Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek: Route, Difficulty and Best Time

The Poon Hill Trek is a short teahouse trek from Nayapul up through Gurung and Magar villages, forests of rhododendron, oak and bamboo, and the stone staircases above Ulleri to Ghorepani, finishing at the viewpoint of Poon Hill at about 3,210 metres — all in 5 or 7 days from Kathmandu. It is the lowest of the Annapurna treks and a realistic introduction to Poon Hill trekking in Nepal for hikers with limited holiday time, first-timers in the region, and families whose children walk well on full days. For a broader picture of what trekking in Nepal involves, our trekking in Nepal guide is a good starting point.

What you pass along the way: a suspension bridge near Birethanti, terraced fields rising to rhododendron forest, the stone staircases of Ulleri, the tea houses of Ghorepani, and — on the 7-day loop — the large Gurung village of Ghandruk with its views across to Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machapuchare. The panorama you came for arrives in the first hour of day four, at sunrise.

Poon Hill trek map: where is Poon Hill in Nepal?

Poon Hill is a viewpoint hill in the Annapurna region of central Nepal, sitting above the village of Ghorepani at about 3,210 metres. The trek starts at Nayapul, a short drive from Pokhara. Pokhara itself is about seven hours by bus from Kathmandu. You receive a route map with the trek.

Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek: 5 or 7 days?

Both versions follow the same trail from Nayapul to Ghorepani and Poon Hill. The difference is what happens afterwards.

The 5-day version suits you if time is tight and your knees are strong: day four drops 2,220 metres over 21.4 km back to Nayapul. The 7-day version spreads the descent over three days, adds the Ghandruk loop and is a calmer pace overall. If you want to go higher or further, the Mardi Himal Trek reaches a ridge viewpoint at about 4,500 metres in 8 days, and the Annapurna Circuit is a much longer journey over a high pass.

The Poon Hill Trek difficulty is moderate. There are no technical sections and no scrambling; the paths are old village trails with long flights of stone steps. What earns it the moderate rating is the climb to Ghorepani — a big elevation day with more than 3,000 stone steps around Ulleri — and, on the 5-day version, a very long and steep descent on day four. For beginners with good walking fitness, it is a realistic first trek in Nepal.

Walking days at a glance:

5-day version

7-day version

The Ulleri section deserves its own mention: the climb through Ulleri to Banthanti involves more than 3,000 stone steps and is the steepest part of the day; after that the path through rhododendron forest to Ghorepani is gentler. Trekking poles are particularly useful on this stretch, going up and especially coming down. The 5-day version concentrates almost all the descent into a single demanding day; the 7-day version distributes it across days four, five and six, which is much kinder on the knees.

Good walking fitness matters more than technical experience. If you want to prepare well, our guide to getting fit for trekking in Nepal covers how to train for a trek like this.

Poon Hill height: how high do you go?

Poon Hill altitude is about 3,210 m — that is the highest point you reach, and only briefly, at sunrise. Your highest overnight stop is Ghorepani at about 2,860 m, which is below the 3,000 m threshold where altitude effects commonly become significant. For reference, Ulleri sits at about 2,070 m and Tadapani at about 2,650 m. The Poon Hill altitude profile keeps the risk of acute mountain sickness low, but not zero: the elevation gain is rapid on day three of both versions. Our guide checks pulse and oxygen saturation twice daily using an altitude sickness kit. Read more about recognising and managing symptoms in our guide to preventing altitude sickness on a Nepal trek.

The best time for the Poon Hill Trek is October and November, when the post-monsoon air is at its clearest, or March to May, when the rhododendron forests along the climb to Ghorepani are in bloom. Because the whole trek is built around a single sunrise moment on Poon Hill, clear mornings matter more here than on most treks — a cloudy dawn leaves you with nothing but the shape of peaks in grey mist.

Autumn (October and November) usually brings stable weather and the clearest views of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges, and the busiest trails and tea houses of the year. Ghorepani fills up the night before the sunrise, so early arrival is worth planning for.

Spring (March to May) offers flowering rhododendrons on the trail to Ghorepani and generally good views — though afternoon haze can occasionally reduce visibility compared to autumn.

