• Sep 8, 2019
  • Jeeban Thapa Magar
  • 1529

Poon Hill Ghorepani Trek in the Annapurna Region of Nepal opens up to the beautiful flora and fauna surrounded by the high Himalayas all around. Also called the Annapurna Sunrise Trekking and Annapurna Panorama trekking, it spreads out towards the breathtaking views of Annapurna Massif, Mt. Dhaulagiri, and Mt. Fishtail and the sun slowly rising above it as per the name.

Annapurna Poon hill Ghorepani trek begins from the beautiful city of Pokhara and with short trek leads to Ghorepani and eventually to Poon hill and back to Pokhara from Ghandruk. This short trek takes you to various terrains and introduces you to the ethnic communities coexisting in the region with peace and harmony.

There are alternate routes to the Poon hill Ghorepani trek. The trail we suggest is designed to provide a scenic view of the great Himalayas and place you amidst diverse culture, tradition, and flora and fauna. If you have not been to the Poon Hill Ghorepani Nepal, then it is time that you pack your bags and head to the Annapurna Region for this wonderful and picturesque short trek.

Table of Contents

Highlights- What to expect?

Tour Duration: 07 to 10 days

  •  Trek Duration: 6 days
  • Tour Location: Annapurna Region
  • Destination: Ghorepani, Poon Hill, Ghandruk
  • Beginning Altitude: 1100 m at Nayapul
  • Highest elevation: 3210 m at Poon Hill
  •  Get introduced to the cultures and traditions of Tamangs, Chettris, Magars, Gurungs
  • Panoramic views of Annapurna Massif, Mt. Dhaulagiri, Mt. Machapuchrey
  • Cross the beautiful villages of Deurali, Banthali, Ghandruk
  • Pass through an alpine forest of oaks, pines, and rhododendron

Poon Hill Ghorepani Trek Itinerary

The following is the best-suited itinerary for the Poon Hill Ghorepani Trek. You may also use the alternative Poon Hill Ghorepani trek itinerary.

Option 01:

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu via respective airlines.
Day 02: Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara (860 m) 220 km - 06 hours.
Day 03: Drive to Nayapul (1,100 m) and begin a trek to Hile (1,450 m) - 04 hours
Day 04: Trek to Ghorepani (2,840 m) - 05 hours
Day 05: Morning hike to Poon Hill (3,210 m) for sunrise, then walk to Tadapani (2,520 m) 6 hours
Day 06: Trek to Ghandruk (1,951m) - 04 hours
Day 07: Trek to Pothana (1,900 m) - 05 hours
Day 08: Trek to Kande and drive to Pokhara - 2 hours
Day 09: Drive back to Kathmandu - 06 hours
Day 10: International departure.

Option 02:

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu via respective airlines.
Day 02: Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara (860 m) 220 km - 06 hours.
Day 03: Drive to Nayapul (1,100 m) and begin a trek to Ghandruk (1,951m) - 04 hours
Day 04: Trek to Ghorepani (2,840 m) - 06 hours
Day 05: Morning hike to Poon Hill (3,210 m) for sunrise, then walk to Ulleri and drive back to Pokhara.
Day 06: Drive back to Kathmandu - 06 hours
Day 07: International departure

Poon Hill Ghorepani Trek Cost

Poon Hill Ghorepani Trek cost is cheaper than most other treks of similar duration since it falls in the Annapurna region and is one of the most popular trekking sites. There are many tea houses, lodges, and Homestays along the way so the accommodation cost will not be so high.
A lot of factors might determine the Poon hill Ghorepani trekking cost from the duration, route to the season you are planning to trek. Since the trek may last from 4 to 10 days depending on your requirement, it is one of the most affordable treks. If you chose to take the longer Poon hill Ghorepani trek route then you might have to pay a little extra.
All in all, the total estimate of the Poon hill Ghorepani trek cost lands to somewhere around $ 380 and can rise up as per your requirements. The cost includes your permit, accommodation, and food and drinks. If you coordinate with our agency, you might also be able to trek at an even lower cost.

Poon Hill Ghorepani trek Permit

Since Poon hill Ghorepani trek falls in the Annapurna region, there are certain permits that Non-Nepali tourists will have to pay to trek. The Poon hill Ghorepani trek permits are:

  • TIMS (Trekkers Information Management System) permit: US$ 10 per person
  • ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Entry Permit) permit US$ 20 for an individual, US$ 10 for a group.

 

  • Note that you will be asked to show these permits in the different areas inside the Annapurna Conservation Area. To avoid the hassle of getting the permits, you might as well coordinate with our team members who will provide it to you in the package.

