Short Ghorepani Poonhill Trek

About This Trek

📅

7 Days

Total duration

⛰️

3194m

Maximum altitude

👥

Group size

📍

Kathmandu

Starts & ends

🌤️

Mar-May, Sep-Nov

Best season

🎯

Easy-Moderate

Difficulty level

The 7-Day Short Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is the absolute best introduction to hiking in the Himalayas. Think of it as a “greatest hits” tour of Nepal’s mountains. You get to see massive, snow-capped peaks and experience authentic local culture without walking for weeks or dealing with extreme, freezing high altitudes.

Your journey starts with a scenic drive from Kathmandu to the lakeside city of Pokhara. From there, you head straight into the hills. You will walk through green valleys, climb traditional stone staircases, and hike through dense rhododendron forests. The absolute peak of the trip happens on Day 5, when you climb to the top of Poon Hill at 3,210 meters (10,531 feet) just before dawn. As the sun rises, the dark sky lights up to reveal a massive wall of mountains, including Annapurna I and Dhaulagiri-two of the highest mountains on Earth.

Trip Highlights

🌄A front-row view of Dhaulagiri (8,167m) and Annapurna I (8,091m) turning from deep purple to glowing gold as the sun rises.
🌄Walking under a vibrant canopy of pink, red, and white blossoms if you trek during the spring months (March to May).
🌄A rewarding physical milestone climbing a historic stone staircase that looks over the lower green valleys.
🌄Exploring traditional slate-roofed villages, meeting local mountain communities, and experiencing classic Himalayan hospitality.

Is Short Ghorepani Poonhill Trek Right for You?

We rate the Short Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek as easy to moderate. If you are a beginner who has never hiked in the mountains before, this is the perfect route for you. It is also a fantastic option for families traveling with children or seniors who love being active.

The biggest safety advantage of this trek is the low altitude. On this route, you never sleep higher than 2,860 meters (at Ghorepani village). To give you a comparison, altitude sickness usually becomes a risk only after you cross 3,000 meters. Because we stay below this line, you can enjoy your trek without worrying about the headaches and dizziness that come with thin mountain air.

However, “beginner-friendly” does not mean there is no effort involved. You still need to climb. The trails in the Annapurna foothills feature thousands of hand-carved stone steps. For example, on Day 3, when walking from Tikhedhunga to Ulleri, you will face a steep, continuous staircase that takes about two hours to climb. It feels exactly like spending an afternoon on a gym stairmaster!

You do not need to be an extreme athlete, but having a basic level of fitness will make your trip much more fun. If you can walk around your neighborhood or local park for a few hours without getting completely exhausted, you are ready for this adventure.

What's covered

Includes & Excludes

✓ Included

Round-trip arrival pickup and departure drop-off services between Tribhuvan International Airport and your hotel in Kathmandu using a comfortable private vehicle.
Private vehicle transfers from your Pokhara hotel to the trailhead at Nayapul on Day 3, and a private vehicle transfer waiting at Nayapul on Day 5 to drive you comfortably back to Pokhara.
Seat-in-coach transportation on an air-conditioned tourist coach bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara on Day 2, and returning from Pokhara to Kathmandu on Day 6.
Two nights of twin-sharing accommodation in Kathmandu at a handpicked tourist-standard hotel, including your morning breakfasts.
Two nights of twin-sharing accommodation in Pokhara at a tourist-standard hotel near Lakeside, including your morning breakfasts.
All overnight accommodations during the active trek (2 nights) in local mountain lodges on a twin-sharing basis.
Rooms with private attached bathrooms and hot showers at every single stop along the trail at no extra cost.
Freshly prepared breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day while on the active trekking route, selected straight from the teahouse menus.
A nightly serving of fresh seasonal fruits in the lodge dining hall after dinner to support your physical recovery and vitamin levels.
Unlimited access to purified, medicated drinking water throughout the active trek, prepared safely by your guide.
A government-licensed, well-trained, English-speaking local trekking guide, including full coverage of his daily wages, meals, lodging, insurance, and transport.
Full processing and registration fees for the comprehensive Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) permit and all local government taxes.
High-quality, warm down jackets and four-season sleeping bags provided on a complimentary rental basis if required.
An official Desire Adventures company duffel bag and a detailed printed trekking route map.
An official adventure completion certificate presented at the end of your trek, alongside a special celebratory farewell dinner hosted by our company at a premium restaurant in Kathmandu.

