Ever seen a sunrise so grand it makes you forget the cold, the climb, and even your aching legs? Well, that is the Poon Hill for you, an amphitheater where the Himalayas perform their daily light show.
You will see at the heart of the Poon Hill Valley, this spectacle has become a rite of passage for trekkers in Nepal. With snow-capped mountains casting pink and golden glow and sunbeams sliding in between rugged mountains, it is not very much like observing the sun coming up but more like a world coming to life.
In this article, we will guide you step-by-step in what you have to know before you go hunting that memorable sunrise.
How to Reach Poon Hill from Pokhara
When you begin Poon hill circuit trek, it is a fresh change. Most journeys kick off in Pokhara, the laid-back lakeside city known as Nepal’s adventure capital.
After that, it is a rough, picturesque hilltop ride to Nayapul, the trailhead. The trekkers normally go through Tikhedhunga and Ghorepani before a final climb.
It is two to four days of trekking depending on your speed. So, be prepared for steep steps made of rocks and trails in the forest which requires you to keep asking yourself whether the view is worth the sweat- it is.
What Time to Start the Trek for Sunrise
The sunrise doesn’t wait for anyone, so timing is everything.
Most trekkers roll out of bed around 4:30 a.m. in Ghorepani. I know it’s early, and yes, the chill will bite you but trust me it’s worth it. But believe me, put on several clothes, take a headlamp and with the snaking line of trekkers moving towards the summit, follow them. It is a 45 minutes – 1-hour climb.
And at 5.15 or thereabouts you will want to be in position at the view point. The beginning of the dawn generally starts at 5:30-5:45 am and the slow process of converting the night to dawn is as tantalizing as the definite illumination in your heart.
Mountain Ranges Visible from Poon Hill
Here’s the real showstopper.
From Poon Hill’s 3,210-meter vantage point, you’ll feast your eyes on a panorama straight out of a mountaineer’s dream. Annapurna South, Annapurna I, Machhapuchhre, Dhaulagiri, and Hiunchuli, just to name a few.
On a clear day you can count up how many dozens of peaks, blushing pink and gold in the morning sun there are. If you’re raising your eyes, you feel yourself as the mountains waking, just with you, stretching long, one at a time, under a warmer spotlight.
Photography Tips for Capturing the Sunrise
Now, let’s talk about the tricky business of freezing this beauty in time.
First, make sure you are not lost behind the lens, that you are not behind the lens to the point that you miss the experience with your own eyes. Second, use the smartphone, keep it still, tripods are not only the professionals, and there is a difference even with a small travel-sized bag.
Play with silhouettes; the line of trekkers against a glowing sky makes for a killer shot. And remember, sometimes less is more. A single frame of one peak capturing the initial ray of sunrise is more effective than a broad and crowded shot.
Local Culture and Hospitality on the Trek
Of course, Poon Hill isn’t just about peaks, it’s about people too.
Gurung and Magar along the trail accept trekkers with the hospitality that no amount of money can ever buy. There are tea houses along the trail with steaming dal bhat and warm blankets if you are lucky enough to get a fire side story.
Sharing tea with locals or watching kids run down stone-paved village paths adds another layer of memory that rivals the mountains themselves. You will witness that the culture is truly the heart of this trek deserving of attention in its own right even beyond the splendid scenery destined to make it to Instagram.
The Bottom Line
When all’s said and done, Poon Hill isn’t just about ticking off a sunrise. It is about the excitement of an expedition, of joining the fellow trekkers, of the expectancy of the dawn and the sublimity of the Himalayas all put into one.
When you do decide to do this, try trekking with Mosaic Adventure, a local and trusted tour company who is indeed familiar with the trails backwards and forwards.
They will take care of the logistics and you are left to enjoy the magic carefree. They will respond to them at info@mosaicadventure.com or you can contact them directly via WhatsApp at https://wa.me/+9779823816556. Start planning today!