Monsoon (June to August) brings heavy rain, cloud cover that hides the mountains, leeches on the lower trail, slippery stone steps and some landslide risk on the approach roads. The sunrise view is rarely clear.

Winter (December to February) means short days, cold nights at Ghorepani and the chance of snow on the upper section. The trails are quiet and the atmosphere can be striking, but clear sunrises are less predictable than in the peak seasons.

You choose your own start date; current availability and open dates are shown on the product pages. For a full seasonal overview of all treks in the country, see our guide to the best time for trekking in Nepal.

From Poon Hill you see Dhaulagiri (8,167 m) to the west and the full sweep of the Annapurna range to the east, including Annapurna I (8,091 m), Annapurna South (7,219 m), Hiunchuli (6,441 m), Machapuchare (6,993 m, the distinctive "Fishtail"), Tukuche Peak (6,920 m) and Nilgiri. On a clear morning you see more peaks of the Annapurna range. The first light catches Dhaulagiri. From Ulleri lower on the trail, and again from Ghandruk on the 7-day loop, you already see Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machapuchare appearing above the forest.

Poon Hill sunrise: how the morning works

You leave Ghorepani in the dark, head torch on, before dawn. The climb from Ghorepani to the viewpoint takes about 45 minutes to an hour. On the way up you pay a small entrance fee in cash, in Nepali rupees. In peak season — October, November and March to May — you share the summit with many other trekkers. After the panorama and photographs, you walk back down to Ghorepani for a hot breakfast before the day's main walk begins. On the 7-day trek that means continuing through rhododendron forest to Tadapani; on the 5-day version it means the long descent all the way back to Nayapul.

To do the Poon Hill Trek you need two permits: the ACAP permit (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) and the TIMS card. Since 1 April 2023, trekking in most designated trekking areas of Nepal — including the Annapurna region — also requires a licensed guide booked through a registered trekking agency; the TIMS card is only issued through a registered agency. With us, both permits and the guide are included in the price and arranged by our local team before the trek begins. Permit checks take place at several points along the route. The guide rule exists to improve safety and support the livelihoods of Nepal's licensed trekking professionals. Solo travellers book with a guide only; the guide carries part of your gear in lieu of a porter.

Poon Hill Trek cost: what's included and what isn't

As of October 2026, our prices per person are:

5-day Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek: 730 euros travelling alone, 630 euros per person for two, from 580 euros per person with a group discount.

7-day Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek: 750 euros travelling alone, 730 euros per person for two, from 590 euros per person with a group discount.

Prices vary by date; current availability and exact pricing are on the product pages.

Included in both programmes:

• Bus Kathmandu to Pokhara and back (about 7 hours each way)
• Hotel in Pokhara (nights before and after the trek)
• Tea house or lodge accommodation during the trek
• All meals during the trek: breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus fruit after meals and tea and coffee with breakfast
• English-speaking licensed guide; one porter per two trekkers (solo: guide only)
• Assistant guide for groups larger than six
• Guide and porter salary, meals, insurance and accommodation
• ACAP permit and TIMS card
• Down jacket and sleeping bag (provided by the agency)
• Duffel bag carried by the porter
• T-shirt and route map
• Altitude sickness kit and first aid
• The 7-day trek also includes airport pick-up and drop-off if needed

Not included:

• Visa for Nepal (arrange it yourself)
• Flights to and from Kathmandu
• Personal expenses: drinks, laundry, hot shower, hot water, bottled water, wifi, desserts
• Travel insurance covering trekking at altitude and emergency repatriation
• Tips for guide and porter (customary; the product page suggests 10 per cent of the trip price as a guideline, but the amount is entirely your choice)
• The small cash entrance fee on Poon Hill

Important: there are no cash machines on the trail. Withdraw enough Nepali rupees in Pokhara before the trek starts to cover personal extras, drinks and the entrance fee on Poon Hill. A 25 per cent deposit is due at booking; cancellation is free up to eight weeks before departure. Is your preferred start date not open on the product page? Get in touch and we will look for an alternative with you.

