Quick answer: The Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is an easy 4-day sunrise trek in Nepal’s Annapurna region, topping out at Poon Hill (3,210 m). It needs no flight, suits families and beginners, and costs about US$250 to US$500 with a licensed guide. The best seasons are spring and autumn.
The Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is the most popular short trek in Nepal, famous for its sunrise over the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri peaks. It is easy, low, and quick, so it suits beginners, families, and busy travellers. You climb to Poon Hill (3,210 m) for the dawn view, then walk down through Gurung villages. There is no flight, just a short drive from Pokhara.
Key Takeaways
- The high point is Poon Hill (3,210 m), with a famous sunrise over the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges.
- It runs in 2 to 5 days, with 4 days the most popular.
- It is graded easy to moderate, and it stays under 3,500 m, so altitude sickness is rare.
- There is no flight. You start with a short drive from Pokhara.
- The best time is spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November).
- Budget roughly US$250 to US$500 for a guided short trek.
This is the hub for everything we cover on Poon Hill and the quiet short treks near it. First, use it to plan the big picture. Then follow the links to our deeper guides and the full trek itineraries.
What is the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek?
The Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is a short, easy walk in the Annapurna foothills, near Pokhara. It is one of the best-loved treks in Nepal. So it is busy, but for good reason.
The big draw is the dawn view from Poon Hill (3,210 m). At sunrise, the light turns Annapurna South, Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), and the Fishtail peak gold. It is a view most trekkers never forget.
The trail is full of variety, too. You walk through farm terraces, then thick oak and rhododendron forest. You pass Gurung and Magar villages like Ulleri, Ghorepani, and Ghandruk. So you get big mountain views and warm local culture in one short trip.
For the full day-by-day plan, see our 4-day Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek.
Why is the Poon Hill Trek so popular?
Poon Hill is popular because it gives a huge Himalayan reward for very little effort. So it works for almost anyone.
Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek 4-Days
Here is why so many people choose it:
- The sunrise. Few viewpoints in Nepal match the dawn over Annapurna and Dhaulagiri.
- It is short. You can do it in 2 to 5 days, so it fits a tight trip.
- It is low. The high point is 3,210 m, so altitude sickness is rare.
- It is easy to reach. There is no flight, just a short drive from Pokhara.
- It suits families. Active children and healthy seniors can enjoy it.
So Poon Hill is the perfect first taste of the Himalaya. In short, it is gentle, scenic, and quick.
What is the route, and how many days do you need?
Most people trek Poon Hill in 4 days, but 2, 3, and 5 day plans all work. The right length depends on your time and pace. Here are the common options.
- 2 to 3 days. The fast version, straight up to Ghorepani and Poon Hill and back.
- 4 days. The most popular plan, with Ghorepani, Poon Hill, Tadapani, and Ghandruk.
- 5 days. A relaxed plan that adds the hot springs at Jhinu Danda or more village time.
A typical 4-day route runs from Nayapul or Ulleri, up to Ghorepani, then the Poon Hill dawn hike, on to Tadapani and Ghandruk, and back to Pokhara. The one steep part is the long stone staircase up to Ulleri. So good fitness helps, even though the trek is easy overall.
What are the quiet alternatives to Poon Hill?
If you love the idea of Poon Hill but want fewer people, two quiet treks sit nearby. Both give big views with far smaller crowds.
The Khopra Danda Trek climbs a high ridge at 3,660 m, facing Dhaulagiri (8,167 m). You can also hike to the sacred Khayer Lake (4,660 m). The Kori Trek is a newer route to Kori Danda (3,800 m), above the large Gurung village of Sikles.
So if you want the views without the busy trail, these are great picks. For the detail, see our Khopra Danda Trek guide and our Kori Trek guide.
What permits do you need for the Poon Hill Trek?
You need two low-cost permits for the Poon Hill Trek, plus a licensed guide. So the paperwork is simple, and Spade Himalaya handles it for you.
You need two papers:
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP). This costs NPR 3,000 (about US$25) for foreign trekkers (Nepal Tourism Board, retrieved 2026-06-24).
- TIMS card. This costs NPR 2,000 for foreign trekkers, or NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals (Nepal Tourism Board, retrieved 2026-06-24).
Since 31 March 2023, foreign trekkers must use a licensed guide in Nepal’s national park and conservation areas, including the Annapurna region (Nepal Tourism Board, retrieved 2026-06-24). So a solo, guide-free trek is no longer allowed. Spade Himalaya is a registered agency, so we arrange the guide and both permits for you.
How much does the Poon Hill Trek cost?
A guided Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek usually costs about US$250 to US$500 per person in 2026. The price depends on the length, the group size, and the comfort level. It is one of the cheapest treks in Nepal.
The reason is simple. The trek is short, it stays low, and there is no flight. So your money goes to the guide, the transport, the food, and the lodging.
For a full line-by-line breakdown, see our Poon Hill Trek cost guide.
Trek difficulty: the Spade Himalaya scale
We grade every trek from 1 to 5, so you can compare them fast. This is our own scale, based on altitude, length, remoteness, and lodging.
| Grade | Name | What it means | Example treks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Easy | Under 3,500 m, short, gentle days | Poon Hill |
| 2 | Moderate | Up to about 4,500 m, no high pass | Annapurna Base Camp, Mardi Himal, Kori |
| 3 | Strenuous | 5,000 to 5,550 m, a base camp or one high pass, good lodges | Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit |
| 4 | Challenging | Remote, above 5,000 m, long rough days, simple lodges or some camping | Makalu, Everest Three Passes |
| 5 | Expedition | Very remote, full camping, or several high passes | Upper Dolpo |
On this scale, the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is Grade 1 (Easy). It is short and stays under 3,500 m. The quieter Kori Trek is Grade 2, and the Khopra Danda Trek is Grade 2 too, a touch harder because of the Khayer Lake hike. For more, see our Poon Hill difficulty and best time guide.