✕ Excluded

Fees for your tourist entry visa, which must be obtained independently at the immigration desk upon arrival at the Kathmandu airport terminal.
Daily lunches and dinners within Kathmandu and Pokhara, except for the included breakfasts at your hotels and the final celebratory farewell dinner.
Out-of-pocket expenses for all types of bottled mineral water, beer, wine, cocktails, canned sodas (such as Coke, Sprite), and specialty barista-style teas or coffees while on the trek.
Personal expenses such as laundry services, personal hygiene items, souvenirs, and extra trail snacks (chocolate bars, energy bars, baked goods).
A personal insurance policy that must explicitly cover trip cancellation and comprehensive emergency helicopter medical evacuation.
Accommodation and meal extensions within Kathmandu, Pokhara, or along the trail in the event of an early return from the mountains due to personal choice, illness, fatigue, or unexpected itinerary disruptions.
Discretionary tips and gratuities for your guiding team, porters, drivers, and local hospitality service providers as a direct appreciation for their hard work.

Day by Day

Full Itinerary

Welcome to Nepal! Your adventure begins the moment you step outside the arrivals terminal at Tribhuvan International Airport. A representative from Desire Adventures will meet you, help with your bags, and drive you directly to your hotel in Kathmandu via a private vehicle. Once you check in, you have the morning and afternoon free to relax, unpack, or explore the bustling streets of Thamel. In the late afternoon, we will host a pre-trek meeting at our main office. You will meet your licensed trekking guide and fellow travelers. Your guide will walk you through the entire route, review your clothing layers, and hand over your official company duffel bag and detailed trekking map.

Insider Guide Tip: If you need to pick up any last-minute personal items like wet wipes, snacks, or extra hiking socks, Thamel has dozens of convenience stores right outside your hotel door.

We start early after breakfast at your hotel. Your guide will lead you to the tourist bus park to board our comfortable, air-conditioned coach to Pokhara. The drive takes you along the scenic Prithvi Highway, winding out of the Kathmandu Valley and following the rushing waters of the Trishuli and Marsyangdi rivers. Along the way, you will pass terraced rice fields, small highway towns, and rolling green hills. By late afternoon, we arrive in Pokhara, a peaceful lakeside city sitting right under the shadow of the spectacular Annapurna range. After checking into your lakeside hotel, you can spend your evening strolling along the banks of Phewa Lake, enjoying the cafes, or taking a relaxing boat ride.

Insider Guide Tip: Try to grab a seat on the right-hand side of the bus for this drive. On a clear day, this side gives you beautiful distant views of the Ganesh Himal and Manaslu mountain peaks as you move west.

Your official walking adventure starts today. After breakfast at your Pokhara hotel, we take a short drive in a private vehicle to the trailhead town of Nayapul. This is where we meet our porter crew and complete our permit checks at the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) office. We lace up our boots and begin hiking along a wide, gradual dirt path that follows the banks of the Bhurungdi Khola river. The trail takes you through low subtropical valleys, small suspension bridges, and local farm fields. We pass the village of Birethanti and maintain a gentle, easy pace to let your legs warm up. The day wraps up with a short, steady climb into the small settlement of Tikhedhunga, where your room with an attached private bathroom and hot shower will be waiting.

Insider Guide Tip: The trail today is very gradual and exposed to the sun. Keep your sun hat on, apply plenty of sunscreen, and start drinking the purified water your guide prepares to keep your hydration levels high from day one.

