Poon hill is a beautiful place with incredible scenes located very close to the gorgeous city of Pokhara.
This place is full of wonderful villages, friendly people, and pleasant climatic condition. It is an ideal destination for people who are looking for a short trek along with spectacular views of mountains in the Annapurna Region.
It is famously known as the Cherrapunji of Nepal as it receives the maximum amount of rainfall in entire Nepal.
Poon Hill lies in the western part of Nepal. You can get to the starting point -Nayapul from Pokhara in a taxi or a private jeep. From there in a duration of about 4 to 5 days, you will complete Poon Hill trek.
The fact that Poon hill lies in a low altitude makes it safe to travel for anyone who is worried about altitude sickness. Besides, it can be a great start for anyone who is willing to make in numerous trekking adventures.
For those who are willing to go for greater challenges The Annapurna Base Camp and the Everest Base Camp are the most popular hikes, for obvious reasons, but they require a higher level of fitness and more time. Thus, Poon hill is the right hiking destination for people with physical and time restriction.
Geography of Poon Hill
Poon Hill lies at an altitude of 3200 meters. The region has wonderful villages you will see along the trek. These villages are classic Nepali villages with a lot of people who reflect the tradition and culture of the region.
In order to get to Poon Hill, you will have to spend a night in Ghorepani. Ghorepani lies within the boundaries of the Annapurna Conservation Area and is lower in altitude than Poon Hill.
Altitude Sickness is something that many trekkers are careful of. But the good news is there is no particular threat when you trek to Poon Hill and the surrounding areas.
Moreover, it can be a practice or warm up hike as you will take a small gain in altitude in your trekking route thereby reducing the chances of altitude sickness.
Weather in Poon Hill
Lower altitude of Poon Hill means that the weather and temperature is usually mild. It is neither too hot nor too cold.
When you go to a higher altitude to trek, you have to be careful of the temperature differences between the daytime and nighttime. But this is not the case for the Poon Hill trek.
Since, it is a low altitude trek, a slight increase in altitude normally does not affect the temperature and weather of the trek route. Also, during summer or winter the temperature does not change to extremes. It is quite moderate.
There are chances of the temperature going slightly below the mark of 0 degrees in some winter months but with smart and sensible packing, this should not be a matter of concern.
Also in the summer, the temperature is around 22-26 degrees centigrade allowing you to make the trek with just a t-shirt and a pair of shorts.
Now, let us give you an overview of the weather and temperatures of Poon Hill according to seasons :
Spring (March, April & May)
Spring is generally one of the most suitable months to trek in Nepal and lasts from March till May. Mild temperatures, low precipitation, lush vegetation, clear skies serve as a perfect amalgamation for a wonderful trekking experience anyone could opt for.
The temperature is lowest in Poon Hill in the month of March and highest in the month of May.
In May it can get as high as 25 degrees in some parts of your path. The lowest the temperature gets in March is in Ghorepani.
The precipitation is the lowest in the month of March for the spring season and highest in the month of May and this is expected as the Monsoon season begins in Nepal from the month of June.
Temperature in Spring
| Place | Elevation | Avg. Temp | Min Temp | Max Temp |
| Pokhara | 1400 m/4593 ft | 22.1°C | 12.8°C | 29.7°C |
| Ulleri | 1960 m/6430 ft | 15.7°C | 7.4°C | 24.6°C |
| Ghandruk | 1931 m/6361 ft | 14.2°C | 6.7°C | 24.1°C |
| Ghorepani | 2874 m/9429 ft | 10.1°C | 1.5°C | 19.6°C |
Summer (June, July & August)
The summer in Poon Hill lasts from June to August. Summer during Poon Hill trek is warm, making it possible for you to trek in t-shirts and shorts.
What a better time to trek!
But, you also have to keep in mind that you are geared up for any chances of rain in this season. As summer in Nepal coincides with the monsoon.
June, July, and August are the months that get the maximum amount of rainfall. The amount of rainfall in June is almost half as that in the month of July. July experiences the highest rainfall.
With proper trekking gear and a good trekking guide, trekking in summer should not be a problem.
Temperature in Summer
| Place | Elevation | Avg Temp | Min Temp | Max Temp |
| Pokhara | 1400 m/4593 ft | 25.3°C | 20.7°C | 29.1°C |
| Ulleri | 1960 m/6430 ft | 19.3°C | 14°C | 24.6°C |
| Ghandruk | 1931 m/6361 ft | 18.7°C | 13.6°C | 24.1°C |
| Ghorepani | 2874 m/9429 ft | 14.1°C | 9.6°C | 20°C |
Autumn (September, October & November)
Autumn is another month besides Spring which is most favorable for the purpose of trekking. This is the reason why Nepal’s trekking routes are considerably full during this time.
