Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek
The classic short trek: rhododendron forest and a sunrise panorama.
- Duration
- 4 days
- Max altitude
- 3,210 m
- Distance
- 35 km
- Best season
- October–April
- Starts
- Nayapul / Ulleri
- Ends
- Nayapul
Overview
Poon Hill is the trek most first-timers should start with. Four days of well-made trails, comfortable lodges and no serious altitude lead to a dawn panorama stretching from Dhaulagiri to the Annapurnas and Machhapuchhre. In March and April the forest is red with rhododendron blossom.
- Ulleri stone staircase
- Ghorepani lodges
- Poon Hill sunrise
- Rhododendron forest
- Ghandruk village
Plan this trek
Day-by-day itinerary
Sleeping altitude goes from 2,860 m on day 1 to a high of 2,860 m on day 1, ending at 1,940 m on day 3.
- 1
Drive to Ulleri, trek to Ghorepani
Jeeps now reach Ulleri, cutting the famous staircase.
Sleep at 2,860 m
- 2
Poon Hill sunrise, trek to Tadapani
Up before dawn, then a ridge walk through forest.
Sleep at 2,630 m
- 3
Tadapani to Ghandruk
Descend to the Gurung village.
Sleep at 1,940 m
- 4
Ghandruk to Nayapul, drive to Pokhara
Back in Pokhara by mid-afternoon.
Permits
Permit rules and fees change. We link the official source for each and show when it was last checked.
Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
NPR 3,000 for foreign nationals (mid-2026).
TIMS card
NPR 2,000 for foreign nationals (mid-2026).
Safety and altitude
Altitude is modest, but the Ulleri steps and the Ghorepani climb are steep. Take it slowly and carry water. Nights at Ghorepani can be frosty from November to February.
Packing list
Essentials are marked; the rest is optional.
- Broken-in trekking boots (essential)
- Down jacket (essential)
- Waterproof shell (essential)
- Sun hat, sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen (essential)
- Water purification tablets or filter (essential)
- Head torch (essential)
- Basic first-aid kit incl. blister care (essential)
- Trekking poles (optional)
- Power bank (optional)
- Three-season sleeping bag or liner (essential)
Frequently asked questions
From travellers
Travellers who trekked Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek
First-hand accounts from people who walked it recently. Read one, then plan a trip like it.
Travel storyDemo storyTraveller story · Arjun Mehta · 2 Apr 2026
Poon Hill in four days: our first Himalayan trek
Two beginners, one sunrise and a lot of stone steps. A short lodge-to-lodge walk from Ulleri to Ghandruk that showed us how much we could enjoy the mountains without any technical skill.
- Visited
- March 2026
- Places
- Annapurna Region · Pokhara
More treks
Other treks in Annapurna Region
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A quiet ridge walk to a high viewpoint beneath Machhapuchhre.
- Duration
- 5 days
- Max altitude
- 4,500 m
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- Duration
- 10 days
- Max altitude
- 4,130 m
Gorkha (Manaslu) and Manang
Manaslu Circuit Trek
A quieter rival to the Annapurna Circuit around the world’s eighth-highest mountain, over the Larkya La.
- Duration
- 14 days
- Max altitude
- 5,106 m
