Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek 8 Days: Itinerary, Cost, Map & Guide

The route makes a short loop in the foothills of the Annapurna range. You start at Nayapul, climb to Ulleri and Ghorepani, and reach Poon Hill for sunrise. From there, you cross to Tadapani and descend to Ghandruk, so you finish in a different place from where you started and see more of the region.

Four days are on foot, with short drives at the start and end. On the map below, the solid line is the trekking route and the dashed line shows the road transfers.

The table below combines the 8-day itinerary with daily walking or travel times and overnight sleeping altitudes. It covers the journey from Kathmandu to Pokhara, the trek through Ulleri and Ghorepani, the early-morning hike to Poon Hill, and the return via Tadapani and Ghandruk.

Poon Hill (3,210 m) is a sunrise viewpoint visited from Ghorepani on Day 5, not an overnight stop. Ghorepani, at 2,874 m, is the highest place you sleep on this trek.

For this route, yes. Eight days gives you 4 days on the trail, a night in Pokhara at each end, and a full Poon Hill sunrise, without rushing the Ulleri stairs.

The trek can also be done in fewer days if you start from Kathmandu with less buffer, or stretched out with an extra night at Ghorepani for a second chance at a clear sunrise. Tell us your dates and we'll suggest the best fit.

The price depends mostly on how many people are in your group. Guide, porter and transport costs are shared, so larger groups pay less each. The route, permits and lodges stay the same for everyone. Your package includes the services listed under "What's Included."

Price by Group Size

Prices are per person, and we can set up private departures on dates that suit you. Contact us with your preferred dates and group size for availability and a quote, or if you want upgrades such as better hotels in the cities.

These are small costs paid in cash along the way. Figures are typical, and prices rise with altitude.

With only three nights on the trail, plan on roughly US$ 60-120 for the whole trek.

The trek is graded easy to moderate. The days are short, the altitude is low and the trail is well marked and busy, which makes it one of the friendliest Himalayan treks in Nepal. You don't need climbing skills or previous trekking experience.

Three things make it harder than it looks:

• The long stone staircase to Ulleri on Day 3, which is tiring on the legs.

• The pre-dawn start on Day 5, in the cold and dark.

• The steep descent to Ghandruk on Day 6, which is rough on the knees.

If you can climb stairs or walk uphill for an hour or two and recover well the next day, you are in good shape. See the training plan below.

You sleep at 2,874 m in Ghorepani, below the 3,000 m mark where most acclimatization advice becomes strict. Even so, the climb from Ulleri (2,050 m) to Ghorepani is a gain of about 820 m over one day, and some people feel the effects from around 2,500 m.

Poon Hill is reached on a morning hike and you sleep lower that night at Tadapani (2,630 m), which keeps your time at altitude short. Our guides manage the climb with a slow pace and daily symptom checks with an oximeter. If you want a gentler profile, ask us about adding a night at Ghorepani.

The main trekking seasons are spring and autumn. Conditions vary with rainfall, cloud and temperature, so no month guarantees a clear sunrise at Poon Hill.

Spring (March to May)

Spring is the colorful season. Rhododendrons bloom around Ghorepani and Tadapani, usually peaking in March and April, and the hillsides turn red, pink and white. Mornings are often clear, but haze and afternoon cloud can build later in the season.

Autumn (September to November)

Autumn offers the steadiest weather and the clearest mountain views, which makes it the most popular season. October is busy, so book teahouses and transport early.

Winter (December to February)

Winter is cold, especially at Ghorepani, and snow can cover the upper trail and make the steps icy. On clear days, the views are crisp and the trail is quieter. The trek is possible with warm clothing and a guide who can judge conditions.

Monsoon (June to August)

The monsoon brings heavy rain, leeches in the lower forest, slippery steps, and cloudy views. If you're traveling in the monsoon, ask us about alternatives.

Spring and autumn are generally the most practical choices. Your final decision should account for your dates, tolerance for cold, expected crowds, and the latest trail and weather reports.

Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)

The Ghorepani Poon Hill trail sits inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, so every foreign trekker needs an ACAP. It is checked at Birethanti and at other points along the route.

We arrange the permit in advance, and your guide carries it and presents it at checkpoints.

Guide Requirement and TIMS Card for Poon Hill

Every Trip Highland departure includes a licensed, English-speaking guide. Trekking rules in the Annapurna region have changed in recent years, and the TIMS card and guide requirements are applied differently from route to route. We confirm the current requirements before your departure and handle the paperwork.

Nepal Visa

A tourist visa costs US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days, and US$125 for 90 days, and the 15-day visa covers this 8-day trip. You can get it on arrival at the airport or pre-apply online. Check eligibility and current fees with the Department of Immigration before you travel.

