Poon Hill Trek
Trip Overview
The Poon Hill Trek, which is commonly known as the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is one of the most exciting and welcoming trekking routes that resides in the adventurous lands of the Annapurna region. Being one of the most walked tracks in Nepal, this trek is still an underrated destination with an extraordinary panoramic scene filled with cultural amenities. It is considered one of the easiest routes to walk along.
Situated perfectly in the heart of Annapurna Sanctuary, the trek is also famous to travel enthusiasts by the name Annapurna Poon Hill Trek.
While traveling to the lands of scenic views and moderate trails, the initial steps of the Poon Hill trek feature cultural, architectural, and friendly elements along the way. The trek goes through traditional villages, stone-topped passages, and a warm welcome from the native Gurung and Magar communities. Not only does the trek offer a visual kick but it also offers a sneak peek into the life of the locals, their practices, and hospitality.
Friendly approaches from the villagers throughout the journey make it an easier trek experience. Some extra features of the trek also include the rhododendron forests which bloom during the spring season.
When walking during these times, the lush reddish-pink forest lights up the mood and gives motivation to continue the trail. For wildlife enthusiasts, this is the most accessible trek experience that includes different species of birds, Red Pandas, Langur Monkeys, and of course deer.
Residing at a height of 3,210m, the trek provides stunning views of the Annapurna Mountain range and the Dhaulagiri Mountain range at the top.
The morning sun from the vantage point of Poon Hill gives a highlight to the trekkers which rises behind the South of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri with a glowing experience of Mt. Machhapuchhare and Hiunchuli. It only takes an early morning hike to Poon Hill from Ghorepani to experience the magical golden hour.
Our 9-day Poon Hill trek itinerary offers a mixture of nature, culture, and an exciting quest that begins in Kathmandu. We take the journey from the capital through an amazing drive to Pokhara, the tourism capital of Nepal, from where the trek starts and takes us through the rhododendron forests of Tikhedhunga and Ghorepani providing an allrounder once in lifetime experience.
Overall, our 9-day Poon Hill Trek, or the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is curated to provide a memorable experience and an unforgettable adventure.
Highlights
- Visit the authentic Gurung village of Ghandruk
- See the stunning sunrise view from Poon Hill viewpoint.
- Experience the traditions of the Gurungs and Magars.
- Taste the local cuisine of the villages
- Go on an easy yet beautiful experience.
SHORT ITINERARY
1:
Kathmandu arrival
2:
Drive to Pokhara from Kathmandu
3:
Pokhara to Tikhedhunga
4:
Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani
5:
Ghorepani to Tadapani via Poonhill
6:
Tadapani to Ghandruk village
7:
Ghandruk to Pokhara
8:
Pokhara to Kathmandu
9:
Departure day
ITINERARY
While there are many different ways to enter Nepal, one of the most popular ways for any foreign tourists is to come through the gateway of Tribhuvan International Airport. In Nepal, you can get your visa on arrival. For that, you will need to fill in the “Arrival Card”. This form also asks for the number of days that you will be staying in Nepal.
Depending on your days of stay the fare also changes. Currently, the cost of 15 or fewer days is $25-30, 15 to 30 days is $40-50, and 30-90 days is $100-110. Since your trek to Poon Hill and returning should only take us 9 days, you can pay for 15 days. Do note that your international flight costs and visa payment are not part of the Poon Hill Trek package. You will need to cover these fees by yourselves.
After you collect your visa, you can head to the terminal. There some of our staff will be waiting for you. After a short exchange of greetings, the staff will guide you to the hotel that we would have pre-booked for you. We will provide you with a twin room with a bed in the hotel.
All the accommodations you will need during the trek will be covered by our Poon Hill trek package, this includes your stay in cities as well as villages we visit on the trek. This trek package also covers three meals per day, during the trekking days, but any extra meals besides the three meals and other drinks such as alcohol and soft drinks are not part of the package.
During your stay in cities, we will only provide you with breakfast. The package will also cover the transportation fees that we will make throughout the Poon Hill Trek.
We will also need to visit the Tourism Board Nepal to collect the permits that are necessary for the treks. Our staff will help you to collect these permits. We will also have to meet with the guides. The guide will provide you with the necessary information regarding the trek.
The destination for the second day is the Pokhara City. After having breakfast, we will take our bus to Pokhara. We will be traveling around 200 km on the bus, which should take us about 6 to 7 hours. Also, we will have our lunch at a highway restaurant.
While Pokhara has a lot of things to offer to you, we will have to escort you to your hotel in Pokhara. Though you might feel disappointed, we will need to prepare for the trek tomorrow. We cannot afford any physical injuries that can cause trouble during the trek.
If we were not able to collect the trekking permits the day before in Kathmandu, then we can collect the required permits in Pokhara. After that, we will transfer you to the hotel.
