Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek

Easy walk on high hills of Annapurna Himalaya with stunning sunrise over mountains

Trip Facts

  • Destination: Nepal
  • Trip Difficulty: Moderate
  • Group Size: Minimum 02
  • Trip Type: Tea House Trek
  • Food: As Per Itinerary
  • Best Season: March to June | Aug to Dece
  • Transport: Flight & Private Vehicle
  • Trek Start & End: Kathmandu
  • Accommodation: Hotel & Tea House
  • Max Elevation: 3,210m | 10,531ft

Highlights

  • Breathtaking panoramic views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges.
  • Sunrise view from Poon Hill, offers a mesmerizing sight of the Himalayas.
  • Exploration of traditional villages and interaction with the friendly local communities.
  • Rich cultural experiences and insights into the local way of life.
  • Comfortable accommodations in teahouses along the route.
  • Beautiful landscapes including lush forests, terraced fields, and rhododendron forests.
  • Short and easy the trek is perfect for novices and family trekking.
  • One of the best views of the Annapurna Himalayan ranges.

About Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek

The 8-Day Ghorepani Poonhill Trek, organized by Nepal Spirit Adventure, is a short and easy trek that is perfect for families and first-time trekkers. Located in the beautiful Annapurna Sanctuary, this trek offers one of the easiest routes in the region, allowing trekkers to experience the breathtaking Himalayan landscapes without undertaking a strenuous journey.

During this trek, you will explore the picturesque villages of the Annapurna region, interact with the warm and hospitable local communities, and witness the rich cultural heritage of the area. The major highlight of the trek is reaching Poon Hill 3,210m, a vantage point that offers awe-inspiring panoramic views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges, including the iconic sunrise view.

The trail is well-established and does not require any technical skills or prior trekking experiences, making it accessible for people of all ages and fitness levels Throughout the trek, you will stay in comfortable tea houses, where you can enjoy warm meals and experience the local hospitality.

Trek Route Overview


Day 02 of trek group reaching Ghorepani 2,850m/9,350ft

The journey begins from Nayapul, a small town located about an hour's drive from Pokhara. From Nayapul, the trail gradually ascends through picturesque villages and terraced fields reaching our first-day destination Tikehdhunga, while allowing trekkers to immerse themselves in the charming rural landscapes of Nepal. From Tikehdhunga the trail takes you through the astounding 3,767 Ulleri steps and crosses the villages like Ban Thati to reach the Ghorepani.

From Ghorepani, an early morning hike takes trekkers to Poon Hill, where they can witness a breathtaking sunrise over the snow-capped peaks. The sight of the sun illuminating the majestic Himalayas is truly awe-inspiring and leaves a lasting impression.

Continuing the trek, the trail leads to Tadapani, a village nestled amidst rhododendron forests. The vibrant colors of the blooming rhododendron flowers add a touch of beauty to the journey. The trek then proceeds to Ghandruk, a traditional Gurung village known for its rich culture and warm hospitality. Exploring the village and interacting with the locals provides a glimpse into the Himalayas' unique traditions and way of life.

After experiencing the cultural and natural wonders of Ghandruk, the trek concludes with a descent back to Nayapul, passing through scenic landscapes and terraced fields. The journey back allows trekkers to reflect on their incredible adventures and appreciate the beauty of the Annapurna region.

Permits required for the Ghorepani Poonhill Trek

To undertake the Ghorepani Poonhill trek, you will need two permits: the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and the Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) card. The Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) is a mandatory permit that allows entry into the Annapurna Conservation Area. It helps in preserving and maintaining the natural and cultural heritage of the region. You can obtain the ACAP permit at the Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu or Pokhara or the entry points of the conservation area. The Trekker's; Information Management System (TIMS) card is another important permit required for trekking in the Annapurna region. It aims to ensure the safety and security of trekkers by keeping a record of their trekking activities. The TIMS card can be obtained from the TIMS counter in Kathmandu or Pokhara.

Poonhill 3,210m: The Vantage Point


Mt. Annapurna South 7,220m view from Poon Hill
Rising early in the morning and trekking to Poonhill rewards you with a magnificent panorama of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges, including prominent peaks like Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), and Dhaulagiri.

As the first rays of the sun illuminate the snow-capped peaks, the surrounding landscape is bathed in a warm golden glow, creating a truly mesmerizing sight. The tranquil atmosphere at this high vantage point adds to the overall beauty of the experience.

The sunrise from Poonhill is a magical moment that captivates trekkers worldwide. It's an opportunity to witness nature's spectacle as the mountains change colors and come alive with the soft morning light. The panoramic views and the interplay of light and shadow make it a photographer's paradise.

