Flashback to Poon Hill: A Memorable Journey Through the Annapurna Region
Published on HivePostify by @bibekpokharel37 · Wed Aug 19 2026
Greetings, Hive Worldmappers! 👋 While going through my camera roll recently, I came across these photos from a trip we took almost nine months ago. Looking at them brought back so many memories-the mountain trails, cold mornings, endless laughter with friends, beautiful Himalayan views, and of course, the unforgettable experience of reaching Poon Hill. So, I thought this would be the perfect time to take a little trip down memory lane and share our journey with the Hive Worldmapping community. Our destination was Poon Hill, one of the most popular viewpoints in the Annapurna region of Nepal, situated at an elevation of around 3,210 meters. The classic route passes through Ulleri, Ghorepani, Poon Hill, Tadapani and Ghandruk. 🚙 Day 1: Nayapul to Ulleri, Then Ghorepani
Our journey started from Nayapul. Instead of walking the entire route from Nayapul, we travelled by vehicle up to Ulleri. This saved us quite a bit of time and energy because the traditional route involves a considerable climb through the lower villages and the famous stone steps around Ulleri. From Ulleri, our trekking adventure officially began. The trail from Ulleri toward Ghorepani took us through beautiful mountain landscapes and dense forests. We stopped at Banthanti for lunch, where a simple meal tasted especially good after walking through the mountain trails. After continuing our journey, we eventually reached Ghorepani, where we stayed for the night. By then, we were already tired, but the excitement of visiting Poon Hill the following morning kept us going.
🌄 Day 2: 4 AM Wake-Up Call - Poon Hill The alarm went off at around 4:00 in the morning.
And yes…
Don't forget the light! 🔦😂
We got ready in the darkness and started walking toward Poon Hill.
The trail was cold, dark and quiet. Everyone was still half asleep, but there was something exciting about walking through the darkness knowing that a spectacular Himalayan viewpoint was waiting for us. After the early morning climb, we finally reached Poon Hill Viewpoint, at approximately 3,210 meters above sea level. The viewpoint is famous for its panoramic views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. 📸 Time for a Photoshoot! Of course, reaching Poon Hill meant one thing was absolutely necessary: Photoshoot! 😂📸 We took plenty of photographs around the viewpoint, enjoying the atmosphere and the incredible Himalayan landscape. We also enjoyed a warm cup of tea at the viewpoint. There is something special about drinking hot tea in the freezing mountain air while surrounded by enormous Himalayan peaks.
🌥️ Not the Perfect Sunrise… But Still Amazing
Unfortunately, the weather wasn't completely on our side that morning. The clouds and weather conditions meant that we couldn't properly experience the famous Poon Hill sunrise we had hoped for. But honestly, we were not disappointed. Even without the perfect sunrise, the views around us were amazing. 😍 The mountains, valleys, clouds and surrounding landscapes were spectacular. Poon Hill is known for its sunrise views over the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, but sometimes the mountains decide what you get to see. And that unpredictability is also part of travelling in the Himalayas. Sometimes you don't get the picture-perfect sunrise. Instead, you get a different kind of memory. And ours was still unforgettable. 🍛 Back to Ghorepani for Breakfast After spending some time at Poon Hill, taking photographs and enjoying the scenery, we headed back toward Ghorepani. Once we reached Ghorepani, we had our meal and took some time to rest. But our journey wasn't over yet. Our original target for the day was Ghandruk. And we still had a long way to go. 🥾 Ghorepani to Tadapani: When the Group Split From Ghorepani, we continued toward Tadapani, following the beautiful trail through the Himalayan forests. The route from Ghorepani toward Tadapani is a well-known section of the Poon Hill–Ghandruk circuit, passing through forested landscapes and mountain terrain. There were six of us in total. Unfortunately, one of our friends started having a problem with his leg during the journey. Because of that, four of us ended up falling behind, while the other two continued ahead and eventually reached Ghandruk. For us, reaching Ghandruk that day was no longer realistic. So we decided to stay at Tadapani. Sometimes trekking isn't about completing the planned itinerary exactly as written. Sometimes you have to adjust the plan according to the people you're travelling with. And that became one of the memorable parts of our trip.
🐎 Helping Our Friends Reach Ghandruk Since our friends were already ahead and the journey was becoming difficult, we arranged horses for our friends to help them continue toward Ghandruk. The mountain trails can be challenging, especially when someone is dealing with a leg problem, so having that option was a huge relief. Meanwhile, the four of us stayed behind at Tadapani. That night gave us another opportunity to relax, enjoy the mountain atmosphere and talk about everything that had happened during the trek.
🏔️ Ghandruk: Gurung Culture & Photos Eventually, we made our way to Ghandruk, one of the most famous Gurung villages in the Annapurna region. Ghandruk is well known for its traditional Gurung culture, stone houses, mountain scenery and cultural experiences. And there was no way we were leaving without trying the traditional Gurung dress! We dressed up in traditional Gurung clothing and had another photoshoot.
📸 Mountain trekking + traditional Gurung dress = another collection of memories! After all the walking, tiredness, weather changes and unexpected changes to our plans, standing there in Ghandruk and taking those photographs felt incredibly satisfying. 🌅 From the Mountains Back to Pokhara After completing our trek, we headed back toward Pokhara. After several days of walking through mountain trails, forests and villages, Pokhara felt completely different. We spent the next day in Pokhara, relaxing and enjoying the city before finally heading back home. And just like that, our Himalayan adventure came to an end. 🪔 From the Himalayas to Tihar One of the nicest parts of this trip was what happened after we returned home. We reached home in time to celebrate Tihar. From the cold mountain trails of Poon Hill and Tadapani to the lights, colours and celebrations of Tihar at home—it was quite a contrast! Looking back at these photographs nine months later, I realize how quickly time passes. The journey may have lasted only a few days, but the memories of those days—with six friends, unexpected challenges, beautiful mountains, early-morning walks, hot tea, countless photographs and a little bit of adventure-have stayed with me.
Tags: #hive-163772#worldmapping#hivetravel#nepal#poonhill#annapurna#ghandruk#trekking