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Join Nepal Sunshine on the perfect short trek in the Annapurna region. In just 5 days, the Poon Hill Trek delivers spectacular sunrise views over the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. This family-friendly adventure takes you through charming villages, terraced fields, and blooming rhododendron forests while providing authentic cultural experiences with warm Gurung hospitality.
Duration
5 Days
Difficulty
Easy
Group Size
2-15
Region
Annapurna
Max Altitude
3,210m
Best Time
Mar-May, Oct-Nov
Food
Vegetarian
Stay
Tea Houses
Next Trip
March 5, 2025
Start/End
Pokhara
The Poon Hill Trek, also known as the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek, is the perfect introduction to trekking in Nepal. This 5-day journey offers an incredible Himalayan experience within a short timeframe, making it ideal for travelers with limited time or those who want a taste of trekking without committing to a longer expedition.
Starting from the picturesque lakeside city of Pokhara, the trek begins in Nayapul and follows well-maintained trails through terraced farmlands and charming villages of the Annapurna region. The highlight comes on day three when we make a pre-dawn hike to Poon Hill (3,210m) to witness a spectacular sunrise over a panorama of snow-capped peaks, including Annapurna I, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), and Hiunchuli.
The trail winds through beautiful rhododendron and oak forests, which burst into a riot of colors during the spring flowering season. Along the way, you'll experience the warm hospitality and rich culture of the Gurung and Magar communities, whose traditional stone houses and terraced fields have remained unchanged for generations.
Though shorter than many Himalayan treks, Poon Hill doesn't compromise on scenic beauty or cultural experiences. The trek includes some challenging uphill sections, most notably the famous stone staircase to Ulleri village, but the pace is manageable for anyone with reasonable fitness. Throughout the journey, you'll stay in comfortable tea houses, enjoying hot meals and warm hospitality after each day's trekking.
Your adventure begins with arrival in Pokhara, Nepal's beautiful lakeside city. You can arrive either by a 25-minute flight from Kathmandu or a scenic 6-7 hour drive. After checking into your hotel, you'll have free time to explore the lakeside area, perhaps taking a boat ride on Phewa Lake or simply relaxing with views of the Annapurna range. In the evening, we'll have a welcome dinner and a briefing about the trek ahead.
After breakfast, we'll drive to Nayapul (1-hour journey), the starting point of our trek. From here, we begin our hike along the Modi Khola river valley, passing through several small villages and terraced farmlands. After crossing a suspension bridge at Birethanti, the trail continues to Tikhedunga where we'll spend our first night in a tea house. This relatively gentle first day helps us ease into the trekking routine.
Today brings the most challenging part of the trek as we ascend over 3,000 stone steps to reach the village of Ulleri. This steep section is followed by a more gradual climb through beautiful rhododendron and oak forests to reach Ghorepani, a bustling mountain village situated at the crossroads of several trekking routes. If the weather is clear, we'll enjoy our first views of the Annapurna range from here.
We'll wake up early (around 4:30 AM) for a 45-minute hike to Poon Hill in time for sunrise. The panoramic views of the Himalayan giants including Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Machapuchare (Fishtail), and Hiunchuli are absolutely spectacular as the first rays of sunlight illuminate the peaks. After returning to Ghorepani for breakfast, we'll continue our trek to Tadapani through beautiful rhododendron forests. In spring (March-April), these forests burst into bloom with vibrant red, pink, and white flowers.
On our final day, we'll descend from Tadapani through the village of Ghandruk, one of the largest and most scenic Gurung villages in Nepal. This is a great opportunity to learn about the local culture and traditions. We'll have time to explore the village and visit the local museum before continuing our descent to Nayapul. The trail offers beautiful views of the mountains and passes through terraced fields and small settlements. From Nayapul, we'll drive back to Pokhara, completing our trek. The evening is free for you to explore Pokhara or simply relax and reflect on your trekking achievement.
Spring is an excellent time for the Poon Hill Trek, with moderate temperatures and stunning rhododendron blooms that transform the forests into a colorful paradise.
Autumn brings stable weather with clear skies, making it the most popular time for the Poon Hill Trek. The post-monsoon clarity offers exceptional mountain views.
Winter (December to February): While the Poon Hill Trek is possible in winter, you might encounter cold temperatures, especially at higher elevations. The benefit is fewer trekkers and crisp, clear mountain views on good weather days. Some tea houses may have limited facilities during this season.
Monsoon (June to September): Trekking during monsoon season presents challenges including frequent rainfall, leeches, muddy trails, and limited mountain views due to cloud cover. However, the landscapes are lush and green, and you'll encounter very few other trekkers.
Nepal Sunshine Recommendation: For the best Poon Hill Trek experience, we recommend March-April for rhododendron blooms or October-November for the clearest mountain views.
The Poon Hill Trek is rated as easy to moderate, making it suitable for most people with reasonable fitness. The trek involves 4-6 hours of walking daily with some steep uphill and downhill sections, but no technical climbing. The maximum altitude reached (3,210m at Poon Hill) is moderate and typically doesn't cause altitude sickness problems.
The main challenges of this trek include:
To enjoy this trek comfortably, you should:
The Poon Hill Trek is particularly well-suited for:
Nepal Sunshine Tip: Walking poles are highly recommended, especially for the steep descents. Even if you're in good shape, the unique terrain of the Himalayas can present challenges, so it's best to pace yourself and stay well-hydrated throughout the trek.
We offer special discounts for family and group bookings:
per person
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per person