Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek: A Beginner's Guide

The Ghorepani Poon Hill trek is the classic introduction to Himalayan trekking in Nepal — a short, scenic loop in the Annapurna foothills that rewards a pre-dawn climb with one of the most famous mountain sunrises in the country. From the viewpoint at Poon Hill (about 3,210 m), a whole horizon of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and the fishtail spire of Machhapuchhre turns gold as the sun comes up. Because the altitude stays moderate and you sleep in cosy teahouses rather than tents, it is a favourite for fit beginners, families and anyone short on time. This guide covers the route and itinerary, permits and rules, costs, the best season, and how the trek links into the wider Annapurna trails.

It shares the same southern Annapurna country as the Annapurna Base Camp trek, and many of its villages — including the Gurung hub of Ghandruk — sit on both routes.

Key takeaways

• Poon Hill (around 3,210 m) delivers a sunrise panorama of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Machhapuchhre — the trek's signature moment.
• Most trekkers complete the loop in four to five days from Pokhara, including the drives to and from the trailhead.
• Altitude is modest, so the trek is rated easy to moderate; the toughest stretch is the long stone staircase up to Ulleri.
• You need an ACAP entry permit (NPR 3,000 for foreigners as of June 2026), and since 2023 foreign trekkers must walk with a licensed guide rather than solo.
• Spring and autumn give the clearest skies; spring also brings the rhododendron blooms the trail is known for.

Why Poon Hill is so popular

Poon Hill earns its reputation honestly. Within a few days' walk of Pokhara, it stacks a genuine high-mountain sunrise, terraced hill villages, oak and rhododendron forest, and warm teahouse hospitality into a trip that almost anyone reasonably fit can manage. There is no technical climbing, no glacier travel and no extreme altitude — just a steady walk through some of the most photogenic foothill scenery in the Himalaya.

The headline view comes from the Poon Hill viewpoint itself, perched just above Ghorepani village. On a clear morning the panorama runs across the Annapurna massif and over to Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), one of the world's highest mountains, with the unmistakable fishtail outline of Machhapuchhre anchoring the scene. Skies are typically clearest at first light, which is why trekkers set off in the dark to be standing on top as the sun rises.

The trail also passes through living Gurung and Magar villages, where stone houses and slate roofs climb the hillsides. To understand who lives in these hills, see our background on the Gurung people.

Route and elevation

The trek is usually walked as a loop from Pokhara, with road transfers at each end to a trailhead such as Nayapul or Hile. From there the path follows the Modi Khola valley, climbs the famous stone steps to Ulleri, continues up through forest to Ghorepani, summits Poon Hill for sunrise, then descends via Tadapani and Ghandruk back to the road.

Key elevations

| Point | Approx. elevation | Notes | |---|---|---| | Pokhara (start) | ~820 m | Lakeside town and trek hub | | Tikhedhunga / Hile | ~1,500–1,570 m | Lower valley overnight | | Ulleri | ~1,960 m | Top of the long stone staircase | | Ghorepani | ~2,860 m | Highest overnight village | | Poon Hill viewpoint | ~3,210 m | Sunrise high point | | Ghandruk | ~1,940 m | Gurung village on the descent |

Elevations are approximate and vary slightly between operators and maps. The single most demanding section is the climb to Ulleri — a long staircase of stone steps that is a real test of stamina, though entirely non-technical.

Suggested itinerary

There is no one fixed schedule; operators flex the route by a day depending on where you start and whether you add side trips. A common, comfortable four to five day plan looks like this.

| Day | Route | Walking time (approx.) | Overnight | |---|---|---|---| | 1 | Drive Pokhara to trailhead, trek to Tikhedhunga/Hile | 3–4 hrs walk | Tikhedhunga area | | 2 | Trek up the Ulleri steps to Ghorepani | 6–7 hrs | Ghorepani (~2,860 m) | | 3 | Pre-dawn climb to Poon Hill for sunrise, then trek to Tadapani | 6–7 hrs | Tadapani | | 4 | Trek to Ghandruk, drive back to Pokhara | 3–4 hrs walk | Pokhara |

The climb from Ghorepani up to Poon Hill itself is short — many trekkers do it in around 45 minutes in the dark, head-torch on, so they reach the top before first light. Shorter two to three day versions skip the lower valley by starting higher at Ulleri, while longer trips fold in extra nights or connect onward to other trails.

Permits, rules and guides

The whole trek lies inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, managed by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), so a few rules apply.

ACAP entry permit

Every trekker needs the ACAP entry permit. As of June 2026 it costs NPR 3,000 for foreign nationals and NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals, with children under 10 generally exempt. Checkpoints along the trail verify this permit, so keep it accessible.