Get ready for a classic Himalayan trail experience. After an early breakfast, we immediately face the legendary stone steps of Ulleri. This is a steep, continuous staircase made of over 3,300 hand-carved stone steps. We take this section very slowly, stopping for water and photos as we climb up the ridge for about two hours. Once we reach the large Gurung village of Ulleri at the top, the trail levels out into a much more gradual, steady incline. We enter a deep, magical forest of oak, bamboo, and massive rhododendron trees. The air becomes noticeably cooler and fresher as we pass through the tiny rest stops of Banthanti and Nanggethanti. By mid-afternoon, we emerge from the forest and arrive at the mountain ridge village of Ghorepani, which looks straight out at the towering wall of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna massifs.

Insider Guide Tip: Treat the Ulleri staircase like a marathon, not a sprint. Take short, rhythmic steps, look down at your feet, and use your trekking poles to take the weight off your thighs. Your guide will pace the group perfectly so everyone reaches the top comfortably.

This is the big day! We wake up about an hour before dawn in the cold mountain air. Holding our headlamps, we begin a steady, 45-minute climb up a stone path to the top of the Poon Hill Viewpoint (3,210m). Standing at the viewing tower, we watch the sun rise over the horizon, painting the sky in pink and orange, and lighting up the snow-covered peaks of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Machapuchare, and Nilgiri in bright, glowing gold.

After taking photos and enjoying the view, we head back down to our Ghorepani lodge for a warm breakfast. We pack our bags and begin a long, steady descent back down through the forests and villages, tracing our steps down past Ulleri and Tikhedhunga all the way back to the road head at Nayapul. Our private vehicle will be waiting at Nayapul to drive us comfortably back to our hotel in Pokhara for a hot shower and a celebratory evening by the lake.

Insider Guide Tip: The downhill walk from Ghorepani back to the valley floor drops over 1,500 vertical meters. This can be tough on your knees. Make sure to shorten your trekking poles slightly to help support your weight, and secure your boot laces tightly so your toes don't slide forward.

After a relaxed breakfast at your Pokhara hotel, we board our comfortable tourist coach bus for the return journey to Kathmandu. The bus drives back along the Prithvi Highway, giving you one last look at the beautiful rivers, valleys, and hillside villages of central Nepal. When we arrive back in Kathmandu, our team will transfer you directly to your hotel. You will have the afternoon free for any last-minute souvenir shopping around Thamel. In the evening, Desire Adventures will host a special farewell dinner at a traditional restaurant. We will enjoy local food, watch a live cultural dance performance, and present you with your official Adventure Certificate to celebrate your successful hike.

Today marks the official end of your 7-day Himalayan journey. You can enjoy a final breakfast at your hotel and spend your last morning relaxing. A representative from our team will meet you in the hotel lobby with a private vehicle to drive you to the international terminal at Tribhuvan International Airport. We will make sure you arrive exactly three hours before your flight departure time to ensure a completely smooth, stress-free check-in. Thank you for choosing Desire Adventures for your Nepal vacation. Have a safe flight home, and Namaste!

Physical Preparation

Difficulty & Fitness

Easy-Moderate

Easy Moderate Strenuous Expert

Fitness level of Beginner to Moderate Level is enough for this trek.

What to Bring

Packing List

Everything you need for a comfortable and safe trek. Items marked Required are essential.

Clothing

✓
Trekking T-shirts 3 to 4 items
Required
✓
Trekking Pants 2 items
Required
✓
Warm Fleece Jacket 1 item
Required
✓
Heavy Down Jacket 1 item
Required
✓
Waterproof/Windproof Shell Jacket 1 item
Required
✓
Waterproof Shell Pants 1 item
Required
✓
Thermal Base Layer Top & Bottom 1 pair (For chilly nights)
Required
✓
Breathable Sports Underwear 4 to 5 pairs
Required
✓
Warm Beanie / Winter Hat 1 item
Required
✓
Sun Hat / Baseball Cap 1 item
Required
✓
Lightweight Gloves 1 pair
Required
✓
Neck Gaiter / Buff 1 item
Required

Footwear

✓
Hiking Boots Waterproof & broken-in
Required
✓
Camp Shoes / Sneakers 1 pair
Required
✓
Thick Wool Trekking Socks 3 pairs
Required