If you get bored of just staying at your hotel, then in the evening you can take a short walk along the shore of Fewa Lake. The beauty of this lake is sure to captivate you. Another thing to mention is Macchapuchre. This mountain lies north of Pokhara and the view of this mountain from Pokhara is considered to be one of the most beautiful mountain views out there.
After a quick breakfast, we will leave Pokhara City and head to Tikhedhunga. There are two ways for us to reach Tikhedhunga. One is to take a drive from Pokhara to Nayapul. We will drop off at Nayapul and start our trek to Tikhedhunga. The drive from Pokhara to Nayapul should take us about 1.5 hours and the trekking shouldn’t last more than 5 hours. Another way is to drive directly from Pokhara to Tikhedhunga.
Anyway, we will take a short break in Nayapul for lunch. After lunch the you can make the choice for which of the two paths you want to take. While driving all the way is definitely the easier option, trekking will provide you with an idea of what the trail we will be taking will hold.
Tikhedhunga (translated to, Sharp Stone) is situated at an elevation of 1,555 meters (5100 ft) above sea level. This small village is located beside Bhurungdi Khola. You will need permits to continue your journey to Tikhedhunga village. Our guide will provide you with these permits (TIMS permit and Annapurna Conservation Area permit) either in Kathmandu or Pokhara, so the only thing you need to be careful about it is to not lose those permits.
For we will be spending our night in Tikhedhunga, one thing you should not expect is the same sort of luxury you experienced in Kathmandu and Pokhara. At this point, we are in rural areas of Nepal where you cannot enjoy the same sort of facilities and services because of limitations in transportation. The same goes for the areas we will travel through for the next few days.
If you had trekked your way through Nayapul to Tikhedhunga the day before, you might have noticed the sheer number of steps that you had to climb. Those steps were just the beginning and things get far more harder on this day.
Another thing to consider in this trek is the presence of Rhododendrons. We have noticed that during the spring season when the Rhododendrons are blooming, many trekkers would find themselves immersed in the beauty of this vibrant red forest.
This greatly decreased the fatigue among the trekkers. To add the icing on the cake, the panoramic views of the surrounding mountains including the Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna will provide you with peace of mind and give you motivation which improves your physical prowess.
The entire trek from Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani should last for about 7 hours. The village of Ghorepani is situated at an elevation of 2,874 meters (9,429 ft) above sea level. The trek to Ghorepami itself should already be tedious and the next day we are supposed to wake up as early as possible, so after reaching the village we recommend you take a rest.
You are allowed to roam around the village and enjoy the cool air along with the beauty of nature. After dinner, you will need to head to bed early for you don’t want to miss what comes the day later.
The Poon Hill (3,210 meters) is the highlight of this trek and is famous for its sunrise. The heavenly scene that can be seen from Poon Hill is meant to be a part of your best memories. When the first rays of the sun hit the mountains, the silver mountains will glow with a hue of red and gold. This creates a majestic scene that will be immortalized in the depths of your memory.
The trek from Ghorepani to Poon Hill should take us about 1.5 hours and we need to reach there before sunrise. Since we don’t want to miss such a beautiful sight, you will need to sleep early the day before and expect to be awakened early in the morning.
After visiting Poon Hill, we will return to our hotel. With the discussion of what you have witnessed a few hours prior we will take our breakfast or lunch. Then, we will continue our trek towards the village of Tadapani.
Tadapani (translated to, Far Water) is a small village situated at an elevation of 2,700 meters (8,860 ft) above sea level. This village is famous for its camping trails. One thing to notice is the eerie call of Satyr Tragopan which can be heard while you are staying in this village.
The next day, we will head to the Ghandruk Village. The trek from Tadapani to Ghandruk is famous for the oak and rhododendron forests that cover the majority of the trail. In the right season, the sea of red rhododendrons will relieve you of all the physical exertion that you might feel from the days of trekking.
Ghandruk village (2,012 meters) is famous for its culture and hospitality. This village is mainly inhabited by the Gurung people. Blessed by nature and the people, the Ghandruk village is a great place to stay for a night. Because of this, there is a unique atmosphere around the village that you will come to appreciate later on.
The village is also a point where many other trekking routes including Annapurna Circuit Trek, Annapurna Base Camp Trek, and others meet. So, you can go around the village and interact with the people who hold the same interest as you.
Ghandruk also has a Gurung museum. If you are curious about the history of the Ghandruk Village, the tradition of Gurung, and the contribution of Gurung as a Gurkha soldier then you can visit this museum. This museum consists of ancient artifacts, tools that the people in the village use, documented histories, and many more.
