Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek - 9 Days

Highlights

• One of the famous short treks in Nepal- and for good reason
• Explore the biodiversity of the Annapurna Conservation Area
• Witness the panorama of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges
• Company of the Gurung and Magar culture and traditions
• Explore Ghandruk, the largest Gurung heritage village

• Duration9 Days
• Max. Altitude3200m
• Trip GradeEasy
• Group Size1 - 10
• Meals Breakfast in kathmandu and Pokhara, Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner During the Trek
• Accommodation3-Star Hotel in Kathmandu and Pokhara, Best Available Teahouse During the Trek

Overview

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu

  You may arrive in Kathmandu at any time. Upon your arrival, you will be greeted by one of our airport representatives who will help you get transferred to your Hotel. There are no planned activities for the day, thus you may check into your Hotel and relax. In the evening you will meet your trekking member and ask questions if you have any. so you have to check your final list of gear and other important things. If you feel like it, visiting around the tourist hub of Thamel. if your schedule arrival in Kathmandu early in the morning or afternoon time, you have enough time to attend the pre-trekking briefing time and exploring time. Overnight stay at the Hotel in Kathmandu.

  Altitude: 1350 m

  Accommodation: Hotel

• Day 2: Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara by tourist bus

  Today, you will be driving to Pokhara. It is the second-largest city of Nepal and also its commercially famous tourist hub. Pokhara is situated beside the Phewa Lake and near the Annapurna Mountains. After a drive through the countryside past roadside villages and terrace farms, you will reach Pokhara. In the evening, you can also enjoy a leisurely boat ride in the lake. Overnight stay at the Hotel in Pokhara.

  Altitude: 820 m

  Meals: Breakfast

  Accommodation: Hotel

• Day 3: Drive from Pokhara to Nayapul and trek to Tikhedhunga

  From Pokhara, you will have an hour's drive to Nayapul, winding through the Pokhara valley on the Baglung Highway. Nayapul is situated amidst hillocks and cliffs and along the way, you can get good views of the Machhapuchhre Peak and the Annapurna Himal. The dirt-laden trekking trail from Nayapul extends towards the Modi-River and settles Birethanti. Further from here lays Tikhedhunga. Overnight stay at the teahouse at Tikhedhunga.

  Altitude: 1540 m

  Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

  Accommodation: Teahouse

• Day 4: Trek from Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani, 2920m

  The trail is a steep 2-hour trudge towards the village of Ulleri from Tikhedhunga. Branching further on from Ulleri, the path crosses streams and thick woodlands of rhododendron to reach the Magar village of Banthanti. Views of the Machhapuchhre (6997m), Hiunchuli (6441m), and Annapurna South (7219m) from Banthanti are spectacular. The view is like watching a painting come to life. The path then winds onward to Nangethanti. A few miles further lays Ghorepani from where soaring views of the Dhaulagiri Peak decorate the skyline. Overnight stay at the guesthouse at Ghorepani.

  Altitude: 2880 m

  Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

  Accommodation: Teahouse

• Day 5: Hike to Poon Hill, 3210m, and Trek from Ghorepani to Tadapani

  Early in the morning, you will hike to the vantage point of Poon Hill that presents panoramic views of the entire Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massif and many of its neighboring peaks along with Mt. Machhapuchhre (6997m). The sunrise view from Poon Hill is an out-of-this-world experience. After spending time at Poon Hill, you will return to Ghorepani, have breakfast and then trek towards Tadapani, walking past pine and cedar woods and thick bamboo groves. Overnight stay at the guesthouse at Tadapani.

  Altitude: 2630 m

  Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

  Accommodation: Teahouse

• Day 6: Trek from Tadapani to Ghandruk

  Three hours trekking through the forests of ancient oak trees, you will reach Ghandruk- a large Gurung village that presents striking views of the Annapurna peaks. It is an easy trek that is quite pleasant and filled with a magical ambiance. Here, you can explore the village and relish the uniqueness of the Gurung culture and traditions. You can also indulge in traditional Gurung songs and dances in the evening. Overnight stay at the guesthouse at Ghandruk.

