Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is a really popular trek in Nepal’s Annapurna region. This trek combines the beauty of the snowcapped mountains, diverse flora and fauna, with the cultural richness of the Magar and Gurung villages. This is a short but beautiful journey with the red rhododendrons around, where you will get to do a beautiful Poon Hill sunrise trek.
Poon Hill Trek will offer you the breathtaking views of the peaks like Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Machhapuchhre with the serene sunrise. Ghorepani Trek is easier and this is the best affordable trekking destination for every beginner, seasoned, and perfect holiday destination for a family. You can trek Ghorepani Poonhill, customizing it according to your time limits, budget, and comfort.
Trek Overview & Highlights
Ghorepani Poonhill Trek is a really short trek and is most suitable for all adventurers regardless of their fitness levels. This short journey starts typically from Nayapul, and you will be trekking through the beautiful and unique villages of Gurungs and Magars, especially, you will be getting the Ghandruk village cultural experience.
On the early morning hike to the highest point of the Ghorepani trek, you will witness the beautiful sunrise at Poonhill (3,210 m) with the Annapurna panorama. Also, you will be gazing at the beautiful views of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Machhapuchhre with the golden sun rays shining on them. This will be a lovely trek for people fond of nature as they get to trek through the thick rhododendron forests, oak trees, and terraced fields along the way.
This trek is suitable for all people despite their rookiness in hiking experience. You will find it easy to walk up to the trails with comfort and short walking durations. This short trip is perfect for newbies, family groups, solo travelers, and for groups of friends. The popularity of Ghorepani Poonhill Trek is high as thousands of trekkers come to visit and revisi,t and it is not only because of the beauty but also for its rewarding experience in a short time availability.
Itinerary Options & Route Details
You can customize your Poon Hill trek itinerary as per your time and thrilling desires. We can provide you with some briefings about different itinerary options such as:
Day 1: Drive from Pokhara to Nayapul, then trek to Tikhedhunga / Ulleri (6 to 7 hours, 9 km)
Day 2: Trek from Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani (5 to 6 hrs, 12 km)
Day 3: Hike to Poon Hill, trek down to Ulleri and drive back to Pokhara (5 to 6 hrs of walk, 11 km)
You will take a long drive from Pokhara to Nayapul. From Nayapul, you will start walking towards Ghorepani taking 4 to 5 hours. You will go through the checking there as well. Then you will trek towards Tikhedhunga and stay overnight. On day 2, you will do Ulleri to Ghorepani trek, taking 5 to 6 hours at least. On day 3, you will wake up around 4:00 am to see the sunrise at Poonhill and then descend to Hile from where you will take a drive to Pokhara spending 7 to 8 hours on this last day.
Day 1: Pokhara to Nayapul drive and trek to Ulleri (1960m, 42km or 1 hour and half drive and 11km or 5-6 hours walk)
Day 2: Trek from Ulleri to Bhanthati to Nangithanti to Ghorepani (2874m, 8km or 5-6 hours walk).
Day 3: Trek from Ghorepani to Poonhill to Tadapani (2630m, 11.2km or 6-7 hours walk).
Day 4: Trek Tadapani to Ghandruk and drive to Nayapul to Pokhara (12.5km or 5-6 hours walk and 52km or 2 hours drive).
Your journey will start from Pokhara, taking a ride to reach Nayapul which will take around 1 and half hours. From Nayapul, you will be climbing up to reach the Tikhedhunga village passing through rivers, and many terraced farms. After reaching Tikedhunga, you will need to cross a suspension bridge and then start trekking towards Ulleri which you will reach after 2 hours.
On the second day, you will wake up to the beautiful views of Mt. Annapurna and Mt. Machhapuchhre and then walking through the rhododendrons, oak and pine forests, you will reach Ghorepani village. On the third day, you will catch the sunrise and witness the snowcapped peaks dazzling with the sun rays at Poonhill, really early in the morning. Then you will trek downhill for 5 hours to reach Tadapani.
On the fourth day, you will do Tadapani to Ghandruk trek. In Ghandruk village, you will enjoy the mountain vistas and Gurung hospitality. Then you will return to Pokhara taking a private vehicle.
Day 1: Pokhara to Nayapul to Tikhedhunga (1,495m/4, 905ft, 3 to 4 hrs)
Day 2: Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani (13 km, 3 to 4 hrs)
Day 3: Walk to Poonhill to Ghorepani to Tadapani (11 km, 5 to 6 hrs)
Day 4: Tadapani to GHandruk (6 km, 3 hrs, 3 to 4 hrs)
Day 5: Trek to Nayapul and drive to Pokhara (58 km, 6 to 7 hrs)
From Pokhara, you will take a drive to Nayapul. After 1 and half hours, you will reach there and start your trek towards Tikhedhunga. You can take a stroll in the local market as you will be staying overnight. On the second day, you will walk uphill towards Ulleri for 1 and half hours. Then you can have your tea and continue trekking through villages, Banthati and Nangithati. Finally after 2 hours from Nangithati, you will reach Ghorepani.
