Poon Hill Trek is a wonderful opportunity to experience short, easy and most beautiful trekking in the Annapurna region of Nepal. It offers panoramic views of stunning Annapurna Himalayan range while passing through beautiful forests, insightful local Gurung and Magar villages initiating the journey from the beautiful lake city of Pokhara.
At maximum altitude of 3210 meters above sea level, Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is one of the most popular short treks in Nepal.
The views stretches as far as the eye can see – towards Tibet in the north, Dhaulagiri Himal in the west, and Annapurna Himal in the east. The sunrise over the Himalayas is spectacular.
It is among the best introduction to trekking for beginners.
You can enjoy the spectacular views from day-2. With its diverse terrain, amazing beauty and rich local culture, the Poon Hill trek provides a splendid glimpse into the serene and secluded world of the Himalayas.
This trek is suitable for most people without having to worry about altitude sickness. It is a great destination for a week long getaway. The trek can be adjusted as per your schedule.
Anyone who loves nature and beautiful landscape will enthrall you with its astounding beauty and experience.
Trip Highlights
- Beautiful mountain views of the Annapurna South, Mt. Fishtail, Dhaulagiri and many more.
- Discover unique fauna and flora on the way to Poon Hill
- Visit famous settlements such as Ghorepani and Ghandruk
- Cultural monasteries, temples and the Gurung museum
- Pokhara, lakeside city
Permits for Ghorepani- Poonhill Trek
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
Detailed Itinerary
Given below is a detailed Itinerary that gives you an overview of this trek.
Day 01: Drive from Pokhara -Nayapul and trek to Hile.
Altitude: 1430 m
Distance: 43.1 km
Time Taken: 1.5 hours drive to Nayapul, 3 hours hike to Hile
The first day of the itinerary begins at Pokhara. After an early breakfast, we will take a bus ride to the west to reach Nayapul. It takes about 1.5 hrs.
The ride will be a pleasant one because you are already in Pokhara and the views just get better.
If you please, you can also plan your schedule by hiring a private jeep depending on your group as this would be a lot more comfortable than the local buses.
By the time you reach Nayapul, you should be all prepared for your hike.
After about 3 hours of hiking, you will get to Hile. It is a pleasant village, take your time to enjoy the local setting and the beauty of the hustling Modi Khola.
We will rest for the night at a local tea house at Hile.
Day 02: Trek to Ghorepani
Altitude: 2840 m
Distance: 12.9 km
After a hearty local breakfast on day-2, we are all set to hike to Ghorepani. We will pass through Tikhedhunga (1,577m) and Ulleri (2,070m) and Banthanti (2,250m) before we reach Ghorepani.
These are small villages inhabited by the Magar people, a local ethnic group. Oak trees and the rhododendron forests add to the ambiance of this place. The surrounding and the nature is at its best.
More awaits as you reach Ghorepani.
With the increasing number of trekkers every year, you can expect pleasant guesthouses and restaurants. The scenery from Ghorepani is breathtaking. Later in the evening, we will eat in one of the tea house where we will stop to rest.
A beautiful day awaits. You will need to sleep early because our hike starts before dawn.
Day 03 : Early morning hike up to Poon hill and continue trek to Ghandruk
Altitude: 3210m
Day-3 begins before dawn. We will be hiking atop Poon Hill (3210m) so that we can wait for the sunrise and be showered by the musky yellow sunrise. The panoramic walk lasts for about 45 minutes.
The entire trip is planned to witness the spectacular sunrise from this hill. It is absolutely outstanding. No doubt it is so popular.
After breakfast at Ghorepani, we head towards Ghandruk, a mesmerizing village of the Gurung people. The walk should take about 7-8 hours down the hill. We will be descending as we pass through beautiful forest, ridges and small streams.
When we come to a long flight of stone stairs, we are almost there.
After the stairs, we reach Gurung ethnic model village of Ghandruk. Ghandruk village showcases the local culture and rituals.
You can also enjoy the nature and the hospitality served by the people of the village. The traditional attire, houses, kitchen and the food that you eat can only be taken back with you in photographs and in memories.
You can also choose to visit the local Gurung museum where you can try on traditional Gurung attire available for both men and women.
The night is then spent at the local tea house enjoying beautiful traditional music by the Gurung people. Also, you can try local Gurung dishes.
Day 04: Trek down to Nayapul and drive to Pokhara
Finally, it is the last day of our packaged trip. Heading more downwards. Passing through green forests, spotting some rare birds and flowers the trail back to Naya Pul is pleasant and natural. Enjoy your time.
From Nayapul we will then take a ride back to Pokhara and conclude the Poon Hill trek.
At Pokhara, you can enjoy the pubs, restaurants, and spas. The places you saw and missed out at the beginning of the trek awaits you. Or, you can choose to rest along the lakeside.
The Poon Hill trek ends here but you can choose to opt for a connecting package from Pokhara or head back to Kathmandu and finally back home.
Lastly,
3 nights 4 days Poon Hill trek takes you to the alluring beauty of the Annapurna ranges.
This short but extraordinary trek is perfect for any type of traveler and is graded as an easy trek/hike. This is also a spot on your way to the Annapurna Base Camp.
This short trek gives you a chance to rejuvenate and relax in the mountains without putting in a lot of work or pre-planning. But during the peak season you will witness a lot of tourists here because it is short, easy and quite affordable.
If you are willing to shorten or lengthen the trip to fit in as per your schedule, you can contact us. It will be our pleasure to assist you in making your trip a successful one.