Gears

✓
Desire Adventures Duffel Bag 1 item (We provide this for your porter)
Required
✓
Daypack (30L to 40L with rain cover) 1 item
Required
✓
4-Season Sleeping Bag 1 item
Required
✓
Trekking Poles 1 pair
Required
✓
Headlamp (With extra batteries) 1 item
Required
✓
Refillable Water Bottles or Hydration Bladder 2 Liters total capacity
Required
✓
Polarized Sunglasses 1 pair
Required
✓
Personal Medications small kit
Required
✓
Power Bank / Portable Phone Charger 1 or 2 units
Required
✓
Passport & Cash Essential
Required

Toiletries

✓
Quick-Drying Microfiber Towel 1/2 Item
Required
✓
Sunscreen & Lip Balm (SPF 50+)
Required
✓
Toothbrush & Toothpaste
Required
✓
Toilet Paper Rolls & Wet Wipes 1 or 2 packs
Required
✓
Hand Sanitizer 1 bottle
Required

Additional Information

More Details

Why to Book with Desire Adventure?

Booking a trek in the Himalayas should be exciting, not stressful. Many budget operators cut corners by booking low-quality lodges with freezing, shared outhouses, or by leaving you to figure out water safety on your own. At Desire Adventures, we do things differently.

We have designed our 7-Day Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek package to give you a smooth, safe, and comfortable experience from the moment you land in Kathmandu until you head home.

Here is the execution advantage you get when you trek with us:

100% Pre-Arranged Attached Bathrooms & Hot Showers: On most standard Poon Hill treks, you have to wait in long lines for a cold, shared bathroom down the hall. We know how important a good night's recovery is after a long day of climbing stairs. Our package includes rooms with private attached bathrooms and hot showers at every single stop along the active trail. You can wash away the dust and enjoy your own private space every night without paying unexpected extra fees.
Medicated and Safe Drinking Water Provided Daily: Staying hydrated is your best defense against fatigue on the trail. Instead of forcing you to buy expensive plastic water bottles that harm the mountain environment, we provide purified, medicated water that is 100% safe to drink throughout the entire trek. Your guide handles the purification process every day, keeping you healthy and safe from stomach bugs.
Fresh Seasonal Fruits After Every Dinner: Mountain food is delicious, but it can be heavy on carbs like rice and noodles. To keep your energy high and your body fueled with vitamins, our team serves fresh seasonal fruits every night after dinner while you are on the trail. It is a small, thoughtful touch that you won't find with budget operators.
Full Thermal Gear Rentals Included: Even at lower altitudes, mountain nights get chilly. You do not need to spend hundreds of dollars buying heavy winter gear that you might never use again. We provide high-quality down jackets and sleeping bags on a rental basis right out of our office, ensuring you stay warm and cozy at no extra cost.
Professional, Fair-Trade Staffing: Your safety is managed by a government-licensed, English-speaking guide who knows the Annapurna foothills intimately. We also provide a dedicated porter team (one porter for every two members) to carry your heavy luggage in our official company duffel bag. We fully insure all of our guides and porters, ensuring that the local crew helping you climb the mountain is treated with the fairness and respect they deserve.

Accommodations, Mountain Nutrition, and Seasonal Weather in Poonhill

A great trekking experience relies on solid rest, proper food, and good weather. Because the Ghorepani Poon Hill route is a well-established trail, the mountain infrastructure offers great conditions for food and lodging. So, What to Expect at the Mountain Lodges?

The accommodations on this trek consist of family-run mountain lodges. While mountain lodging is generally simple, our package ensures a much more comfortable experience than standard budget tours.

Bedrooms are clean and functional, featuring twin single beds with foam mattresses, clean sheets, pillows, and blankets. While most budget trekkers have to use shared toilets down a cold hallway, our package guarantees rooms with private, attached bathrooms and hot showers at every single overnight stop along the trail.

Every lodge features a central dining hall. This room is warmed by a central stove every evening, making it the perfect, cozy space to relax, sip hot tea, read, and chat with travelers from around the world.