Poon Hill Ghorepani Trek Duration

The Poon hill Ghorepani trek duration can be anywhere from 4 to 10 days. It is regarded to be one of the shortest treks in the Annapurna region. The duration of the trek depends very much on our walking pace, the valleys, villages, and places you want to explore, and your starting point of the trek. Thus it is up to you to decide the duration fo the trek. Also, it is safe to set a day or two for any unforeseen inconvenience that might occur due to political or natural causes.
As the trek route falls on the Annapurna region, travel enthusiasts might want to trek other places of the region and extend their Ghorepani Poon Hill trek duration. In this case, our agency will draft the best Ghorepani Poon Hill itinerary suited for you.

Poon Hill Ghorepani Trek altitude

You will begin your trek from Nayapul which is at an elevation of 1100 m. The highest altitude of the trek is 3210 m at Poon hill. There isn’t a rapid change in the altitude. Thus there is fewer cases of altitude sickness. You might suffer from altitude sickness as the elevation rises above 3000 m. The itinerary sett by our agency is best suited to avoid such sicknesses as far as possible. However, if you are prone to Acute Mountain Sickness then you might as well take some medication as soon as you feel the symptoms kicking in. You should note that the symptoms of AMS include dizziness to the least and nose bleeding, severe headache, vomiting, to the most.

Modes of Transportation

The Poon hill Ghorepani Trek transportation mode can range from flights to drives as per your requirement. If you are a foreigner then you will have to estimate the travel cost for the flights you take to come to Nepal and depart from Nepal.
Apart from that, you will have to reach Pokhara from Kathmandu either by Flight or by local bus, or tourist bus. You might also hire a private jeep if you like. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative you might as well take the local bus or the tourist bus. The tourist bus may cost US$ 10 per person. The local bus is a lot cheaper than the tourist bus. It costs around $ 6 per person. But it is less comfortable and you will also have difficulty catching the local bus. If you are planning to hire a private jeep it will cost you around US$ 120 while a private van will cost you US$ 220. If you do not want the hassle of taking long rides then you might take a flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara and Pokhara to Kathmandu during the trip. It is only a 25 minutes flight and costs you US$ 124 per person. There can be flight delays due to the weather condition but on a clear day, you will see the panoramic views of the Annapurna massif and Mt. Machhapuchrey.

 

Checklist – What will you need?

An important thing to note is that you should not bring any unnecessary equipment with you while traveling to Nepal. The necessary equipment can be hired here in Kathmandu. The following equipment and clothing are necessary for your trek. All of these can be purchased or hired from Kathmandu. You will need the following equipment and clothing for the trek:

  • Travel documents and passport size photos
  • Boots and or trekking shoes
  • Woolen/cotton socks (3-4 pairs)
  • Gloves ( 1 pair)
  • T-shirts/ shirts (4 pcs)
  • Trousers (2 sets)
  • Shorts/tracksuit
  • Fleece jacket
  • Cap (for the day), Woolen hat (for evenings and mornings)
  • Large towels
  • Water bottle
  • Sunglasses
  • Raincoat
  • Walking poles
  • First Aid kit
  • Torch/flashlights
  • Penknife/ Swiss Army knife
  • Scarf/mask
  • Duffle bags (carried by porters or animals)
  •  Rucksack/ backpack
  • Personal hygiene products and toiletries ( female hygiene products are not found easily on the  trails)
  • Wide-brimmed hat (great for protecting your head, face from the sun)

Guide and Porters

Poon hill Ghorepani trek is generally regarded as an easy to moderate trek so you might not really need a porter or guide if you are a Nepali citizen or if you are a fit person. However, it proves to be very beneficial to have porters and guides along with you if you are a foreigner who is not proficient in Nepali culture, tradition, history, and language. The guides can be very helpful in showing the easier path and negotiating with the locals. The porters can easily carry your bags if you are not in the condition to do so.
Our porters are similarly well known about the trek and are at all times fully equipped with gears. The porters are well looked after, and as per the company policy, a single porter will carry a maximum weight of 25 kg. A professional guide usually costs around $25 per day which includes their fee, accommodation, food, and insurance. Also, taking porters and guide will give you the satisfaction of providing employment opportunity to at least a few people while you are here in Nepali.

Accommodation

The Poon hill Ghorepani Trek accommodation generally takes to a tea house or lodges in the Annapurna Region. It is also famously termed as a teahouse trek. The teahouses are very traditional and beautiful and reflect the authentic Nepali vibe. The teahouses provide you with decent food and drinks. It will cost you $ 2 to $ 6 to stay at a teahouse. Poon Hill Ghorepani Trek hotel availability is very slim. The teahouses and lodges in the peak season are fully packed since the Annapurna region is a very famous trekking region so it is best that you take a guide or porter along with you for some negotiation. You might not find all the luxury at these lodges and homestays. They only provide basic necessity like food drinks and beds and a blanket. You might also get a hot shower in some lodges.  You will be facilitated with wi-fi at Ulleri and Ghorepani at $1 or $2. In Kathmandu, however, you will get to stay at a 3-star hotel with all the facilities you require.

