Annapurna region · Tea house trek
Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek
- Trek
- Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek
- Trek type
- Tea House Trek
- Duration
- 5 days
- Program starts/ends
- Pokhara
- Trek difficulty
- Easy to moderate
- Maximum elevation
- 3,207 m
- Walking duration
- 3 to 7 hours a day
- Group size
- 1–6 people
- Best season
- Mar–May · Sep–Nov
- Accommodation
- Tea house
- Transportation
- Private jeep
- Permits
- Permits Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
From $336 for Adult
Book this trekOverview
The Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is the best-loved short trek in Nepal, and for good reason. In only five days from Pokhara, it takes you up through terraced hillsides, stone-paved Magar and Gurung villages and some of the largest rhododendron forests in the Himalaya, to one of the most famous sunrise viewpoints in the country.
The highlight is the dawn hike from Ghorepani (2,860 m) to Poon Hill (3,210 m). As the sun comes up, it lights a wall of more than twenty peaks, from Dhaulagiri (8,167 m) and Tukuche Peak in the west, across the deep Kali Gandaki gorge, to Annapurna I (8,091 m), Annapurna South (7,219 m), Hiunchuli (6,441 m) and Machhapuchhre (6,993 m) in the east. From there the trail follows a forested ridge to Tadapani and down to Ghandruk, one of the largest and best-kept Gurung villages in the Annapurna region, before a short drive back to Pokhara.
The trek stays below 3,300 m, so altitude sickness is rarely a problem, and the tea houses along the way are comfortable and friendly. You pay for your food and room directly at each lodge, so that money goes straight to local families. It is a great choice for first-time trekkers, families with older children, and anyone with only a few days to spare.
Highlights
- Sunrise from Poon Hill over Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Nilgiri and Machhapuchhre
- Forests of rhododendron, Nepal's national flower, in full bloom in March and April
- The stone staircase from Tikhedhunga to Ulleri, and Magar and Gurung village life
- Ghandruk village and its Gurung museum, with close views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre
- Trek with purpose: a licensed local porter-guide, fair porter wages and insurance, and a share of every trip fee for community projects
Itinerary
A. Outline Itinerary
- Day 1 2,100m
- Day 2 2,550m
- Day 3 2,970m
- Day 4 3,580m
- Day 5 3,580m
- Day 6 1,750m
- Day 7 822m
| Day | Description | Altitude (Meters) | Net Gain/Loss | Trek Duration. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drive Pokhara to Kande, trek to Pitam Deurali via Australian Camp | 2,100 | +1,278 | 1 hr drive, 3 to 4 hrs walk |
| 2 | Trek Pitam Deurali to Forest Camp | 2,550 | +450 | 5 to 6 hrs |
| 3 | Trek Forest Camp to Low Camp | 2,970 | +420 | 3 to 4 hrs |
| 4 | Trek Low Camp to High Camp via Badal Danda | 3,580 | +610 | 4 to 5 hrs |
| 5 | Hike to Upper View Point (4,250 m), optional Mardi Himal Base Camp (4,500 m), return to High Camp | 3,580 | 0 (high point 4,500) | 6 to 9 hrs |
| 6 | Trek High Camp to Siding village | 1,750 | −1,830 | 6 to 7 hrs |
| 7 | Drive Siding to Pokhara | 822 | −928 | 3 hrs drive |
B. Detailed Itinerary
- Altitude: 2,020 m
- Walking: 2 to 3 hours (plus 2.5 to 3 hours by road)
Your porter-guide meets you at your Pokhara hotel after breakfast. A private jeep drives west past Nayapul and up the Bhurungdi Khola valley via Birethanti and Hile to Tikhedhunga (1,540 m). From here you cross a suspension bridge and climb the famous stone staircase, about 3,000 steps, to the Magar village of Ulleri. It is a tough first climb, so take it slowly. In the evening you get your first views of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli. Overnight at a tea house.
