Born into a British Gurkha family and grew up in Hong Kong, Deeya Pun was absolutely fascinated by mountains as a youngster, especially during family trips to her village of Sikha in Myagdi, Nepal.
Always an active person, she initially excelled in nursing and acting as a career. However, a quest for her sense of purpose in her adult years led her to mountaineering. “I felt something was missing,” she admits.
In the summer of 2018, Deeya made her first ascent of Mount Aconcagua, and she was hooked.
The following year, she was with Nirmal ‘Nimsdai’ Purja as part of ‘Project Possible’ to climb her first 8000m+ peak, Mount Manaslu.
“I appreciate the fact that climbing is a physically and mentally demanding pursuit, offering a plethora of personal achievements. It has been my getaway to explore the remotest corners of the world,” she says.
On 27 May 2022, Deeya led her hardest climb ever to Mount Everest. During the climb, she battled extreme weather, altitude, and Hypoxemia in Camp 2.
She was airlifted to Lukla hospital. “It felt like my Everest dream was over,” she reflects. “After just a few days of recovery, I was determined to climb again. I continued onwards and upwards to deal with hardships to ascend the world’s highest peak.”
Then in 2023, she successfully scaled the highest peak in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro.
“I want to live fully and make my dreams come true that continually evolve. I always ponder what I can do more,” she says. “It’s important to push yourself and enjoy the challenge without making any excuses. Through this process, I learn something new and witness the magic that happens when I overcome difficulties.”
As well as mountaineering, Deeya has already made her mark in Nepali film industry, starring in several movies, all while dedicating herself in the nursing profession. With her beaming smile, infectious positivity, and growth mindset, she continues to seek new adventures and challenge herself.
Away from the spotlight of competition, Deeya aims to summit the seven highest peaks of seven continents worldwide.
