Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek

Best time for the trip

Whenever you browse the internet, you will often find that the autumn (September through November) and spring months (March through May) are considered ideal for the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek. While this is true, we like to suggest, April, October, and November as the best times for this journey.

April is the second month of spring, while October and November are the ending months of autumn. Many trekkers tend to visit at the start of the season, which often results in crowded trails, fully accommodated lodges, and higher food prices.

In our suggested months, however, there is a lack of excess people so you can calmly enjoy the scenery. You don’t have to walk in the rhythm of the other trekkers, and see regularly if you have stepped on somebody’s else heels.

Unlike popular assumptions, the winter (December to February) trek to Ghorepani and Poon Hill is more suitable as there will be no snow (except for some small sections). You can only come across fountains of icicles, frost, and a little ice. The temperature at night may fall below 0 ° C. During the day, however, you can even wear a T-shirt and jeans.

Ghorepani Poon Hill trek Length

The Ghorepani Poon Hill trek, including a visit to Ghandruk Village, stretches to a total distance of 51 km. Our journey commences in the stunning city of Pokhara, placed 208 km north of Kathmandu.

Ghorepani is 176 km from Kathmandu and just 35.1 km from Pokhara. The Poon Hill View Tower is only 2 km farther from Ghorepani. As we make our way back, we will stop at Ghandruk Village, which is an additional 19 km from Ghorepani.

The Ghorepani Poon Hill trek’s highest elevation is at Poon Hill, which reaches 3,210 m, while the highest altitude for our overnight stay will be at Ghorepani, at 2,874 m. Each day of our journey will involve approximately 10 km of hiking.

Who is this trek suitable for?

The Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is a beginner-friendly adventure in the mountainous part of Nepal. Over the years, we have organized this trek for many older people and also for families with small kids.

What makes this so perfect for everybody because the journey lasts only ten. The ten days include five days of trekking and five days in the cities of Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Thanks to the steady flow of tourists, the Annapurna region has seen significant development over the years. At every step, you will find many comfortable tea houses and lodges that provide amenities like Wi-Fi, hot showers, and electricity.

However, you should of course be aware that you will be walking up and down for several hours over several days and that you will be at an altitude of over 3000 meters. You should have a certain enthusiasm for hiking. The Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is also perfect for anyone who wants to take it slow in the Himalayas.

Is the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek overcrowded?

In Nepal, there are likely only two viewpoints that are more famous among travelers around the world: the renowned Kala Patthar and the popular Poon Hill.

Kala Patthar is known for its challenging access, which needs a trek of at least two weeks. Whereas, Poon Hill is a more accessible option that allows travelers to reach it within just three to four days from Kathmandu. This ease of getting there often thus causes the overflow of many travelers to Poon Hill.

So yes, the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek tends to be quite crowded. However, the crowd can often create a festive environment but for some, the crowds can be overwhelming. So for those seeking a quieter experience, there are numerous alternative routes available, although the viewpoint may remain busy.

Ghorepani Poon Hill trek Difficulty

The Ghorepani Poon Hill trek is a simple hiking journey suitable for those without any experience in alpine conditions. The walking track is of variable nature including gravel roads, paved paths through fields, forest trails, and very gentle mountain paths.

The main challenge the track presents comes from the sharper and vertical climbs which involve a considerable amount of walking both up and down. This is the nature of the Nepali flat and this type of track condition can be seen throughout Nepal.

One of the major difficulties arises when you have to tackle the 3300 ever-rising stone steps of Ulleri and the 3090 m high Deurali Pass. However, it is something that is easily manageable with considerable and frequent breaks in between.

Overall, the hike is not particularly difficult making way for general trekkers, backpackers, families, older and younger hikers including children. It is therefore truly a trek that welcomes beginners, which need no specific qualifications or high levels of fitness.

Altitude Sickness and Acclimatization

Altitude sickness is not so prevalent in our Ghorepani Poon Hill trek as in other mountain trails in Nepal. Still, this journey will take you above 3000 m where due to a change in air pressure, you may be at risk of this condition.

However, if you avoid a rapid ascent where the tracks rise, then you will allow your body to adapt. In most cases of our trip, our clients have felt only mild disorders that included headache, loss of appetite, and nausea and did not require any medical intervention.

It rarely progresses to a more severe form, cerebral and pulmonary edema, which can be fatal, especially if it is not recognized. The best method to stay away from altitude sickness is a slow ascent, leaving enough time for acclimatization. Treatment of altitude sickness involves stopping further ascent and descent, especially if the symptoms persist or worsen.

We also like to add that your body often shows signs of adapting to the high elevation. Many travelers often mistake these symptoms for altitude sickness.

Some normal changes that can often occur at 3000 m or above heights include rapid breathing (hyperventilation), shortness of breath during physical exertion, frequent urination, change in breathing pattern during the night, frequent awakening during the night, and strange dreams, and nightmares.

Resting at the same altitude often allows these symptoms to pass, and most recover without treatment in 24-48 hours.

Still, if you think medicine will help, then you can take analgesics, and antiemetics for pain and vomiting. Diamox is also good for relieving the disorder with no such need for oxygen therapy.

