Poon Hill Trek Guide (Ghorepani)

Overview

The Poon Hill trek — often called the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek after the village you sleep in the night before sunrise — is the most popular short trek in Nepal, and for good reason. In just three to five days from Pokhara it gives first-time trekkers, families and time-pressed travellers a genuine Himalayan experience: terraced hillsides, blazing rhododendron forests, friendly Gurung and Magar villages, comfortable teahouses, and one of the finest mountain viewpoints in the country. The trail tops out at the Poon Hill viewpoint, 3,210 m (10,531 ft), where a pre-dawn climb is rewarded with a 360-degree panorama as the rising sun sets the snow peaks alight.

What makes Poon Hill special is the sheer scale of the view for so little effort. From the open ridge you look straight across at Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), the seventh-highest mountain on Earth, and the great wall of the Annapurnas — Annapurna South, Annapurna I (8,091 m), Nilgiri, Hiunchuli and the unmistakable fluted spire of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail, 6,993 m). Few places put two 8,000-metre giants and a parade of soaring peaks in a single sweeping frame.

The trek sits inside the Annapurna region accessed from Pokhara, the lakeside city that is Nepal's adventure capital. The route is easy to moderate, follows well-built stone trails through inhabited country (so you are never far from a teahouse, a hot meal or help), and reaches a modest altitude where serious altitude sickness is rare. It is the ideal introduction to Himalayan trekking, a great family adventure, and a perfect short trip if you only have a week in Nepal. Many trekkers also use it as a warm-up — or stitch it onto the longer Annapurna Base Camp trek — but it stands proudly on its own.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

The classic Poon Hill trek is a four- to five-day loop that starts and ends with a short drive from Pokhara. Below is the most popular 4-day version with the early-start Poon Hill sunrise built in; a relaxed 5-day option and a fast 3-day version follow. Distances are short each day, but the trail involves plenty of stone steps, so the pacing is comfortable rather than rushed.

Day 1: Pokhara → Nayapul (1,070 m) → Tikhedhunga (1,540 m) or Ulleri (1,960 m)

A scenic 1.5–2 hour drive west from Pokhara reaches the trailhead at Nayapul (1,070 m); many groups now drive a little further to Hile or Tikhedhunga to shorten the first day. From here the trail follows the Bhurungdi Khola through villages and rice terraces to Tikhedhunga (1,540 m). Strong walkers push on up the legendary Ulleri stone staircase — roughly 3,000 stone steps climbing relentlessly to Ulleri (1,960 m), a Magar village with your first big views of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli. (Walking time: 3–5 hours.)

Day 2: Ulleri → Ghorepani (2,860 m)

A beautiful day climbing gradually through cool, mossy rhododendron and oak forest — in March and April these woods explode into red, pink and white bloom. You pass Banthanti and Nangethanti before reaching Ghorepani (2,860 m), a ridge-top village of blue-roofed teahouses perched at the saddle (the upper part is called Deurali). Arrive in time for an afternoon coffee and your first close look at Dhaulagiri. (Walking time: 4–6 hours.)

Day 3: Pre-dawn Poon Hill (3,210 m) → Tadapani (2,630 m)

The highlight. Rise around 4:30–5:00 am and climb roughly 45 minutes to an hour up the stone path to the Poon Hill viewpoint at 3,210 m. As the sky lightens, the sun ignites Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Nilgiri and Machhapuchhre in shades of gold and rose — the classic Annapurna sunrise. After photos and (usually) a hot tea at the summit teahouse, descend to Ghorepani for breakfast, then traverse east through more rhododendron forest, climbing over Deurali pass and down to Tadapani (2,630 m), a forest clearing with grandstand Fishtail views. (Walking time: 5–7 hours including the sunrise climb.)

Day 4: Tadapani → Ghandruk (1,940 m) → Nayapul → Pokhara

A lovely descent through dense forest brings you to Ghandruk (1,940 m), one of the largest and most charming Gurung villages in Nepal — stone houses, slate roofs, a small Gurung museum, and a magnificent amphitheatre view of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre. From Ghandruk the trail (or a jeep road) drops to the valley and the road head near Nayapul/Kimche, where a vehicle drives you back to Pokhara in about 1.5–2 hours. (Walking time: 4–6 hours.)

5-day relaxed version

Split the loop for an easier pace: spend the first night at Tikhedhunga or Ulleri, the second at Ghorepani, do the Poon Hill sunrise and overnight again near Tadapani, then take an extra night in Ghandruk to soak up the village before returning to Pokhara. Adding the Ghandruk night is the single best way to slow down and enjoy the culture.

3-day fast version

Short on time? A compressed three-day trek drives high to Ulleri or even Ghorepani's road approach, overnights in Ghorepani, climbs Poon Hill at dawn on day two, then descends via Tadapani toward Ghandruk and out — with the final stretch shortened by jeep. It is tighter and involves a longer final day, but it captures the sunrise and the highlights. Pair it with our 3 days in Pokhara itinerary for a perfect short Himalayan getaway.

Difficulty & Fitness

The Poon Hill trek is rated easy to moderate and is widely regarded as the best first trek in Nepal. There is no technical terrain, no glacier travel and no exposure — just a well-maintained trail of dirt paths and, above all, stone steps. If you can comfortably walk for 4–6 hours a day and handle long staircases, you can do this trek.

The single biggest physical challenge is the Ulleri stairs on day one: somewhere around 3,000 stone steps that climb steeply and steadily. They are tiring on the way up and hard on the knees on the way down, so the trek rewards a bit of pre-trip conditioning — stair climbing, hill walks or hikes with a daypack in the weeks before you arrive. Trekking poles make a real difference on both the ascent and the descent.

