Poon Hill Trek
- Trip Code: N-AT-124
- Destination: Nepal
- Season: From Sep to Dec & Feb to May
- Max Altitude: 3210 meters/ 10531 feet
- Trip Starts/Ends: Kathmandu/Kathmandu
- Transportation: Private Car and Tourist Coach.
- Accomodation: Standard hotel in Kathmandu & Pokhara & Tea-house in Trekking
- Trip Grade: Easy to Moderate
Trip Overview
Poon Hill Trek is a rewarding short trip to Annapurna zone of Nepal. This trekking allows discovering a majestic view of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna Himalayan range only after short days of hiking. Mount Dhaulagiri and Annapurna I are the seventh and tenth tallest mountain in the world.
Poon Hill trekking also presents to explore the distinctive flora and fauna of mountain area. Furthermore, it also grants you to learn more about simple but happy rural Nepalese lifestyle.
Generally, Poon Hill trek is very popular amidst the people who have limited time but are craving to experience splendor beauty of Nepal Himalayas. Poonhill Trekking is also popular in the names of Annapurna Sunrise Trekking, Short Annapurna Trekking, and Ghorepani Trekking.
The gateway of the Poonhill trek is Pokhara. It is 200 km west of Kathmandu. From Pokhara, it takes 1-hour drive to Nayapul. The trekking starts from Nayapul with walking along the bank of Modi Khola to reach Birethanti village. Then the trail climbs steadily up the side to reach next village is called Tikhe Dhunga. The ascent continues getting to Ghorepani through fine forests of oak and rhododendrons. In the spring season rhododendrons bloom in the forest. Thus, at this time whole hill actually turns into the gardens of beautiful flowers mostly in red color.
Afterward, the trail moves towards Ulleri. This is the village of Magar community. The visit of this hamlet gives different cultural experience to all. After passing this village sooner you reach Ghorepani. From Ghorepani, the hiking to Poonhill at an elevation of 3210m provides an enchanting view of the sunrise over the high Himalayas. After the visit of Poonhill, the trail again follows to the pine and rhododendron forest. Next, it passes few other villages and brings to experience culture of Gurung society in Ghandruk village.
In Ghandruk visit of Gurung Museum and local hospitality provide extra relish to this trip. This village also offers dazzling views of Mount Fish Tail, Mount Annapurna South, and Mount Himchuli. From Ghandruk the trail follows downhill all the way to Birethanti. It’s really exciting to stepping onto a staircase paved with stone slabs. Finally, the trekking ends at Naya Pul. Then it drives to Pokhara following to Kathmandu.
About Trip Date of Poon Hill Trek
The perfect time of Poonhill Trekking is from Mid Sept to Mid Dec and from Mid Feb to end of May in the year. During this period daytime is sunny and warm with outstanding views. Trekking to Poon Hill in winter (Dec, Jan, Feb) is also possible but temperature during winter could be too cold. Similarly, trekking in the summer season (June, July, Aug) will be affected by rain/monsoon.
The trip departure date of Poon Hill Trekking will be on any date which you feel comfortable.
About Optional Activities for Poon Hill Trek
Poonhill Trek is an excellent trekking holiday in Annapurna region of Nepal. You can make it further exciting by joining in extra activities/ side trips. As the interest of people is different from each other, we have put these extra activities as optional tours. They are not included in your package cost of Poon Hill Trek. On your request, we offer you. The list of optional activities is displayed in right column.
For any further information and queries about Poon Hill Trekking, please feel free to contact us.
Itinerary
Our tour officer will be receiving you at Tribhuvan International airport, Kathmandu. He/She will be displaying play card with your name written in it outside the airport terminal. He will meet, greet and welcome you with auspicious garland and escort you to your respective hotel by our private tourist vehicle. At the hotel, he will assist you to check in and do a pre-trip meeting with you. You will be briefed about your overall program, introduced your guide and clear your questions/queries if any. During the meeting please clear the due balance and handover a readable copy of your travel insurance policy. Overnight at hotel.
