10 day Poon Hill Trek

This ten day holiday includes a 6 day circular trek on one of Nepal's gentler trails and is perfect for families and first time trekkers wanting to experience the Himalayan views of famous iconic mountains with excellent accommodation and food along the way without going to very high altitude. May is considered the best month for the Poon Hill trek when the rhododendrons are in full bloom, but it can be done any time during the trekking seasons from April to June and September to November and although we don't list lots of dates we can organise this for you at any time.

The Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is a circuit in the lower part of the Annapurna Range. The highlight is reaching the summit viewpoint of Poon Hill itself at sunrise and seeing the panoramic views of the famous Annapurna region including Annapurna South, Annapurna I, Annapurna II, III, and IV, Dhaulagiri, Lamjung Himal, Gangapurna, Machhapuchhare and Manaslu.

Trekkers will have a deep impression of this region as the trail travels through rhododendron forest, terraced slopes, paddy fields and lush vegetation. The warm welcome of the local Gurung and Magar villages is equally as enjoyable. Ghorepani itself is a village in central Nepal at an elevation of approximately 2874 meters (9429 ft) within the Annapurna Conservation Area.

This trek is also known as the Annapurna Sunrise Trek and it includes the famous challenge at Ulleri where there are more than 3000 stone steps to ascend. There are also the hot springs at Jhinu to enjoy after a days hike and time spent in the colourful vibrant town of Pokhara, just five hours by road from Kathmandu.

Below is a short clip from independent traveller and film maker vs Tibet which perfectly captures the essence and beauty of this region.

Poon hill sunrise from vsTibet on Vimeo.

SUMMARY OF POON HILL GHOREPANI TREK ITINERARY

Days 1: Arrival into Kathmandu, trek preparation, rest and sightseeing
Day 2: Drive or fly to Pokhara and onwards by road to Nayapul
Days 3 & 4: Trek north to reach Ghorepani at 2850m
Day 5: Early start to watch sunrise over the Himalayan range from Poon Hill (3250m), then after brunch onwards to Tadapani
Day 6 & 7: Trek around the circular route, visiting the Hot Springs at Jhiu then to Ghandruk.
Day 8: Trek to Nayapul, completing our route and travel by road to Pokhara
Day 9: Return to Kathmandu by road / air

It is possible to tailor your itinerary to fly or drive to Pokhara, or too stay there for an extra day to explore this vibrant town. Or to explore the Annapurna region in more depth such as the Annapurna Circuit, the Annapurna Sanctuary or the Upper Mustang region. Contact us for further details or personalised requests.

POON HILL GHOREPANI TREK ROUTE MAP

We travel from Kathmandu to Pokhara by road or air, then by road to Nayapul where the trek starts.  Trekking is through Tikhedunga and Ghorepani, followed by the Poonhill sunrise trek and then onto Tadapani, Ghandrunk and back to Nayapul.

Click on the map for a larger version.

LENGTH AND TERRAIN OF THE POON HILL GHOREPANI TREK

This is a relatively short trek of a 45 kilometre circuit in a clockwise direction climaxing at an altitude of 3250m at Poon Hill. The trek offers spectacular views of deep valleys and magnificent mountains and the perfect taster of what it's like to trek in Nepal.

The trek can have a variety of weather conditions but usually not too extreme and with good kit you will stay dry and warm. The walk is on well-established paths and not too high so altitude shouldn't be an issue. 

The trek provides scenery and cultural diversity of people and land, from passing through charming villages, trekking through the subtropical jungle to experiencing peaceful days trekking.

ALTITUDE PROFILE FOR THE POON HILL GHOREPANI TREK

Click the image above for a larger version

ACCOMMODATION ON THE POON HILL GHOREPANI TREK

Accommodation is in comfortable lodges which are run by local families. Each lodge has a central communal area with a large stove that provides heat and a cosy atmosphere. The bedrooms are unheated and generally have two beds per room with mattresses, pillows and a blanket. You will need to bring a sleeping bag - a 2/3 season is normally enough as there's also blankets and this trek is not overly high and we'd recommend bringing a pillow case. 

The lodges generally have showers which are powered by gas and they mostly use sit down flush toilets (some lodges do also have squat toilets). Food in the lodges is very good quality, a mixture of local Nepali food and western recipes. You will find everything from fresh pastries to beer and soft drinks available in the lodges and shops a Nepal price guide can be found here. There are also many shops selling all types of drinks and snacks, sweets and chocolate. You can also buy any gear that you may need cheaply in Kathmandu.

