Nepal: Hiking the Rhododendron Forests

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Nepal: Dreaming awake - hiking the Rhododendron Forests near Annapurna
In march and april the rhododendron forests flower in the foothills of the Annapurna. Between 2300 and 3200 meters altitude you walk under blossoming trees large as full grown oaks, against the backdrop of snow-covered seven- and eight-thousanders. However hard you pinch yourself, you do not wake up from this dream. Photos by Paul Smit and Mick Palarczyk.

[NEPAL 27110] ‘Flowering rhododendron forest.’ In april the mountain ridge between Ghorepani and Deurali in the Annapurna Conservation Area is covered in flowering rhododendron forests. Photo Paul Smit.
[NEPAL 27112] ‘Flowering rhododendron forest.’ In april the mountain ridge between Ghorepani and Deurali in the Annapurna Conservation Area is covered in flowering rhododendron forests. Photo Paul Smit.
[NEPAL 27045] ’Dhalaugiri seen from Poon Hill’ On an early april morning the white peaks of the Dhalaugiri massif tower above rhododendron covered slopes of Poon Hill near the village of Ghorepani. Some of the rhododendrons are giants having height of over 25 meter. Photo Paul Smit.
[NEPAL 27040] ’Dhalaugiri seen from Poon Hill’ On an early april morning the white peaks of the Dhalaugiri massif tower above rhododendron covered slopes of Poon Hill near the village of Ghorepani. Some of the rhododendrons are giants having height of over 25 meter. Photo Paul Smit.
[NEPAL 27024] ’Dhalaugiri seen from Poon Hill’ On an early april morning the white peaks of the Dhalaugiri massif tower above rhododendron covered slopes of Poon Hill near the village of Ghorepani. Some of the rhododendrons are giants having height of over 25 meter. Photo Paul Smit.
[NEPAL 27035] ’Dhaulagiri seen from Poon Hill’ On an early april morning the white peaks of the Dhaulagiri massif tower above rhododendron covered slopes of Poon Hill near the village of Ghorepani. Some of the rhododendrons are giants having height of over 25 meter. Photo Paul Smit
[NEPAL 27018] ’Tirkhedhungga village.’ In the Annapurna Conservation Area a footbridge crosses the Tirkhedhungga Khola towards some teahouses of the Tirkhedhungga village. Such teahouses can be found anywhere along the trekking routes in the Annapurna region and provide food and simple accommodation for the trekkers. Photo Mick Palarczyk & Paul Smit.
[NEPAL 27086] ‘Path to enlightment.’ Like confetti the Rhododendron flower petals cover the mountain ridge path leading east from Ghorepani to Deurali in the Annapurna Conservation Area. Photo Paul Smit.
[NEPAL 27089] ’Rhododendron flowers on mountain path.’ Rhododendron flowers cover the mountain ridge path leading east from Ghorepani to Deurali in the Annapurna Conservation Area. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[NEPAL 27078] ’Ancient rhododendron tree near Ghorepani.’ An ancient rhododendron tree bends its thick moss covered stem over a mountain ridge path leading east from Ghorepani to Deurali in the Annapurna Conservation Area. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[NEPAL 27085] ’Ancient rhododendron tree near Ghorepani.’ An ancient rhododendron tree bends its thick moss covered stem over a mountain ridge path leading east from Ghorepani to Deurali in the Annapurna Conservation Area. Photo Mick Palarczyk & Paul Smit.
[NEPAL 27132] ’Colour explosion near Deurali.’ In april the mountain ridge between Ghorepani and Deurali in the Annapurna Conservation Area is covered in flowering rhododendron forests. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[NEPAL 27047] ’Giant rhododendrons on Poon Hill.’ The forest on the slopes of Poon Hill, near the village of Ghorepani (in the Annapurna Conservation Area), consists of rhododendrons that can attain heights of over 25 meter. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[NEPAL 27117] ‘Flowering rhododendron forest.’ In april the mountain ridge between Ghorepani and Deurali in the Annapurna Conservation Area is covered in flowering rhododendron forests. Photo Paul Smit.
[NEPAL 27042] ’Dhalaugiri seen from Poon Hill’ On an early april morning the white peaks of the Dhalaugiri massif tower above rhododendron covered slopes of Poon Hill near the village of Ghorepani. Some of the rhododendrons are giants having height of over 25 meter. Photo Paul Smit.
[NEPAL 27039] ’Dhaulagiri seen from Poon Hill.’ On an early april morning the white peaks of the Dhaulagiri massif tower above rhododendron covered slopes of Poon Hill near the village of Ghorepani. Some of the rhododendrons are giants having height of over 25 meter. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[NEPAL 27041] ’Dhalaugiri seen from Poon Hill’ On an early april morning the white peaks of the Dhalaugiri massif tower above rhododendron covered slopes of Poon Hill near the village of Ghorepani. Some of the rhododendrons are giants having height of over 25 meter. Photo Paul Smit.
[NEPAL 27028] ’Dhaulagiri seen from Poon Hill’ On an early april morning the white peaks of the Dhaulagiri massif tower above rhododendron covered slopes of Poon Hill near the village of Ghorepani. Some of the rhododendrons are giants having height of over 25 meter. Photo Paul Smit.
[NEPAL 27036] ’Dhaulagiri seen from Poon Hill.’ On an early april morning the white peaks of the Dhaulagiri massif tower above rhododendron covered slopes of Poon Hill near the village of Ghorepani. Some of the rhododendrons are giants having height of over 25 meter. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[NEPAL 27020] ’Tirkhedhungga village.’ In the Annapurna Conservation Area a footbridge crosses the Tirkhedhungga Khola towards some teahouses of the Tirkhedhungga village. Such teahouses can be found anywhere along the trekking routes in the Annapurna region and provide food and simple accommodation for the trekkers. Photo Mick Palarczyk & Paul Smit.
[NEPAL 27087] ‘Rhododendron confetti.’ Rhododendron flower petals cover the mountain ridge path leading east from Ghorepani to Deurali in the Annapurna Conservation Area. Photo Paul Smit.
[NEPAL 27090] ’Rhododendron flowers on mountain path.’ Rhododendron flowers cover the mountain ridge path leading east from Ghorepani to Deurali in the Annapurna Conservation Area. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[NEPAL 27081] ’Ancient rhododendron tree near Ghorepani.’ An ancient rhododendron tree bends its thick moss covered stem over a mountain ridge path leading east from Ghorepani to Deurali in the Annapurna Conservation Area. Photo Mick Palarczyk & Paul Smit.
[NEPAL 27046] ’Rhododendrons and bamboo on Poon Hill.’ The rhododendron forest on the slopes of Poon Hill, near the village of Ghorepani (in the Annapurna Conservation Area), have a thick undergrowth of bamboo. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[NEPAL 27130] ‘Rhododendron forest near Deurali.’ In april the mountain ridge between Ghorepani and Deurali in the Annapurna Conservation Area is covered in flowering rhododendron forests. The forest has a thick undergrowth of bamboo. Photo Paul Smit.