Our trekking guide will pick you up at the hotel at 6:15 am and escort you to the bus station. The bus to Pokhara leaves at around 7:00 am. This is 7 hrs scenic drives through mountain terrain. On the way, the bus stops for half an hour for lunch. Then drive continues till you reach Pokhara. Pokhara is a beautiful valley and gateway to Annapurna Trekking. Evening you enjoy strolling around Lakeside street market. Overnight at hotel.
After breakfast, you will take a 1-hour drive to Nayapul. Nayapul is trekking starting point of Annapurna Base Camp Trip. From here you follow the steep trail leading down to a bridge. Crossing the bridge after 25 minutes walking along the Modi Khola you arrive at Birethanti, a large village with many tea houses. From Birethanti you pursue the left trail that goes through bamboo forests and past a large waterfall and swimming hole. The trail stays on the north bank of the Bhurungdi Khola to Baajgara. After passing a pasture the trail reaches Sudami then climbs steadily up the side of the valley to reach Hille (1510m). From Hille, after 15 minutes of climbing, you arrive at Tikhedhunga. Overnight at a mountain lodge.
The day starts crossing the Tikhedhunga Khola (stream) on a bridge then drops and crosses the Bhurungdi Khola on a large bridge. The trail climbs very steeply on a stone staircase to Ulleri (2080m), the large Magar village. From this village, the trail climbs gently through pastures and cultivated fields then through deep forest to Banthanti (2250m). Beyond Banthanti there are magnificent oak and rhododendron forests. The trail crosses two streams, a small ridge, and another stream before making the short climb to Nangathanti (2460m). Leaving this place after an hour of walking you arrive at Ghorepani. Overnight at a mountain lodge.
Today early in the morning, before dawn, you start an hour hiking to Poon Hill, at an elevation of 3,210m, the viewpoint that provides an enchanting sunrise view over the high Himalayas and also the great views of Dhaulagiri (8167m), Annapurna South (7219m), Annapurna I (8091m), Tukuche (6920m), Nilgiri (6940m), Hiunchuli (6441m) and Tarke Kang (7193m). After enjoy of this mesmerized sceneries you hike down to Ghorepani, take a hot breakfast, then follow the path to chautara (resting place for porters). You keep climbing to stroll along the ridge in pine and rhododendron forests reaching a crest at 3210m then descend to Deorali. The descent continues to Banthanti. Here the trail crosses the stream and starts climbing. After some ups and down passing through the forest you arrive at Tadapani. Overnight at a mountain lodge.
From Tadapani the trail follows a steep descent through the dense rhododendron forest. When the rhododendron trees are in bloom these forests actually turn into gardens of dazzlingly beautiful flowers mostly in red color. Depending upon the season of travel, you will be pleasantly surprised by the sight of some cherry blossoms in bloom on the slopes. Then you enter to Ghandruk village. This village is the 2nd largest settlement of Gurung people. From here you will enjoy stunning views of Mt. Fish Tail, Mt. Annapurna South and Mt. Himchuli and also experience rich cultural traditions of Gurung people at the Gurung Museum. Overnight at a mountain lodge.
Leaving Ghandruk you descend to a stream and water driven mill. After short walks, you find trail junction. You follow the path to Birethanti dropping at first on a staircase, then passing through high above the river on a stone paved trail. After crossing a stream at Chane you continue to Kimche (1640m). Then you follow the ridge downhill to join the Modi Khola at Syauli Bazaar (1140m). From here the walking is flat. The path follows the river valley through a birch forest and rice terraces. Soon after you reach at Birethanti (1000m) and from it’s a 30 minutes’ walk to Nayapul. From Nayapul you take a 1-hour drive to Pokhara. Overnight at hotel.
After breakfast, you walk to tourist bus station with trekking guide. The bus leaves Pokhara at 7 A.M. You will reach Kathmandu around 2 pm. The rest of the day at leisure/ you can do some last minute souvenirs shopping for your family and friends. Evening you will be offered farewell dinner with Nepali cuisines and cultural dances at typical Nepali Restaurant. Overnight at hotel.
The trip concludes today. Our tour officer will drop you at Kathmandu International Airport for your flight departure from Nepal.
