Toubkal Trekking

4 Days Trekking in Ghorepani Poonhill Ghandruk from Pokhara

When someone says “adventure,” most people think of bungee jumping or maybe running from a suspiciously angry goose. But for those who like their excitement with a side of jaw-dropping beauty, four days trekking through Ghorepani, Poonhill, and Ghandruk in the Pokhara region is the real jackpot.

Day 1: The Enthusiasm Phase (Also Known as “I Can Totally Do This”)

Armed with trekking poles, oversized backpacks, and enough snacks to feed a small army, the group set off from Nayapul with high spirits and questionable knee strength.

The trail at first was a friendly handshake — wide paths, chirping birds, smiling locals. “Look how beautiful everything is!” someone shouted way too early. Hours later, after climbing what felt like 17,000 steps to Ulleri, the honeymoon phase ended. Sweat-drenched and gasping, they still somehow found the energy to marvel at the terraced rice fields and distant peaks — though one person did suggest installing escalators.

Day 2: The Foggy Fairy Tale at Poonhill

Waking up at a time that can only be described as “ungodly,” the crew stumbled through the dark with headlamps that mostly lit up each other’s boots. The mission? Catch the sunrise at Poonhill, a viewpoint so famous it’s practically an Instagram influencer.

Standing at 3,210 meters, Poonhill didn’t disappoint. As the sun yawned over the Himalayas, the sky exploded in oranges and pinks, the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges posing dramatically like supermodels at golden hour. Even the person who had spent the entire hike questioning their life choices agreed: it was 100% worth it.

Coffee vendors appeared as if by magic, offering steaming cups of caffeine salvation. One trekker was overheard telling their cup, “I love you,” which frankly seemed reasonable.

Day 3: Descending into Ghandruk (And Into Leg Day Pain)

After breakfast and enough masala tea to float a canoe, the descent began. Down, down, down they went toward the beautiful Gurung village of Ghandruk — and if you think going downhill is easier, your knees would like a word.

Still, every aching step was rewarded with views of wild rhododendron forests and distant snow-capped peaks playing hide-and-seek with the clouds. Children waved from rooftops, donkeys trotted by with supplies, and trekkers exchanged grimaces that somehow meant “this hurts but it’s amazing.”

By the time Ghandruk’s stone paths came into view, every muscle begged for mercy — but the cozy guesthouses, warm showers, and momos (Nepali dumplings sent from the heavens) made it all okay.

Day 4: The Bittersweet Goodbye (And the Silent Pledge to Return)

The final day was more of a victory lap — a gentle walk through quaint villages and endless green hills back toward Pokhara. Conversations turned nostalgic way too soon: “Remember when we thought Ulleri was hard?” they’d laugh, pretending their legs weren’t still screaming.

By the time they reached the starting point again, the trekkers had transformed. Sure, they were still sore, sunburnt, and slightly traumatized by uphill staircases — but they also carried a strange, wonderful kind of joy. A joy that said, “Maybe… just maybe… we’ll do it again.”

(After a very long nap, of course.)