from signing up to preparing and going on the trek.
“The Buran Ghati trek came at a time when I wanted a fresh challenge and to reconnect with nature—so it was perfect. It felt surreal to be disconnected from technology and the outside world, and surrounded by beautiful mountains, rivers, valleys and meadows for a week. It was amazing how quickly everyone connected despite barely knowing one another. Physically, I struggled a little with the heavy backpacks, and the long and often steep treks. It was extremely satisfying to eventually make it to the summit despite the hardships experienced.”
– Samrita Das, NUS Nursing, Year 2
“I never expected that my friends and I would actually sign up and successfully complete the trek to the summit. ‘Once in a lifetime’ and ‘unforgettable’ hardly do justice to this incredible experience. It provided me with an opportunity to distance myself from the chaos of city life—and reflect and focus on my well-being. I feel immensely grateful to have embarked on this journey, and formed deep and meaningful friendships with amazing people I met during the trek.”
-Bernice Lian, NUS Medicine, Year 2
“I signed up for the Buran Ghati trek as I felt it was a rare opportunity to challenge myself physically and mentally. But what I received from this trek definitely exceeded my expectations. The ethereal landscapes, deep friendships, self-discovery as well as interactions with the mountain animals were just a few of the many things that propelled me forward in this hike. I felt fully immersed in the grandeurs of nature, interacting with the climate, various landforms and diverse ecology of the Himalayas.”
-Lim Kai Jun, NUS Medicine, Year 2
“When I saw the opportunity to participate in the Buran Ghati trek, I immediately signed up. The views of the trek were breathtaking—from the endless chain of snow-capped mountain ranges to the meadows full of flowers. The vast silence of raw wilderness gave me a place to reflect and reconnect with myself. This trek experience also taught me to be grateful for the small things in life, such as the pleasure of sipping hot masala chai every morning! Everyone had so much fun together and was so supportive. I am grateful for the friendships and memories forged.”
-Lim Xiang Yun, NUS Nursing, Year 3
“Thinking back, this is not my first encounter on the grand Indian Himalayas. But quoting an inspirational teacher I know, ‘No experience is ever similar even with the same trip’. Indeed—leading this trek, I had the first-hand opportunity to observe the interaction among some of my future colleagues from NUS Nursing. Additionally, we shared our passion for Nursing with NUS Medicine students while gaining insightful perspectives from them! I am thankful for the new friendships forged during this journey!”
-Lim Zhiming, NUS Nursing, Year 3
“There were moments during the trek when I felt apprehensive—about the unfamiliar food and climate, hours of climbing, heavy backpacks, etc. Daunting and physically impossible as it seemed, we did it! What’s more, from the breathtaking views of mountains and meadows to the cutest mountain animals—everything was so refreshing and made the challenges so worth it. The Buran Ghati trek truly reignited my love for nature and served as a comforting reminder that many things often seem impossible until they’re done.”
-Vivienne Loh, NUS Medicine, Year 2
“I am thankful for this hiking experience up the Himalayas. It opened up a whole new perspective of mountaineering for me. I never knew one could be so tired yet find so much fulfilment at the same time. Breathtaking views were a given—and that included sights of slopes and elevation too. It was my first time hiking—but I had a great experience backpacking, rappelling and crossing the icy river!”
-Sim Shu Hui , NUS Nursing, Year 2
“The days leading up to our Buran Ghati trek were slightly nerve-wrecking—but nothing beats the challenging summit day. Ultimately, it was the beautiful views of nature and the supportive group of strangers-turned-friends that spurred me to conquer the trek. What a blessing to be on the trek. I have forged many strong friendships—with my fondest memory being the one where we held one another’s hands and crossed three icy rivers barefooted. I hope to be back in the mountains again!”
-Jacqueline Tan, NUS Medicine, Year 2
“Climbing the Indian Himalayas was one of the best graduation trips one can ask for! I enjoyed interacting with my NUS Nursing juniors and peers from NUS Medicine during the trip. Never have I felt such a sense of accomplishment as we climbed higher and higher towards the summit. The trek leader taught us many useful skills, including the commando roll (for compacting clothes), backpacking, predicting weather through reading cloud shapes, rappelling equipment use, and crossing rivers without bridges, among other tips.”
-Tang Lian Kwang, NUS Nursing, Year 4
“Trekking in the Himalayas has always been my dream—so I am grateful to finally have this incredible opportunity. Immersing myself in nature and disconnecting from the bustle of daily life offered fresh perspectives and a profound appreciation for abundance in my life. The memories and lasting bonds formed as we hiked through breathtaking landscapes made the experience even more meaningful! Taking time to recharge amid the stressors of life and learning is crucial—and I believe trekking provides a great way to destress and reconnect with oneself. I look forward to going on more treks with my peers in the future!”
-Ashley Yong, NUS Nursing, Year 3
Did you know?
This is the second year NUS Mountaineering held the introductory trekking programme. The first Bodpathri trek in 2022 was also led by NUS Nursing students.