What are the temperatures by season?
Here are rough temperatures by season, so you know what to pack. These are field-experience ranges from our guides, not exact figures, because mountain weather changes fast.
| Season | Lower trail (day) | Ghorepani and Poon Hill (dawn) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar to May) | 14 to 22°C | 2 to 8°C | Excellent, rhododendrons bloom |
| Autumn (Sep to Nov) | 12 to 20°C | 0 to 6°C | Excellent, clearest views |
| Winter (Dec to Feb) | 8 to 16°C | -5 to 2°C | Cold dawns, possible snow, fine by day |
| Monsoon (Jun to Aug) | 16 to 24°C | 6 to 12°C | Wet, leeches, cloudy views |
When is the best time to trek Poon Hill?
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the best seasons. Both bring stable weather and clear skies. So the sunrise views are at their best.
In spring, the rhododendron forests bloom red, pink, and white. The forests around Ghorepani are famous for this. In autumn, the air is crisp and clear after the rains. So autumn gives the sharpest dawn views.
Because the trek stays low, winter also works well. The days are pleasant, and snow is rare on the main trail, though dawns are cold. The summer monsoon brings rain, leeches, and cloud, so most trekkers skip it.
Poon Hill or Annapurna Base Camp?
Choose Poon Hill for a short, easy sunrise trek; choose Annapurna Base Camp for a longer walk into a ring of giant peaks. Both start near Pokhara, and many people add Poon Hill to the start of a Base Camp trek.
Poon Hill is shorter, easier, and cheaper. It stays low and suits families and first-timers. Annapurna Base Camp is longer and climbs to 4,130 m, with a grander setting.
So if you have under a week, Poon Hill is the perfect fit. For a full head-to-head, read Poon Hill vs Annapurna Base Camp. You can also see our Annapurna region guide.
What are accommodation and food like on the trail?
You sleep in cosy, family-run teahouses along the trail. On the Poon Hill route, many lodges are comfortable, and some have private bathrooms. So it is one of the easier treks for families.
The food is filling and good for trekking. For example, you get dal bhat, noodles, soup, eggs, and pancakes. Ghorepani lodges often have warm dining halls with a stove. Vegetarian meals are easy to find too.
The trail runs mostly on cash, so carry enough Nepalese rupees from Pokhara. Wi-Fi, charging, and hot showers cost a small fee at most lodges.
What should you pack?
Poon Hill is low and short, so you need less gear than a high trek. Still, the dawn on Poon Hill is cold, so bring warm layers. Here is a short list of essentials:
- Comfortable trekking boots or shoes, broken in, plus warm socks
- Base layers, a fleece or light down jacket, and a waterproof shell
- A warm hat and gloves for the cold sunrise
- Headlamp for the early Poon Hill hike, plus sunglasses and sunscreen
- Trekking poles for the long Ulleri stairs
- A small daypack with a water bottle and a rain cover
So pack light, but do not skip the warm layer for the dawn view. Our trek page lists the full packing list.
Who should trek Poon Hill?
Poon Hill suits almost everyone, from families and first-timers to busy travellers. You do not need experience or special fitness. You just need to handle a few hours of walking and the Ulleri stairs.
It is the best first trek in Nepal for most people. So if you want a real Himalayan sunrise without a long or hard trip, Poon Hill is ideal.
Want something quieter or longer? See the Khopra Danda Trek or the Kori Trek. For a bigger goal, see the Annapurna Base Camp Trek or the quiet Mardi Himal Trek.
FAQs
How many days is the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek?
Most people trek it in 4 days. There are also 2 to 3 day fast plans and 5-day relaxed plans. With travel from Kathmandu, add a day or two. So it fits almost any short holiday.
How hard is the Poon Hill Trek?
It is graded easy to moderate, so it suits beginners and families. The trek stays under 3,500 m, so altitude sickness is rare. The one hard part is the long stone staircase up to Ulleri. So decent fitness helps.
How high is Poon Hill?
Poon Hill is 3,210 m. It is the high point of the trek, reached on an early dawn hike from Ghorepani. Because the trek stays low, it is one of the safest treks for altitude in Nepal.
How much does the Poon Hill Trek cost?
A guided trek usually costs about US$250 to US$500 per person in 2026. It is one of the cheapest treks in Nepal. The price depends on length, group size, and comfort. There is no flight, so it stays good value.
Do you need a guide for the Poon Hill Trek?
Yes. Since 31 March 2023, foreign trekkers must use a licensed guide in the Annapurna region. You also need an ACAP permit and a TIMS card. Spade Himalaya arranges the guide and both permits for you.
When is the best time to trek Poon Hill?
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are best. Spring brings rhododendron blooms, and autumn brings the clearest skies. Because the trek is low, winter works well too, with cold dawns but pleasant days.
Accuracy note: official fees, rules, and hard facts in this guide are cited inline from their sources; trail and price details are Spade Himalaya field research; route details reviewed by Yubaraj Katel, government-licensed trekking guide (Licence No. 19827) with 10 years of experience leading treks in the Annapurna region.