Travel Tips
The best season and most favored time of Annapurna Panorama Trekking (Poon Hill Trekking) are autumns (From mid-September till mid-December) and spring (From the beginning of March until mid-May). During this period day time is sunny and warm with outstanding views. At this time the temperature in the day is between 10 C to 30 C. The nights are often cold with a temperature between 5 C to 0 C. In winter (Dec, Jan, Feb) Poon Hill Trekking is also possible but temperature during winter could be harsh for most people. Trekking in the summer season (June, July, Aug) will be affected by rain/monsoon but the Summer trek could be an advantage for a keen botanist.
The best season and most favored time of Annapurna Panorama Trekking (Poon Hill Trekking) are autumns (From mid-September till mid-December) and spring (From the beginning of March until mid-May). During this period day time is sunny and warm with outstanding views. At this time the temperature in the day is between 10 C to 30 C. The nights are often cold with a temperature between 5 C to 0 C. In winter (Dec, Jan, Feb) Poon Hill Trekking is also possible but temperature during winter could be harsh for most people. Trekking in the summer season (June, July, Aug) will be affected by rain/monsoon but the Summer trek could be an advantage for a keen botanist.
We would offer you the meeting and greeting service in Kathmandu International Airport on your arrival time. For this, you need to pass us your International flight details at least 2 days before your arrival date in Kathmandu. After you get down from the aircraft you just pass on the Customs and come out of the Terminal building where you will see our tour officer standing with your name board. He will greet and welcome you with auspicious garland and escort you to the hotel.
Poon Hill Trekking does not require tremendous logistics in terms of accommodation as you will find plenty of clean and friendly lodges along the trail. Lodges typically offer a room with a wooden bed with a simple mattress or foam pad, a cotton pillow, and a blanket or quilt. A few have electric lights and all have a spacious dining room-lounge. We will accommodate you and your group in local lodge available each day. We send a porter ahead of us to book the required rooms for you (here rooms cannot be booked in advance).
In the case of Kathmandu and Pokhara, we offer you tourist standard hotel under 3-star categories unless it is mentioned otherwise or clients have a special choice.
In the trail of Poon Hill Trekking, it’s commonly available for Authentic Nepali meal: Dal Bhat (rice with lentils soup and seasonable vegetables), noodles, pasta, chapatis, eggs, French fries, porridge, and muesli. The restaurant of lodges also serves Tibetan foods like momo, thukpa, chowmein, along with pizza, spring rolls, pancake and another continental as well as Indian foods.
Tea and hot lemon are traditionally the main drinks on the trail though coffee is found everywhere. Bottled soft drinks, bottled water, and even beer are common along the route but the price of each bottle rises each day when you move upward.
The trekking team who will go with you is the most significant thing that makes your Poon Hill Trekking successful, enjoyable and memorable. We would provide you skilled, experienced, courteous, knowledgeable and helpful trekking guide and porters. The trekking guide leads you on the trail and brief you all the about this route and porters carry your luggage. Our all trekking guides are carefully selected in terms of their appropriate experience, leadership skills and their knowledge about local culture, ecosystem, geography, flora and fauna, and history. With aim of sustaining local communities, we only employ local people as trekking guide and porter. Our all trekking guides are certified by Nepal Government, Ministry of Tourism. We manage trekking team such a way that one trekking guide in each group and porters like one porter for two trekkers.
During the trek, your main luggage will be carried by porters or pack animals (usually yaks or cross-breeds). You simply carry a day pack with water bottle, camera, sunscreen, spare jacket, etc. – a small load that allows full enjoyment of the trek. A trek bag is ideal for your main luggage, plus a small lockable bag for travel clothes or anything that you do not need during trek which you can leave at hotel’s locker room in Kathmandu for free of charge.