Documents to Carry

• Passport valid for at least six months beyond your trip

• Two to four passport-size photos for permits

• Printed copy of your travel insurance policy

• Emergency contact details for Trip Highland and your own family

• Paper and digital copies of every document, kept apart from the originals

Travel insurance is not included, and you should buy it before you fly. Your policy must cover trekking up to at least 3,300 m, emergency medical treatment and helicopter evacuation. Check the policy wording for altitude limits, because some standard policies exclude trekking above 3,000 m.

Your guide carries a first-aid kit and an oximeter and checks how everyone feels each day. If anyone needs evacuation or urgent medical care, your guide contacts our Pokhara office and you contact your insurer's emergency line. Keep a printed copy of your policy number and the insurer's 24-hour number with you.

The villages on this trail are well set up for trekkers, with plenty of teahouses and a social atmosphere. Rooms are simple, with twin beds, foam mattresses and blankets, and bathrooms are shared. Ghorepani gets cold at night, and the rooms aren't heated.

The dining room is the warmest spot, with a stove or heater, and that's where everyone gathers in the evening. Hot showers, Wi-Fi and device charging cost extra. In Kathmandu and Pokhara, you stay in hotels with breakfast included.

Menus are broad, since this is a busy trail. Expect dal bhat, noodles, fried rice, soups, momos, pasta, eggs, porridge, pancakes, and Tibetan bread. Dal bhat is the best fuel, and you can usually get seconds.

Tell your guide about any dietary needs on day one so they can pass them on to each teahouse. Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara are not included.

This is a low-altitude trek, and the highest point is 3,210 m at Poon Hill. Serious altitude problems are uncommon but not impossible, and the effects can start at 2,500 m for some people. You sleep at 2,874 m in Ghorepani and then go up to Poon Hill early the next morning, so pay attention to how you feel after Ghorepani.

Early Signs of Altitude Sickness (AMS)

Early symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS) include headache, nausea, dizziness, unusual tiredness and poor sleep. Tell your guide at the first hint. Do not keep climbing with symptoms. Mild symptoms usually settle with rest and a night at the same altitude. Never go up to Poon Hill just to complete the itinerary if you feel unwell.

Serious Altitude Sickness: When to Descend

Confusion, difficulty walking straight, extreme drowsiness, breathlessness at rest or a persistent cough can indicate a serious emergency. Go down immediately and seek medical help. Descent is the only reliable treatment, and on this trek it is quick to do.

Staying Well on the Trail

• Walk at a steady pace, especially on the stairs

• Drink about 3 liters of water a day

• Skip alcohol and cigarettes

• Dress warmly for Poon Hill, since the early morning is the coldest time of the trek

• Tell your guide how you really feel every day

Your guide carries a pulse oximeter, which is useful but can't rule out altitude sickness on its own.

Temperatures swing from warm in the lower villages to near freezing at Ghorepani, and the pre-dawn climb is the coldest part of the trek. Your porter carries the duffel (limit 15 kg), and you carry a daypack with the essentials.

Clothing

• Base layers and quick-dry trekking shirts

• Fleece mid-layer

• Warm down jacket (essential for Poon Hill)

• Waterproof, windproof jacket and trousers

• Trekking trousers

Footwear and Accessories

• Broken-in waterproof boots

• Camp shoes or sandals for the evenings

• Wool socks

• Warm hat, sun hat and gloves

• Sunglasses

Gear

• Trekking poles for the stairs and descents

• Headtorch with spare batteries (essential for Day 5)

• Sleeping bag rated to about -5°C, though teahouses also provide blankets

• Waterproof duffel bag and a 20 to 25 L daypack

Health and Personal Items

• Personal medication and a small first-aid kit

• Blister plasters, sunscreen, lip balm and hand sanitizer

• Power bank and charging cable

• Leech socks or repellent if you travel in wet conditions

Start about six weeks before you travel. Most of the effort on this trek is stairs and downhill, so train for them.

Practise going downhill too, since the descent to Ghandruk is steep. If you have health concerns, talk to your doctor before you travel.

Tell Trip Highland how many extra days you have and what you want to experience, and we'll adjust the itinerary.

For more than 16 years, Trip Highland has been guiding trekkers through Nepal's mountains. We're a local team based in Pokhara, so the Poon Hill trail is practically our backyard, and the people who plan your trek know the villages, the teahouses and how the weather behaves on the ridge.

• 16+ years of experience: Knowledge of Nepal's trekking routes, mountain conditions, and local communities

• A local's trail: The best teahouses, the quietest viewpoints and the steps worth pacing yourself on

• Good for first-timers: We pace the trek around your fitness and answer every question before you go

• Flexible plans: We adjust dates, pace, and extras to suit you

• Authentic Nepali hospitality: Family-run teahouses and Gurung villages

• Responsible travel: Respect for local communities and the Annapurna Conservation Area