Poon Hill & Ghorepani Trek

Is Poon Hill really the best first trek in Nepal?

For most people, yes. The combination of short duration, moderate altitude, excellent teahouse infrastructure, and genuinely spectacular mountain views makes it the best-calibrated first Himalayan experience.

Poon Hill hits every mark for a first trek: it takes only 4 to 5 days from Pokhara, the altitude stays manageable (3,210 m maximum), teahouses are comfortable and reliable, and the sunrise view over Dhaulagiri and Annapurna is among the most dramatic in the world.

The main trade-off is popularity. Ghorepani and Poon Hill are very busy in October, November, and the spring months. If solitude is your priority, consider the Annapurna Base Camp trek instead, which is longer but shares some of the same teahouse route at lower sections.

What is the Poon Hill sunrise actually like?

On a clear morning, it is extraordinary. The Dhaulagiri range, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machhapuchhre all turn orange and gold in sequence as the sun rises over the Annapurna range.

The viewpoint at Poon Hill is a concrete observation tower with a small teahouse selling tea and coffee. On a clear morning in October or November, the panorama includes at least eight distinct peaks, all clearly visible from a single viewpoint.

The reality: it is cold (often below 0°C at 4:30am), the trail up is crowded in high season, and cloud cover can ruin it entirely. Book a contingency extra night at Ghorepani in case the first morning is cloudy.

Poon Hill & Ghorepani Trek itinerary, day by day

The full 5 day schedule, with sleeping altitude, walking hours and overnight stop for every day. The acclimatisation days are the ones that decide whether people finish.

1. 1

   Day 1

   Pokhara to Tikhedhunga

   • 1,540 m
   • Up 470 m
   • 12 km
   • 4 to 5 h
   • Sleep: Tikhedhunga

   From Nayapul, follow the Modi Khola river valley through Birethanti and up to Tikhedhunga.

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   Take a morning bus or taxi to Nayapul. At Birethanti, cross the suspension bridge and have permits checked. The trail is wide and well-marked. Tikhedhunga is a small village below the famous staircase.

   Transport: Bus or taxi to Nayapul (1 hour), then trekking

2. 2

   Day 2

   Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani

   • 2,860 m
   • Up 1,320 m
   • 12 km
   • 5 to 6 h
   • Sleep: Ghorepani

   Climb the famous stone staircase through rhododendron forest to the ridge at Ghorepani.

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   The 3,500 stone steps above Tikhedhunga are the hardest physical section of the trek — relentless but manageable. The forest transitions from oak to rhododendron, and the first Himalayan views appear as you near the ridge. Ghorepani is the busiest teahouse hub on the lower Annapurna region.

   Highlight: First Himalayan panorama from the ridge above Ghorepani

3. 3

   Day 3

   Poon Hill Sunrise, then Ghorepani to Tadapani

   • 2,630 m
   • Down 230 m
   • 10 km
   • 4 to 5 h
   • Sleep: Tadapani

   Pre-dawn hike to Poon Hill for the famous sunrise, then walk through rhododendron forest to Tadapani.

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   Wake at 4:30am for the 45-minute hike to Poon Hill. Watch the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges turn golden at sunrise. Return to Ghorepani for breakfast, then trek east through forest to Tadapani with views of Machhapuchhre (the Fishtail).

   Highlight: Poon Hill sunrise — the most iconic mountain panorama in all of Nepal

4. 4

   Day 4

   Tadapani to Ghandruk

   • 1,940 m
   • Down 690 m
   • 6 km
   • 3 to 4 h
   • Sleep: Ghandruk

   Descend to the beautiful Gurung village of Ghandruk, one of Nepal's most picturesque villages.

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   Ghandruk is a large Gurung community village with stone-paved streets, traditional architecture, and excellent views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre. Visit the small Gurung museum and the local gompa.

   Highlight: Ghandruk village — a living example of traditional Gurung mountain culture

5. 5

   Day 5

   Ghandruk to Pokhara

   • 827 m
   • Down 1,113 m
   • 12 km
   • 3 to 4 h
   • Sleep: Pokhara

   Descend through the Modi Khola valley back to Nayapul and transport to Pokhara.

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   Walk down through Kimche and the lower valley to Nayapul or take the alternate route via Landruk. From Nayapul, arrange transport back to Pokhara Lakeside.

   Transport: Walk to Nayapul or Kimche, then bus or taxi to Pokhara (1 to 1.5 hours)

What is included and what is not

The altitude is low enough that acclimatisation is rarely an issue, but the stone staircase sections above Tikhedhunga require good knee strength. This is a genuinely accessible first Himalayan trek.

Permits for the Poon Hill & Ghorepani Trek

• Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)

  Issued by National Trust for Nature Conservation

  Foreign

  NPR 3,000

  SAARC

  NPR 1,500

  Buy at the NTNC office in Pokhara (near the Lakeside area) before departure. Bring a passport photo.

• TIMS Card

  Issued by Nepal Tourism Board

  Foreign

  NPR 2,000

  SAARC

  NPR 1,000

  Obtainable at NTB offices in Kathmandu or Pokhara. Both permits are checked at the Birethanti checkpost.

What to pack

Basic fitness is sufficient. The main challenge is the 3,500 stone steps above Tikhedhunga. Anyone who walks regularly can complete this trek.

Frequently asked questions