Every morning, first of all, packing your bags and then have a hearty breakfast at the lodge restaurant. Then set off on the day’s walk. After walking for 3-4 hours you all stop for lunch in local restaurant. Then continue walking to your destination. After lunch, it’s the only couple of hours walking. You usually arrive at your destination in the time of afternoon tea. Check in at the lodge. The rest of the day is at leisure. At the free time, you may explore surrounding village, do a bit of washing or simply relax by reading books and writing a diary. On some days you will arrive at your destination by lunch time and entire afternoon will be free. Most people also spend free time by playing cards and other games reliving the day’s adventures. Then in the evening have a dinner and you will be briefed by your trekking guide about your next day’s walking and then go to your bed for well-earned sleep.
Poon Hill Trekking is an easy trek suitable for any passionate walkers who able to walk 4 to 5 hours a day with a light day pack. Walking in higher altitudes is more physically demanding than walking in lower altitudes; however, if you are in excellent health with average physical fitness and have a positive attitude, self-confidence, and strong determination, you can do this trek successfully. Exercising and jogging regularly for some weeks prior to the trip is a good idea to enhance your strength and stability. Past hiking experience would be an asset but no compulsorily required for this trip. It is vital for participants with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung, and blood diseases to consult their doctor before taking the trip.
We believe casualty and a serious sickness will not happen on the trip. If it happens we will do everything to transfer you to the nearest hospital. Since all the expenses incurred in evacuation liable to you please make sure that it is covered by your insurance before assigning for it or be prepared to pay on your own after getting back to Kathmandu.
We strongly advise you to take travel insurance before joining a tour which should cover medical expenses, emergency repatriation and helicopter evacuation at high altitude places and loss of your luggage. We would request you to bring your insurance documents when you come to Nepal.
The following list is a guideline to help you pack for your trekking. The weight limit for your luggage is 15 kg or 33 pounds. Remember that your luggage will be carried by our porter. However, you are required to carry a small day- pack with your valuables or anything important. We advise you pack only what is necessary.
Important Items : Airline tickets; Valid passport; 2 extra passport size photos; Photocopy of your passport; Insurance paper; Dollars, Pounds or Euros in cash for purchasing Nepalese visa at Kathmandu airport, for paying at restaurants and hotels, for gratuities, snacks and to purchase your own drinks and gifts; Credit Card (Visa/ Mater Card) for withdrawing cash from cash machines if needs.
For Head: Sun Hat; Bandana or head scarf; Headlamp with extra batteries; Sun Glasses with UV protection.
For Upper Body: Shirts (1 half sleeve and 2 long sleeves); Lightweight thermal tops; Fleece Jacket or Wool Sweater; Wind Cheater jacket; Down Jacket
For Lower Body: 1 pair of lightweight thermal bottoms; 1 pair of fleece or woolen trousers; 1 pair of waterproof shell pants and 1 pair of hiking trousers.
For Hands: 1 pair of lightweight wool or fleece gloves and 1 pair of lightweight poly-liner gloves.
For Feet: 2 pairs of thin inner socks; 2 pairs of poly or wool socks; 1 pair of Hiking boots (sturdy soles, water resistant, ankle support); 1 pair of running shoes and/or sandals.
Other Useful Items: 1 sleeping bag (good to -20 degrees C or 28 degrees F); Rucksack and Travel Bags; 1 large duffel bag *; A small daypack/backpack for carrying your valuables; Small padlocks for duffel- bags; 2 large waterproof rucksack covers (optional), Digital camera; 2 water bottles (1 liter each); disposable rubbish sacks; Toiletries: 1 medium-sized quick drying towel; Toothbrush/paste; Multi-purpose soap; Deodorants; Nail clippers; Face and body moisturizer; Tissue /toilet roll; hiking poles, snack food (chocolate/ biscuits); umbrella; reading book or pack of cards (for leisure time during trekking).
Medical: Your daily taking medicine if any; small personal first aid kit; Aspirin, plasters (band-aids); Sunscreen; lip balms; Anti-diarrhea pills; Anti-headache pills; A cough and/or cold medicine; Anti-altitude sickness pills: Diamox or Acetazolamide; Stomach antibiotic: Ciprofloxacin.
Note: * mark item we will provide you in service. If any items are not available in your hometown you can buy in Trekking Store in Kathmandu before you embark for trekking.
