Nepal's Best First Trek · Sunrise Over the Annapurnas
Poon Hill
Trek Guide
Why Poon Hill
The perfect first Himalayan trek
If you only have a few days and want the full Himalayan hit — sunrise on a wall of 8,000m giants, warm lodges, terraced villages and forests on fire with rhododendron — Poon Hill is the answer. It is the most-loved short trek in Nepal, and the one we most often recommend for a first walk in the mountains.
The classic Ghorepani Poon Hill loop climbs through Gurung and Magar villages to Ghorepani, then a pre-dawn walk up to the 3,210m viewpoint for the moment that sells the whole trek: the sun catching Dhaulagiri (8,167m), Annapurna South, Annapurna I, Nilgiri and the perfect pyramid of Machapuchare, the Fishtail. You can do the essentials in 2–3 days or loop back through Tadapani and the lovely stone village of Ghandruk over 4–5.
It is rated easy — teahouses every couple of hours, no technical ground, and a top altitude low enough that serious altitude sickness is rare. The one honest challenge is the stone staircase up to Ulleri; take it slow and it is a wonderful, achievable trek for families, first-timers and anyone short on time.
Choose Your Trek
Poon Hill in 2 to 10 days
Short Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek
Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek (3 days)
Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek (4 days)
Ghorepani Poon Hill & Ghandruk (5 days)
Poon Hill & Annapurna Loop (10 days)
When to Go
Best time for Poon Hill
Cold, crisp & clear
Crowd: Low
Clearing, cold nights
Crowd: Med
Rhododendrons bloom
Crowd: Peak
Rhododendrons peak
Crowd: Peak
Warm, some haze
Crowd: Med
Pre-monsoon cloud
Crowd: Low
Monsoon — lush, wet
Crowd: Minimal
Monsoon greens
Crowd: Minimal
Clearing, fresh
Crowd: Med
Prime — clearest skies
Crowd: Peak
Sharp mountain views
Crowd: High
Cold but clear
Crowd: Low
The Trail
The classic loop, step by step
Paperwork
Permits for Poon Hill
Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
NTB office, Pokhara · Required for the whole Annapurna foothills
TIMS — Trekkers' Information Card
TAAN, Pokhara / Kathmandu · Standard trekker registration
No restricted-area permit is needed — Poon Hill sits inside the Annapurna Conservation Area. We arrange both cards for you.
Getting There
Access & logistics
Kathmandu → Pokhara
25-min flight / 6h drive
Every Poon Hill trek starts in Pokhara. Fly in 25 minutes or take the tourist bus / private car along the river.
Pokhara → Nayapul
1.5-hour drive
A short private-vehicle transfer to the Nayapul (or Hile) roadhead where the trail begins. Included in all our packages.
Teahouse comfort
Whole trek
Warm lodges with hot meals, cosy dining rooms and (often) hot showers every night — no camping, no heavy packs.
On the Trail