Poon Hill Trek 5 days itinerary is one of the short and spectacular trekking to the Annapurna region of Nepal. It offers a wonderful view of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, and many other Himalayas.
It is an easy 5-day trek that starts from Nayapul, one hour drive from the beautiful city, Pokhara.
Poon Hill is hugely rewarded with magnificent sunrise views of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges to the north. It lies at 3,210 meters high above the sea level. The outstanding sunrise view from Poon Hill makes this place a paradise.
You can witness lowland hills to the south, terraced slopes, and unique villages in this area. In addition to that, you can encounter the wonderful culture and lifestyle of the local people.
Poon Hill is famous for its traditional villages, ethnic communities, and the view of more than ten snow-capped mountains.
The trail of Poonhill Trek goes through beautiful Ulleri and Ghandruk villages. These villages are mostly inhabited by the Gurung and Magar community. This journey leads to the dense forest of rhododendron and oak. Especially, in spring the rhododendron forests beautify the whole trek route.
On this short trip, you get to catch the awesome view of the Himalayas, diverse culture, and varied terrain.
Highlights of Poon Hill Trek-5 Days
- Easy, comfortable, and short trek suitable for all travelers.
- 360 degree of panoramic sunrise view of Annapurna Himalayan ranges from Poon Hill.
- The spectacular mountain view of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Fishtail, and many other high peaks.
- Witness the distinct culture and lifestyle of the Gurung and Magar community.
- Walking through the dense forests, waterfalls, and rivers.
- Exploring the authentic villages with hospitality.
- Hike to the popular 3300 stone stairs of the Ulleri village.
Detailed Itinerary of Poon Hill Trek-5 days
Day 1: Kathmandu to Pokhara to Nayapul and Trek to Ulleri
Maximum Altitude: 1,960 meters, Ulleri
Trek Hours: 5-6 hrs
Our Poon Hill trek starts with a short flight (30 minutes) from Kathmandu to Pokhara.
Poon Hill trek-5 days starts from Pokhara. The journey will start driving all the way from Pokhara to Nayapul. It takes around 1 hour of drive to reach Nayapul.
From this point, it’s all about hiking to a grueling 3000 plus stairs one by one to Ulleri village. It is at 1,960 m height from the sea level.
There are many innate things to explore in this area. We can see outstanding green hills, cascading rivers, and many local villages. We will walk approximately 5-6 hours from Nayapul to Ulleri village.
Overnight stay at Ulleri village.
Day 2: Ulleri to Ghorepani
Maximum Altitude: 2,835 meters, Ghorepani
Trek Hours: 6-7 hrs
In the next morning, we start commencing towards Ghorepani from Ulleri village.
Heading towards to this route, we will cross the Magar village of Banthanti. From here, the views of Machhapuchhre (6,997m), Himchuli (6,441M), and Annapurna South (7,219m) look spectacular.
We will walk through a forest area full of rhododendron, oak, and pine trees. After that, we will arrive at Ghorepani enjoying the view of the forest and natural vegetation throughout the walk.
Overnight stay at Ghorepani village.
Day 3: Ghorepani to Poon Hill and Trek to Tadapani
Maximum Altitude: 3,210 meters, Poon Hill
Trek Hours: 5 hrs
On this day, we will hike uphill to Poon Hill above the sea level.
From Poon Hill, we will see the spectacular view of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, the two major mountains above 8000 meters. The awesome sunrise view over the Himalayan ranges is breathtaking.
We can also enjoy the panoramic view of Nilgiri Himal, Mardi Himal, and other stunning peaks.
After enjoying all the beautiful moments we will trek back to Ghorepani. Then we leave Ghorepani to reach our next destination to Tadapani village. This trail leads to uphill and downhill through dense and beautiful forests.
Overnight stay at Tadapani village.
Day 4: Tadapani to Ghandruk
Maximum Altitude: 1,940 m, Ghandruk
Trek Hours: 3-4 hrs
Today, we will leave Tadapani village in the early morning and head towards Ghandruk village.