Because the trail stays in inhabited country with teahouses every couple of hours, it is forgiving: you can always stop, rest, or shorten a day. This, plus the modest maximum altitude, is why it is so popular with families (children from roughly age 7–8 manage it well), older travellers and complete beginners. You do not need to be an athlete — just reasonably fit, willing to take the climbs slowly, and prepared for some genuinely long staircases.

Permits & Regulations

The Poon Hill trek lies entirely within the Annapurna Conservation Area, so you need two permits, both arranged easily in Pokhara or Kathmandu (bring your passport and a couple of passport photos):

• ACAP — Annapurna Conservation Area Permit: around NPR 3,000 for foreign nationals, less for SAARC citizens. Issued by the Nepal Tourism Board / ACAP offices in Pokhara and Kathmandu.
• TIMS card — Trekkers' Information Management System: around NPR 2,000 for foreign individual trekkers, less for SAARC nationals. It records your route and details for safety.

You can obtain both at the Nepal Tourism Board offices, or your trekking agency will arrange them as part of a package. Permits are checked at registration posts along the trail (commonly at Birethanti near Nayapul, and at Ghandruk), so carry them with you and keep them dry.

Guide rules: Nepal has tightened rules requiring trekkers in many regions to use a licensed guide. While enforcement on this popular, low-altitude route has varied, the safe and recommended approach is to hire a licensed guide — it supports the local economy, makes the village stops richer, and removes the permit hassle. Costs are modest; see the budget section below. Solo/independent teahouse trekking has historically been very feasible here because the trail is well-signed and busy, but check the current regulation status before you travel.

Best Time to Trek

The Poon Hill trek is possible almost year-round, but the views — the whole point of the trip — depend on clear skies. The prime seasons are autumn (October–November) and spring (March–April).

Autumn (Oct–Nov) brings the most stable, crystal-clear weather of the year after the monsoon has washed the haze out of the air, with comfortable daytime temperatures and the highest chance of a flawless Poon Hill sunrise. It is the busiest season, so book teahouses in advance where you can.

Spring (Mar–Apr) is the magic season for this particular trek because the rhododendron forests are in full bloom — the hillsides between Ulleri, Ghorepani and Tadapani turn brilliant red and pink, framing the snow peaks. Skies are generally good, though afternoons can grow hazy later in spring.

Winter (Dec–Feb) is perfectly doable and rewarding — skies are often sharp and clear and the trails are quiet — but Ghorepani and Poon Hill can be cold and occasionally snowy, with sub-freezing dawns. Pack proper warm layers and traction if snow is forecast. The monsoon (Jun–Sep) is the least suitable window: the trail is green and quiet but the views are frequently lost to cloud and fog, paths are muddy and slippery, and the lower forests have leeches. If you must trek in summer, go early in the day for the best chance of a view.

Cost & Budget

Poon Hill is one of the cheapest treks in Nepal because it is short, low and well served by teahouses. Costs depend mainly on whether you trek independently or buy a guided package. Approximate 2026 figures in Nepali rupees:

On-trail teahouse prices rise gently with altitude. Expect a basic twin room for around NPR 500–1,500 (often cheaper if you eat dinner and breakfast there), a plate of dal bhat for NPR 450–900, momos or noodles a little less, and tea NPR 50–180. Budget extra for hot showers (NPR 150–300), Wi-Fi and device charging (NPR 100–300 each), and bottled or treated water (NPR 60–200) — bring purification tablets or a filter to save money and cut plastic. A realistic on-trail spend is NPR 2,800–5,000 per person per day for food and lodging. Because the trek is short, even a fully guided trip is excellent value compared with longer Himalayan routes.

Packing, Safety & Tips

The trek is short and low, but the Poon Hill sunrise is genuinely cold — you climb in the dark and stand still on an exposed ridge as the temperature dips below freezing in winter and is chilly even in peak season. Pack for that morning specifically.

• Layers for the cold sunrise: a warm fleece or down jacket, hat, gloves and a windproof shell for the Poon Hill viewpoint, even if the afternoons are warm.
• Headlamp: essential for the pre-dawn climb to Poon Hill — bring spare batteries.
• Good footwear and trekking poles: broken-in boots or trail shoes with grip, and poles to spare your knees on the Ulleri stairs.
• Daypack with the basics: water bottle plus purification, sunscreen, sunglasses, a light rain jacket, a power bank, blister plasters and any personal medication.
• Cash: there are no reliable ATMs on the trail, so carry enough Nepali rupees for the whole trek plus a buffer.
• Layered clothing for the day: a quick-dry base layer, trekking trousers/shorts and a sun hat handle the warm forest walking.

Altitude: at a high point of 3,210 m, the Poon Hill trek is low enough that serious altitude sickness (AMS) is rare and rapid acclimatisation is not usually needed. Still, some people feel mild symptoms — a slight headache or breathlessness on the dawn climb — so walk slowly, stay hydrated, and tell your guide if you feel unwell. Don't drink alcohol the night before the sunrise climb.

Insurance: always carry travel insurance that covers trekking and emergency evacuation, even on an easy route — accidents, illness and weather can happen anywhere in the mountains.

Make the most of it: Poon Hill is the perfect relaxed first trek, but it also combines beautifully with bigger adventures. You can extend it into the full Annapurna Base Camp trek, branch off toward the quieter Mardi Himal trek, or simply round off your trip with a few easy days by the lake in Pokhara.