Ghandruk often hosts a cultural performance within the village. Since, we will be staying in Ghandruk for a night, if you happen to encounter one of such performances, we recommend you become an audience for the performance or you can participate in it. These performances showcase the vibrant attire of the Gurung community along with melody passed from generation to generation throughout the centuries.
The next day, we will leave Ghandruk behind and head to Pokhara. This time we will be taking a jeep so if you are tired from all those days of trekking then your legs will appreciate it.
After reaching Pokhara we will soon transfer you to your hotel. From there on onwards you can simply rest in the hotel, or you can go visit around Lake Side. This will be a perfect time for you to buy souvenirs to take back home. You will be able to find many hand-made goods in Pokhara which are of high quality. Along with that, there are many local cuisines that you might want your family and friends to try back at home.
The nightlife of Pokhara is pretty vibrant. You can also treat yourself to some fancy dinners or join various nightclubs where you can enjoy some modern music or traditional music of Nepal.
If you wish to stay for more nights in Pokhara then you can do so but at your own expense. As mentioned earlier on the trekking any accommodation besides the planned one is your personal expense and our Poon Hill Trek package won’t cover it. You can spend your additional day in Pokhara exploring various popular sites in Pokhara. We can say that the extra money you will spend in Pokhara will be worth it.
Departing from Pokhara, our destination will be Kathmandu, the place where the journey itself started. Similar to Pokhara, you will be spending a night in Kathmandu which means that you will get yourself time to hit the streets to find yourself more souvenirs to take back home.
The things we stated for Pokhara are also correct for Kathmandu and we will leave the decision to you. But, we can say for sure that the experiences between Kathmandu and Pokhara are totally different from each other.
Every journey has its end. We hope that you will enjoy the journey. This Poon Hill Trek challenges us with countless steps but rewards us with one of the most beautiful scenes out there in the world.
After escorting you to the Tribhuvan International Airport, we will bid farewell to each other. If you enjoy the journey then we hope that you will come back to us or recommend us to those who are interested in trekking through the Himalayas in Nepal.
How does our Poon Hill Trek start?
Upon reaching the Kathmandu airport, the capital of Nepal, you will be welcomed by our representative and will be picked up from the airport by private vehicle and transferred to your hotel this afternoon. Then you will get some time to relax. You can also check out some streets in the Thamel region and enjoy the beautiful, lively streets.
There are two options to get to Pokhara from Kathmandu: either take a drive for almost 200 km from Kathmandu or take a flight for nearly 30 minutes. You will get to explore the greenery of the mountains and the colorful houses throughout your whole journey from Kathmandu to Pokhara.
The Poon Hill Trek starts from Nayapul, which is nearly an hour’s drive from Pokhara. You will start hiking from Nayapul and get to enjoy the beautiful local villages and the terrace fields. The journey will be continued until you reach Tikhedhunga and spend the night there.
Difficulty
In terms of the difficulty, the Poon Hill Trek is one of the easiest trekking destinations you can undertake. The Poon Hill Trek is relatively short and you do not have to hike long hours during the trekking days:
The trail has some ‘ups and downs’ along its length, but the ascents are not very sharp and the gradient is never too steep. The path is unreliable in certain sections, especially where there are steep stone-grey steps, such as on the approach to Ulleri. On balance, however, it is a relatively feasible trekking route for most individuals of low to moderate fitness levels.
The top point of the destination for the Poon Hill Trek is none other than Poon Hill, which is located at an elevation of about 3,210 meters or 10,532 feet above sea level. However, it is not very high by mountain trekking standards. The trek starts from Nayapul, which is located at a height of about 1,070 m (3,510 ft) above sea level.
Altitude Sickness
Due to the altitude, one may develop mild signs of acute mountain sickness, such as headaches, dizziness, or shortness of breath. Altitude sickness is a tricky thing, and to avoid getting attacked by it, one must spend some time at a higher altitude and start climbing gradually. But since we do not travel to a concerning altitude during this trek, you do not need to worry about altitude sickness that much.
Distance and duration
The Poon Hill Trek is considered to take about 4-5 days usually, but it depends on the itinerary adopted and the pace of the trek. The walking average is 5–6 hours per day, and the distances covered range from 8–12 km (5-7 miles) per day. The daily distances are reasonable; one can watch the scenery, and get some good sleep at night.
By observing weather patterns, it is crystal clear that they influence the level of difficulty of this type of activity. These are the periods from March to May considered ‘Spring’ and ‘September-November’ for ‘Autumn’, where weather is relatively stable, and there are few probabilities of rain, wind, and uncertainty in temperatures.
Yes, occasionally, in the winter months and particularly during the period between December and February, the temperatures may be quite low and the trail may have snow on it. The months between June and August become rainy and wet, and although there is a relatively good trail duration, there might be slippery parts, hence interrupting the view.
