The trail is narrow, just wide enough for one person, with thick green stalks of bamboo growing along the edges. It creeps along the hillside, following the windings of the river some twenty meters below. The path is shaded, with patches of light where the sun reaches in through the sparse forest. A soft breeze rustles the leaves and keeps away the worst of the fierce mid day heat.

In places the trail becomes steeper and we have to hold on to the guide ropes hanging along the sides, or grab on to stalks of bamboo that have turned brown from hundreds of hikers’ hands, stepping gingerly over rough ground. As the trail flattens out we can relax once more; let the sound of rushing water rishing up from below slowly fill our ears and just enjoy the stroll.