Poon Hill Trek
A popular and relatively easy trek with incredible views of the Annapurna region
A short yet beautiful trek that should not be missed if you are visiting Nepal and short of time. Due to it's relatively easy nature, this trail has become popular among trekkers and tourists alike.
The hike takes trekker through one of the world's largest rhododendron forests and affords a close up view of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Himalayan mountain range from the Poon Hill viewpoint.
The trek can be completed by those with little or no experience, but you will need to be fit enough to walk for 6 - 7 hours daily.
Please Note: This is a teahouse trek. Teahouses are Nepalese mountain lodges that provide basic dorm-like rooms and communal eating spaces.
Summary
DURATION
9 days
LOCATION
Nepal
START & ENDS
Kathmandu, Kathmandu
DIFFICULTY
Easy Moderate Challenge Hard
Highlights
Itinerary
FOOD
No Meals
ACCOMMODATION
Hotel
ACTIVITY
Airport transfer
ELEVATION
Kathmandu (1,310m)
Welcome to Kathmandu, the city of temples! Our airport representative will be waiting in the arrival terminal with your name printed on a card.
From the airport we will transfer you to a city hotel, where you can unpack and freshen up from your long flight. Here we will introduce you with the tour leader and have a short meeting about the tour.
FOOD
Breakfast
ACCOMMODATION
Hotel
ACTIVITY
Travelling in a bus 8 hours
ELEVATION GAIN
Kathmandu (1,310m) to Pokhara (820m)
We have breakfast at our hotel and catch a bus to Pokhara. The drive takes us through the towering Himalayan hillsides and past thundering rivers.
In the evening, we can visit the beautiful lakeside area if time permits.
FOOD
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
ACCOMMODATION
Teahouse Lodge
ACTIVITY
Drive 1 hour, Hiking 3 - 4 hours
ELEVATION
Pokhara (820m) to Nayapul (1,070m) to Tikhedhunga (1,540m)
We begin our day with a drive to Nayapul. This is the starting and ending point of the trek. The drive is scenic with beautiful views of the Annapurna and Lamjung Himalayan ranges.
Our trek from Nayapul to Tikhedhunga is uphill most of the way and we pass through many small villages along the way.
Once we reach Tikhedhunga, we have the evening to rest and relax.
FOOD
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
ACCOMMODATION
Teahouse Lodge
ACTIVITY
Hiking 5 - 6 hours
ELEVATION
Tikhedhunga (1,540m) to Ghorepani (2,860m)
We begin our trail by crossing Bhurundi Khola stream before ascending a steep climb to reach the top of Ulleri village.
From here we follow a gentle ascent through beautiful Rhododendron and Oak forests. We will stop in Nangethanti for lunch which is located in the middle of the forest.
One of the main attractions of our trek is Ghorepani, a beautiful village with panoramic views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Himalayan ranges.
FOOD
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
ACCOMMODATION
Teahouse Lodge
ACTIVITY
Hiking 6 - 7 hours
ELEVATION
Ghorepani (2,860m) to Poon Hill (3,210m) to Tadapani (2,590m)
We have an early start today as we climb to Poon Hill before sunrise. Witnessing the golden rays over the Himalayas is breathtaking.
Poon Hill is a stunning viewpoint where more than 300 trekkers visit every day during the main season. From here you can enjoy close views of numerous famous peaks!
Upon returning to Ghorepani village, we grab a nice warm breakfast and then start our trek to Tadapani. You'll get to experience some of the best views of the Himalayas throughout the walk.
FOOD
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
ACCOMMODATION
Teahouse Lodge
ACTIVITY
Hiking 4 - 5 hours
ELEVATION
Tadapani (2,590m) to Ghandruk (1,940m)
Today we begin our journey through lush green forests and with luck we could catch a glimpse of the natural wildlife in the area. Views of the Himalayas are seen along the entire trail.
We are heading towards Ghandruk, the stone carved village, which is the biggest Gurung village in the region. In the evening we have the opportunity to visit the Ghandruk Cultural Museum and explore the local culture and traditions.
FOOD
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
ACCOMMODATION
Hotel
ACTIVITY
Hiking 5 - 6 hours, Drive 1 hour
ELEVATION
Ghandruk (1,940m) to Pokhara (820m)
The trail is mostly downhill and flat today. A nice way to end off our trekking journey!
We pass Syauli Bazaar and head towards Chimrong and Birenthanti.
Once we reach Nayapul we have private transport to take us back to Pokhara.
FOOD
Breakfast
ACCOMMODATION
Hotel
ACTIVITY
Drive 8 hours
ELEVATION
Pokhara (820m) to Kathmandu (1,310m)
We follow the highway through beautiful rivers, hills and small Nepalese settlements as we make our way to Kathmandu.
From the tourist bus park you will be transferred to your hotel and have the evening to explore the town.
FOOD
Breakfast
ACCOMMODATION
Hotel
ACTIVITY
Airport transfer (30 minutes)
ELEVATION
Kathmandu (1,310m)
We drive you to the airport approximately 3 hours before your flight time. It’s time to say goodbye until we meet again!
Dates & Prices
Below are our open group dates for the Poon Hill trek. Single supplements apply.
Please note: June, July and August are the monsoon. We don't operate treks during this period.
If the dates below don't suit, please get in touch as we can open a new group on any day as long as you have at least 2 people in your party.