Whether you are an avid trekker or a first-time adventurer, the sunrise and mountain views from Poonhill are a highlight of the Annapurna region trek. It is a cherished memory that will stay with you long after your journey ends.

Inquiry with Trip Booking

You may be interested in doing this trip per your Nepal holiday. Contact one of our local Nepal specialists who can organize this trek for you with an experienced licensed guide, inquiry trek booing your seat for 2024 | 2025.

Suggested Itinerary 2024 | 2025

This trek is often done in 5 days (2 days to reach Ghorepani, and 3 days to return to Nayapul - Pokhara). Keep in mind, however, that much depends on how fast you move and how you like to enjoy your trek. This trek can also be completed in either direction — both ways are equally rewarding. From Pokhara, you'll be transported to Nayapul, where you'll officially begin your trek customized trek itinerary is available as per your travel need after reading our Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek itinerary.

Itinerary

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From the international airport (Tribhuvan) airport pick up is inclusive in the trek package. Arrival in Kathmandu, Nepal! As soon as you come out of the Kathmandu airport, you will find our representative waiting for you in the waiting area right outside the arrival lounge. You will be warmly greeted and welcomed by the representative and led to the vehicle. Our vehicle will take you to the trip hotel, most of the time in Thamel, which is a 20-30-minute drive, depending upon traffic, from the airport.

Check into the hotel, you can take relaxing time on your own as there are no activities scheduled for today, except our trip briefing meeting. We will let you know about the briefing timing upon your arrival overnight in the hotel.

  • Accommodation: 3 Star Hotel
  • Location: Kathmandu
  • Altitude: 1,315m | 4,314ft
  • Transportation: Airport Pickup by Private Vehicle

After breakfast, you'll be driven to Kathmandu domestic airport for a short flight to Pokhara is a scenic mountain flight and will transfer to Nayapul, from where the trek begins! Your first trail will head uphill through fertile farms of rice, maize, and millet fields. Following the main trail of Birethanti, pass by a small waterfall and continue until you reach Sudami where you will stop and have lunch.

Get back on your feet after this midday break and climb steadily along the side of the valley until you reach Tikhedhunga Teahouse for your overnight stay.
Inclusive Food: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

  • Meals: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
  • Accommodation: Tea House
  • Location: Tikhedhunga | Ulleri
  • Altitude: 1,440m | 4,724ft
  • Walking Hours: 5 hours
  • Transportation: Flight & Private Vehicle

Wake up for an early breakfast at your teahouse in preparation for your big climb to Ulleri. The trek begins with a steep stone stairway—3,767 steps to be exact—up the ridgeline, eventually leading you through cultivated fields. Once you've completed this section, the rest of the trail continues through a scenic area of blooming rhododendron blossoms and old oak forests.

Keep climbing uphill until you reach Nangethanti, which is your stop for lunch. Thanti is a Nepali word that means "rest house"; keep in mind that during the winter months, the trail can be covered with snow. Work off your lunch and continue the climb until you get to Ghorepani, a village surrounded by spectacular scenery that's popular with trekkers.
Inclusive Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

  • Meals: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
  • Accommodation: Tea House
  • Location: Ghorepani
  • Altitude: 2,850m | 9,350ft
  • Walking Hours: 6 hours

Start off with an early morning wake-up call and begin your pre-dawn climb to Poon Hill 3210m in just about an hour. This is a spiritual place that provides majestic scenery, especially when the rising sun casts a golden light on the nearby snow-covered peaks like Dhaulagiri, AnnapurnaSouth, Fishtail, and Singa Chuli, to name a few. Grab a masala tea from the coffee shack and enjoy the sublime views with your fellow trekkers.

You'll then return downhill to Ghorepani for a hearty breakfast before continuing a full day of trekking toward the small village of Tadapani. This trail works itself uphill and downhill through a range of landscapes and microclimates, so keep your camera (and warm layers) close.
Inclusive Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

  • Meals: B L D
  • Accommodation: Tea House
  • Location: Tadapani
  • Altitude: 2,640m | 8,661ft
  • Walking Hours: 6 hours

After a lovely morning with views of Annapurna South-Hiu Chuli and Machhapuchare peaks, easy downhill walks to Ghandruk through an enchanting forest of rhododendron-oaks-magnolia and pine trees.  On reaching one of the largest Gurung villages at Ghandruk transfer into a nice lodge with an afternoon free to wander around this lovely village and its museum of Gurung history and culture.
Inclusive Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

  • Meals: B L D
  • Accommodation: Guest House
  • Location: Ghandruk
  • Altitude: 1,940m | 6,364ft
  • Walking Hours: 4 hours

After breakfast in Ghandruk, the trail continues to descend steeply until you get to Syauli Bazar through amazing hillside landscapes, forests, and terraced rice fields. 

