Hari Budha Magar, a Gurkha hailing from Nepal and a former British Army serviceman of 15 years, faced the loss of both legs in a tragic IED explosion during his deployment in Afghanistan back in 2010.
Despite the adversity he encountered, Hari’s primary goal has been to serve as an inspiration to others, emphasizing the limitless possibilities one can achieve regardless of life’s challenges. Demonstrating his resilience, Hari, now 46, made history as the first above-the-knee amputee to conquer Mount Everest. He is now on the verge of achieving another remarkable feat by aiming to be the first individual with his condition to summit the highest peaks on all seven continents by January 2026.
Receiving a Special Recognition Award at the prestigious Daily Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards brought immense joy to Hari. “It was a tremendous honor,” he expressed. “My aspiration was simply to scale mountains and raise awareness about disabilities.”
Despite his global mountain expeditions, Hari had never embarked on a cruise voyage until recently. P&O Cruises, now the esteemed partner of the awards, pleasantly surprised all the awardees with a cruise holiday, including Hari.
The cruise excursion to the Norwegian Fjords in the spring became a memorable family adventure for Hari, his wife, and their three children aged 12 to 29. Exploring the stunning fjords and landscapes of Norway aboard the Iona cruise ship allowed them to partake in new experiences together.
Reflecting on the cruise holiday, Hari shared, “We anticipated spending less time on land during a cruise, but we had ample opportunities to explore ashore, such as taking cable cars up mountains and immersing ourselves in the breathtaking fjords.” One of the highlights was riding the Loen Skylift to Mount Hoven, offering panoramic views of Nordfjord and a thrilling glass-floored lookout.
Hari particularly cherished a family dinner celebration onboard Iona, where P&O Cruises arranged a lavish six-course meal at Epicurean, complete with a special birthday cake for his daughter. Additionally, he took the opportunity to inspire fellow passengers with his remarkable journey by sharing his story during a talk onboard.
Enthralled by his sea voyage experience, Hari expressed his desire to plan future cruise holidays, highlighting the exceptional accessibility and welcoming environment aboard the ship. Encouraging others with physical challenges to embark on a cruise, Hari emphasized the importance of seeking assistance and staying positive, as he found the cruise experience to be accommodating and enriching for all.