Tea houses on the Poon Hill Trek are simple lodges run by local families: twin rooms, a shared dining room warmed by a central stove, and straightforward but filling meals with dal bhat as the staple dish. Fruit is served after meals; tea and coffee come with breakfast. Extras such as a hot shower, phone charging and wifi are available in some places and cost extra; they are not guaranteed at every stop. Our programme includes the sleeping bag and down jacket — the agency provides both, which means you do not need to bring your own. The hotel in Pokhara is included on both versions. For a fuller picture of what teahouse life is like across Nepal's trails, our guide to Nepal's tea houses covers what to expect and how to get the most from them.

Ghorepani is the busiest overnight stop because almost every trekker on this route sleeps here before the sunrise. Tadapani, a day further on the 7-day loop, sits in the forest.

Ghandruk: the Gurung village on the 7-day loop

Ghandruk is a large Gurung village reached on day five of the 7-day Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek, with stone houses, terraced fields and wide views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Gangapurna, Annapurna III and Machapuchare. The village has a Gurung museum and a handicraft centre worth an hour of your time. The 5-day trek does not pass through Ghandruk; it is one of the genuine reasons to choose the longer loop.

Can you do Poon Hill in 2 days?

A 2-day version is possible from Pokhara using jeep transfers to cut the approach, but it involves extremely long walking days and we do not offer it. Our shortest programme is the 5-day Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek from Kathmandu, which includes the bus journey to Pokhara and three full walking days.

Is there a 4-day trek to Poon Hill?

Shorter versions of three or four days start in Pokhara and use jeep transfers to shorten the approach, with long walking days. We offer the trek from Kathmandu instead: 5 days with 3 walking days, or 7 days with 5 walking days, both including the bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara and back and a hotel in Pokhara.

How long does it take to climb Poon Hill from Ghorepani?

The climb from Ghorepani to the Poon Hill viewpoint takes about 45 minutes to an hour, walking by head torch before dawn. After the sunrise panorama, you walk back down to Ghorepani for breakfast before starting the main walk of the day — either to Tadapani on the 7-day trek or back towards Nayapul on the 5-day version.

How many stairs are there on the Poon Hill Trek?

More than 3,000 stone steps around Ulleri on the climb to Ghorepani make up the hardest section of the trek. The steps are relentless on the way up. Trekking poles help considerably on the ascent and even more so on the descent, when the same steps place sustained pressure on the knees.

Is the Poon Hill Trek suitable for beginners?

Yes, for beginners with good walking fitness. There are no technical sections, the highest overnight stop is below 3,000 metres, and you have a licensed guide and a porter throughout. The hard parts are the climb to Ghorepani on day three and the long descent on day four of the 5-day version. The 7-day loop spreads the effort more evenly and is the better choice if you are unsure of your knee strength.

Can you do the Poon Hill Trek solo or without a guide?

You can travel as a solo trekker, but trekking without a licensed guide is not permitted. Since 1 April 2023, a licensed guide booked through a registered trekking agency is required for this route. As a solo traveller with us, you book with a guide only — no separate porter, because the guide carries part of your gear.

Is altitude sickness a risk on the Poon Hill Trek?

The risk is low because your highest overnight stop is Ghorepani at about 2,860 m and the summit of Poon Hill is about 3,210 m. However, the risk is not zero: the elevation gain on day three is rapid. Our guide checks pulse and oxygen saturation twice daily using an altitude sickness kit throughout the trek.

Is the Poon Hill Trek better than Annapurna Base Camp?

They are different objectives rather than competing ones. The Poon Hill Trek is shorter (5 or 7 days with us) and lower, with the highest point at about 3,210 m. The Annapurna Base Camp Trek takes 9 or 12 days with us and goes deep into the heart of the massif. Our 12-day ABC programme also passes through Ghorepani and Poon Hill, so if you want both experiences, you can combine them in a single trip.

How much does the Poon Hill Trek cost?

From 630 euros per person for two people on the 5-day Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek, and from 730 euros per person for two on the 7-day version, as of October 2026. Both prices include permits, an English-speaking guide, a porter, all meals during the trek and the bus between Kathmandu and Pokhara. Flights to Nepal, your visa and tips for the guide and porter are not included.