  Altitude: 1980 m

  Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

  Accommodation: Teahouse

• Day 7: Trek from Ghandruk to Nayapul and drive to Pokhara

  From Ghandruk, you will trek down the valley floor towards Nayapul, from where you will then have a drive back to Pokhara. It is a beautiful journey, both the trek as well as the drive back. Upon reaching Pokhara, you will be dropped off at your Hotel. Overnight stay at the Hotel in Pokhara.

  Altitude: 820 m

  Meals: Breakfast/Lunch

  Accommodation: Hotel

• Day 8: Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu by tourist bus

  Today, you will bid goodbye to the Annapurna Himalayas and drive back to Kathmandu, following the same highway as before. In Kathmandu, you can feel free to explore the city and shop for gifts and souvenirs. Overnight stay at the Hotel in Kathmandu.

  Altitude: 1350 m

  Meals: Breakfast

  Accommodation: Hotel

• Day 9: Departure from Kathmandu

  Approximately three hours before your scheduled flight, you will be dropped off at the airport for your departure.

  Meals: Breakfast

Inclusion

Notes

Meals on Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek

Nepal is not just famous for its mountains and cultural sites; the country also boasts a variety of delicious cuisines.

The most popular food in Nepal is the Khana set which consists of dal (lentils), Bhat (rice), Tarkari (vegetables), and chutney (picked curry). Another famous dish that you can try out is Momo (meat-filled dumplings). In the cities, you can also choose from a wide range of cuisines.

While trekking, there are ample teahouses along the way where you can savor the local delicacies. The teahouses have a local and western food menu which includes a Khana set (Dal Bhat), porridge, soup, instant noodles, oatmeal, bread, eggs, and many more options.

Accommodation on Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek

Accommodations in Kathmandu, Pokhara, and on the path area unit enclosed within the package price. You will be staying at 3-star deluxe hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

During your trekking journey, you will mostly be staying at teahouses that offer a warm and comfortable bed. The trekking trails are filled with a significant number of teahouses where trekkers can lodge for the night. Trekking in Nepal in a "lodge" also known as Tea-House from early days, which is a typical local inn with minimum western facilities due to harsh terrain, high elevation, and extreme cold conditions. The room has thin walls and is not insulated. Most rooms have two beds with tables in between. The teahouse provides mattresses, pillows, and blankets.  You will be staying at the simplest available teahouses while trekking. There is travel by local families & mountain communities. Your room will have an attached bathroom and a hot shower at Ghorepani and Ghandruk. At higher altitudes, only basic facilities are going to be available at the lodge- Wi-Fi service, clean air-conditioned rooms, shared clean bathrooms (western-style toilet), a restaurant, an eating place, and a bar. You would like to pay extra for using the Wi-Fi, and electronic devices.

Best time to go Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek

Autumn (mid of September to November) and spring ( March to May) are the perfect seasons for the Ghorepani Poonhill Trek. It’s neither too hot nor too cold throughout their times. While an autumn season trek guarantees clearing of the sky and beautiful scenery of mountain and A spring season will involve a walk through forests with colorful rhododendron Bloom above 3000m, you'll be able to expect nighttime temperate to drop as low as -10 degrees.

Entry permit & Requirements

All trekkers require to obtain trekking permits known as TIMS (Trekking Information Management Service), for the Annapurna region. Issued and controlled by TAAN (Trekking Agent Association of Nepal).

Entry Permits TIMS will be collected by your guide from HR Adventure, associated as well lifetime member of TAAN.

The entry permits TIMS, will be kept by your guide as it needs to be registered on every check-post on major villages on route trekking.

The TIMS card will be handed to you at the end of the trip, as a good memorable souvenir of the treks. The other permit required is the ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project) entry fee ticket, which will be obtained by the company in Kathmandu, or on the first entrance of the ACAP check post. These are the main entry permits required on a trek around the Annapurna Himalaya region. The permits are important to ensure and safeguard all trekkers from safety, especially for individual or solo trekkers if they are lost this will help to track the missing person on route trekking.