Trip Preparation, Health, and Safety

Ghorepani Poon Hill trek is certainly a mountain trek though relatively at lower heights. So when you decide to go on this trip, it is important to have good cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle strength, and joint flexibility. Going uphill requires greater muscle activation in the legs and trunk while going downhill puts particular stress on the thigh and calf muscles.

So, it is important to follow a training program that is appropriate for your abilities and the route you want to take. It is advisable to start with shorter walks of moderate difficulty, and then gradually increase the duration and intensity of the training.

In addition, it is important to also dedicate yourself to activities such as swimming or running, which help develop cardiovascular resistance and improve recovery capacity.

You should also take a good care of your diet. When hiking in the mountains, your body needs energy and nourishment, especially when you face challenging climbs. It is therefore important to follow a balanced diet rich in complex carbohydrates, which guarantee a gradual release of energy, and proteins, which help maintain muscle mass.

Wearing hiking shoes with good non-slip soles and adequate ankle support can prevent muscle and joint injuries.

Accommodation Food and Drink during Ghorepani Poon Hill trek

In our Ghorepani Poon Hill trek tour, we have included all transfers and travel as specified in the itinerary, ensuring you are grouped together in 3-star hotels and guest houses. An additional supplement is required for single accommodation.

In Kathmandu and Pokhara, you will have a double bedroom in a three-star hotel that includes breakfast. During your trekking experience, you will stay in a comfortable lodge with a double bed, with meals provided for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with seasonal fruits served each evening.

All lodges en route offer food, and beverages; for breakfast, you can choose from a variety of options including eggs, bread, tea, coffee, juices, porridge, and oatmeal. The lunch and dinner menus feature dal bhat, dumplings, pasta, pizza, noodles, and more.

Please remember that the costs of snacks and beverages will be from your own wallet.

Transportation, Communication, Electricity, and Internet

As already mentioned, all transfers are included in our Ghorepani Poon Hill trek itinerary cost. A private vehicle from our side will be at TIA to take you to your quarter in Kathmandu. Then, you will proceed to Pokhara either in a luxury tourist bus or by flight to Pokhara followed by a short drive by car, or jeep to Nayapul.

When the journey nearly comes to an end, again a short road journey in a jeep or car will take you from Birethanti to Pokhara from where you will again transfer to Kathmandu by drive or flight.

As you prepare to leave Nepal, our private vehicle with our assigned delegate will be with you till you board your home flight.

In both Kathmandu and Pokhara, we can organize a private sightseeing tour with a private driver, vehicle, and tour guide. It is important to note that this service is not part of our itinerary, and you will need to make an additional payment.

You don’t have to overthink about internet, communication, and charging. Nepal has seen considerable progress in these sectors, especially in the Annapurna region. Almost all locals carry smartphones with NTC or NCELL SIM cards for communication.

Additionally, you have the option to utilize virtual eSIMs from these networks, which also support 4G services. All lodges provide 24-hour electricity with appropriate outlets for charging your devices; however, we advise you to bring a suitable adapter.

Wi-Fi is complimentary in Kathmandu and Pokhara, but there may be additional charges for internet access beyond Pokhara.

Permit, Rules, and Regulation

The Ghorepani Poon Hill trek belongs to the National Park zone of the Annapurna where you can’t get to the lands casually, only with a special ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) permit.

In addition, TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System) is also needed which provides a safety net that gives hope for a search in case of an accident.

These permits are available through the NTB (Nepal Tourism Board) in both Pokhara and Kathmandu. As part of our organized group, we will take care of securing these permits for you, and the costs are included in our overall package.

Ghorepani Poon Hill alternate trekking route

Our Ghorepani Poon Hill trek commenced from Pokhara where we progressively move towards Ghorepani and Poon Hill first and concluded our adventure with a brief visit to Ghandruk.

There is also another track that will present you with different experiences. In this case, you will walk in reverse order, the trip will initiate from Pokhara, but you will advance through a drive to Kande.

Then walking begins towards Australian Camp, Tolka, Jhinu Danda merging with Tadapani Village from where you will march to Ghorepani and Poon Hill. Now, Hile will take you back to Pokhara again in a short drive.

If you find yourself with some extra time, why not connect the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek with the Annapurna Base Camp trek? This extension will no doubt add some distance to your journey, but the endearing views of the snow-capped peaks will be well worth the effort.

For the truly adventurous, the Annapurna Circuit presents an incredible opportunity to walk around the entire Annapurna region, making it a trek of a lifetime.

Travel Insurance

Most of us when traveling aboard like to neglect the significance of travel insurance when planning their trips. However, appropriate travel insurance is essential for our Ghorepani Poon Hill trek. Why you say, well for one, you can lose your baggage once you arrive at TIA, if you have children or the elderly, they may face some accidents or injuries say ankle sprain.

Or, you may face unexpected flight delays or cancellation, or you may not feel well and you do not trust going to a local hospital because you do not speak or understand the language well. Or, you may need an urgent rescue from the mountains.

What we are trying to tell you here is when traveling in the mountains of Nepal, any possible conditions can arise that can put extra pressure on your wallet. If you posses travel insurance that will support all these liabilities, you will have a worry-free journey.

So we always advise our participants to take out the travel insurance that supports all these aspects. And, in terms of the altitude, for our Ghorepani Poon Hill trek, coverage for an elevation of up to 3500 m is enough.