TIMS card

The Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) card is listed by the Nepal Tourism Board for Annapurna routes, including the Poon Hill–ABC trails. The system moved to online issuance through registered agencies, and the old "green" independent card for solo trekkers no longer exists. In practice your agency arranges the TIMS card alongside the ACAP permit.

Guides and solo trekking

Since 2023, Nepal requires foreign trekkers in its national parks and conservation areas — Annapurna included — to walk with a licensed guide or porter-guide rather than solo. A guide also handles permits, lodge bookings and route-finding, and is the safest, most rule-compliant way to do the trek. Many agencies also note that valid travel insurance covering mountain emergencies is expected before a permit is issued, so arrange cover before you arrive. For more on cover, see our guide to trekking insurance and helicopter evacuation.

Permits and a guide are arranged through a registered agency in Pokhara or Kathmandu; our notes on choosing a trekking agency can help you compare.

Costs and budgeting

Trek costs vary widely with group size, season, standard of lodge and how you arrange transport, so treat any single quoted price with caution. Rather than a fixed figure, plan around these building blocks:

• ACAP permit — NPR 3,000 per foreign trekker (as of June 2026).
• Guide and/or porter — a daily rate that depends on the operator and the season.
• Teahouse food and lodging — paid per night and per meal on the trail.
• Transport — the road transfers between Pokhara and the trailheads at each end.

Crucially, carry enough Nepali rupees in cash. Card payment and ATMs are essentially unavailable once you leave Pokhara, and lodges, snacks and the odd hot shower all need cash. It is also customary to tip guides and porters at the end; our guide to tipping trekking guides and porters explains the norms.

Best time to go

Two windows stand out for the clearest skies and the best mountain views.

| Season | Months | What to expect | |---|---|---| | Spring | March–May | Clear views plus rhododendron blooms along the trail | | Autumn | Late Sept–Nov | Crisp, stable weather and excellent visibility | | Monsoon | June–early Sept | Green and lush but cloudy, wet and leech-prone | | Winter | Dec–Feb | Cold, quiet, can be crisp and clear, snow possible at Ghorepani |

Spring is especially associated with this trek because the hillsides around Ghorepani turn red and pink with rhododendron — Nepal's national flower — in bloom. Autumn brings the most reliably stable weather. In both shoulder seasons, mornings are clearest before cloud builds over the peaks, which suits the early Poon Hill start perfectly.

What it is like to walk

Expect a mix of stone staircases, forest paths and village lanes rather than wild, exposed trail. You sleep and eat in teahouses — simple family-run lodges that serve hot meals, most famously dal bhat, the lentil-and-rice plate that powers Nepal's trekkers. If teahouse trekking is new to you, our overview of teahouse trekking in Nepal explains how the lodges and meals work.

Because the trek is short and the altitude moderate, it pairs naturally with time in Pokhara at either end. You can recover by Phewa Lake, catch another sunrise from Sarangkot, or add a paraglide; see our roundup of things to do in Pokhara. The Poon Hill loop also slots neatly into a wider Annapurna trip — many trekkers extend it toward Annapurna Base Camp, or compare it with the nearby Mardi Himal trek and the quieter Khopra Ridge trek when deciding which short Annapurna route to walk.

A few practical pointers make the walk more comfortable:

• Footwear and poles. Broken-in boots and trekking poles take the sting out of the Ulleri steps and the long descents.
• Layers. Ghorepani is cool and the pre-dawn summit is cold, even in spring; bring warm layers, a hat and gloves for sunrise.
• Pace and water. The altitude is modest but the climbs are steep — walk steadily, drink plenty, and treat or filter your water.
• Start early. Cloud tends to build over the peaks by mid-morning, so early starts mean better views all day.

Final thoughts

The Ghorepani Poon Hill trek packs an outsized reward into a small number of days: a world-class sunrise over Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, rhododendron forests, and genuine hill-village life, all without the extreme altitude or technical demands of Nepal's bigger routes. Sort your ACAP permit, walk with a licensed guide, pick a spring or autumn window, carry enough cash, and you have one of the most accessible great mountain experiences in the Himalaya.

Sources

• Nepal Tourism Board — TIMS Card
• Annapurna Trek Permits (2025): TIMS & ACAP Explained — Shikhar Adventure
• Annapurna Circuit Trek Permits: Guide, Costs and Rules — Magical Nepal
• Poon Hill — Annapurna View Point — Adventure Great Himalaya
• Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek Itinerary and Cost — About Nepal Treks
• 4 Days Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek — Himalaya Trip
• Nepal Bans Solo Trekkers: Licensed Guides Mandatory — Bold Adventures Nepal
• Nepal 2025 Trekking Rule: Travel Insurance Now Mandatory — Top of the World Adventure