Nothing beats a warm cup of tea as you wait for the sun to bring light to the world. A country blessed with serene mountains and topography, Nepal truly at times resonates with the thoughts of Shangri-La. Amidst the numerous destinations to visit and experience in Nepal, the sites mentioned below share in common a vantage to experience the beauty of a sunrise and sunset.
Thus, if you plan on visiting these destinations shortly, make sure to have your itinerary include this magical experience.
4. Poon Hill
5. Kala Patthar
Required for Trek
Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) Card
SAARC
NRS. 300/USD 3 (Per Individual in group trekkers)
NRS. 600/USD 6 ( Free Individual Trekkers)
Foreigners
NRS. 1000/ USD 10 (Per Individual in group trekkers)
NRS. 2000/ USD 20 ( Free Individual Trekkers)
Obtain TIMs card from:
Tourist Service Centre
Nepal Tourism Board Office, Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu
Poon Hill
Attraction: Poon Hill View Tower, Cultural Experience, Tea House Trekking
Altitude: 3210 m
Accessibility:
Closest Airport: Pokhara Airport (PKR)
Distance From Kathmandu: 177 KM
Distance from Ghorepani: 13.4 KM
ACAP Trekking Permit:
SAARC
NRS. 200/ USD 2
Foreigners
NRS. 3000/ USD 30
Tourist Service Centre
Nepal Tourism Board Office, Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu
Nepal Tourism Board Office, Damside, Pokhara
A jewel of the Annapurna Circuit Trek the summit of Poon Hill at the altitude of 3210 m is a climb one has to make before the crack of dawn if one wishes to witness the magnificent sunrise. One can plan an itinerary to Poon Hill from a 4-day trek to 7 or complete the entire Annapurna Circuit Trek.
A 4-day itinerary features a trek that begins from Nayapul to Ulleri, Ghorepani, Poon Hill and treks to Ghandruk Village. This route can be taken from the opposite direction, where one can begin their trek from Ghandruk. Many choose to make this trek from the direction of Ghandruk, as it features fewer uphill steps. The infamous steps of Ulleri fall on the downward direction if this trek is made from Ghandruk.
The peaks of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Machapuchare, Annapurna II, Annapurna III, Gangapurna, Tukuche Peak, Dhampus Peak, Hiunchuli, Gurja Himal, Nilgiri Himal are visible from the viewpoint of Poon Hill. The most recommended season to make this trip is post-monsoon beginning September to May.
Kala Patthar
Attraction: Kala Patthar Sunrise and Sunset View, Everest Base Camp Trek, Gokyo Ri Complex, Gorakshep, Namche Bazar
Altitude: 5545 m
Accessibility:
Closest Airport: Lukla Airport (LUA)
Distance From Kathmandu: 150 KM
Distance from Namche Bazar: 22.1 KM
Sagarmatha National Park/ Everest Base Camp Permit Cost
SAARC
NRS. 1500/ USD 15
Foreigners
NRS. 3000/ USD 30
Obtain a permit from:
Tourist Service Centre
Nepal Tourism Board Office, Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu
The entry point of Sagarmatha National Park
Monzo, Solukhumbhu
Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entrance Permit
(Charge levied not only to trekkers but also to the tourists who tour the region via helicopter) NRS. 2000/ USD 20
Obtain a permit from:
The entry point of Sagarmatha National Park, Monzo, Solukhumbhu
The viewpoint of Kala Patthar translates to ‘Black Rock’, is generally viewed as a short hike from Gorka Shep during ones trek to Everest Base Camp. The base of Kala Patthar stands at 5,644 m above sea level and is maximum altitude one can reach during one's trek to EBC. Kala Patthar is famous for two things; the spectacular view of Everest and the brave the infamous sunrise and sunset. To achieve viewing the sunrise and sunset from Kala Patthar, one must have a few days to spare at Gorak Shep. The viewpoint of Kala Patthar is a 2-3 hour hike from Gorak Shep and one can manage to view the sunrise and sunset if s/he plans his/her hours accordingly.
A few tips for those who wish to make the sunrise trip to Kala Patthar
1. Recommended during the months of September- November.
2. Keep an eye on the temperature. Make sure to look out for sudden temperature drops before deciding to make this trip and be prepared with extra layers just in case.
3. Make sure your devices are charged to the max. The cold drains the batteries of your devices fast, thus make sure to either carry spare batteries for your DSLR.
4. Have a good nights sleep and a hearty meal.
5. Sunrise in the region generally is between 5:00- 6:00 AM. If one is to make it on time, they must leave between 3-3:30 AM as the trek averages out 2-3 hours.
6. Don’t get up and go! Many trekkers make the mistake to sleep a bit late, look at the clock and make a run for it. This is normally never recommended, as your body hasn’t gotten the time to normalize and completely wake up. Thus, no matter how late you are; its recommended to some time, normalize breathing, stretch and drink a little amount of water before heading out.
7. Wear fresh and dry pair of socks.
8. Carry a freshly boiled bottle of water.
9. Only carry the essentials and make sure to not forget energy bars.