On the 3rd day, you will do an early hike to Poonhill viewpoint to witness the beautiful sunrise climbing around 1 hour. Then returning to Ghorepani, you will have your breakfast and then descend towards Tadapani where you will stay overnight. Then the next day, you will descend towards Ghandruk village taking 3 hours where you can learn about Jato, Dhiki, and Theki. You will stay overnight there.
On the 5th day, you will have your breakfast and leave for Nayapul. From Nayapul, you will return to Pokhara by a jeep.
Day1: Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara (8 to 9 hrs, 2696 ft)
Day 2: Drive from Pokhara to Birethanti (1 to 2 hrs, 4143 ft)
Day 3: Trek from Birethanti to Ulleri (5 to 6 hrs, 6430 ft)
Day 4: Trek from Ulleri to Ghorepani (4 to 5 hrs, 9448 ft)
Day 5: Trek from Ghorepani to Poonhill to Tadapani (5 to 6 hrs, 10,531 ft)
Day 6: Trek from Tadapani to Ghandruk (3 to 4 hrs, 6364 ft)
Day 7: Drive from Ghandruk to Pokhara (3 to 4 hrs, 2696 ft)
Day 8: Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu (8 to 9 hrs, 4593 ft)
You will relax at your hotel on the 1st day in Kathmandu. Next day, you will drive to Pokhara and stay there. Day 3 will be again a drive to Nayapul from Pokhara. Now, you will start your Ghorepani trek from Nayapul and hike towards Ulleri through Tikhedhunga village climbing around 3000 steps. On the 4th day, you will trek to Ghorepani passing through blooming red rhododendrons.
Day 5 will be your amazing mission to witness sunrise at Poonhill along with the sunkissed snowpeaks. Then you will come back to Ghorepani village and descend towards Ghandruk village. Day 6 will be your last walking hours to Syauli Bazar for around 5 hours and 1 hour drive to Pokhara from there.
Day 7 will be your return to Kathmandu where you will explore Thamel and do shopping for souvenirs. On the 8th day, you will bid goodbye to Nepal and us.
Trek Cost & Booking Info
Poon Hill trek cost depends on what you choose and prefer. You can see the following cost breakdown of the Ghorepani Poonhill Trek.
- Trekking permit ACAP: 3000 NPR (1000 NPR for SAARC nationalities)
- Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) card: 2000 NPR
- Accommodation: 5 to 10 USD per night (teahouse over the trails) and over 15 USD (in Pokhara)
- Food: 2 USD to 5 USD per meal
- Wi-fi and hot Showers: 200 NPR to 500 NPR for each
- Charging facilities: 100 NPR to 300 NPR per use
- Boiled water: 100 NPR to 200 NPR per litre
- Guide fee: 25 USD to 35 USD per day
- Porter fee: 20 USD to 30 USD per day
- Transportation: 5000 NPR to 7000 NPR (flight) and 2000 NPR to 3000 NPR (drive) from Kathmandu to Pokhara)
Booking for Poonhill trek?
From our guided trek packages, you can choose the budget trek. You can take the advantages of online booking as it secures your spot in advance. Besides, you can check and compare the prices and get the best deals through the ratings and reviews. Enjoy the online reservation benefits with the easier customization.
The luxury trekking packages may cost you a lot but know about the great offers and discounts on group booking Poon Hill trek. You can make a Poon Hill trek budget as the bigger the group, the better the discount.
Booking Procedure: Himalayan Hero Adventures is a licensed and registered tour company in Nepal. We are associated with the Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN). So, you can feel secure with booking a trip with us. We ask 10% of the total payment in advance for confirmation of your reservation.
After making your Ghorepani Poonhill Trek reservation, you should email us your paperwork including a copy of your passport, two passport-sized pictures, travel insurance information, and flight information within a week. We accept Western Union, bank transfers, and online payments through the website. You may pay the remaining cost after arriving at Kathmandu by cash, bank transfer, or a credit card and we will send you your payment information and accepted methods.
Trek Difficulty, Safety & Preparation
Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is actually a beginner friendly trek. The highest altitude you will reach is 3,210 m at Poonhill viewpoint, requiring a decent level of fitness as you will trek through various steep ascents and descents. The average walking duration will be for 5 to 6 hours a day.
So, to surpass the Poon Hill trek difficulty, you need to work on your core and legs and increase your stamina and endurance level. You can do cardiovascular exercises and strength training through running, swimming, planks, squats, and going on short hikes carrying a backpack.