The itinerary for each trip should be taken as a guideline only. Depending on the situation, you can modify it to some extent after consulting with your guide. However, the date of trip ending should always coincide with the original itinerary.
Kindly keep in mind that sometimes unforeseen events may contribute to the need for a change in itinerary. In such cases, we or your guide will suggest the best alternative similar to your original.
Naturally Annapurna Region is so beautiful but equally, it is fragile as well. Increasing population density and numbers of trekkers threaten the very beauty of this area. We at Silver Himalaya Adventures are extremely conscious about protecting its beautiful natural environment and preserving the fascinating local culture. We are doing our level best to minimize our impact as much as possible. Our all trekking guides and porters are well trained and motivated to following guidelines of responsible tourism and eco-friendly tourism. In trekking, they also advise you do’s and don’ts to minimize your impact on the local environment.
In addition to your Trekking trip, you can join in various side Trips in Nepal like a cultural tour of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Jungle Safari in National Park, White Water Rafting in Himalayan Rivers, Golfing, Adventure activities like Bungee Jumping, Altra Light Flight, Paragliding, Jeep flyer etc. You also can extend your trip to neighboring Himalayan Countries: Bhutan, Tibet, Sikkim (India) which seems more appealing to you. On your request, we will give you the detail of the side trips.
Trip Reviews
I finished Annapurna circuit trek including Poon Hill last November 2017. It was the awesome trekking that I had ever done in my life in terms of perfect Himalayan views, beautiful villages, nice local people and several sceneries. My trek was organized by Excellent Himalaya Trek and Expedition. Before the start of the trek, Mr. Suman, the team leader of this company, briefed me overall about this trip. He introduced my guide Lhakpa and porter Hari. With these two people, I started my trek from Besisahar. I took our time, spending two days in Manang for acclimatization purpose. But it was not a free day. My guide took me to visit glacier and lake. After Manang, we moved up to cross Thorung La Pass. It was my dream to cross this world’s longest pass and I achieved it with my good guide and porter. After Thorung La via Muktinath, Tatopani I also trekked to Poonhill. This is also very nice place. To my opinion everybody who go for Annapurna Circuit they also should include Poonhill for the more exciting experience. Finally, I am very much thankful to the whole team of Excellent Himalaya for organizing me this best trekking. See you guys again for next great trekking.
Shilan
Australia
We have just completed an amazing Annapurna trekking with Poon Hill. We had a fantastic experience and highly recommend this trip to anyone. Our trip was organized by Excellent Himalaya Trek. It is a professional tour company with experienced trekking guides and porters.
We felt Poon Hill is not a difficult trek. The mountain views were absolutely incredible, the landscape varied a lot in every day of the trek and there were a couple of nice villages along the way. Although we were there in October (peak season), the trail was only busy in few places.
The lodges on the trail were comfortable. They offered us very good food. We had good guide support from Dawa. Our porters too were so much helpful and friendly. Overall, we had no complaints about the hotel, food, staffed, and other matters. Everything was perfect.
Thank you, Suman, for your excellent arrangement.
Sandeep Mehta
Annapurna Base Camp including Poon Hill is a lovely trek for beautiful Himalaya views and sunrise in a short time. We booked this trip with Excellent Himalaya Trek and Expedition by online. It is absolutely the best decision that we have made. From the start to the end of the trip, we always get excellent services. On our arrival in Kathmandu Airport, Suman, the Managing Director of this company, welcomed us and helped to transfer our hotel. Suman is very helpful and friendly. He gave us detail tour briefing and also introduced with our guide Hari before our trek. In Pokhara, we met our porters (Ghanashyam and Badri). When going trekking with Hari and our porters, we feel likes going on hiking with good friends. They are very helpful, funny, and friendly. Whenever we're having trouble to walk on steep hills, they are always ready to help us. They made this holiday to be one of the perfect ones that we ever had. We indeed enjoyed our Poon Hill Trek. We totally recommend Excellent Himalaya Trek to every people who are planning any trek in Nepal.
Thank you, Suman, for arranging such a wonderful trip for us. This is a memorable tour with very much happy experience!
Wendy & Renaud
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