Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is one of the perfect introductions to trekking in Nepal. It offers a glimpse of the magnificent Himalayas of Nepal without having to spend much time.
This short and easy trail takes you to the foothills with little to no risk of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).
Another great thing about this fabulous trek is the flexible itinerary it has. The Ghorepani Poon Hill trek can be completed in as little as 2 days. You can also extend it to 7 days or more if you want.
Throughout this trek, you will be welcomed by wonderful panoramic views. You will pass through beautiful hills filled with lush green forests, breathing in the fresh mountain air. You will also get a taste of the warm and hospitable people with stops at different villages.
Highlights of Poon Hill Short Trek
- A chance to witness the majestic Himalayas. You will personally see peaks like Mt. Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, South Gangapurna and Hiunchuli
- Exploration of the rich culture and biodiversity of the Annapurna region
- A chance to spot rare mountain wildlife. You may catch glimpses of the brown dipper, white-breasted kingfisher, butterflies, and barking deer
- Mesmerizing trek through the dense forests of orchids, rhododendron, and magnolia
- Trek through the quaint and traditional Gurung and Magar villages. These villages are the home to the world’s most gallant warriors, the Gurkhas
- Trek past deep gorges, suspension bridges, small mountain streams, and rivers
- Breathtaking sunrise views over the mighty Himalayan peaks of the Annapurna Sanctuary
Poon Hill Trek Facts
Cost: US$ 75- 700
Duration: 2-12 Days
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Highest Elevation: Poon Hill-3,210m
Detailed Poon Hill Itinerary
2-days Poon Hill Trek Detailed Itinerary
Day 01: Drive from Pokhara to Sudame (1,160m)
Hile/Ulleri via Nayapul (1,010m)
and trek to Ghorepani (2,840m) – 6 to 7 hours
Duration: 3-4 Hours Drive and 6-7 hours trek
The trek begins from Pokhara. It is best to start early in the morning. From here, you take a jeep to Nayapul via Hile and Ulleri. Nayapul is the starting point of your journey on foot. From here, you will trek to Ghorepani.
Overnight stay at a tea house in Ghorepani.
Day 02: Ghorepani – Poon Hill to Hile – Pokhara (1,920 m)
Duration: 5-6 hours trek and 3-4 hours drive
Since it is a short trek, there is a lot to accomplish in a short time. So your day begins early today as well. Today you will trek to Poon Hill. It is the highest point of your trek and also the prime objective.
The vantage point of Poon Hill offers incredible views of the Himalayas.
It also offers an amazing sunrise view over the mountains.
On clear days, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Annapurna Range. This includes Fishtail, Dhaulagiri and other 20 mountains.
After this, you walk back to Ghorepani for a quick breakfast.
From Ghorepani, you will trek back to Hile enjoying the journey and the views you might have missed out on.
From Hile, you will drive back to Pokhara.
3-days Poon Hill Trek Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Bus drive from Pokhara to Kyumi
Trek to Tadapani through Ghandruk Village
Duration: 2-3 hours drive and 5-6 hours trek
From Pokhara, you will drive to Kyumi. It is at an altitude of 1,200 meters.
This village is home to the local Gurung people- one of the largest ethnic groups of Nepal.
From Kyumi, you make your way to Tadapani. This place again offers fabulous views of the Himalayas. You can see mountain peaks like Machhapuchhre, Himchuli, and the Annapurna ranges.
You reach Tadapani via the village of Ghandruk. You will witness the unique attire and lifestyle of the locals here, along with the breathtaking backdrop of the Himalayas.
Day 2: Trek from Tadapani to Ghorepani (2,850m)
Duration: 6 hours trek
On the second day, you will start your trek to Ghorepani early in the morning.
On your way, be sure to appreciate the spectacular landscape and breathtaking views of the mountain peaks.
You will trek through the serene and scenic forests before reaching Ghorepani.
Overnight stay at Ghorepani.
Day 3: Ghorepani to Poon Hill (3,180m)
Poon Hill to Nayapul (1,050m)
Drive to Pokhara
Duration: 7-8 hours trek and 2-3 hours drive
Once again, you begin your day early and trek towards Poon Hill.
Here, you can enjoy the sunrise view over Mt. Dhaulagiri (8,167m), Tukuche Peak (6,920m), Nilgiri (6,940m), Varaha Shikhar (7,847m), and the Annapurna Range.