Your trek will end at Nayapul where you'll be transferred to your hotel in Pokhara. Even from this urban environment, you'll be rewarded with magnificent views of the Himalayas including Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machhapuchhre, the peaks of Annapurna, and others.

Upon arrival in Pokhara, settle in your hotel and enjoy the afternoon and evening on your own. This relaxed lakeside town is the gateway to the Himalayas, so there are plenty of cool cafés, restaurants, funky shops, and yoga studios that cater to ex-pats and adventure travelers.

NOTE: You may feel tired trekking to Nayapul, nowadays local transportation is available from Ghandruk Phedi to Nayapul you can take a bus, or the jeep transport cost will be an extra charge.
Inclusive Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

  • Meals: Breakfast + Lunch
  • Accommodation: Hotel
  • Location: Pokhara
  • Altitude: 8,20m
  • Walking Hours: 5 hours

After breakfast, you may have time to do more sightseeing, relax, or check out one of Pokhara's coffee shops. About 1.5 hours before your flight, you'll be picked up from your hotel and taken to the domestic airport to catch your flight back to Kathmandu.

In Kathmandu, you'll be transferred to your hotel and can enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening at your leisure. Explore Kathmandu's streets on foot, by bicycle, or by rickshaw, perhaps shopping for souvenirs or seeing anything you may have missed at the beginning of your trip Inclusive meals Breakfast only.

Note: If you want to stay longer in Pokhara our air ticket manager will change your flight to Kathmandu as per your chosen date.

  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Accommodation: 3 Star Hotel
  • Location: Kathmandu
  • Altitude: 1,315m
  • Transportation: Flight & Private Vehicle

Time to say farewell to Nepal. Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu with breakfast in a café, a city stroll, and/or souvenir shopping. A representative will meet you at your hotel and drive you to the airport for your return flight home. Have a safe journey!!

  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Transportation: Airport transfer
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Cost Details

  • International and domestic arrival and departures by private vehicle.
  • Two nights hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast included.
  • Domestic airfare: Kathmandu to Pokhara to Kathmandu by air-inclusive airport tax.
  • One-night hotel in Pokhara with breakfast.
  • Trekking transportation: Pokhara to Nayapul to Pokhara by private vehicle.
  • Twin-sharing lodge accommodation during the trekking period.
  • Trekking daily food: We provide a hygienic meal- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner ( 3 times a day).
  • Applicable permit for Annapurna conservation area.
  • Experienced English-speaking local trek guide including his daily wages, salary, insurance, food, transportation, and accommodation.
  • Trek porter: We provide one porter for two trekkers including his daily wages salary, insurance, food, transportation, and accommodation.
  • Trek equipment: Sleeping bag, duffel bags, and down jacket (return after the trek).
  • A comprehensive medical kit.
  • Travel and rescue arrangements.
  • Government taxes and company service charges.
  • Nepal entry visa: you can obtain a visa easily upon your arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. (a multiple-entry tourist visa good for 30 days can be obtained by paying US $ 40 or equivalent foreign currency. Similarly, multiple-entry tourist visas for 90 days can be obtained by paying US $ 100 (Please bring 2 copies of passport-size photos).
  • International airfare.
  • Travel Insurance.
  • Lunch and Dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
  • All kinds of table drinks such as alcoholic or nonalcoholic (tea, coffee, mineral water, coca-cola, sprite, Fanta, chocolate biscuits, and beer), hot shower during the trek.
  • Personal trekking equipment.
  • Tips for trekking staff and driver (Tipping is appreciated but it is not mandatory).

Dates & Prices

Departure note

Online published trek departure is guaranteed to run the trip, you can also book this trek on an altered date for departure as per your comfort holiday, for more details contact us.

