Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek or Poon Hill Sunrise Trek is a short hike in the foothills of Annapurna that offers rich rewards. The trek takes you through beautiful rhododendron forests along with numerous ethnic villages and deep sub-tropical valleys at the heart of the Annapurna region. Moreover, the four-day trip is a relatively easy trek that people of all ages can do.
The trek starts from Pokhara and passes through Tikhedhunga, Ghorepani, and Ghandruk villages. Wherever our stop will be, we will be greeted by magnificent vistas of snowclad peaks of the Annapurna region. Moreover, the major destination, the top of Poon Hill, is a vantage point for the best sunrise views over Machhapuchhre, Annapurna, Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri, and Hinunchuli peaks. The trail also offers excellent cultural exposure in ethnic Gurung villages where we make our stops. Ultimately, Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is a blend of culture, lush forest, and beautiful scenery combined in a short hiking trip of merely four days.
Poon Hill Trek Highlights
- A maximum elevation of 3210 meters
- Short and sweet trek for people of all ages
- Panoramic views of Himalayan mountains from Poon Hill such as Machhapuchhre, Dhaulagiri, and Annapurna South
- No fear of acute mountain sickness or altitude sickness
- Pass through beautiful villages and farmlands
- Explore Gurung culture in Ghandruk
Itinerary
We begin our journey by first driving to Nayapul, where we commence our trek. Our trail will follow an uphill path surrounded by fertile maize, millet, and rice fields. After reaching Birethanti, we will pass a small waterfall and have our lunch in a place called Sudami. From there, we continue climbing uphill to reach Tikhedhunga, where we will spend the night.
After having our breakfast, we will begin our climb towards Ulleri. It primarily consists of a steep stone stairway that goes up to the ridgeline and leads us to cultivated fields. From there, we will continue hiking along a trail filled with oak forests and rhododendron trees. We will pass the small settlement of Nangethanti and climb until we reach Ghorepani. Situated in a pristine location, Ghorepanie offers some spectacular scenes of the hills, mountains, and valleys. We will spend our night in a guest house in Ghorepani.
We start early in the morning to reach the top of the hill for the sunrise. It is merely an hour of a climb to the top of the hill, which features some fantastic scenery of the snow-covered peaks amidst the sun’s golden light. Notably, Annapurna South, Singa Chuli, Machhapuchhare, and Dhaulagiri look stunning from Poon Hill. After enjoying the view, we will return to Ghorepani for breakfast and then continue our trek. First, we will hike uphill to reach Deurali pass and then hike down to Tadapani. Our path will then go along a smooth trail whereby we will descend to reach Ghandruk. The village is a large and beautiful Gurung settlement where we can see some monasteries as well as the Gurung Museum. We will spend the night in a lodge in Ghandruk.
We will enjoy the glorious views of Machhapuchhare and Annapurna South from Ghandruk while having our breakfast. After that, we will hike downhill for about 3 hours along a pleasant trail to reach Nayapul. At Nayapul, we will get on a private vehicle and return to Pokhara via a scenic short drive. Our Poon Hill-Ghorepani Trek will come to an end once we arrive back in Pokhara.
