Ghorepani Poonhill Trek
A journey shaped by the landscapes, people and experiences of Nepal.
Offered by Nepal Myth & Mountain Trails Pvt. Ltd.
NEPAL · TRAVEL EXPERIENCES
Discover the journey
Ghorepani - Poonhill trek known also as the small Annapurna Circuit is a very popular one in Nepal. The highest point of this trek (3,200m) and for many the highlight is an early morning hike to Poon Hill for a spectacular sunrise over the Himalayas where the mountains stretch as far as the eye can see. To the north towards Tibet, west towards the Dhaulagiri range and east with superb views of the entire Annapurna range. Not a difficult trek but it helps if you have a reasonable degree of fitness. This trek is considered to be the best introduction to trekking in Nepal. An easy trek in the spectacular mountain scenery through fascinating villages inhabited by the Gurungs and Magars ethnic tribes. Dense rhododendron forests full of birds and deep sub-tropical valleys, all set below the Annapurnas with the picturesque peak of Machhapuchhare (fish tail peak) dominating the skyline. This trekking is not recommended during the rainy season i.e. July, August and September.
Journey at a glance
Day 01: Arrival at Kathmandu Airport. Transfer to hotel — Flying into Kathmandu, you'll have views over the valley, the Himalaya, and the terraced fields below. After completing customs, a representative will be waiting to greet you outside the airport and guide you through the initial culture shock of Kathmandu’s narrow, winding streets to your hotel.Once you've settled in, head out and explore the city. Kathmandu Durbar Square is a great place to start your exploration, where you'll walk through narrow alleyways teeming with small shops, ancient temples, and local restaurants. If you want to stretch your legs, Swayambhunath, the white stupa rising above the valley, is the perfect spot to catch the sunset over the valley.In the evening, the tourist hub of Thamel is a good place to grab your first meal, with a variety of restaurants to choose from offering both Western and local Nepali dishes. Overnight: Kathmandu Day 02: Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara, Trek to Tikhedhunga (5,170 feet / 1,570 m) — You'll be picked up by private car from your hotel in the morning and driven to Kathmandu domestic airport for a short flight to Pokhara. Upon arriving Pokhara, you'll be picked up at the airport and driven to Nayapul, from where the trek begins!Your first trail will head uphill through fertile farms of rice, maize, and millet fields. Following the main trail of Birethanti, pass by a small waterfall and continue until you reach Sudami where you will stop and have lunch. Get back on your feet after this midday break and climb steadily along the side of the valley until you reach Tikhedhunga Teahouse for your overnight stay.Trekking time: 4-5 hours (5.7 miles / 9.2 km) Overnight: Tikhedhunga Meals included: Lunch, Dinner Day 03: Trek from Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani (9,318 feet / 2,840 m) — Wake up for an early breakfast at your teahouse in preparation for your big climb to Ulleri. The trek begins with a steep stone stairway—3,767 steps to be exact—up the ridgeline, eventually leading you through cultivated fields. Once you've completed this section, the rest of trail continues through a scenic area of blooming rhododendron blossoms and old oak forests. Keep climbing uphill until you reach Nangethanti, which is your stop for lunch. Thanti is a Nepalese word that means "rest house"; keep in mind that during winter months, the trail can be covered with snow. Work off your lunch and continue the climb until you get to Ghorepani, a village surrounded by spectacular scenery that's popular with trekkers. Trekking time: 6-7 hours (8 mi / 12.9 km) Overnight: Ghorepani Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 04: Trek from Ghorepani to Tadapani (8,562 feet / 2,610 m), Sunrise at Poon Hill — Today is a highlight of your trek!Sunrise from Poon HillStart off with an early morning wake up call and begin your pre-dawn climb to Poon Hill (10,500 feet) in just about an hour. This is a spiritual place that provides majestic scenery, especially when the rising sun casts a golden light on the nearby snow-covered peaks like Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Fishtail, and Singa Chuli, to name a