 

Departure DateStatusPriceNote  
02 Dec, 2024 - 09 Dec, 2024AvailableUS$750Confirm
05 Dec, 2024 - 12 Dec, 2024AvailableUS$750Confirm
10 Dec, 2024 - 17 Dec, 2024AvailableUS$750Confirm
13 Dec, 2024 - 20 Dec, 2024AvailableUS$750Confirm
17 Dec, 2024 - 24 Dec, 2024AvailableUS$750Confirm
17 Dec, 2024 - 24 Dec, 2024AvailableUS$750Confirm
20 Dec, 2024 - 27 Dec, 2024AvailableUS$750Confirm
24 Dec, 2024 - 31 Dec, 2024AvailableUS$750Confirm

Useful Information

Accommodations

In the city, we provide a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu and Pokhara with breakfast inclusive. Accommodation on the trek, we provide a twin shared tea-house along the trek, every day our trek crew will provide you clean room where can sleep very well after a 5-6 hour trek.  Most bathrooms are common with squatting (Asian) toilets or Western comfort with sitting toilets. Most of the lodges have hot water for showers but with an extra charge for using hot showers.

Food & Beverages

 During the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek, three meals a day are included in your package. We ensure that you are provided with clean and hygienic food from the local lodge/tea houses along the trek route. The menu at these tea houses offers a variety of options to cater to your preferences.

Breakfast and dinner will be served at the same tea house or lodge, while lunch will be enjoyed along the trail. A staple meal in Nepal, known as Dal Bhat (rice and lentils), is commonly served in every tea house.

Additionally, you can enjoy a range of dishes such as rice, seasonal vegetables, noodles, potatoes, and soups. Some tea houses also offer Western food options like pizza, pasta, and French fries.

Beverages: You can find soft drinks, snacks, and beer in most of the tea houses, and restaurants. Breakfast typically includes a selection of cereals, bread, and egg dishes to start your day on a fulfilling note. We strive to ensure that you have a satisfying dining experience throughout your Annapurna Circuit Trek.

Health and Fitness Required

Health and physical fitness is the most important part of travel and participating in trek and hiking. If you do not have previous trekking experience as required, you can start with a morning walking exercise or cycling for weeks or months before/after booking the trip with us, if you have previous trekking and climbing experience it will add a plus point to the trek chosen, most of the trek is non-technical effort walks.

This trip's highest height gain is 5,545m above sea level. The walk involves lots of ups and downs, walking through local villages, farmlands, terraces, and riverside as long as you have energy walking for 4- 6 hours a day, and if you are qualified for the trek but still require moderate health and fitness. We strongly advise travelers to consult their medical doctor before traveling do a regular check-up and hand the report to us while booking a trip with us.

Our Experience Trekking Guides and Staff with Safety

Nepal mountainous country walk takes you to a remote region, experienced and qualified guides and leaders must accompany you for a safe journey and to make the trip a success. We at Nepal Spirit Adventure employ native trekking guides and porters trained and qualified for this type of trip and have worked with us for a long time.

Our guide provides you with much local information and offers you advice on how to use your free time and coordinate day-to-day events of the tour, although (sometimes) he might need you to understand that if things do not go according to our plan set. Our trek guides are fully trained and licensed by the Nepal Government, and certified by TAAN and the Nepal Mountaineering Association. All our trekking and climbing guides are well qualified and highly experienced with 9- 10 years on this job. We provide training for our staff yearly on medical and climbing, with their efficiency, and cheerful attitude, providing help, information and the needs of the guests of nationalities.

Assuring that all our trips are well managed by an expert team of tourism professionals all our guides have a good knowledge regarding the culture and customs of the routes on trekking and tours, share experiences and cultural insights of the country that’s missed out in travel guide books. During your time with us, you will have time to learn Nepali phrases and other cultural aspects during the journey. As we organize varied treks in Nepal Himalaya, on group trekking we provide a trek leader with an assistance leader on each trekking depending upon the size of the groups.

This ensures safe travel with us as our guide/assistance guides get any health medical problem, we still have other main guides and leaders to run the trip smoothly as per our standard itinerary. To make the trip enjoyable we provide one guide to support and carry your bags among two people with one Sherpa helper in certain conditions.

Re-charging Batteries of Electronic Items on The Trek

We can recharge your batteries and devices with electricity or solar power sources. In Nepal, 220 240 volts 50 MHZ (50 Cycles per Second) power is supplied. Just need to have a plug adapter in case of socket fitting, which you can buy in Kathmandu before the trip since the plugs in Nepal might be different. You might have to pay a small amount of fee/hour for using recharging facilities.

Passport & Visa

All foreign nationals, except Indian citizens, need visas to enter Nepal. Nepalese visas can be obtained from the Nepalese Embassy or consulate in your home country or we can also obtain them at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu upon your arrival. Most of our guests take Nepal Visa after they arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport. To get a Nepalese visa you should bring a valid passport and two passport-size photos. The validity and visa fee are as follows.

Visa Valid Fee

  • 15 days US$ 30
  • 30 days US$ 50
  • 90 days US$ 125

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