Photo: Ermakae · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Ghorepani Poon Hill

Annapurna

Nepal's best short trek — sunrise over the Annapurnas

The Ghorepani Poon Hill trek is the most popular short trek in Nepal, and for good reason. In just 5 days, you will witness one of the most famous sunrise panoramas in the Himalayas from Poon Hill (3,210m), walk through blooming rhododendron forests, stay in traditional Gurung villages, and enjoy close-up views of Dhaulagiri (8,167m), Annapurna South (7,219m), and the iconic Machhapuchhre (Fishtail). This is the ideal introduction to Himalayan trekking — short enough for limited schedules, spectacular enough to be unforgettable.

Days 5 days

Highest sleeping altitude 2,850 m highest point touched: 3,210 m

Difficulty Easy-Moderate

Price From USD 450

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Route map

Waypoints

Day 1 — Tikhedhunga 1,480 m
Day 2 — Ulleri 2,005 m
Day 2 — Ghorepani 2,850 m
Day 3 — Poon Hill 3,210 m
Day 3 — Tadapani 2,610 m
Day 4 — Ghandruk 1,940 m
Day 5 — Birethanti 1,025 m

Elevation profile

Ghorepani Poon Hill: sleeping-altitude profile, with SRTM terrain trace
Day	Place	Altitude	Gain from previous night
1	Tikhedhunga	1,480 m	first night
2	Ghorepani	2,850 m	+1,370 m
3	Tadapani	2,610 m	-240 m
4	Ghandruk	1,940 m	-670 m
5	Birethanti	1,025 m	-915 m

Terrain elevation interpolated between waypoints by SRTM30m — not the route's sourced altitudes. May read above or below maxAltitude/maxSleepAltitude (both cited, manual figures); render or label accordingly, do not treat as the same number.

Acclimatisation

This itinerary stays below 3,000 m, where the sleeping-gain guideline does not apply.

Sleeping altitude by night, with gains above 500 m marked where the night is above 3,000 m
Day	Sleeping at	Altitude	Gain from previous night
1	Tikhedhunga	1,480 m	first night
2	Ghorepani	2,850 m	+1,370 m
3	Tadapani	2,610 m	-240 m
4	Ghandruk	1,940 m	-670 m
5	Birethanti	1,025 m	-915 m

Cited to the Wilderness Medical Society Clinical Practice Guidelines (2024): above 3,000 m, do not increase sleeping elevation by more than 500 m per day, and take a rest day every 3–4 days. WMS itself notes that terrain often makes strict adherence impossible.

This is itinerary information, not medical advice, and not clearance to trek. Acclimatisation varies between individuals.

Your trip, day by day — all 5 days, travel included

Every day of the 5-day trip in the order it happens, including the flights, drives and rest days that have no walking stage. These are trip day numbers. The next section numbers walking days instead, starting again at 1, so a day number here and a walking day number there are not the same day.

Day 1 of 5

Pokhara to Nayapul — Trek to Tikhedhunga (1,480m)

Drive from Pokhara to Nayapul (1.5 hours), the trailhead. Begin trekking along the Modi Khola river through rice paddies and small Magar villages. Gentle climb to Tikhedhunga, a small village at the base of a famous stone staircase. Walking time: 3-4 hours.
Day 2 of 5

Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani (2,850m)

The biggest climb day — ascend the stone staircase from Tikhedhunga through oak and rhododendron forest. Pass through Ulleri (2,005m), a Magar village with great views, and continue climbing to Ghorepani. In spring, the rhododendron forests along this trail are in full bloom — red, pink, and white. Walking time: 5-6 hours.
Day 3 of 5

Poon Hill Sunrise (3,210m) — Trek to Tadapani (2,610m)

Wake at 4:30am for the 45-minute climb to Poon Hill. Watch the sunrise illuminate Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Machhapuchhre, and Manaslu — an unbroken wall of Himalayan giants. Return for breakfast, then trek through dense forest to Tadapani with views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre ahead. Walking time: 5-6 hours.
Day 4 of 5

Tadapani to Ghandruk (1,940m)

Descend through mossy rhododendron forests to Ghandruk, one of the most beautiful Gurung villages in Nepal. Traditional stone houses with slate roofs line the narrow streets. Visit the Gurung Cultural Museum and enjoy stunning sunset views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre. Walking time: 3-4 hours.
Day 5 of 5

Ghandruk to Nayapul — Drive to Pokhara

Final descent through terraced farmland to Nayapul (3-4 hours walking). Drive back to Pokhara. Free afternoon to relax by Phewa Lake, go paragliding, or explore Pokhara's lakeside restaurants. Farewell dinner with the team.

