Day 3 starts really early. At 4:30, Rawal meets us at the lobby of the inn, and a few minutes later, we begin a 45-minute uphill climb to the Poon Hill west of Ghorepani. The Poon Hill is a hill station that provides a panoramic view of the Annapurna Massif. Being at the lower part of the Annapurna Range, it’s a popular trek for those who want to get a good glimpse of the Himalayas without the time for more dedicated treks or the stamina to climb higher altitudes.

Nonetheless, it’s a divine experience seeing the sun rise from the eastern part of the mountain range. We take a few pictures, have a cup of hot tea from the store near the entrance, and just take in the beauty of the surroundings.

An hour later, we climb down to our inn and have breakfast before going on our trek. This time, we get to another steep ascent going to the Deurali Pass, a hill station east of Ghorepani. The trek also involves walking a trail right beside a really steep cliff before entering a path through the forest, where patches of snow remain as winter starts to give way to spring.

We reach the town of Deurali shortly after, where we recharge with some drinks. I have a cup of hot mint tea, which is starting to become my favorite, as it really feels good on my stomach. We then resume our trek to another Birethanti town, where a restaurant sits in a fine place in a valley.

The rest of the trek involves going down steep steps along waterfalls and rivers, before the path clears to a magnificent view of the mountains. Then, the trail leads to another series of steep steps before ascending again to another hill towards Tadapani, our next stop.

Our inn is located at the edge of a hill overlooking a cluster of rhododendron trees and the Annapurna Massif in the distance. After dinner, we rest our weary legs, with the pressure of the descents starting to make my calves really sore.