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Poon Hill Trek Itinerary

A short, scenic trek with a famous sunrise over Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. A 6-day plan from Kathmandu with daily stops, altitudes and walking times, an altitude profile, warnings and permits. Pick your start date and add it to your calendar.

Duration

6 days

4 walking, from Kathmandu

Highest point

3,210 m

Poon Hill

Difficulty

Easy

Annapurna

Best months

March to May + October to November

Spring and autumn

Planning guide, not a substitute for a guide. Altitudes and walking times are compared from several operator itineraries and differ between sources by 10 to 150 m and by an hour or more. Weather, trail damage and road changes alter plans. Confirm your route, permits and fees with a licensed agency or guide.

Plan your dates

Add rest or spare days

Altitude profile

The height you sleep at each night. Dots: green rest day, amber and red a bigger climb than the usual guideline. Triangles mark the highest point of a day.

0k1k2k3k4k3,000 m: altitude guidelines startPoon Hill: about 3,210 mDay 1: Pokhara, about 820 mDay 2: Tikhedhunga, about 1,540 mDay 3: Ghorepani, about 2,860 mDay 4: Tadapani, about 2,630 mDay 5: Pokhara, about 820 mDay 6: Kathmandu, about 1,400 m123456Day

No day exceeds the usual altitude guidelines on this plan.

Day by day

  1. Day 1

    Kathmandu to Pokhara

    Sleep: Pokhara · about 820 m6 to 8 h by road, or about 25 to 30 min by flight

    Pokhara is the lakeside gateway to the Annapurna region. Flights are weather dependent in the morning, so book a flexible ticket. Spend the evening sorting gear and checking your permits.

  2. Day 2

    Pokhara to Tikhedhunga

    Sleep: Tikhedhunga · about 1,540 m (sources: 1,540 to 1,577 m)Walking 3 to 4 hDrive Pokhara to Nayapul, about 1 to 1.5 h

    Drive to Nayapul, walk to Birethanti where the ACAP office checks permits, then continue up the Modi Khola valley to Tikhedhunga.

  3. Day 3

    Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani

    Sleep: Ghorepani · about 2,860 m (sources: 2,840 to 2,870 m)Walking 6 to 7 h

    The longest and steepest day. The trail climbs the Ulleri steps, then continues through oak and rhododendron forest past Banthanti and Nangethanti.

  4. Day 4

    Poon Hill sunrise to Tadapani

    Sleep: Tadapani · about 2,630 m (sources: 2,590 to 2,700 m)Walking 5 to 6 hReach Poon Hill · about 3,210 m (sources: 3,193 to 3,232 m)

    Leave about 45 minutes before dawn for the climb to Poon Hill, return to Ghorepani for breakfast, then cross the ridge through rhododendron forest to Tadapani.

  5. Day 5

    Tadapani to Ghandruk to Pokhara

    Sleep: Pokhara · about 820 mWalking 3 to 4 hJeep or drive Ghandruk to Pokhara, about 2 to 3 h

    A gentle descent to the large Gurung village of Ghandruk (about 1,940 m), then a vehicle back to Pokhara.

  6. Day 6

    Pokhara to Kathmandu

    Sleep: Kathmandu · about 1,400 m6 to 8 h by road, or about 25 to 30 min by flight

    Return to Kathmandu. Keep a spare day before an international flight in case of delays.

Permits

  • Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), checked at Birethanti
  • Check at the time of travel whether a TIMS card or a local-government permit is also required

Fees and rules change, so this page does not quote prices. Check the current fee with your agency or the permit office.

Altitude sickness basics

  • Above 3,000 m, raise your sleeping altitude by no more than about 500 m a night, and rest about every 1,000 m of climbing.
  • Headache, nausea, dizziness and unusual tiredness are early signs. Do not go higher with symptoms.
  • If symptoms get worse, or you feel confused or unsteady, go down immediately.
  • Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol and do not travel alone. Ask a doctor about medication before you go.

General information, not medical advice.

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Poon Hill Trek Itinerary from Kathmandu

The Poon Hill trek, also called the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek, is the most popular short trek in Nepal. It climbs through rhododendron forest and Gurung and Magar villages to Ghorepani, then to Poon Hill (about 3,210 m) before dawn for a wide view of Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna range.

The highest place you sleep is Ghorepani, below 3,000 m, so altitude sickness is rare. The hardest day is the climb through Ulleri and its three thousand or more stone steps.

Day-by-day itinerary (6 days)

  1. Day 1: Kathmandu to Pokhara. Sleep at Pokhara (about 820 m). 6 to 8 h by road, or about 25 to 30 min by flight.
  2. Day 2: Pokhara to Tikhedhunga. Sleep at Tikhedhunga (about 1,540 m). Walking about 3 to 4 h. Drive Pokhara to Nayapul, about 1 to 1.5 h.
  3. Day 3: Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani. Sleep at Ghorepani (about 2,860 m). Walking about 6 to 7 h.
  4. Day 4: Poon Hill sunrise to Tadapani. Sleep at Tadapani (about 2,630 m). Walking about 5 to 6 h. Reach Poon Hill (about 3,210 m).
  5. Day 5: Tadapani to Ghandruk to Pokhara. Sleep at Pokhara (about 820 m). Walking about 3 to 4 h. Jeep or drive Ghandruk to Pokhara, about 2 to 3 h.
  6. Day 6: Pokhara to Kathmandu. Sleep at Kathmandu (about 1,400 m). 6 to 8 h by road, or about 25 to 30 min by flight.

Altitudes and walking times are compared from several operator itineraries and differ between sources. Confirm your route, permits and fees with a licensed agency or guide.

Best time

Spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November) are the best seasons. Autumn has the clearest skies and is the busiest. Spring is warmer, with rhododendrons in bloom, but afternoon cloud is common. June to August is monsoon, and December to February is cold with snow at height.

Permits

  • Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), checked at Birethanti
  • Check at the time of travel whether a TIMS card or a local-government permit is also required

Altitude sickness

Above 3,000 m, raise your sleeping altitude by no more than about 500 m a night and rest about every 1,000 m of climbing. Do not go higher with symptoms, and descend if they get worse. This is general information, not medical advice.

Frequently asked questions

How many days is the Poon Hill (Ghorepani) Trek from Kathmandu?

This plan takes 6 days from Kathmandu back to Kathmandu, with 4 days of walking and the rest for travel and rest. Itineraries from operators vary, and you can add extra rest days on the page.

How high does the Poon Hill (Ghorepani) Trek go?

The highest point most itineraries reach is Poon Hill, at about 3,210 m.

What is the best time for the Poon Hill (Ghorepani) Trek?

March to May and October to November. Spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November) are the best seasons. Autumn has the clearest skies and is the busiest. Spring is warmer, with rhododendrons in bloom, but afternoon cloud is common. June to August is monsoon, and December to February is cold with snow at height.

Do I need a permit for the Poon Hill (Ghorepani) Trek?

Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), checked at Birethanti. Check at the time of travel whether a TIMS card or a local-government permit is also required. Fees change, so confirm the current amounts with your agency.

Is the Poon Hill trek hard?

It is one of the easiest trails in Nepal. The sleeping altitude stays below 3,000 m. The only demanding section is the long climb from Tikhedhunga through Ulleri to Ghorepani, which is about 6 to 7 hours of mostly uphill walking.

When is the best time for the Poon Hill sunrise?

October to November has the clearest skies, and March to May is also good. Clouds can hide the view at any time, so allow a spare morning if you can.