What's Included
Included
Not Included
FAQ
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Packing List
Clothing
- 2-3 x hiking shirt + 1-2 x long-sleeve hiking shirt
- 2 x hiking shorts and 2 x hiking trousers
- Mid-weight fleece jacket
- Hard shell rain jacket
- Warm insulating down or synthetic jacket / gilet (Down jacket available for free rental)
- Light, but warm gloves
Headwear
- Sun hat + Sunglasses
- Beanie for the nights
- Neck warmer
Footwear
- Mid-weight hiking boots / hiking trainers
- 3-4 x hiking socks
- Trainers for teahouses
Bags
- 20-25L daypack
- 80L Duffel Bag (available for free rental)
- Plastic bags to protect sleeping bag and other gear from rain
Other Essentials
- Four season sleeping bag (available for free rental)
- Hiking Poles
- Headlamp and spare batteries
- Snacks
- Water bottle / hydration bladder
- Water treatment tablets
- Camera
- Sun cream
Rental Gear: There are a number of good rental gear shops in Thamel, Kathmandu where one can rent / buy most items listed above. Sleeping bags, a down jacket and a duffel are all included as free rentals.
Travel Insurance
We highly recommend getting travel insurance for your trip. We recommend World Nomads as they provide comprehensive cover for adventurous activities and are very affordable. Get a quote below.
Accommodation
Hotel in Kathmandu and Pokhara
In Kathmandu and Pokhara, you will stay in 3-star hotel accommodation with complimentary breakfast.
Teahouse Accommodation
The teahouse lodges on the trek are basic. Most teahouses will have shared bathroom / toilet facilities.
Reviews
Best Adventure Yet
Thanks Mountain IQ and Altezza for arranging our climb. It is by far the best adventure holiday I have ever experienced, the toughest too! Our guides and the entire support were truly amazing – I don’t think I would have made it without their support and encouragement! Thanks again!
Tip top trekking experience
Visiting the Annapurna Sanctuary has been one of the highlights of my life. I was very nervous joining this trek as I was a solo female and had never trekked at altitude. The team at Mountain IQ were fantastic at answering all my questions and putting my concerns to rest. Once in Nepal, Upendra and the Himalayan Leisure team were just amazing. Our guide, Dorchi, was an absolute hoot and very caring. The whole experience from beginning to end was awesome. Thanks again!
Simply magnificent!
We joined this trek with short notice. Upendra was very responsive and accommodating to our needs. The tour from pick up to drop off was professional and fun. Would highly recommend joining this tour!
An once in a lifetime experience!
This was by far the most amazing adventure we’ve ever had. We can’t thank the team at Himalayan Leisure and at Mountain IQ enough for arranging such an incredible trek for myself and my girlfriend. From the very get go, the support from Mountain IQ and Upendra was top notch. All our questions were answered quickly and in detail. Once we arrived in Kathmandu we were warmly welcomed. The pre-trek briefing was excellent and we immediately liked our guide Dawa, and felt confident putting our safety in his hands. The trek itself is truly amazing – the views throughout were spectacular. The high pass was a big challenge but the whole group managed it without too much strain. We can’t wait to return to Nepal to complete the EBC trek via Gokyo and will definitely be going with HL again!
Epic experience with Dawa and his team
Just a quick note to say thank you to Himalayan Leisure for an amazing trekking experience to EBC. We felt well looked after throughout and really enjoyed the company of our guide Dawa. I highly recommend booking this adventure!
A superb trekking experience
We had an absolutely amazing experience with Himalayan Leisure on this trek in the Langtang region. The Langtang is a lot quieter than the popular trails to Everest. If you are looking to get off the beaten path then I highly recommend this trek and HL!
Superb Tour!
This tour company is excellent. From the time they met us at Cusco airport, their interaction with us was first class. They were able to accommodate the tour changes we requested. Our guide, Percy, was excellent, very knowledgeable and took the time to explain and answer questions. I highly recommend Inkayni. I would advise anyone who wants to see Cusco and Choquequirao to select this tour company.
A great experience all round!
If you go to Peru and want to visit Machu Picchu I highly recommend this tour. My friends and I went with Jonathan from Inkayni and we loved it! We did a lot of activities and Jonathan was very attentive and available, with insightful explanations about the places we visited and the Peruvian culture. A great experience all round!
Amazing experience!
Touring around Cusco, Salkantay and Machu Picchu with Franco was more like touring around with a friend than someone I had just met! He was extremely personable and knowledgeable. I learned a ton, saw beautiful sights and had great conversation.
Elbrus Normal Route
Absolutely PRO experience! RMH are on top of everything. From organisation before the trip, responses to questions before, during and after, to organisation, security, food, lodging and guiding – they are amazing. Going to Russia to do this is not without insecurity. We felt we were in safe hands throughout the trip. I would highly recommend Vitaly and is team to anyone who desires to climb Elbrus.
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BOOKING TERMS
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LOCAL TOUR OPERATOR
HIMALAYAN LEISURE INC.
This tour is operated by Himalayan Leisure Inc, a fantastic local Nepalese trek operator based in Kathmandu. The company is led by Upendra, an infectious character who you will love the moment you meet him. Over the past decade Upendra has built Himalayan Leisure into a premier local trek operator with a reputation for safety, quality and fun. We're confirdent you will have an amazing experience with Upendra and his team.