This includes mountains like Mt. Annapurna I, II, III, IV, and South along with Machhapuchhre, Lamjung Himal and other snowcapped mountain peaks.
After spending some amazing time at Poon Hill, you will then prepare to head back to Ghorepani for breakfast. Then, from here, you trek to Nayapul through the deep forests of rhododendrons, bamboos, magnolia, and oaks.
Once in Nayapul, you drive back to Pokhara.
4-days Poon Hill Trek Detailed Itinerary
Day 01: Drive from Pokhara -Nayapul and trek to Hile (1,430 m)
Duration: 1-3 hours drive to Nayapul and 3 hours hike to Hile
The trek begins at Pokhara.
From Pokhara, you will drive to Nayapul. This short and pleasant ride presents some stunning views.
From Nayapul, you finally start your trek on foot. You make your way to Hile. Hile is a small village that feels beautiful and cozy. You can enjoy the local scenery and can observe the beautiful Modi Khola.
Overnight stay will be at a local teahouse at Hile.
Day 02: Trek to Ghorepani (2,840m)
On the second day, you will begin your trek to Ghorepani from Hile after breakfast.
On the way, you travel through beautiful villages like Tikhedhunga (1,577m), Ulleri (2,070m), and Banthanti (2,250m).
Inhabited by the Magar people, these small villages are popular rest stops for various treks.
You walk inside the oak and rhododendron forests on the way.
Overnight stay at a teahouse in Ghorepani.
Day 03: Early morning hike to Ghandruk via Poon Hill
Day 3 begins with a morning hike to Poon Hill. Poon Hill is popular for beautiful sunrise views.
After enjoying mesmerizing time at Poon Hill, you will walk back to Ghorepani and then finally to Ghandruk.
Ghorepani village is home to the Gurung people. It is a popular destination for both domestic and international visitors. On the way, you will encounter beautiful forests, ridges, and small streams.
Once you reach a long flight of stairs, you are near Ghandruk. Ghandruk too is an ethnic Gurung village. You can visit the local museum to know more about the place and its native inhabitants. You can also choose to attend local musical performances.
You will definitely be moved by the hospitality of the locals. Make sure to try some of the local delicacies like Gurung bread and Thakali set meal.
Day 04: Trek down to Nayapul and drive to Pokhara
This is the last day of your trek.
You will trek down to Nayapul navigating through the green forests, streams, and waterfalls.
If you’re lucky enough, you will stumble upon some rare birds and flowers in the forests.
From Nayapul, you will finally drive to Pokhara.
5-days Poon Hill Trek Detailed Itinerary
Day 01: Drive to Pokhara
Duration: 7-9 hours drive
The 5-day trek begins with a long drive to Pokhara- the city of lakes.
On the way, you can enjoy the beautiful hills, gorges, rivers and terrace farms. You cross many small towns and villages.
Once in Pokhara, you can choose to spend the evening shopping, walking, or boating in Pokhara.
You can also choose to rest in the comfort of your hotel room.
Overnight stay in Pokhara.
Day 02: Drive to Nayapul and trek to Hile
You begin the day with a drive to Nayapul where your journey on foot begins.
After a short walk from Nayapul, you cross a suspension bridge over the Modi River. Then you follow the bank of the Modi River to Birethanti.
From there, you walk across different villages and follow the north bank of the Bhurungdi Khola.
Bamboo forests, small streams, and waterfalls welcome you throughout your stroll.
After a steady ascent, you will reach the village of Hile.
Enjoy your overnight stay at Hile.
Day 03: Trek to Ghorepani
You will leave Hile after breakfast.
You will cross several streams on your way before reaching Ulleri village where you will witness striking mountain views. You will also make your way through forests of oak and rhododendron. In Spring, these forests are in their colorful best.
From here, Your journey continues towards Ghorepani, a charming Gurung village amidst the Himalayas.
Overnight stay at Ghorepani.
Day04: Trek to Poon Hill and back to Nayapul and Drive to Pokhara
On the 4th say, you will hike to Poon Hill, your trek destination. It is best to begin your day at dawn and start ascending towards Poon Hill. Here, you can catch the spectacular view of sunrise over the entire Annapurna Range.
You can rest here for a while, appreciating the spectacular mountain views of the whole Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs.
After spending some time here, you return back to Ghorepani for breakfast.
Then, you retrace your way back to Nayapul. Once here, you drive to Pokhara.
Overnight stay at hotel in Pokhara.
