Ghorepani Poon Hill Trekking Guide 2025: Route, Permits & Tips for Beginners

Discover the beauty of the Annapurna region with our Ghorepani Poon Hill Trekking Guide, Perfect for beginners. The Ghorepani Poon Hill trek is a popular trek in Nepal that will take you through beautiful Himalayan Landscapes, lush rhododendron forests, and a friendly cultural experience. This amazing scenic adventure is situated in the Annapurna region of Nepal, which draws many trekkers worldwide.

The Ghorepani Poon Hill trek is best suited for both experienced and inexperienced trekkers because of its easily accessible trails. This trek takes about four to five days to complete. Because of its gentle ascents and well-established trails, this trek is a great option for first-time trekkers.

Many people go to the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek for the sunrise and amazing views of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges. This trek also takes you to the delightful Gurung and Magar villages, one of the important highlights of your trek.

Ghorepani Poon Hill trek can be one of the best short trekking experiences in Nepal with proper planning. While planning the trek, prioritize elevation gain, routes, and permit requirements to have the best experience. Ghorepani Poon Hill is the best beginner-friendly trek for those seeking to experience the Himalayan region.

Ghorepani Poon Hill Trekking Guide in 2025

Where are Ghorepani and Poon Hill?

At an elevation of 2,874 meters in the Annapurna Conservation Area is where Ghorepani is located. Ghorepani is a famous stop for trekkers heading to Poon Hill, which is home to traditional homestays and local Gurung culture.

However, Poon Hill is at an elevation of 3,210 meters and serves as a great viewpoint. From Poon Hill, you can see the panoramic views of both the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges, so it is a big draw for trekkers visiting the area.

Ghorepani Poon Hill trek starts in Nayapul after taking an amazing drive from Pokhara. This entire trek will be completed in 4 to 6 days, depending on the itinerary, and will reach its maximum elevation at Poon Hill viewpoint.

Trekking Route & Itinerary (2025 Update)

Day 1: Nayapul to Tikhedhunga/Ulleri

Your journey from Nayapul starts after a short drive from Pokhara. Experience a trek through both riverside paths and lush forested trails to get to Tikhedhunga, then ascend very steep stone steps to Ulleri village. You will spend the night in a teahouse with a spectacular view of the mountains.

Day 2: Ulleri/Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani

You will start your day 2 hike through a vibrant rhododendron forest and villages like Banthanti and Nagethanti. The trails open up to an amazing panoramic vista after you reach Ghorepani, which is a Gurung and Magar village. You will stay the night in Ghorepani.

Day 3: Trek from Ghorepani to Poon Hill to Tadapani

On day 3, you will wake up early for a hike to Poon Hill, where you can see sunrise views of the Himalayas. After observing the amazing sunrise view in Poon Hill, you will return to Ghorepani and have your breakfast. After that, you will descend to Tadapani, where you will spend the night.

Day 4: Trek from Tadapani to Ghandruk

After having breakfast at Tadapani, you will descend to Ghandruk Village. The trail from Tadapani to Ghandruk will pass through lush forests, crystal clear streams, and small villages. You will stay on the 4th day of the trek in Ghandruk village, enjoying the view of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre.

Day 5: Ghandruk to Nyapul and drive to Pokhara

In the last stage of the trek, there is an easy and pleasant descent down through terraced fields and riversides back to Nayapul, from which you will drive onwards to Pokhara. Some itineraries will combine Tadapani and Ghandruk into one day if you want to fit this trek in on a tight schedule.

Optional Route Extensions

Jhinu Danda (Natural Hot Springs): Consider a detour from Tadapani or Ghandruk to Jhinu Danda and spend some time in the very popular natural hot springs. This route extension will add a day to your trek.

Annapurna Base Camp (ABC): If you want to extend your trek even further from Chhomrong toward ABC, you can make that detour as well. This will be another 4-5 days extension to your trek.

Permits Required

You will need an Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and a Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) card for the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek. To visit the Annapurna Conservation Area, one must get an Annapurna Conservation Area Permit, which costs NPR 3,000.

The Trekkers Information Management System card will cost you NPR 1,000 for an organized group trek and about NPR 2000 for independent trekkers. You can acquire these permits in either Pokhara or Kathmandu.

The Nepal Tourism Board offices and trekking agencies, authorized by the government, issue these permits. The process is usually quick, taking around 20minutes in Pokhara, and is much easier if you travel with an agency that is registered.

Best Time to Trek

For the Ghorepani Poon Hill hike, spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) are the ideal seasons. Spring seasons have blooming rhododendrons and wildflowers along the way. Additionally, spring has good weather for trekking and dry trails.

Autumn also has stable weather, cool temperatures, and clear blue skies with amazing views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri range. Autumn has a festive environment as the two main festivals, Dashain and Tihar, fall in the autumn season. Visiting this time will offer you both cultural immersion and rich scenery along the way.

Both spring and autumn provide good trekking conditions, little rainfall, and vibrant local villages. The summer trek will have heavy monsoon rains, and winter may see snow, thus spring and autumn are the best options for trekking safely and being astounded by the beauty.