Altitude Sickness

Ghorepani Poonhill trek is a much easy and safe journey. You can reach a high altitude of 3210m from sea level. In and around the Annapurna region, altitude sickness or AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) does not affect much, you are trekking below 3210m elevation.
For a moderate short trek to Ghorepani and Poon Hill as well around other southern areas of Annapurna Himalaya, these places are safe from AMS as you hardly reach above 3210m high.
Preventive measures against AMS using Diamox or Acetazolamide tablets as per your doctor and guide advice. The major problem is when one catches symptoms of HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema) which is water in the brain and HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema), a symptom with some water in the lungs. Where the victim needs rescue or immediate evacuation for proper medical treatment.

Drinking-Water in Annapurna Region

Drinking water is available in every shop, store as well in restaurants, and in the lodge that you stay, depending upon your requirement, medically on treks and at high altitude, where one needs 2-3 liters of safe drinking water every day. One can buy safe drinking water served boiled and filtered. Where some trekkers enjoy free drinking water from the nearby fresh clear stream, water spouts, and creeks which need much filtration by adding water purifying tablets, or iodine.

The best is to buy from the lodge, where drinking water is much safe boiled and cooled. Around Annapurna, there are some places with water stations, at affordable prices, like on route Annapurna Circuit, as well towards Annapurna Base Camp. The water station is run and managed by the local community and ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project).

Other options are bottled mineral water available in every village store and shop as well as at the lodge, the cost can be dear as you trek further high. But we at HR Adventure.

do not encourage trekkers to buy bottled water, as it creates much rubbish as we follow the concept of Responsible Tourism or Eco-Trekking to preserve the surrounding pristine environment.

 Travel and Medical Insurance

Most important that you purchase at the home country through good and reliable Insurance companies, that should cover medical conditions including rescue service, by fastest means of transport like a chopper.

In all Himalayan countries including Nepal and Annapurna region, where even a healthy and physically fit can get sick, either from the past personal medical side or other reasons like AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness).

For severe illness, one needs immediate evacuation, and the quickest way to reach a safe place with good medical facilities like in Pokhara city, or in Kathmandu.

Travel Insurance, should cover your holiday duration in case of bad unfavorable weather conditions even at the best time of the season.

In the Himalayas or in the Annapurna region, where trail conditions can be affected by the landslide or heavy snow that might create a situation to delay or cancel the trip. For unforeseen circumstances where you will be safe with your Insurance policy, which you claim back at home after providing the official letter from your local agent or HR Adventure.

Trip Safety

Clients' safety is our top priority, including guides, field staff, and porters in all our programs and itineraries, which are well planned and designed to keep our trip as per the standard itinerary. It is also a guideline, as it can be slightly changed in case of the client’s physical fitness and weather condition.

If there’s too much danger to encounters like landside, broken trails, avalanches, snowstorms, or other major calamities, we plan and decide what is best for our clients and staff safety.

We at H.RAdventure, are fully committed to keeping all our adventures safe and sound in all respects, sometimes it all depends on the clients themselves whether they have chosen the right trips at the right time.

All our expert guides and leaders will make your holiday adventure worthwhile and memorable, in case of an emergency our guides are reliable to cope with any situation for the safety of all members including staff.

As our guide has basic medical experience and First Aid, well versed in Eco-Trekking to make the trek and environment safe and enjoyable.

Map

FAQs of Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek

• What is the average duration of a trek?

  The duration of treks can range from a couple of days to around a month-long. Some treks are more demanding than others, which is why they require more days than normal. Treks in higher altitude take longer time to acclimatize and eliminate the chances of acute mountain sickness. Treks in lower altitudes can be short, especially small treks around Kathmandu which are less physically demanding. As such, the length of the treks depends on the trek destination and trekking trails.

• What are the health requirements to trek in Nepal?

  Travelers need to have a moderate level of physical fitness, even if you want to be involved in short treks. Especially, while traveling to higher altitudes, it is necessary to have some sort of experience and a level of physical fitness so that your fatigue doesn’t ruin the whole mood of the trip. There are some lower altitude treks with leveled routes which can be enjoyed by children and elders as well. It is better to consult with your doctor and take proper vaccines for diseases that can be prevalent in Nepal. Health insurance is also a must-have, especially if your trekking destination is at a height above 5000m. Also, be prepared with your prescribed medications beforehand if you have any as it is possible that medication provided outside the country may not be available in Nepal.

