Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek Highlights
Ideal vantage point to view a sunrise within the majestic Himalayan range from Poon Hill(Ghorepani)
Enjoy meeting some of Nepal’s remarkable ethnic clans in hillside villages and along the trail
Explore the beauty of Pokhara enhances by its lovely lakes, which have their source in the glacial region of the Annapurna range of the Himalayas
Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is a colorful short foray into the Annapurna region. The trail winds through patchwork valleys, dense mossy forests and past icy waterfalls where you can stop to cool your face. Around every corner is a tantalizing glimpse of the high mountains, whole horizons of which will be revealed to you as you reach the high points of your trek.
This trek in the Annapurna foothills to the view point on Poon Hill offers all the best of trekking in Nepal. Enjoy trekking in the spectacular mountain scenery through charming villages inhabited by the Gurungs, Magars dense rhododendron forests full of birds and deep sub-tropical valleys, all set below the Annapurnas with the picturesque peak of Machhapuchhare (Fishtail Peak) dominating the skyline. At the climax of this trek you will climb Poon Hill at dawn to enjoy one of the most spectacular mountain escapes on Earth. As the sun touches the snow-capped summits the Himalayan giants, Dhaulagiri (8,167m) and Annapurna (8,091m) along with a maze of other peaks, slowly begin to appear, like magic, before our eyes. A rewarding trek that can be enjoyed by every lover of nature and beautiful landscape
Drive to Nayapul (approx 1 hr 30 mins drive). Trek to Tikhedunga- About 4 hrs walking
After breakfast, you will be picked from your hotel in Pokhara and driven in a private vehicle approx 1 hr 30 min drive to Nayapul. The road passes the Tibetan camp, where there is the carpet factory, a monastery and a few hotels, then continues to Hyangja at 1070m. In the morning, there is often a good view up the valley to Machhapuchhare (weather permitting). The road emerges into the broad Yamdi Khola valley at Suikhet .The road snakes its way into the Modi Khola valley, reaching Nayapul.
From Naya Pul you walk 30 minutes to get to Birethanti, go upstream behind a ridge on a level of trail to the Fishtail lodges and steel bridge. On the opposite bank of the Modhi Khola is Birethanti, elevation 1065 m, a large and prosperous town with a winding street paved with large stones. . Birethanti boasts many well-stocked shops, hotels, sidewalk cafes, a bakery and a police check posts.
Beyond a pasture used by pony caravans, the trail reaches Sudami , then climb steadily up the side of Valley , reaching Hille at 1495 m. Lunch will be served at Hille. After lunch, walk 30 minutes from Hille to Tikedungha for overnight.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Trek from Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani (2860m) -About 6 hrs walking.
The trail crosses a stream on a suspension bridge near the camp site at Tikedungha, then drops at and crosses the Bhurungdi Khola itself on a large bridge at 1410m. The trail climbs very steeply on a stone staircase ; there are no tourist hotels from the bridge to Ulleri , just few bhattis that have tea and cold drinks, as you climb , the tops of Annapurna South ( 7273 m) and Himchuli ( 6441 m ) begin to emerge from behind the hills, The climb continues steeply to the large Magar village of Ulleri at 2070 m. There are hotels in the centre of village, and others above the village where the trail climbs gently through pastures and cultivated fields. The fields soon give way to deep forests as the trail climbs to Banthanti, a settlement of hotels in a forest clearing at 2250 m.
Beyond Banthanti, there are magnificent oak and rhododendron forests. The trail crosses two sparkling clear streams, a small ridge and another stream before making a short, final climb to Nangathanti, a hotel complex in a forest clearing at 2460 m. Ghorepani is about an hour past Nangathanti, at 2775m. It is worth staying at the pass to see the spectacular panorama of Dhaulagiri I, Tukuche , Nilgiri, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Tarke Kang ( formerly known as Glacier Dome).
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Ghorepani to Tadapani (2630m)
An early morning excursion to Poon Hill, about an hour’s climb, provides an even better, unobstructed view of the high Himalaya. The trails a ridge hides the mountains as makes a steep, sometimes treacherous, descent on a narrow path alongside the stream, as the descent continues. The stream has some clear pools alongside the trail and finally becomes a series water-falls over a jumble of boulders. The steep descent becomes more gentle way to reaches Banthanti.. From Banthanti, the trail follow the stream down to a bridge where the trails start climbing, leaving the moist high mountain forests and entering a field of cane, making some ups and downs past to a vantage point “Tadapani (2540 meters) that offers a brief view of the mountains. Tadapani means “far water”. The village water supply is a long distance; it takes porters more than half an hour to fetch a load of water.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Tadapani to Ghandruk (1,940 m) –About 3 hrs walking.
From Tadapani the trail descends through beautiful forests to Ghandruk, which is a stunning village of Gurung people, one of Nepal’s most famous ethnic groups, known for their distinctive dialect, culture, costume, and life style. Ghandruk is also home to many soldiers from the famous Gurkha regiments. From here we can have stunning views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Gangapurna, Annapurna III and Fishtail.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Ghandruk to Nayapul (4 ½ hrs) and drive to Pokhara (827m)
From Ghandrung all the way down hill through village and terraced fields to Syauli Bazaar. It takes approx: 2 hours. Along the way you can see good views Annapurna South and Machhapuchhare too. From Syauli Bazaar, the trails follow the Modi River till Nayapul, where we rejoin our vehicle for the hour and a half drive on to Pokhara, on the banks of Phewa Tal Lake. Nepal’s second largest town, Pokhara is more relaxed than Kathmandu and its beautiful lakeside setting, beneath the imposing shadow of the stunning Annapurna makes it the perfect ending for our trek, with only the foothills separating the town from the high mountain landscapes of the snow-capped Annapurna.
Meals included: Breakfast & lunch