Mountain Food and Hydration:

When climbing thousands of stairs, your body needs high-quality carbohydrates and vitamins to stay strong. The lodge menus offer a wide variety of fresh, energy-packed meals.

Start your morning with hot choices like eggs cooked to order, porridge, pancakes, toast, or traditional Tibetan bread.
Lunch and Dinner Choices: Menus feature popular international dishes like pasta, stir-fried noodles, vegetable momos (dumplings), and soups, alongside the famous Nepalese staple, Dal Bhat (steamed rice, lentil soup, and fresh vegetable curry). Dal Bhat is perfect for hikers because it is freshly cooked and comes with free refills.
The Desire Adventures Extras: To keep your body healthy and fueled with vitamins, we serve fresh seasonal fruits every evening after dinner in the dining hall. We also provide purified, medicated drinking water daily, ensuring you stay hydrated without risking stomach illness from untreated tap water.

As for the weather, here is a clear breakdown of what you can expect in each seasons.

Spring Season (March to May)

Spring brings comfortably warm trekking weather, with daytime temperatures ranging from 15°C to 22°C, while nights remain cool between 5°C and 0°C. Mornings are typically bright and clear, offering beautiful mountain views before soft afternoon clouds gather over the valleys. The main highlight of this season is the landscape; you will hike directly through massive, blooming rhododendron forests that blanket the hillsides in vibrant shades of red, pink, and white.

Autumn Season (September to November)

Autumn is widely considered the premium window for trekking to Poon Hill due to its highly stable weather and crisp mountain air. Daytime temperatures sit comfortably between 12°C to 18°C, though nights drop quickly to around 2°C or -3°C once the sun sets. With virtually zero rainfall during these months, you can expect deep blue skies and nearly 100% visibility for the famous sunrise views over the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges.

Winter Season (December to February)

Winter brings cold, crisp weather but rewards you with incredibly clear skies and entirely empty trails. Daytime temperatures hover between 5°C and 12°C, while freezing nights drop between -2°C and -8°C, meaning you will want to keep your down jacket close at hand all day long. While you need to prepare for chilly conditions and occasional snow on the trail around Ghorepani, the lack of crowds creates a beautifully peaceful mountain experience.

Monsoon Season (June to August)

The summer monsoon months bring heavy rain showers, high humidity, and warm temperatures ranging from 20°C to 25°C during the day. Because the peaks are frequently hidden behind dense monsoon clouds, this is the off-season for mountain views, and the trails can become wet and muddy. However, the lower valleys are incredibly lush, green, and bursting with local agricultural life for travelers who enjoy quiet, misty forest walks.

Elevation Profile

Altitude Chart

Elevation profile across 7 days. Maximum altitude: 3,210m

Common Questions

Frequently Asked

The Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is a short, loop-style hike located in the foothills of the Annapurna mountain range. It is one of Nepal’s most famous introductory treks because it allows you to see massive, 8,000-meter mountain peaks without committing to weeks of walking or dealing with dangerous, high-altitude terrain.

The physical hiking portion of our 7-day package covers a total distance of approximately 45 to 50 kilometers (28 to 31 miles). You will be on the trail for 3 solid days, moving from village to village at a highly manageable pace.

The drive between Kathmandu and Pokhara covers roughly 200 kilometers along the Prithvi Highway. On average, the journey takes about 7 to 8 hours by our comfortable, air-conditioned tourist coach. The exact time depends on local highway traffic and road maintenance conditions.

We grade this trek as easy to moderate. It is tailor-made for absolute beginners, active seniors, and families traveling with children. You do not need any technical climbing skills or previous mountaineering experience to complete it successfully.

Yes, stone steps are a major feature of the Annapurna foothills. The most famous section is the Ulleri staircase on Day 4, which features over 3,300 continuous, hand-carved stone steps. It takes about two hours of steady climbing to reach the top. It is an excellent leg workout, but our guides maintain a very slow, rhythmic pace to ensure everyone gets up comfortably.

