Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek
Also known as Poon Hill Trek / Ghorepani Ghandruk Loop / Annapurna Sunrise Trek.
Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is an easy 4-5-day teahouse trek in the Annapurna region of Nepal, reaching 3,210 m. It starts at Nayapul (via Birethanti) and ends at Nayapul (or Kimche/Ghandruk road head).
Key facts
- Region
- Annapurna (Kaski, Myagdi)
- Duration
- 4-5 days, 5-7 hours walking per day
- Distance
- 42 km
- Maximum altitude
- 3,210 m
- Difficulty
- Easy — Short (4-5 days), low maximum altitude (3,210 m) and excellent teahouse infrastructure, but the long stone staircase from Tikhedhunga to Ulleri (3,000+ steps) and 5-7 hour walking days make it slightly harder than a pure beginner walk.
- Trek type
- Teahouse, loop route
- Best season
- Autumn (Oct-Nov) and Spring (Mar-Apr, rhododendron bloom)
- Guide
- Not mandatory
- Restricted area
- No
- Budget cost
- NPR 18,000–28,000
- Comfortable cost
- NPR 28,000–45,000
- Guided cost
- NPR 45,000–70,000
- Getting there
- Kathmandu → Pokhara (tourist bus, 6-8h, ~200 km) → Nayapul (local bus 2-2.5h or taxi/private car 1.5h, 42 km) → trail at Birethanti. Return from Nayapul or from Kimche/Ghandruk road head by bus/jeep to Pokhara.
- Altitude sickness
- Low — maximum altitude 3,210 m is reached only briefly at sunrise on Poon Hill; overnight maximum is Ghorepani at 2,874 m, below typical AMS threshold for most trekkers.
Weather
Trek is doable year-round. Spring brings rhododendron forests in bloom around Ghorepani; autumn gives the clearest mountain views. Monsoon (Jun-Sep) means leeches, mud and clouded views. Winter is cold at Ghorepani (below freezing at night, occasional snow on the Deurali-Tadapani section) but trails stay open.
Permits
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) — NPR 3,000 for foreigners. Where to get it: Nepal Tourism Board offices in Kathmandu (Bhrikutimandap) or Pokhara (Damside); checkpost at Birethanti
- TIMS Card — NPR 2,000 for foreigners. Where to get it: Through a registered trekking agency (since April 2023 individual issuance stopped); NTB offices Kathmandu/Pokhara
Itinerary
- Day 1: Pokhara to Ulleri, 5-6 h, 1,960 m — Birethanti ACAP checkpost, Modi Khola valley, Tikhedhunga, 3,300-step stone staircase to Ulleri
- Day 2: Ulleri to Ghorepani, 4-6 h, 2,874 m — Rhododendron and oak forest via Banthanti and Nangethanti, first Dhaulagiri views
- Day 3: Ghorepani to Tadapani, 6-7 h, 2,630 m — Pre-dawn climb to Poon Hill (3,210 m) for sunrise over Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre; ridge walk via Deurali Pass (3,090 m) and Banthanti
- Day 4: Tadapani to Pokhara, 5-6 h, 822 m — Descent through rhododendron forest to Ghandruk Gurung village (1,940 m), Gurung Museum, Annapurna South views; walk or drive out to Nayapul
More Annapurna treks
- Australian Camp - Dhampus Trek
- Ghandruk Loop Trek
- Royal Trek
- Mardi Himal Trek
- Khopra Danda Trek
- Mohare Danda Trek
- Panchase Trek
- Sikles Trek
- Jomsom - Muktinath Trek
- Annapurna Base Camp Trek
- Annapurna Circuit Trek
- Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake
- Nar Phu Valley Trek
- Upper Mustang Trek
- Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek
- Ghale Gaun - Lamjung Community Trek
- Sirubari Village Trek
- Kori Danda (Kapuche Lake - Kori) Trek
- Annapurna North Base Camp Trek