For Altitude sickness Poon Hill, carry medicines like Acetazolamide to prevent it. You need to observe the signs such as headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, etc and treat them early so as not to let it turn fatal. Keep drinking enough water throughout the day and consume the electrolytes as well to replenish your minerals.
Although this is suitable for the Poon Hill trek family, solos and beginners but should be done with safety considerations. Some safety tips you can follow are:
- You need to regularly work out to stay keep your body on move including the cardiovascular exercises and strength training exercises.
- You should be careful with the possible muscle strain and be mindful of the descent as it is more strenuous. Take the staircases but be mindful of the strain on your knees.
- Proper acclimatization by maintaining a gradual pace can prevent altitude sickness to some extent.
- You should keep observing the signs of altitude sickness like headache, dizziness, nausea, etc before it turns life-threatening.
- Don't forget to carry a first aid kit with the necessary medicines wherever you go.
- Keep hydrating yourself and consume electrolytes in any form.
- Check the weather forecasts before embarking on the journey.
- Carry light and warm clothes to ensure you prevent cold.
- Always trek in groups or with someone. Don't roam around alone anywhere. Keep interacting with the locals to prevent any mishap and misfortune.
- Hiring guides and porters will make your journey smoother and safer.
- You should get comprehensive travel insurance covering all your trekking activities and emergency evacuations along with the coverage of any unforeseen misfortune.
- You should pack as light as you can for your own comfort.
- Always follow the guide's advice and follow the local rules to not offend anyone in the communities. And take care of your litter.
- Be respectful to the local people and their properties. Don't forget to ask for permission before taking any pictures, especially of their religious places as they highly value them.
- You should always see around while walking so as not to trip, slip and fall down.
- You should stay at the tea houses and avoid camping in unsafe places.
- You should keep the emergency contacts of your embassy, travel agency and local to get the help in need.
- Always keep updating your family or friend about your daily schedules or any sudden change in the itinerary to keep yourself even safer.
Best Time to Trek & Weather Conditions
The best time to visit Poon Hill will be Spring (March-May) and Autumn (September-November). Summer (June-August) and Winter (December to February) are the least favourable seasons.
Spring: Spring has the blooming red rhododendrons as its highlight of the season. Also, the weather is warm and you can see clear skies. This season has an average temperature ranging from 10°C to 20°C.Poon Hill trek March will offer you good visibility, best for sightseeing and glancing at the panoramic views of the snowpeaks.
Autumn: Autumn has mild and stable weather conditions. So, you will have a pleasant experience of the Ghorepani Poonhill trek. The minimum temperature you will find is around 0°C and 25°C as the maximum. This season will offer you crystal clear views of the mountains giving you a surreal feeling, also best for the photography session. But do consider as this is the season of crowds.
Summer: 5°C will be the minimum temperature and 30°C will be the maximum temperature this season. Poon Hill trek monsoon with the thick clouds, heavy rainfall, increased risk of landslides due to slippery trails, and active time for the insects, mainly leeches are all the considerations before embarking on this season.
Winter: Winter offers you cold and harsh weather conditions with the minimum temperature around -5°C and the maximum will be 20°C. With the heavy snowfall covering the trails that make it difficult for you to trek smoothly. And, the covered views of the majestic mountains disappoint too. So, definitely not the Poon Hill trek best time.
Packing List & Trekking Permits
Prepare well with our following recommended Poon Hill trek packing list.
Clothing
- Moisture wicking base layers
- Thermal wears (warm mid layers)
- Waterproof and windproof jackets or fleece
- Trekking pants/Hiking pants
- Tshirts (Long and short sleeves)
- Trousers
- Gloves and Socks
- Warm hat
- Scarf
- Undergarments (Quick drying)
- Trekking shoes
- Flipflops/Sandals
- Sunhat (Optional)
Toiletries
- Shampoo
- Soap
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Facewash
- Moisturizer
- Sunscreen (SPF 50)
- Lip Balm (SPF 15)
- Toilet paper
- Hand sanitizer
- Quick dry towel
- Medications (including Acetazolamide)
Gear
- Trekking poles
- Sleeping bag
- Crampons
- Backpack
Accessories
- Sunglass
- Camera
- Power bank
- Charger
- Water purification tablets
- Binoculars (Optional)
Essentials
- Passport
- Visa
- Cash
- Travel insurance
Do you know what permits needed for Poon Hill trek?
- Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Permit
- TIMS (Trekker’s Information Management System) card
Accommodation & Food
Annapurna region trekking is full of tea houses and so is Ghorepani village accommodation. During the Ghorepani Poonhill Trek, you will be staying in several tea houses mainly at popular key stops like Ulleri, Ghorepani village, and Ghandruk village. These tea houses are like mountain lodges.
You will find the tea houses built of wood in small structures with the basic facilities of lodging. Typically, you will be getting twin beds with thin foam mattresses, blankets and pillows. The bathrooms need to be shared.
