Is the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek Affected by the 2026 Nepal Floods?
No — Poon Hill is an Annapurna-region trek out of Pokhara, on the far side of Nepal from the Rasuwa flood, and it is running normally. Here is why, plus the one seasonal road note for first-timers.
At a glance
- Published
- TopicSafety & Advisories
- ReportingOriginal, by our guides in Pokhara
📍 Developing story — live updates
The 2026 Nepal floods are a nationwide, still-developing emergency and the figures are rising. For the latest verified death toll, missing and rescued numbers and trek status, follow our continuously updated Nepal Floods 2026: Live Updates.
Last updated: 29 August 2026. If Poon Hill is your first Himalayan trek and the flood headlines have you worried, here is the plain answer, then the detail.
Is the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek affected by the 2026 Nepal floods? No — it is in the Annapurna region near Pokhara, nowhere near the flood zone, and it is running normally. The flash flood of 26 August 2026 struck Rasuwa district in north-central Nepal, on the Bhote Koshi river above the Langtang valley. Poon Hill and Ghorepani sit in the Annapurna foothills above Pokhara, on the far side of the country, drained by an entirely different river system. Pokhara is normal, the ACAP permit is issued as usual, and the Ghorepani trail is open and busy. If you are planning this trek for October or November — the best months for it — nothing about the flood changes your plans.
Ghorepani Poon Hill trek — the honest status
- Affected by the flood? No. The flood was in Rasuwa on the Bhote Koshi. Poon Hill is in the Annapurna region above Pokhara, drained by the Bhurungdi and Modi Khola into the Kali Gandaki — a separate watershed hundreds of kilometres away.
- It is a low, gentle trek. The high point is Poon Hill at 3,210 m — no big pass, no glacier, no altitude drama. This is the trek we recommend to first-timers and families.
- Access is from Pokhara. A short drive to Nayapul or Ulleri, then you walk. Pokhara itself is completely unaffected by the Rasuwa flood.
- One honest, seasonal caveat. In the tail of the monsoon (through mid-September) the rough road above Tikhedhunga can be blocked by ordinary landslides, so we simply start walking from lower down via the Ulleri stairs. That is standard monsoon behaviour on this trail, not flood damage — and by October it is a non-issue.
- Best season is right ahead. October–November gives the clear dawn skies Poon Hill is famous for. That window is weeks away and well outside the affected area.
Why the Annapurna foothills are a world away from Rasuwa
Nepal is not one small place where a single flood touches everything. Its trekking regions are separated by great ranges and drained by rivers that never meet in the mountains. The 26 August flood came down the Bhote Koshi out of Tibet into Rasuwa, hitting Timure and Syabrubesi hardest according to reporting collated by Wikipedia's running summary and outlets including CNN. Syabrubesi is the road-head for Langtang treks — a full day's drive north of Kathmandu, and even further from Pokhara.
Poon Hill sits above Ghorepani in the Annapurna Conservation Area, reached from Pokhara in the centre-west of the country. Its streams — the Bhurungdi Khola and, over the ridge, the Modi Khola — feed the Kali Gandaki, not the Bhote Koshi or the Trishuli. A flood in Rasuwa has no physical connection to this trail. They are on opposite sides of Nepal.
The Ghorepani Poon Hill trek, stage by stage
Here is the whole trek, checked stage by stage against the flood zone.
| Stage / region | Where it is | Status & what to do |
|---|---|---|
| Pokhara (start point) | Central-west Nepal, Annapurna gateway | Normal — unaffected |
| Drive Pokhara → Nayapul / Ulleri | Annapurna foothills, Kali Gandaki side | Running; in late monsoon start on foot from Tikhedhunga if the upper road is blocked |
| Tikhedhunga → Ulleri → Ghorepani | Bhurungdi Khola valley | Trail open, teahouses running |
| Ghorepani → Poon Hill (3,210 m) sunrise | Annapurna–Dhaulagiri viewpoint | Open — not in the flood zone |
| Tadapani → Ghandruk → return | Modi Khola side, ACAP | Open |
| Permit: ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area) | Issued in Kathmandu / Pokhara | Issued normally |
The trek uses only the ACAP permit, issued in Pokhara or Kathmandu — not in Rasuwa, and not affected by the flood. Nepal's permit desks are open and processing as usual; we cover the paperwork in full in our Annapurna ACAP & TIMS guide.
How we run Poon Hill safely this autumn
This is one of the safest treks in Nepal, and autumn makes it safer still. Once the monsoon clears in October the trails dry, the landslide risk on the approach road drops away, and the mornings turn crystalline — which is the whole point of standing on Poon Hill at dawn. We keep the plan simple: a sensible drive from Pokhara, a start on foot if the upper road is muddy, comfortable teahouse nights, and a guide who checks the forecast so your sunrise is a clear one. Proper travel insurance is worth having on any trek, even a gentle one.
A local guide's take
I send first-time trekkers up Poon Hill more than almost any other route, so I will say it plainly: this trek is fine, and it is one of the gentlest, most forgiving walks in the country. The flood was on the other side of Nepal, on a different river, above Langtang. Poon Hill is a short trip from Pokhara that tops out at just over 3,200 metres. The only thing I ever adjust here is the drive when late-monsoon rain loosens the road above Tikhedhunga — and we just walk up the old stone stairs instead, which is the nicer way anyway. Come in October for the sunrise. It is exactly as good as the photos.
What you can book for autumn
Poon Hill departures running normally this October and November
These are the trips we are putting people on right now, priced from the per-person rate a small group pays:
- Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek — 4 days · from US$295 per person in a group of eight (US$410 solo). The classic short trek to the sunrise viewpoint.
- Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek — 5 days · from US$370 per person. The same route at an easier pace with Ghandruk added.
- Poon Hill & Annapurna Panorama Trek — 10 days · from US$785 per person. A fuller Annapurna foothill loop.
Not sure which length suits you, or want to check a start date? Message us on WhatsApp or use the contact form. No pressure — if this is your first trek, I am happy to just talk it through.
Related reading
- Nepal trekking conditions right now: region-by-region status after the 2026 floods
- Bhote Koshi flash flood, 26 August 2026: what happened in Rasuwa district
- Nepal Floods 2026: live updates, death toll and trek status
Sources: Wikipedia — 2026 Nepal floods; CNN live coverage. Road-access notes reflect normal late-monsoon conditions on the Nayapul–Ulleri approach and should be reconfirmed on the day of travel.
Cover photo: Thapaliyashreeram via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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