Walking all the way through the rhododendron and oak forests we will arrive at Ghandruk village.
A warm welcome by the local people with their typical culture and traditions will keep you engaged. They will entertain us with the traditional dance in the evening.
You will have a delightful stay in Ghandruk Village.
Overnight stay at Ghandruk.
Day 5: Ghandruk to Nayapul and Drive to Pokhara
Maximum Altitude: 1,940 m, Nayapul
Trek Hours: 4-5 hrs
On the last day of our trek, we will head back to Nayapul from Ghandruk village.
After the astonishing view of Annapurna and Fishtail mountains, we will walk down to Nayapul. This trail is mainly downhill and takes around 2-3 hours to reach Nayapul from Ghandruk.
Modi Khola will follow this downhill trail till Nayapul. We will walk approximately 5 hours on this day.
After we reach to Nayapul, we drive back to Pokhara. Collecting all the beautiful memories, we will end our trek with a scenic drive back to Pokhara.
Gear and Equipment for Poon Hill Trek 5 days Itinerary
- Walking pole – depending on personal preference. It helps so much!
- Refillable water bottle – the area is a no-plastic zone!
- Backpack with waist strap and or back panel – If you are going with a tour company, they would usually provide a duffle. But if they don’t, make sure you have two backpacks. If you need a bigger one, this is highly recommended.
- Waterproof jacket or umbrella – it doesn’t get that cold on the hike but it can rain. So bring either or both. For the waterproof jacket, bring something that’s not too bulky as it can get hot hiking in the rain
- Waterproof trousers –It’s good to have!
- Fleece – more for the evening and at night when the temperature drops. Despite being indoors, it will be pretty cold. Something that can zip up would be ideal.
- Hat – for the sun. Most people wear a cap, but a hiking cap might be better if you are prone to sunburn
- Sunglasses – get a polarising one for the best protection.
- Fast dry towel– maybe a small one – for showers and sweat
- Long socks – there are leeches so it’s best to have long socks
- Sunscreen – high altitude means that the sun is stronger. So it’s best to put on sunscreen!
- Hand sanitizer and or wipes – your hands are going to get dirty
- Toilet paper
- Moisturiser – for your skin because they are going to get battered
- Toiletries
- Hiking shoes
- Flip Flops – for evening wear, you can also bring trainers or just sandals as well depending on space.
- Power bank – a lot of the guesthouses charges for charging your devices. Plus, there will be some limited plug space, so bring one with higher voltage storage.
- Head torch – you would need it for the sunrise hike up to Poon Hill, and it’s good for getting around
- Knee brace or support – there are a lot of stairs, so if you have weak knees or need extra support, bring something!
- First aid kit – bring some medical supplies such as painkillers, cold meds, band-aids, etc, especially if you are not hiking with a guide
- Waterproof shell for the backpack – when downpours do happen, you would need to make sure your valuables are well protected!
- Sleeping bag
Food and Accommodations During Poon Hill Trek 5 days Itinerary
Homestays, tea houses, and restaurants are easily available in this trail to Poon Hill. Typical Nepali staple food which is Dal Bhat with seasonal vegetables is basically served.
But, you can also find variation in food like momo, noodles, soup, Chowmein, and so on. Plus, tea, coffee, and drinks are easily available throughout this route.
While for accommodation, you will also get basic to standard accommodations in this trail. In general, tea houses offer a twin-sharing bedroom with an attached bath.
Lastly,
Poon Hill Trek-5 days is a short trek possible for people of all ages. It is popular for short holidays and wonderful sunrise view over the Annapurna and other mountains.
Poon Hill Trek-5 days is an excellent way to explore and experience the culture and nature of the Annapurna region of Nepal. And, take a short break to the Himalayas.
It is also a trip that you can take before you take the Annapurna Base Camp trek or the Annapurna Circuit trek.
For detailed information and questions regarding the trek, please contact us.