Other facilities like hot water shower, Wifi service, and charging facilities are also available. You will be staying in warm tea houses as in the dining hall they run a Bukhara stove. The facilities are basic yet standard and comfortable.
During Ghorepani village stay, various tasty foods will be offered to you including the breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. The ingredients will be fresh and locally grown actually. You can even choose between the non-vegetarian, vegetarian, and vegan options, see:
Breakfast: Tibetan bread, pancakes, toast, eggs, porridge, soup, tea/coffee.
Lunch: Nepali Dal Bhat (rice, lentil soup with vegetables or non-veg items), pasta, fried rice, Thukpa, noodles, mo:mo, spaghetti, chapati, pizza, french fries, etc.
Dinner: Nepali Dal Bhat, Potato or chicken curry, green vegetables, dumplings, macaroni, spaghetti, etc.
So, do the Poon Hill teahouse booking before you miss out on the best ones or totally.
Alternative Routes & Extensions
If you wish, you can do alternative hiking destinations and extend your thrilling adventure. After you are done with the Ghorepani Poonhill Trek, you can consider the following easy treks Nepal.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
You can go forABC trek for more thrills. The highest altitude you will reach is 4,310 metres during this trek. You can customize your itinerary with ABC trek and Ghorepani Poonhill Trek. This will be a worthy investment if you love adventures.
Ghandruk trek
Ghandruk village hiking is short, starting from Nayapul. This will make you visit the beautiful Gurung village, Ghandruk which is famous for tourists and trekkers. You explore the Gurung Cultural Museum and Meshram Baraha Temple, the Gurungs’ traditions, terraced fields and see the magnificent close up views of Annapurna range, Mt. Machhapuchhre, Gangapurna, Himchuli.
Mardi Himal Trek
Mardi himal trek is also short and low in altitude like the Poonhill trek but more challenging than the Ghorepani Poonhill trek. The highest elevation is 4,500 metres. So, if you want something short but more challenging than Ghorepani trek, you can go for Mardi.
Khopra Danda Trek
Khopra Danda trek is actually peaceful for trekking but it is not hyped much. Ghorepani trek is a crowded trek unlike this. The highest elevation gain will be 3,660 metres. So, if you want a more challenging yet peaceful and solitary experience, you can go for it.
Some other alternative destinations you can consider are Jomsom Muktinath Trek and Dhampus Trek and taking side trips to Tatopani or even taking a day out for the rhododendron forests Ghorepani will be so good for you.
Special Packages & Market Segments
We have got you special packages which you can choose from such as:
- Ghorepani trek for families: We offer you the best family friendly package considering your whole family including your children with the short walking durations and gradual ascent and descent. Along with this, exploring local culture would be educational for the young minds.
- Women-only Ghorepani trek: We have come up with safe and empowering women-only trekking packages formed by only women. This has actually drawn their interest even more to take part in such trekking offers. This takes the women to support each other including the local working women at the tea houses and market along the trails.
- Solo trek Poonhill: If you love solitude, you can choose this package enjoying your independent hiking but to secure it by hiring a private guide. You can enjoy your journey while we provide you the safety and comfort all along the way.
- Luxury Poon Hill trek: If you want a luxurious journey, then you can get private rooms, hot showers and private transportation facilities. This will be your flexible and customizable itinerary.
Photography & Cultural Experiences
Sunrise and sunset are both beautiful from Poon Hill located at 3,210 metres. You need to rise early around 5:00 am at least to not miss out on the Poon Hill sunrise view. It will take you around 1 hour to reach the viewpoint and the air is crispy at this time.
At the viewpoint, the gigantic mountains covered in snow including the massifs of Mt. Annapurna and Mt. Dhaulagiri will be waiting for you. As the sun shows up, you will be mesmerized by the dazzling Mountain panorama Nepal kissed with the golden sun rays and the layered thick clouds beneath you covering the whole Ghorepani village is breathtakingly beautiful.
This is the perfect time for Poon Hill sunrise view photography. The radiating colors of soft pink shifting to orange and then to gold and white as the day unfolds is stunning. You cannot stop gazing at the morning sky.
Ghorepani village is full of blooming rhododendrons . You will witness the colorful blossoms of spring flowers rhododendron. This will be your beautiful setting offering you another opportunity for a photo session.
Along with such heavenly views, you will meet the indigenous communities of Gurungs and Magars during Ghorepani Poonhill Trek. These people have their unique cultures of religious festivals, food items, and rich history of Gurkhas. You will find their stone houses flaunting the colorful Buddhist prayer flags.
Ghandruk trek will be one of your highlights of this trek. Ghandruk village is a popular village along the trails where you get to indulge yourself in the Gurung culture Ghandruk and witness their rich traditions and lifestyles.