Autumn falls in the month of September to November. After the summer season, rainfall in the Poon Hill trek decreases significantly and reaches to the lowest in the month of November.
The precipitation in the month of November in Ghorepani is a mere 6 mm.
Also, with winter just around the corner, the temperature tends to drop a bit. This is quite complimentary when you are involved in a physical activity like trekking in mid-day.
Temperature in Autumn
| Place | Elevation | Avg Temp | Min Temp | Max Temp |
| Pokhara | 1400 m/4593 ft | 21.6°C | 11.6°C | 28°C |
| Ulleri | 1960 m/6430 ft | 16.3°C | 6.3°C | 22.7°C |
| Ghandruk | 1931 m/6361 ft | 14.8°C | 5.4°C | 22.1°C |
| Ghorepani | 2874 m/9429 ft | 9.6°C | 0°C | 17.4°C |
Winter (December, January & February)
Winter in Nepal, and so is the same for Poon Hill, falls in the month of December to February.
During this time the temperatures at certain places in the trekking route to Poon Hill does go below the freezing point. But these temperatures are nowhere as cold as to that of the Base Camp regions.
As in the month of November, the precipitation is somewhat the lowest in the winter season in Poon Hill.
So, this means during this time you can worry less about the chances of rain disturbing your trek. This also means the chances of cloudy mountains is least in the winters.
Snow-Capped mountains and clear weather means great pictures and picturesque views
So, if a bit of the chill in the mountains doesn’t bother you, you can most probably experience some of the greatest views of the Annapurna region. And it is still sunny at daytime and you will be indoors in the morning and the evening.
In addition, the tea houses that we stop for the night will most probably have a fireplace, or you are always welcome in the kitchen fire-stove area.
Furthermore, the temperature barely goes below zero. So you shouldn’t worry about trekking in this region even in the winters.
Temperature in Winter
| Place | Elevation | Avg Temp | Min Temp | Max Temp |
| Pokhara | 1400 m/4593 ft | 13.2°C | 7.3°C | 21.2°C |
| Ulleri | 1960 m/6430 ft | 8.3°C | 2.2°C | 14.8°C |
| Ghandruk | 1931 m/6361 ft | 8.7°C | 1.6°C | 14.2°C |
| Ghorepani | 2874 m/9429 ft | 2.7°C | 3.4°C | 8.1°C |
Additional Information
How many Trek Permits do I need?
There are 2 different permits required for the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek.
- Annapurna Conservation Permit – 1,000 Rupees per person
- TIMS Trekkers Permit – 1,825 Rupees per person
In case you are wondering how to get trekking permits you can take the help of the hotel staffs where you will be accommodating. They can help you arrange all the permits with a little bit of commission.
What to carry for Poon Hill trek?
A general outline of the basics that you might need.
- A pair of really good hiking boots
- A pair of flip-flops : they are essential to rest your feet after the hike, and to shower.
- Two pairs of hiking pants.
- A pair of comfortable pajamas that you could change into at night to sleep in.
- Three or four t-shirts
- A long sleeve t-shirt can be suitable at night.
- Multiple Socks.
- A light sweater during summer
- A rainproof jacket for the rainy season
- An insulating jacket in winter
- Sleeping bag
- Beauty case including the basics, such as sunscreen.
- A case consisting of any possible drug you might need as first aid kit.
Guide and Porter?
It’s debatable whether you need to hire a guide or not to do the Poon Hill trek. The trail is very well maintained, however, there is a very low chance of finding road signs or maps. Certainly, you can use google maps. But it is best to be accompanied by a guide. This is the safest option.
Not having a guide might get confusing and will cause a lot of problems. And when you do not speak the local language, you might as well end up in a pickle.
So, a guide can be useful and convenient and will save you a lot of time and energy. Guides are professional and government licensed.
But if you prefer to save a couple of bucks, you can choose to take a guide-porter who will also carry your luggage and help you with the basic communication.
Final Say,
Poon Hill weather and temperature is perfect for trekking in any season, whether it be Summers, Winters, Spring or Autumn.
All these seasons are special on their own.
Poon hill weather can be unpredictable at times. So, it is wise to learn about Poon hill weather forecast and pre-plan your trek. Weather predictions can be looked up on the internet. These predictions have been found to be accurate.
This is a popular travel destination for both national and international tourists. So, pre-booking your trip is crucial, especially during peak seasons. It will prevent any accommodation or food-related problems.
And if you have any queries or require further information please do contact us.