Permits and fees
Like for any other trek, you need to get a permit and a TIMS card. Both can be obtained at the Tourist Information Center in Pokhara or Kathmandu. The offices are open Monday through Friday and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm and closed on Saturdays. The cost is NPR 5,000 (US$38).
To get the TIMS card and the Annapurna Sanctuary permit, you will need your passport, insurance, 4 passport-sized photos, and a contact person in Nepal.
To get the TIMS card,
- Fill out the form that you get at the counter (name, insurance number, passport details, address in Nepal, contact information, etc.)
- Take a photo. In the Pokhra Office, you don’t need to bring your own photos; they take them right there for free. 4 passport-size photos.
- Give the filled-out form and 2 photos and pay NRP 2000 or US$15 per person, paid only in cash in Nepalese rupees at the counter.
To get the Annapurna Sanctuary Permit,
- First, after getting your TIMS card, get a new form
- Second, fill in the form
- Third, hand the filled-out form, your passport, 2 photos, and NRP 3000/US$23 per person paid only in cash in Nepalese rupees at the counter.
Accommodations, foods, and drinks
The accommodation is in small teahouses or lodges along the trekking route with available basic facilities. These teahouses provide the bare essentials of services, food, and shelter as they accommodate visitors in rooms designed for two or many people sharing the room.
The normal accommodation has 2-3 beds sharing a washstand or a bathroom with hot water, charging a little extra. There is a blanket provided by the tea houses, but it is recommended that you bring your sleeping bag with you.
There are a number of trekking teahouses present in the Poon Hill trek package, which provide facilities for different Nepali as well as continental foods for the trekkers. Simple Nepali flat rice with lentil soup, momo, and noodles will be offered in common Nepali cuisines.
Also, you can order such meals as pasta, pizza, soups, sandwiches, and even some Western breakfast specialties. When you start moving upwards, you may be shocked to realize that food prices have risen, probably due to several factors such as transportation costs and the already limited stock of food that has reached those regions.
Drinks: Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, soft drinks such as Coca-Cola, Sprite, and mineral water are some of the drinks served in the teahouses that include tea. It is also necessary to highlight that the price of bottled water is rising as one goes up through the trekking zone, so it is better to pack a reusable water bottle.
This limits the usage of plastics and plays a big role in helping to save more money as compared to the traditional methods of packaging in plastic
Some additional food items can be carried with you during the Poon Hill Trek like some provisions and energy bars to be consumed with meals on the trek. One must also ensure that one takes as many fluids as possible on the Poon Hill Trek, as dehydration can be fatal.
Teahouse accommodation ranges from $10 US to $35 US per night, depending on the season and region. A word of caution is that, apart from dollars, one may wish to carry some cash in Nepal’s official currency, Nepalese rupees, as credit cards are known to be somewhat restricted in some places.
Transportation
The transportation facilities that will be provided to you as per the Poon Hill Trek package are pick-up and drop-off from the international airport, as well as transportation fares from and to the destination.
Your extra expenses
The expenses that the Poon Hill Trek package will not cover are your international flight fare, alcohol, soda, hot water shower, wi-fi, extra meals, travel insurance, medical insurance, rescue services, and anything not mentioned as inclusive in the Poon Hill Trek package.
Photo & Video
There is no age limit for the Poon Hill Trek, which is suitable for any age group due to the average difficulty level and manageable hiking hours.
For entry through the air, you can obtain a tourist visa through the Nepalese embassy or consulate prior to travel or obtain an on-arrival visa at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. You also don’t even have to fill out online visa application forms as you will get a physical copy of the form once you arrive at the airport. The administration of Nepal has put in place visa-on-arrival services for most international travelers visiting Nepal by air.
The limitation set on the amount of load any individual hiker is capable of carrying is 8 kg. What this means is that if your luggage exceeds the maximum weight limit, you will be charged extra.
Although Poon Hill Trek is a short and easy trek compared to Everest or Annapurna Base Camp, it is essential to have travel insurance while trekking in this area. You may come across unpredictable situations—accidents and altitude sickness are quite common while trekking in the high Himalayas.
You do not need to include helicopter evacuation in your policy. But make sure to get insurance that covers all the medical charges, natural disasters, trip cancellations, and theft.
Yes, this Poon Hill Trek can be extended. Dhampus is a popular addition to the original itinerary and you can also choose to spend a couple of days in Pokhara.
Yes, people in their 50s can join this trek given that they are physically sound and can walk for miles without any discomfort.
Reviews
REVIEW REQUESTS
Enter a recent customer’s contact info and we’ll ask them to leave you a review.
Why Book With Us?
- Best Quality Services:
- Have a Big Group? We can help.
- Feasible Itineraries
- We prepare as budget friendly.
- Local Expertise and Community
- Best Quality Logistics
- Personalized Attention
- Easy Booking and Cancellation
Similar Tours