You will walk between 4 to 6 hours each day. We start our mornings early after breakfast when the air is cool and fresh, allowing us to reach our next lodge by the early afternoon so you have plenty of time to rest.

The maximum altitude you will reach is 3,210 meters (10,531 feet) at the Poon Hill viewpoint during sunrise. Crucially, you will sleep at an elevation of only 2,860 meters while staying in Ghorepani village. Because altitude sickness generally only becomes a concern once you spend the night above 3,000 meters, the risk of developing altitude issues on this trek is exceptionally low.

We take hydration and health very seriously. To protect you from stomach bugs caused by untreated tap water, your guide prepares and distributes purified, medicated drinking water every single day of the trek. You only need to bring reusable water bottles or a hydration bladder, and we will keep them topped up with completely safe water.

Yes. Even though this is a lower-altitude trek, Nepal's mountain regions are remote and lack major hospitals. Your personal travel insurance policy must explicitly cover hiking up to 4,000 meters and include coverage for emergency helicopter medical evacuation just in case of an unexpected medical emergency or severe injury.

To enter this region legally, you need the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) permit and a Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) card. Our team handles all the administrative paperwork and government fees beforehand, and the total cost is fully included in your base package.

Your package covers your lodging and three main meals a day on the trail. However, you should budget roughly $15 to $25 (or the equivalent in Nepalese Rupees) per day to cover personal items. This includes out-of-pocket expenses like specialty coffees, sodas, beer, snacks, souvenirs, and tips for your guide and porter crew.

Tipping is not legally mandatory in Nepal, but it is a deeply ingrained cultural practice on the trail. It serves as a direct way to show your personal appreciation for the hard work, safety management, and heavy lifting your guide and porter provide during your trip. Most travelers pool tips together at the end of the active trek on Day 5.

Teahouses are cozy, family-run mountain lodges. While standard budget tours place trekkers in basic rooms with shared toilets down a cold hallway, our package guarantees upgraded rooms with private, attached bathrooms and hot showers at every single overnight stop along the trail.

Yes. Most teahouses along the Ghorepani route offer electricity charging stations for phones and cameras, as well as local Wi-Fi networks. Please note that past the trailhead, the lodges may charge a small fee (usually $2 to $4) for device charging or Wi-Fi passwords, and internet speeds can fluctuate depending on mountain weather.

Our porter team handles the heavy lifting so you can focus entirely on your hike. We pair one professional porter to carry the luggage of two trekkers. Your heavy gear goes into our official company duffel bag (up to a safe weight limit of 15 kg / 33 lbs per person), which the porter carries directly to the next lodge. You only need to carry a small daypack with your daily essentials like water, a camera, a rain jacket, and your passport.

The two peak trekking windows are Autumn (September to November) and Spring (March to May). Autumn brings crisp air and completely clear skies, giving you the absolute best chance for unobstructed sunrise views. Spring features slightly warmer weather and brings the added bonus of the famous blooming rhododendron forests.

Yes, winter trekking (December to February) is fantastic if you want to avoid the crowds. The skies are usually crystal clear, offering sharp mountain views, though you must prepare for freezing nighttime temperatures and the possibility of snow on the upper portions of the trail near Ghorepani.

While the trail remains physically open during the summer monsoon (June to August), heavy rains can make the paths muddy, and low-hanging storm clouds frequently hide the mountain peaks from view. We generally recommend sticking to the spring and autumn windows for the ultimate vacation experience.

Scheduled Group Trips

Available Departures

Join a scheduled group departure for extra discounts and a shared adventure with fellow trekkers.

Departure Date	Return Date	Duration	Price	Availability
1 Sep 2026	—	7 Days	USD 550	10 spots left
8 Sep 2026	—	7 Days	USD 550	10 spots left
22 Sep 2026	—	7 Days	USD 550	10 spots left
15 Sep 2026	—	7 Days	USD 550	10 spots left
29 Sep 2026	—	7 Days	USD 550	10 spots left

Short Ghorepani Poonhill Trek