We missed the sunrise and the crowds...

Early this morning, Lara and I left our cozy teahouse with Madan, our Nepali guide, for a steep uphill jaunt to Poon Hill. It is a daily ritual for some 300 trekking tourists to catch the sunrise on the Himalayas at this 3200m lookout. Unable to endure another 4am reveille, we opted for a 6:30 start. After a somewhat breathless climb, passing 300 tourists on their way down, we were rewarded with even more breathtaking views of the Annapurna valley. And, to our delight we were almost completely alone at the lookout - a feat not easily achieved on this popular trekking route.Read more