I planned a quick hike to Ghorepani-Poonhill near the end of March 2024, and I chose to trek solo this time since there was too much noise around me and I was psychologically tired. By accepting them for who they are instead of focusing on the negativity they spew, I felt more in control of my thoughts.
On the other hand, I wasn’t sure if this holiday would be as effective as I had hoped because it had been raining nonstop for the previous five days.
Kathmandu – Pokhara
The journey began with an exhausting eleven-hour bus ride to Pokhara. The trip took longer than expected because of the deteriorated state of the road caused by ongoing road construction and persistent rain. After arriving in Pokhara, I checked into the accommodation I had booked and then went to bed because I had a busy day ahead of me.
Pokhara – Ulleri – Ghorepani
The following day, I left for Ulleri, the entrance to Ghorepani, at a bus stop in Baglung. For Nepali citizens, the ticket cost Rs. 600; for foreigners, it cost Rs. 700. Our bus travel took us nearly four and a half hours to arrive in Ulleri. One can choose to hike from Nayapol to reach Ulleri and plan their itinerary accordingly. The bus ride was pretty smooth except the last hour the road was quite bumpy.
After arriving in Ulleri at 1:00 pm, We set off on our hike. I spent several hours hiking uphill after passing through the charming settlement of Ulleri. The most stunning part of the route was the magnificent forest and the carpet of vibrant rhododendron. On my first day, I mostly walked silently past other hikers because we were all strangers. After a few hours of hiking, I began to see some recognizable faces and became friend to Emm from China who was hiking for the first time to Nepal.
The friendly hotel owner approached me and inquired about my travel experiences. Emm and I were chatting generally about work and the cultural differences between China and Nepal while we sat by the fire. Four other French guests were enjoying themselves by the fire playing cards in that hotel, in addition to us.
We left for the Poonhill at 4:45 a.m. the following day in order to see the dawn. After hiking for over 45 minutes, we arrived at Poonhill, where we could see everyone walking by headlight. We were required to obtain the ticket at the entry gate. Domestic tourists must pay Rs. 50, while foreigners must pay Rs. 100. The mountains gleamed like crystals as we witnessed the breathtaking sunrise at 6:15 a.m.
Ghorepani – Poonhill – Tadapani
We left for Ghorepani at 7:30, carrying with us the memories and a captivating view of the mountains and sunlight. We were all extremely exhausted by the time we arrived to Tadapani, which was around 3:00 pm, even though our original goal was to reach Ghandruk that same day. Consequently, we had chosen to stay at Tadapani, where we could enjoy a broad view of the surrounding mountains and a charming rhododendron-covered village. I am reminded of how fortunate I am to be able to see the breathtaking beauty of nature as I reflect on life and such moments.
Tadapani – Ghandruk – Pokhara
The next morning, we saw a stunning sunrise from Tadapani. We had a brief breakfast before starting the three-hour journey to Ghandruk. The way to Ghandruk was downhill most of the time; we arrived in Ghandruk at 9:30 am and concluded in Baglung Bus Park at 1 pm.
Pokhara – Kathmandu
As we return, we reminisce about the amazing adventures of the previous few days and are overcome with laughter and a sense of accomplishments.
Also read: A Guide to Planning your Perfect Adventure