Poon Hill Trek in November and December

For those with limited time and obsessed to get into the wild, Poon Hill Trek is a perfect adventure. The short trek in the famous Annapurna region attracts many backpackers from across the world.

Along the majestic trek with pristine Himalayan beauty, you’ll enjoy delicacies and diverse Nepalese cultures. All these traits make Poon Hill one of the best Himalayan treks in Nepal.

The best part:

Since the trek that lies at a relatively low altitude below 3,300 meters is a low-risk destination. So, you can complete this trek relatively in a short period without any threat of altitude sickness.

Poon Hill also prevails over four seasons: Spring, Monsoon, Autumn, and Winter. The Spring of March to May and the Autumn of September to November are the best seasons for trekking. The Summer of June to August known as monsoon and the Winter of  December to February are offseason periods in Nepal.

Unlike other trekking routes in Nepal, you can opt for visiting Poon Hill any time of the year. November marks the ending of Autumn and December is the beginning of the winter season.

Poon Hill lies at an altitude of 3,210 meters. At Poon Hill, the weather and temperature are mild. You will not find extreme differences in daytime and nighttime temperatures. Also, the autumn and winter temperatures do not remain vast different between November and December.

Poon Hill is famously known as the Cherrapunji of Nepal. It receives the maximum amount of rainfall out of entire Nepal. Occasional rain occurs during November and December. You may see a little wet, but this short trek is worth every drop.

Here is detailed information regarding the Poon Hill Trek in November and December:

Poon Hill Weather During November & December

November & December are the most favorable periods for the Poon Hill Trek. It is the reason why the Poon Hill trail sees full of domestic and international trekkers and hikers.

After the summer season, rainfall in the Poon Hill trail decreases quite significantly. And, it fades away in November.

You can feel cold in the mornings and evenings, but you can still walk around during the afternoon with regular clothes without layering.

The precipitation in November at Ghorepani is a mere 6mm. The temperature drops a bit as winter is just around the corner. It can be pleasant when you do physical activities. A perfect time to trek during the day, eh?

Place	Elevation	Avg.Temp	Min. Temp	Max. Temp
Pokhara	900m	21.6°C	11.6°C	28°C
Ulleri	1,960m	16.3°C	6.3°C	22.7°C
Ghandruk	1,931m	14.8°C	5.4°C	22.1°C
Ghorepani	2,874m	9.6°C	0°C	17.4°C

December brings winter at Poon Hill. The temperature during this period falls below the freezing point at certain places. But these temperatures are nowhere as cold as in the Himalayan Base Camp regions.

The precipitation remains lowest in the winter season at Poon Hill. So, you do not need to worry about the chances of rain, spoiling your trek during this time.

The main advantage:

The chances of cloud covering the mountains appear minimum during December.

Additionally, teahouses at Poon Hill will mostly have a fireplace where you can warm yourselves.

If you embrace cold temperatures, you can experience some of the most fabulous mountain views of the Annapurna region in winters.

Also, keep in mind that winter can get harsh at times. So, a body warmer inside is a must. You can layer it with a shirt and a coat or a jacket or just a down jacket. You will need body warmer pants too, especially during winter rains or when the heavy clouds shield sunlight.

Use a cap to protect your head from harsh winds.

The detailed temperature information during December is given below:

Place	Elevation	Avg.Temp	Min. Temp	Max. Temp
Pokhara	900m	13.2°C	7.3°C	21.2°C
Ulleri	1,960m	8.3°C	2.2°C	14.8°C
Ghandruk	1,931m	8.7°C	1.6°C	14.2°C
Ghorepani	2,874m	2.7°C	3.4°C	8.1°C

Packing List for Poon Hill Trek in November and December

What to wear during Poon Hill trek is not affected by the season. It is the same list of clothes you will have to pack disregard of the season you are trekking in. However, in cold December, you need warmer clothes while cut off cotton pants and shorts worn are preferred at lower altitudes in summer.

The weather at higher altitudes stays highly unpredictable. It is always advisable to dress in layers while trekking. Wear layers of clothes so that you can take off a layer if the weather gets warmer and add a layer if it gets colder.

Here’s a list of clothing you will definitely need for Poon Hill trek during November and December:

1. Few pairs of hiking pants.
2. Some pairs of yoga pants.
3. A pair of outdoor shoes.
4. Socks for each day.
5. T-shirt for each day
6. Neck buff
7. Fleece Jacket
8. Rain shell
9. Camera
10. Water bottle
11. Small backpack or fanny pack
12. Laundry powder
13. Hand warmers
14. Tylenol
15. Phone + Charger
16. Headphone
17. Towels

What you don’t need to pack on your trek to Poon Hill Trail:

Beware of overpacking!

1. A journal.
2. Books
3. Makeup
4. Snack
5. Drone
6. Laptop

Tips for Travelling to Poon Hill in November & December

1. Bring plenty of local currency (Nepalese Rupees/NPR). Hard to find ATMs in the mountains.
2. Pack toilet paper. Any of the tea houses hardly provides it.
3. Teahouses in the villages have power service. Some may ask for a fee to charge your gadgets, some will provide service for free. Make sure.
4. If you have TWO meals at the teahouse, accommodation may be free
5. WiFi is available at some guesthouses for 100 NPR (1 USD) for needy.
6. If you need medical help, health workers and centers are available at Ghandruk, Ghorepani, and Ulleri.
7. The higher you get in the mountains, the more expensive water/snacks are.
8. Hold onto your water bottle at Ghorepani and refill as bottled water is not sold due to rubbish problems.
9. Two passport size photographs are required while applying for each entry trekking permit.
10. During the rainy season, keep a close eye out for leeches. They’re everywhere. Keep insect repellent.
11. Be prepared to wake up every morning for sunrises. it’s the best part of the day!

Conclusion:

Poon Hill is one of the most famous viewpoints in Nepal, perhaps in the world. It stands second after Kala Patthar in the Everest region. You can observe the beautiful mountains along with the different villages and meet different ethnic groups of people. And the best time to visit this beauty is in November and December.

There’s no shortage of truly epic walks in Nepal. I mean, we all know that. But here’s a secret: some of the best can be done with ease. And they provide us with the best Nepal has to offer. So when are you packing for Poon Hill?

Safe trek and enjoy Nepal!