Annapurna Poon Hill Trek

9 Days

Ghorepani Poonhill Trek of Nepal is one of the most popular and easiest treks in Annapurna region, well suited for those short for time or hoping for an shorter, easier trekking holiday than trekking the Annapurna Circuit or Everest Base Camp Trek. Situated at an altitude of 3200m and just beneath the greatest Himalayan Range, the area is famous for fascinating traditional villages, ethnic communities, rhododendron forests and magnificent 360-degree views of more than ten snow-capped mountains. It is the easiest and shortest trek that doesn’t require any experience in trekking. During the season, the route can be congested but it is possible to trek Poon Hill any time of the year. The Ghorepani Poonhill trek starts from Nayapul, near Pokhara, and takes 3-5 days walking at a moderate pace.

The Annapurna Poon Hill Trek, is a relatively easy walk meandering through villages and rhododendron forests. This invigorating trek showcases some of the best views of Annapurna and neighboring Himalayas especially from the Poon Hill. The added presence of rice terraces completes the picture making Poon Hill a photographer’s paradise. The trek begins with sightseeing of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu. After which we take a flight to Pokhara, the real walking begins from Nayapul/Phedi. we then trek to the beautiful Gurung village of Ghandruk via Ghorepani and Tadapani and enjoy the ethnic hospitality along with the cultural magnificence of Gurung Museum. Trekking through the rhododendron forests that bloom with red flowers during the springtime, descending down to Birethanti, and passing by waterfalls and a few small villages and settlements will be a thrilling experience. We walk further to Nayapul/Phedi and then drive to Pokhara which marks the end of this marvelous trek.

<p>After arriving in Kathmandu, we will pick you up from the airport and transfer to the hotel. You can get refreshed and have some rest. In the evening, there will be a welcome dinner, you will be served authentic Nepalese cuisine which will introduce you to the country’s food culture. Overnight in Kathmandu.</p>

<p>Today after breakfast we start a guided tour to several of the most historical and spiritual attractions in Kathmandu which are also listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. We visit the historic Durbar Square, the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, the famous ‘Monkey Temple’ (Swayambhunath) and Buddhist shrine (Bouddhanath), which is also one of the largest stupas in the world. At noon, we get our equipment checked by our climbing leader, get introduced to fellow participants, and discuss our trip at the office. Overnight in Kathmandu.</p>

<p>We take an early morning flight to Pokhara and enjoy amazing views of the Himalayas from the right side of our plane. Upon our arrival in Pokhara, the beautiful lake city, we are rewarded with magnificent views of the Himalayas including Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machhapuchhre, the five peaks of Annapurna and others. After taking a rest, we drive to Naya Pul and start the trek. We pass through sub-tropical valley forests, sometimes on the carved trail on the side of the cliff. After lunch, we cross the Bhurungdi Khola (river) via a bridge to the village of Tikhedhunga. The Ulleri Hill with thousands of steps and boulders that continually go upward will really prove a test of our stamina. We reach Ulleri by late afternoon. Overnight in Ulleri.</p>

<p>After breakfast, we ascend to the Ghorepani village. The name Ghorepani in Nepali means ‘horse-water’ due to it being an important campsite for traders before it became a trekker’s stop. Ghorepani is an interesting place with small shops and stalls for selling local products and crafts. The town has two parts: one in a saddle and the other a few hundred feet lower. We stop at the higher part of the Ghorepani village that offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains including Annapurna South and Nilgiri mountains. Since Ghorepani lies quite higher than our previous stop, we begin to feel the chilly weather especially in the evenings. Overnight in Ghorepani.</p>

<p>To catch the sunrise over the Himalayas, we make an early morning climb along the steep trail to the viewpoint of Poon Hill (3,210m/10,529ft), the most popular trekking destination of the Annapurna region. It is also a great viewpoint to enjoy the amazing views of Mustang, Pokhara and more than 20 of the highest mountains including the close-up views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. The snowy peaks of the high mountains loom above and around us glowing in the morning light. After taking photographs and having some coffee or tea or hot chocolate, we return back to Ghorepani. After breakfast, we head east and climb a nearby ridge. We descend through rhododendron forests, pass by spectacular waterfalls along the way and reach Tadapani to spend the night.</p>

<p>From Tadapani, we make a steep descent through the dense and dark forest. This part of the trek will be through a thick forest of old rhododendron trees. When the rhododendron trees are in bloom, these forests actually turn into amazing gardens. By afternoon, depending upon the season of travel, we also get to enjoy cherry blossoms in bloom on the slopes on the other side of the ravine. After trekking some more minutes, we enter the village of Ghandruk, a slope settlement with stone houses mostly inhabited by the Gurung people. Along with enjoying the stunningly close-up towering views of Fishtail, Annapurna South, and Hiunchuli mountains, we also acquaint ourselves with the simple but rich cultural traditions of the Gurung people at the Gurung Museum in Ghandruk.</p>

<p>Today we trek from Ghandruk to Naya Pul then drive back to Pokhara. The trek will be downhill all the way to Birethanti. We step onto a staircase paved with stone slabs, curving in and out of the village and then into terraced farms. It keeps on going down almost without any breaks from Ghandruk until Modi Khola river valley. From Birethanti, a half-an-hour’s walk takes us to Naya Pul. The journey on foot comes to an end at Nayapul. we then drive to Pokhara for an overnight stay.</p>

<p>We fly to Kathmandu in the afternoon. The left side of the airplane offers some amazing views of the Himalayas. After arriving in Kathmandu, we leave for our hotel. We enjoy the day leisurely or catch up on some last minute shopping or explore any landmarks we missed during our first day in Kathmandu. To celebrate the successful completion of our journey, we will have a farewell dinner in the evening. Overnight in Kathmandu.</p>

<p>We will drop you off at the airport approximately 3 hours before our scheduled flight. Farewell and see off at the airport. You have a very pleasing flight with lots of memories of Nepal within.</p>

Inclusion

  • Airport pickups and drops in a private vehicle
  • 3-star hotel accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara with breakfast
  • Teahouse accommodation during the trek
  • All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the trek
  • Welcome and farewell dinners
  • All ground transportation on a comfortable private vehicle as per the itinerary
  • Domestic flights (Kathmandu-Pokhara-Kathmandu)
  • Guided city tour in Kathmandu by private vehicle
  • Entrance fees for sightseeing/monument visits as per the itinerary
  • An experienced, English-speaking and government-licensed trek leader and assistant trek leader (4 trekkers: 1 assistant guide)
  • Porter service (2 trekkers: 1 porter)
  • Staff costs including their salary, insurance, equipment, food and accommodation
  • Down jacket and sleeping bag (to be returned after trip completion)
  • All necessary paperwork and trekking permits (ACAP, TIMS)
  • Medical kit (carried by your trek leader)
  • All government and local taxes

Exclusion

  • Nepalese visa fee
  • International airfare to and from Kathmandu
  • Excess baggage charges
  • Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
  • Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara in case of early arrival, late departure, and early return from the mountain(due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary
  • Travel and rescue insurance
  • Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water, shower, etc.)
  • Tips for guide(s), porter(s) and driver(s)
  • Bus/Airplane
  • Minimum 2 pax
  • 2,750m

Find us

Contact Info

Phone: +977-01-4539114

Email: traveltimenepal@gmail.com

Thamel , Sukra Bhawan
Kathmandu, Nepal 44600