PACKING LIST FOR THE POON HILL GHOREPANI TREK

Trekking clothes and a warm layers with a 3 season sleeping bag and lightweight trekking boots with good ankle support are recommended for the Poon Hill trek, to protect you against possibly going over on an ankle, heavy boots will be hot and cumbersome. Cross trainers are popular, but extra care is needed to avoid going over on ankles. Hats and gloves, several pairs of comfortable socks, and walking poles for the descents. Also bring waterproof jacket and an umbrella for showers. Some days are very hot in May so you will be trekking mostly in shorts and a Tshirt, and it is important to protect yourself against the sun.

For more complete information about what to bring on a trek to Nepal visit our Nepal Trekking Kit List Guide but the basic idea is to keep you warm, dry, protected from the sun, able to move comfortably in the mountains and be comfortable in the evenings and night. The main points to cover are as follows:-

• BAGS - Rucksack or duffle bag for a porter to carry plus a day pack to be carried by you
• OUTER - Waterproofs to keep off wind/rain (waterproof bottoms are optional) 
• LAYERS - Shirts, trousers, shorts, Tshirts, jumpers and jackets, hats and gloves
• BASELAYER - Thin layers to wick away any sweat and to wear for cold mornings
• FEET - Comfortable boots with a good sole and ankle support. Lighter footwear to change into in the evenings.
• SLEEPING - Warm sleeping bag (3 season) to get a good nights sleep at the lodges (they also have blankets)
• DRINKING - Water bottles should be hard plastic (Nalgene), not throwaway bottles.
• WASHING & MEDICAL - wash kit, towel, small first aid kit
• SUN CARE - sunglasses, sunhat
• TREKKING - trekking poles, umbrella, dry bags
• PERSONAL ITEMS - cameras, books, music

Please note that you can charge your electrical devices easily in the lodges but we recommend bringing a power bank too. You will find many places with phone signal and wifi in the lodges, although you will have to pay for the service.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS) FOR THE POON HILL GHOREPANI TREK

HOW FIT DO YOU HAVE TO BE FOR THE POON HILL GHOREPANI TREK?

The Poon Hill trek is a well trodden path throughout, although it can be rocky and uneven in parts and there are a number of steps to be ascended / descended during the week. It is not precipitous and there is no rock climbing or ‘mountaineering’ which requires specialised equipment.

WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE ON THE POON HILL GHOREPANI TREK?

The best time to trek to Poon Hill is from April to May and September to early December. At this time, the climate is wonderful, the sky clear, and it's not too cold. Expect sunny hot days around 18 degrees Celsius and nights dropping to close to freezing point. At the highest altitude on this trek it will be around 5 degrees Celsius early in the morning.

During the trekking season plan to wear shorts and Tshirts during the day, and long sleeved jumpers with a fleece jacket in the evening and early morning. The lodges are warm in the evening when the fire is made, and the bedrooms are unheated but with a good sleeping bag it will not be cold. There are always blankets to borrow.

WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT DRINKING WATER ON THE POON HILL GHOREPANI TREK?

We have Nalgene water bottles available on our website for purchase and plastic throwaway bottles are banned as they are non biodegradable. The best way to stay safe is to ask the lodge to boil some water for you and fill your bottle, and drink plenty of hot drinks like tea, coffee or hot orange/lemon. Or bring some sterilising tablets like Aquaprove with you or a Steripen.

WHAT LOCAL SUPPORT IS THERE ON THE POON HILL GHOREPANI TREK?

Adventure Alternative Nepal is a licensed trekking agency and has been operational since 1999. We run our treks from a permanently staffed office in Kathmandu and our team provides an excellent service. As well as Pasang Tendi, our other guides include Geljun Sherpa from Bupsa, Tsering Sherpa and Lopsang Sherpa. All of the guides have been employed for over ten years with us, and they have been trained to our high standards personally by us. They know how to deal with medical emergencies and speak good English. They are very attentive and after so many years have a good understanding of the needs of visitors. Check out our team here!

The porters will carry your main bag up to a maximum weight of 12.5 kg and cater for all the group needs, including assisting you if you need to go back down the valley. All the lodges and teahouses are very well equipped, warm and sociable.

Do have a read of our various Blogs about treks in Nepal and also the 'More Information' section, both have tabs on this page and will answer every question you may have! We also have a lot of useful information on our Nepal Preparation page.