Food and Drinks

Food and Drinks are very modest in the Poon hill Ghorepani trekking trail. It is essential to understand that as the altitude increases, the prices of the meals also increase and the availability of delicacies decreases. In Kathmandu, you will receive all the cuisines and drinks that you desire. You will be facilitated with eggs, basic Dal, Bhat, Tarkari, in Poon Hill.
For breakfast, you will be facilitated with Tibetian Bread or Toast, Hash brown potato, and eggs. During Lunch and Dinner, you can choose to eat Nepali staple meal (Dal Bhat and Tarkari), Chowmein, Mo: Mo (Dumpling), Thukpa, Fried potato and more. The staple meal will cost anywhere from US$ 2 to US$ 6.
You will get to taste the local delicacy made from local produce. The food is very basic in the higher altitudes. Drinks that you get in the higher altitudes are mostly hot drinks like tea and coffee. Your drink options are limited to those areas. You can bring your refillable bottles along with you since a one-liter bottle of mineral water costs $1. Buying bottled water each time will cost you a lot so it is adviced that you carry your bottle and fill it up wherever you find a clean spring and use a small water purifying equipment to avoid the risk of contamination.

Best Season for Annapurna Poon Hill Ghorepani Trek

The best Poon hill Ghorepani trek season is known to be from spring to autumn. In this season the weather is generally clear with best views. During this season there won't be heavy rainfall or too cold so it is known to be the best season.

During the winter season, the trail might be covered in snow in the higher altitude. This might cause a problem since the trail might be lost and slippery. Also, you will have to pack a lot of warm clothes which will add to your bag pack.

During the summer season, there might be chances of heavy rainfall which might make the trail muddy and slippery. Also in case of a hot day, it will be difficult to walk.
Weather

Poon hill Ghorepani trek weather is best in the spring and autumn. From February to Mid June and September to November, the weather is neither too hot nor too cold. Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek December weather is really cold so you will have the hassle of packing more warm clothes. On the other hand, July and August are known for heavy rainfall.
So if you want to trek in nice weather with open skies and a fresh breeze for the best scenes then spring and autumn are the ideal seasons to trek.

Safety and Security

The Annapurna Sunrise trek is one of the safest trek destinations. Although there has been occasional news of political instability in Nepal, it does not affect the security of the trekkers in Nepal. The tourism board makes sure that all the tourists, all year round have the utmost safety during their stay in Nepal. Our team members including the guides and porters will help you in any case of uncertainty whether it is natural disasters or political instability. We advise you to prepare yourself with all the necessary equipment and hire a guide and porter if possible. Most of the locals residing in Ghorepani and Poon Hill region are very friendly and helpful. It is also advised that you travel through a taxi or a tourist bus since they are safer alternatives to traveling here in Nepal. This also helps if you cannot stand traffic jam and chaotic and overcrowded vehicles.  It is suggested that you avoid political rallies and that you keep a day or two in case of inconvenience. Since the Annapurna region is a popular trekking region you will find trekkers along the way all year round so you may not worry about being lost. However, it is safe to say that our agency will keep your safety and security in mind. Also, you must follow all the rules that have been set by the tourism board and that our travel agency suggests, then you are good to go.

Poon Hill Ghorepani Trek Difficulty

The Poon hill Ghorepani trek difficulty is moderate to easy. No prior experience of long treks is required for Ghorepani Poon Hill trek itinerary. Apart from that, it is necessary that you train yourself physically prior to the trek. You can indulge in physical activities like swimming, hiking, and running a week before the trek if possible since you will have to climb a lot of stairs on the way to Poon Hill. You will have to walk for around 4 to 6 hours per day and will have to climb a lot of rocky stairs on the way up. Since the highest elevation is only 3180 m, so a fit person is least likely to suffer from altitude sickness. If you ask who the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek is for? The answer would be that except for sick people, small children, and the elderly,  it is for everyone and anyone interested.

Annapurna Sunrise trek or Poon hill Ghorepani trek is one of the most popular trekking destinations in the Annapurna region thanks to the enthusiasm of trekkers, the vistas and the facilities offered by the Annapurna region. From the panoramic views of the soaring Annapurna massif, Dhaulagiri and Mt. Macchapuchrey (fishtail), to the serene forests along the way, the trek is a way to explore all the wonders that Nepal has to offer in its lap.
Among the popular treks in the Annapurna trekking region, you might also be interested in similar treks like Annapurna Circuit trekking, Annapurna Base Camp trekking, Mardi Himal trekking, Ghale Gaon Cultural Trekking, and more which are equally as interesting and lovely as Poon Hill Ghorepani trekking. Or customizable excellent packages can best suit your requirements.
Come and join our Nepal Adventure Team Pvt. Ltd. for Poon hill Ghorepani trek which will take you to the beautiful Annapurna region and leave you stunned by the elegance and splendor of Nepal. We provide safe and fully guided services so that your trek will be one of a kind with all the fun and adventure that you expect.  Poon hill Ghorepani trek is still and will always be one of the best trekking destinations.

For further inquiry please contact us through our live chat, mail or telephone.

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