Difficulty Level and Trail Conditions

Graded as “easy to moderate,” the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is perfect for first-time trekkers, families traveling together, and trekkers with little or no hiking experience. For the majority of trekkers, the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek will be within their capabilities, though some sections require a moderate level of endurance, and hills, including some long stone staircase sections.

This trek will be mainly constructed upon stone steps, forest trails, and trails through foothill villages. The most difficult climbs of this trek are Ulleri and the sections to Poon Hill. Wet trails may be slippery, so it is advisable to wear solid trekking shoes.

Trekkers tend to walk four to seven hours a day, depending on the stage and how fast they walk. The maximum daily elevation gain is not usually more than 800 meters, which means the trek is probably equally engaging as many other treks in the Himalaya, but they may be less physically taxing.

You need a moderate level of fitness, but prior trekking is not necessary. Some cardiovascular learning, some strength training, and some flexibility work are all very helpful before the trip. If trekkers are reasonably well prepared, walking should be comfortable for the average healthy walker.

What to Pack for Poon Hill Trek

Pack some lightweight layers for the Poon Hill trek, including base-layer thermals, quick-dry shirts, a fleece or insulated jacket, and a shell for waterproofing, trekking pants, thermal bottoms for chilly evenings, and a hat or beanie to wear for the sunrise at Poon Hill.

Poon Hill is cold in the morning. Wear two layers of thermals, layer a fleece, then layer a down jacket over that, then bring gloves for when you start the pre-dawn climb. Keep your rain jacket accessible in case it rains.

Pack trekking poles, a headlamp for pre-sunrise climbs, water bottles and purification tablets, sun protection, a small first-aid kit, and a quick-dry towel. A 30–40L size backpack is good to carry all of your essential gear while allowing for breathability. Rain covers are a great addition for unexpected rain!

Accommodation and Food

The Ghorepani Poon Hill trail is lined with tea houses and lodges. Each one offers simple but comfortable accommodations with nothing more than a double or twin bed and a blanket. The teahouse has shared bathrooms and a communal dining area. It’s your home for the night after a day trekking, where you will be well looked after.

The teahouses will serve common Nepali meals including dal bhat, momos, noodles, vegetables, and soups. However, some teahouses offer western-style food such as pasta and pancakes. Many tea houses have access to hot showers and Wi-Fi at lower elevations; however, in remote areas, Wi-Fi and hot showers are often spotty.

The cost of lodging is typically between $3-$10 per night at tea houses, and the cost of food is generally between $5-$10 for a meal. The average daily expenses for lodging and three meals will typically fall between $25-$30 per person, and any costs for things like hot showers or Wi-Fi will usually be a few dollars more.

Costs and Budget Tips (2025)

The expenses for the Ghorepani-Poon Hill Trek range from $300 to $600, which covers permits, your guide or porter, lodging, meals, and transportation. If you trek independently, as many do, you will save some money but will have to manage all the logistics, while you will pay higher costs for a guided tour since it is hassle-free.

Budgeting tips: go independent to avoid guide fees, share costs, book permits early, and stay at very basic tea houses. The more treks you can combine, or the last-minute deals you get, will help to decrease your overall cost. Plan the search to stay on budget.

Travel Tips for Beginners

• Get a local guide or porter to help you with navigation, support, and cultural insight that they have during the trek.
• Maintain a consistent speed, take frequent breaks, and drink a lot of water to get used to the new environment and remain fit.
• Local traditions should always be followed, and ask for permission to take pictures and do not throw any waste.
• Watch trail signs continually and observe weather changes to stay safe from unexpected rain or changes in conditions.
• Also, ensure to bring layers for warmth, have rain protection, and an emergency contact or a backup plan in case of unexpected situations.

How to Get There from Pokhara/Kathmandu

To get to the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek, travel from Kathmandu to Pokhara, either by tourist bus (6–8 hours, $15–27) or take a short (<30 minutes) flight. Pokhara is like the adventure capital of Nepal, and there are many bus and airplane options connecting it to Kathmandu.

From Pokhara, take a taxi or a jeep (1–2 hours, $20–45) to Nayapul, the main trailhead, and the trek starts and ends in Nayapul with checkpoints for permits at the beginning and end.

Final Thoughts

The Ghorepani Poon Hill trekking guide helps you with an excellent first trek for novices, with simple trails, rich cultural experiences, and beautiful views of the Himalayas. The trek is moderate and short, an easy introduction for newer trekkers and a low-stress option for everyone.

For newer trekkers, Nepal’s mountains offer many instances of reward and growth. When you find encouragement through stunning sunrises, village hospitality, and colorful rhododendron forests, you’ll know that there’s reward even if you have no advanced mountaineering skills.

There are many other good beginner treks in the Himalayas, including Mardi Himal and Langtang Valley – great walks that have moderate trails, amazing scenery, and are accessible ways to be introduced to the trekking culture of Nepal.