Walking days on the mapped route — 5 days of sourced altitudes

Numbered by walking day: walking day 1 is the first day with a mapped stage. Every altitude below is a waypoint from this route's own sources, listed at the foot of the page.

Walking day 1

Tikhedhunga 1,480 m overnight
Drive Pokhara-Nayapul, then trek via Birethanti.

Walking day 2

Ulleri 2,005 m day stop
Magar village on the stone staircase between Tikhedhunga and Ghorepani; passed through, not overnighted. OSM node 973821285 (place=village, name:en="Ulleri") carries ele=2005, 65m below the 2,070m figure some trekking-guide itineraries quote; no in-repo source corroborates 2,070m, so the OSM-sourced figure is published.
Ghorepani 2,850 m overnight
Steep climb via Ulleri (~1,960m) — roughly 3,000 stone steps.

Walking day 3

Poon Hill 3,210 m day stop
Pre-dawn sunrise viewpoint over Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna range. Day objective, not slept at.
Tadapani 2,610 m overnight
Descend from Ghorepani via forest trail.

Walking day 4

Ghandruk 1,940 m overnight
Large Gurung village with a museum.

Walking day 5

Birethanti 1,025 m overnight
Roadhead near Nayapul. Jeep/bus to Pokhara.

Permits

Permits required for this route, with fee and verification date
Permit	Fee	Verified
Annapurna Conservation Area Permit	NPR 3,000	Verified 2026-09-07

Cost breakdown

Permits (NPR): NPR 3,000

Permit fees above are the only figures on this page we have re-verified against the issuing authority; the route's itinerary and altitudes are built from the sources listed further down this page, not independently re-verified with one. Other trip costs — teahouse accommodation, a guide, a porter, and flights where the route requires one — vary by season, operator and party size and are not itemised here.

When to go

Month-by-month fit for Ghorepani Poon Hill, based on this route's own best-months window.

Jan avoid
Feb shoulder
Mar best
Apr best
May best
Jun shoulder
Jul avoid
Aug shoulder
Sep best
Oct best
Nov best
Dec shoulder

Ghorepani Poon Hill — Frequently Asked Questions

How difficult is the Poon Hill trek?

The Poon Hill trek is rated Easy and is Nepal's most beginner-friendly multi-day trek. The maximum altitude is 3,210m (Poon Hill), well below the threshold where altitude sickness typically becomes a concern. The steepest section is the stone staircase from Tikhedhunga to Ulleri on Day 2. If you can walk uphill for 5-6 hours, you can do this trek.

When is the best time for the Poon Hill trek?

October-November for the clearest skies and best visibility. March-April is equally popular because the rhododendron forests between Ulleri and Ghorepani are in spectacular bloom. This is a lower-altitude trek, so it is also feasible in December-February (cold mornings but clear) and even early monsoon (June) if you do not mind some cloud cover.

Is this trek good for families?

Yes, the Poon Hill trek is one of the best family treks in Nepal. Children aged 10 and above with reasonable fitness can complete it comfortably. The daily walking hours are manageable, teahouses provide comfortable accommodation, and the Poon Hill sunrise is an experience children remember for life. We can adjust the pace for families.

Can I combine Poon Hill with another trek?

Absolutely. The Poon Hill trail shares its starting and ending points with the Annapurna Base Camp trek and the Annapurna Circuit. A popular combination is Poon Hill plus ABC, which adds about 5 extra days. We can customize an itinerary that links Poon Hill with other treks in the region.

What if the sunrise is cloudy on Poon Hill?

Cloud cover does happen, especially outside of peak season. However, even on partially cloudy mornings, the play of light on the mountains is dramatic and beautiful. In October-November, the odds of a clear sunrise are roughly 80%. Our guides monitor weather patterns and will adjust the schedule if a better morning is expected.

Sources

Ready to book Ghorepani Poon Hill?

5 days in the Annapurna region, highest night at 2,850 m, from USD 450.

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