few. Grab a masala tea from the coffee shack and enjoy the sublime views with your fellow trekkers.You'll then return downhill to Ghorepani for a hearty breakfast before continuing a full-day of trekking towards the small village of Tadapani. This trail works itself uphill and downhill through a range of landscapes and microclimates, so keep your camera (and warm layers) close.Trekking time: 7-8 hours (8.3 miles / 13.4 km)Accommodation: Teahouse Overnight: Tadapani Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 05: Trek from Tadapani to Nayapul, Drive to Pokhara — Today after breakfast in Tadapani, the trail continues to descend steeply until you get to Syauli Bazar through amazing hillside landscapes, forests, and terraced rice fields. Your trek will end at Nayapul where you'll be transferred to your hotel in Pokhara. Even from this urban environment, you'll be rewarded with magnificent views of the Himalayas including Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machhapuchhre, the peaks of Annapurna, and others. Upon arrival in Pokhara, settle in your hotel and enjoy the afternoon and evening on your own. This relaxed lakeside town is the gateway to the Himalayas, so there are plenty of cool cafés, restaurants, funky shops, and yoga studios that cater to expats and adventure travelers.Suggested activities: Visit the Gurkha Museum with multimedia displays dedicated to Nepal's former soldiers in the British and Indian armies, or the Regional Museum—an exhibit preserving the history of the region's ethnic groups. Take a taxi and walk up one of three paths to visit the World Peace Pagoda, constructed by Buddhist monks. Have coffee, tea, or a meal at one of the site's small cafés. Go stand-up paddleboarding or kayaking in Pokhara's freshwater Phewa Lake. There are numerous rentals on the north shore, commonly called Lake-Side. While paddling around, get up close to the two-storied pagoda Tal Barahi Temple lying in the center of Phewa Lake, the most important religious monument in Pokhara. Trekking time: 4-5 hoursAccommodation: Hotel Overnight: Pokhara Day 06: Fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu — After breakfast, you may have time to do more sightseeing, relax, or check out one of Pokhara's coffee shops. About 1.5 hours before your flight, you'll be picked up from your hotel and taken to the domestic airport to catch your flight back to Kathmandu. In Kathmandu, you'll be transferred to your hotel and can enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening at your leisure. Explore Kathmandu's streets on foot, bicycle, or rickshaw, perhaps shopping for souvenirs or seeing anything you may have missed at the beginning of your trip. In the evening, choose from a selection of Nepali, French, Vietnamese, and Middle Eastern dishes in Kathmandu. Overnight: Kathmandu Meals included: Breakfast Day 07: Depart Kathmandu — It's time to say farewell to Nepal. Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu with breakfast in a café, a final stroll through the narrow alleys and temples, and some final souvenir shopping. A driver will be waiting for you at your hotel to take you to the airport for your return flight home. It's best to be at the airport at least two hours prior to departure. Meals included: Breakfast
What's included in your experience
Included
- International arrival and departure transfer
- Kathmandu to Pokhara (return) airfare and airport transfers in private vehicle
- Pokhara to Nayapul and Nayapul to Pokhara transfers in private vehicle
- English-speaking guide and porter during the trek
- 3 nights accommodation during the trek
- Meals on full board during the trek ( breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)
- All required trekking permits, fees, and taxes
- Kit bags (Duffle bag)
Not included
- — International flights and Nepal entry visa fee
- — Accommodation, Lunches, and Dinners in Kathmandu and Pokhara
- — Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages like coke, Beer, mineral water
- — Entrance fees for monasteries and museums
- — Trekking gear and equipment
- — Travel insurance and emergency rescues
- — Personal expenses like Phone calls, Wi-Fi, gadget charging, laundry, Shower and Gratitudes
- — Other items not mentioned
Essential trip information
Fitness & eligibility
1
Meeting point
Kathmandu
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