Day 05: Drive back to Kathmandu
On the final day, you will head back to Kathmandu following the same route.
Permits for Ghorepani- Poonhill Trek
Regardless of your itinerary, you need to get 2 permits for the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek. These are:
- Annapurna Conservation Area entry Permit (ACAP)
- Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS)
Basic Information on Poon Hill Trek
Accommodation
The Ghorepani-Poon Hill Trek is an easily achievable trekking experience. It is also one of the most popular short treks in Nepal.
Being a popular route, there are a lot of options for accommodation on the trails.
Most of the teahouses and lodges along the trails provide basic rooms on a twin-sharing basis. These rooms usually have a bed, mattress, pillow, blanket, and sheet.
Most of the rooms have attached bathrooms with a hot and cold shower. You can ask for extra blankets if you need them.
There are also fancier accommodation choices in many hotels and resorts. These provide services like spas, game rooms, swimming pools, gym, and others.
Meals and Drinks
Like accommodation, there are numerous choices for meals and drinks.
Most of the basic cafes and restaurants along the trails will have local and staple meals and drinks.
- Meals: Dal-Bhat-Tarkari, Momo, Noodles, Fried Rice, etc.
- Drinks: Tea, Coffee, soft drinks, hot and cold water, hot and cold flavored drinks.
A few fine-dining or the fancier places can have choices of Nepali, continental, Italian, and Chinese cuisine. These will have more options for drinks. These can include different varieties of tea, coffee and so on.
Difficulty
Most of the itineraries available for Ghorepani Poon Hill trek fall under ‘easy’ difficulty level.
These only include 4-5 hours of walking for the duration of the trek. Moreover, the highest altitude reached is only around 3,000 meters.
Hence, these treks are relatively easier and more comfortable. These are suitable and possible for beginners and novice trekkers as well as for the entire family. It can also be ideal for those looking for a relaxing trek without long hours of hard walk or high altitudes.
These treks are always great for a quick weekend getaway from the noise and chaos of the cities.
Alternative for 2, 3, 4 and 5-Days Poon Hill Trek
If the above itineraries do not suit your requirements, you can create your own customized trek packages.
Nepal offers a wide variety of trekking destinations and routes. You can choose from the best 2 days treks, 3-day treks, and 5 days treks.
Along with these choices, there are numerous other beautiful treks and tours you can do in Nepal to better suit your needs and wants.
Packing Essentials
Your packing essentials for Poon Hill trek will depend on the duration you choose and also the season you choose to trek in.
Physical Fitness
You will be at a relatively low altitude while going on Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek. It includes 4-5 hours of walk each day.
This is an easy-moderate grade trek. You do not need prior trekking experience. You also do not need to be a professional athlete to do this trek.
These are feasible for all types of trekkers including beginners and novice trekkers.
Yet, coming prepared with physical training will motivate you to complete the trek. The fitter you are, the more comfortable the trekking experience will be.
Best Time for Poon Hill Trek
The Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is a low-altitude trek. It is possible to go on the trek throughout the year- in all four seasons of Nepal.
Hence, depending on your personal preferences, you can choose the best time to go trekking in Nepal.
The local spring and autumn months are the most visited and popular seasons for a trek in Nepal.
These seasons have more stable weather conditions. These seasons see clear and dry days with moderate temperatures. The trails are also at their best conditions.
Hence, these seasons see the most number of visitors and trekkers. So, make sure to pre-book everything if you wish to trek during these seasons in Nepal.
The local winter and summer months are less popular.
Yet, for Ghorepani poon Hill Trek, winter can be a great month. Winter in these regions does not get severe cold or heavy snowfall. You can enjoy your walks in cool weather conditions and enjoy fabulous views of snow-covered mountains and hillsides.
The local summer is the most challenging season to do this trek. Yet for adventure lovers seeking more thrill and challenge from their short treks can choose this season. Yet, this season offers peaceful trails, fewer crowds and are more pocket-friendly.
Therefore, the best time to do this trek depends on what you want from the trekking experience and your personal likes and dislikes.
In Closing,
Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is one of the most picturesque short treks in Nepal. With amazing views of the mountains and surrounding scenery, this trek is the perfect choice for treks in Nepal.
The availability of different itineraries makes it suitable and doable for all types of trekkers. It also suits trekkers with different time and budget. Going on this trek will be a dream come true for you.
You can also create your own custom itinerary for the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek or any other trek and tour in Nepal. For this and more, feel free to contact us.
