One of the most demanded trekking destinations of Annapurna regions of Nepal- Ghorepani-Poon Hill Trek is widely popular among both local and international visitors. A great route to walk for inexperienced hikers and for those who just want to get a taste of hiking in Nepal.
A week trek through the slopes of the majestic Annapurna range reaching a beautiful vantage point of Poonhill. Undoubtedly, you will be amazed by the stunning mountains view, magnificent settlements, amazing landscapes, great hospitality, and rich culture there.
The forested hills, flowering woodlands, represent lively with bird songs and deep subtropical valleys set with stone steps will make you feel like a real adventurer while marching above. As plenty of teahouses, restaurants, and guesthouses, you need not worry about accommodations and eateries.
As the route is well-marked, people are hospitable, views are amazing and the trail is easy, many trekkers take this journey as a great trail to do as a familiarization trek before endeavoring one of the more challenging journeys of Annapurna Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, Upper Mustang, Manaslu Circuit or Everest Base Camp Trek.
The journey occurs in the Annapurna Conservation Area. Trekkers are welcomed by the dazzling waterfalls, magnificent greeneries, cascade rivers and mountains glisten with snow heaps. The entry and exit point of the journey is Pokhara, another perfect city combined with lakes, religious shrines, caves, and mountain views.
Different route options are available to trek Poon hill. You can start/end the journey at Nayapul, Ghandruk, and Kimche. However, one of the most popular trek itineraries is listed below.
Day 01: Welcome to Kathmandu (1338m/4390ft)
Day 02: Fly Kathmandu to Pokhara. Drive to Nayapul and trek to Tikhedhunga (1540m/5051ft)
Day 03: Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani (2860m/9380ft)
Day 04: Hiking to Poonhill (3210m/10531ft, and trek to Tadapani (2,630m/8,626ft)
Day 05: Tadapani to Ghandruk (1940m/6360ft)
Day 06: Trek to Ghandruk to Nayapul. Drive to Pokhara and fly back to Kathmandu
Day 07: Final departure
Considered one of the easiest family treks in the Annapurna region, Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek can be organized throughout the year. However, most of the trekkers choose the Autumn season from September to November and the spring season from March and May for trekking.
The best season for trekking Poon hill is autumn (September-November). Trekkers can have clear visibility of amazing mountains and beautiful cherry blossoms throughout the journey.
The major religious festivals Dashain and Tihar lie in this period where trekkers can explore cultural and religious performances and values along with natural sceneries.
As just the monsoon months are just over, the skies are clear and the views are magnificent. The surroundings seem lustrous, the landscapes seem gleaming, and more.
Another peak season for this trek is Spring (March-May). Trekking these months offers Rhododendrons in full bloom, stunning views of the Himalayas, and comfortable weather conditions.
The temperature remains between 20-25 degrees Celsius, with fewer chances of snowfall. Trekkers need not carry extra gear and clothes for the trek.
The skies look crystal clear and the mountains seem dazzling with the large heaps of snow. Diverse flora and fauna along with wilderness can be explored throughout the journey.
As the lower elevated journey, trekking can be organized in winter as well. In the upper part of the trek as Poon Hill and Ghorepani can be freezing and snowfall may affect the journey. Trekking in these months makes for an icy adventure where temperatures can drop below -15c.
Trekking in the Summer months can be affected by the downpours. Cloudy sky, slippery trail, a foggy environment can make the journey less comfortable. Continuous rainfall can cause landslides and floods in the rivers which may hinder the journey.
With sound preparation, carrying comfortable gears, and equipment, you can organize this trek all around the year.
Being a moderately difficult trek, Ghorepani-Poon Hill Trek demands several gears and essentials, you need to pack before starting the journey. If you are trekking alone, you are recommended not to pack not more than 20 kg to make your journey burdenless. However, you should not miss the following gears.
One of the most popular trekking destinations of Nepal has plenty of lodges, teahouses, and homestays throughout the trail. They offer neat and clean bedrooms with attached bathrooms. In the higher elevations, the amenities become quite basic.
Accommodation options are offered to keep in mind the standard of hygiene, service, location, food standard, and costs. In the peak seasons as autumn and spring, you are recommended to have pre-booked for comfortable accommodations.
Regarding the foods, you will be provided menus with the local, national, and international eateries including Nepali, Indian, Italian, Tibetan, and Continental ones. Most of the teahouses have almost the same menus. Most of the teahouses are run by family members for their livelihood.
Dal Bhat Tarkari (a set of rice, lentil, vegetables, pickle, and soup), spaghetti, noodles, pancakes, soups, Tibetan bread, bread, are some of the common and widely available food items during the trek.
As plastic bottles are banned in this conservation area, you will not get mineral water bottles during the trek. Instead, you need to carry a water purification system. Keeping some purification tablets or boiling them, you can drink tap water which is available widely.
While trekking Ghorepani Poonhill, you need to carry two sorts of permits
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Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP)permit |
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Trekking Information Management System (TIMS Card) |
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To get the TIMS Card you need to visit the Nepal Tourism Board or Trekkers Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) Secretariat in Kathmandu and, you need to visit the Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu or Tourist Office in Fewa Damside, Pokhara for the ACAP Permit.
Note: You need not carry any restricted area permit for this trek.
It is a debatable question whether you need a guide for trekking or not. There are both pros and cons to trekking guides or trekking independently.
The trekking route is well maintained however you may not find the great signs, so not having a guide might require a lot of asking which direction to go to which village. It may create confusion but you will not be lost.
Taking a guide makes the journey relaxing and be free from navigating the way, pre-booking the guesthouses for accommodations and lunch. It offers the freedom to capture a glimpse of the surroundings.
Next, in case of any health or other emergencies, the guide will have a better knowledge about the terrain as well as the immediate actions to be taken which helps prevent such tragedies or reduce their effects. We recommend you hire guides from an authentic company to trek safely, comfortably, and making it enjoyable.
This trek is considered an easy to moderated trek with great views of the Himalayas, magnificent landscapes, and topographies. It is a family trek where people of average fitness, age, and ability can afford trekking without any difficulty.
Trekking depends on when you trek as well. Trekking in the Summer and Winter months brings more hazards than trekking in Spring and Autumn ones. Trekkers may feel exhausted passing the steps in some part of the trek.
Ghorepani Poonhill trek is one of the easiest short family can be completed within a week. With the panoramic views of the Himalayas as Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchre, and their neighboring peaks, trekkers can explore natural cultural, and historical aspects of the Annapurna region of Nepal.
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