- Altitude: 2,860 m
- Walking: 4 to 5 hours
- Altitude: 3,210 m
- Walking: 6 to 7 hours in total
- Altitude: 1,940 m
- Walking: 3 to 4 hours
- Altitude: 822 m
- Drive:5 to 3 hours
After an early breakfast with a last view of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre, a jeep takes you down the winding road via Kimche and Nayapul to Pokhara. Your porter-guide drops you at your hotel by around midday. End of the trek.
Cost and Price
The Cost Includes
- A licensed local porter-guide, one porter-guide for every 2 trekkers, including their wages, food, accommodation and insurance
- Your porter-guide's trekking gear
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
- Private jeep from Pokhara to Tikhedhunga and from Ghandruk to Pokhara
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Pokhara
- Service charge and government tax (VAT)
- A contribution to our community projects
The Cost Excludes
- International flights and Nepal visa fees
- Travel between Kathmandu and Pokhara (tourist bus or flight). We can book this for you
- Hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Food and accommodation on the trek (you pay the tea houses directly, see below)
- Travel and medical insurance. Your policy must cover helicopter rescue up to 4,500 m
- Personal expenses such as drinks, snacks, hot showers, battery charging and Wi-Fi
- Tips for your porter-guide
- Extra costs caused by events outside our control, such as landslides, bad weather, road blocks or illness
Tea houses: pay as you go
You pay for your room and meals directly at each tea house, so 100% of that money stays with the local families who run them. Budget about NPR 4,000 to 5,000 per person per day (roughly US$30 to US$38) for food, a bed and hot drinks. Prices rise the higher you go, and High Camp is the most expensive stop. There are no ATMs on the trail, so bring enough Nepali rupees in cash from Pokhara.
Your porter-guide
Your porter-guide is a licensed, local, English-speaking trekking guide who also carries your main bag (up to 15 to 20 kg for two trekkers). They know the tea house owners on this route, look after your health at altitude, and decide each morning whether it is safe to continue. Please pack light. You carry a small day pack with water, snacks, a warm layer and a rain jacket.
Altitude and fitness
This is one of the easiest Himalayan treks, but it is not flat. Day 1 has a long stone staircase and Day 3 is a full day of up and down. You should be able to walk 4 to 6 hours a day. The highest point is 3,210 m, so altitude sickness is rare, but drink plenty of water and tell your porter-guide if you feel unwell. Travel insurance that includes helicopter rescue is required.
Makalu View Trek Map
FAQs
General
It is easy to moderate. There are no technical sections and the highest point is only 3,210 m. The hardest parts are the stone steps up to Ulleri on Day 1 and the early climb to Poon Hill on Day 3. Most people with average fitness, including older children, can do it.
Our standard itinerary is 5 days from Pokhara to Pokhara. It can be done in 4 days by driving further on Day 1, or combined with Mardi Himal or Annapurna Base Camp for a longer trip.
Spring (March to May) for the rhododendron flowers and autumn (September to November) for the clearest views. Winter (December to February) is also good, with clear skies and fewer people, but nights are cold and Ghorepani can get snow. In the monsoon (June to August) expect rain, leeches and cloudy mornings.
Our package starts from US$370 for 2 adults. On top of this, budget about NPR 3,500 to 4,500 per person per day for food and accommodation, paid directly at the tea houses.
You pay the tea houses yourself, so all of that money goes directly to the local families who run them, not to an agency. It also lets you choose what and how much you eat.
You need an Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), which we arrange and include in the price. The fee for foreign nationals is currently NPR 3,000 per person..
Yes. We can add a night in Ghandruk or a hot-spring stop at Jhinu Danda, reverse the loop, or link it to Mardi Himal or Annapurna Base Camp. Contact us with your dates.
There are no ATMs on the trail, so bring enough cash from Pokhara. Most tea houses offer Wi-Fi, often for a small fee, and mobile data works in most villages on this route.
A warm jacket for the Poon Hill sunrise (it is often near freezing at dawn), a waterproof jacket, comfortable broken-in trekking shoes, a sleeping bag or liner, a head torch, walking poles for the steps, sunglasses, sunscreen, a water bottle and purification tablets, and a basic first-aid kit.
Yes. It is one of the most family-friendly treks in Nepal. We can slow the pace or add an extra night to make the days shorter. Tell us your group's ages and fitness when you enquire.
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