Poon Hill
Also known as: Ghorepani loop
Sunrise over Dhaulagiri, the Annapurnas and Machhapuchhre from Poon Hill; Ghandruk and Ghorepani villages
The route
The line through Annapurna foothills, Nepal - waypoints, elevation and the day-by-day shape of the walk.
Waypoints
- 1Nayapul / Ulleri roadhead (start)Trailhead
Jeep from Pokhara; Ulleri stone steps
- 2GhorepaniJunction
Main lodge village
- 3Poon HillSummit
Sunrise viewpoint; turn-around high point
- 4GhandrukJunction
Gurung village on the loop out
Season & conditions
Oct-Nov and Mar-Apr
Clear cold mornings clouding by afternoon; heavy monsoon rain and leeches Jun-Aug; winter snow blocks the high passes
Spring rhododendron bloom (Mar-Apr) is spectacular; the Poon Hill sunrise panorama
Walkable most of the year; occasional winter snow at Ghorepani. Confirm.
On the trail
Stone staircases, terraced hills, rhododendron/oak forest, tidy Gurung villages
Non-technical; famous for its stone staircases (notably the Ulleri steps)
Clear, busy, well-lodged; guide required
Good for families with older kids, first-timers and those short on time; lots of steps
Langur monkey, Himalayan tahr, danphe (Impeyan pheasant), musk deer; snow leopard/blue sheep in the high remote zones (rarely seen)
Rhododendron and oak/pine forest lower, then juniper scrub and alpine meadow, then rock and snow; Nepal’s national rhododendron forests at their best here
The busiest short trek in the region; sunrise at Poon Hill is crowded
Extend to Ghandruk village or link into Mardi Himal/ABC; the Poon Hill sunrise is the turnaround high point
Getting there & staying
Drive Pokhara to Nayapul/Ulleri/Kimche roadheads (~1.5-2 h), then walk
Jeep/taxi from Pokhara and back
Teahouse lodges (private rooms lower down, dorms higher); book ahead in peak season; hot showers/wifi for a fee lower down, basic higher; plentiful comfortable lodges
Layered trekking kit, down jacket and warm bag for the highs, boots, water purification, cash in NPR (few ATMs on trail); patchy mobile data (Ncell/NTC), some lodges sell wifi; lighter kit than the high treks
Lodges, bakeries, hot showers throughout; good connectivity
Licensed guide required for foreign trekkers (national rule since 2023); porters optional; teahouse trek so no camping crew needed
Permits & safety
ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) mandatory, NPR 3,000 (~US$25) for foreigners; a licensed guide is required for foreign trekkers in the Annapurna region (rule since 2023); TIMS largely superseded - confirm current requirement with a registered agency.
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
Slippery steps, knees on the long descents; minimal altitude risk
Helicopter evacuation is the norm for serious cases (ensure travel insurance covers heli rescue); health posts at larger villages; descend for altitude illness; road-heads never far
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand trail report. Coordinates are approximate.