• What kind of food are available during the trek?

  The types of food you will get during treks depends on the trekking destination. If you are planning to trek at places around Kathmandu, then you will have no problem finding proper traditional meals and also other snacks along the way. If your trek destination is at a higher altitude then you will be getting home-cooked meals that include Dal, Bhat (rice), and Tarkari. Food from homestays and tea houses are of good quality and also nutritious so you do not have to worry. But, it is better to be wary while eating meat products and alcohol while in higher altitudes.

• What is the best weather for trekking in Nepal?

  The best weather for trekking in Nepal is during autumn and spring. These are the time when the skies are clear and the trekking trails are pleasant. While autumn is the time when the weather for trekking is perfect, the spring season boasts a vibrant environment with blooming flora. These seasons are the times when there is less chance of rain which is why the tracks are dry and less dangerous. It is also a bonus that the trekking routes are well equipped as the weather is loved by many tourists so there is a high turnover of travelers in most of the trekking destinations.

• What kind of clothes are needed for trekking?

  While trekking in lower altitude, you will require soft cotton clothes that don’t let sweat be trapped inside and also lets some air in. It is better to have thin fleece jackets and also waterproof trekking gears if you are traveling to areas which are prone to unexpected drizzles. While trekking to higher altitudes, make sure to dress warmly. It is better to have warm jackets, thermal tops, and trekking pants along with good quality hiking boots. Woolen hats that cover your ears and waterproof gloves are a must, especially if your trek includes colder heights.

• What kind of shoes should I have?

  Good quality hiking and trekking boots will take you a long way while trekking in Nepal. Make sure to get yourself a pair of good trekking boots with good ankle support and comfortable sole. It is better to avoid heavy boots which will only weigh you down, quite literally. It should help you to stay away from leather shoes which have slippery soles with no grip and also too heavy to handle.

• Is there any tourist police during the trek?

  Yes, there is a special unit of police namely tourist police working under the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). These individuals are dispatched to ensure a safe and pleasant stay for travelers and to protect from theft, robbery, and misuse of natural resources. You will find tourist police patrolling in most of the famous trekking destinations. Their main job is to patrol tourist destinations, provide information regarding those destinations, responding to complaints, taking action against those complaints and protecting travelers from security issues. You can find more information regarding the Tourist Police at the official website of the Nepal Tourism Board at https://www.welcomenepal.com/plan-your-trip/tourist-police.html.

• How does your company organize the emergency rescue?

  Rescue operations are organized once we have proper information about your whereabouts and severity of the danger. In situations where you have to acclimatize, we will organize either porter to carry you down or emergency helicopter evacuation. Also, for extreme conditions like accidents helicopter rescue operations can be organized, especially while you are traveling to higher altitudes. We only proceed forward with the request once our travel guides or our clients themselves have informed us about the critical condition. Make sure you have working travel insurance so that you can claim the money for the evacuation later on.

• How many liters of water should I be carrying in our day pack?

  The average requirement of water while you trek, in higher or lower altitude is four cups (roughly one liter) per hour. In colder regions, you only need to have two cups in an hour. As for how much you should be carrying, make sure you have at least one liter of water in your day pack. In Nepal, many trekking routes are filled with teahouses which offer drinking water to the travelers. If you are traveling to higher altitudes where water resources are rare, you can carry more than one liter. But, be aware to keep your travel baggage light so that it is not a nuisance during the trek. Also, make sure the water is boiled or filtered properly. You can also carry portable water purifier and other purifying tablets to make sure that you can consume safe drinking water.

• What are the symptoms of altitude sickness?

  The symptoms of altitude sickness include dizziness, nausea, and difficulty in sleeping, fatigue, and headache. You can also experience loss of appetite, rapid pulse, and shortness in breath. If you feel any of the mentioned sickness then immediately inform your tour guide or someone responsible and start climbing down to lower altitudes if you can. The symptoms can have a varying effect on different people. Most commonly felt symptom is shortness of breath. So, be mindful and keep out for these symptoms.

• How many kilos to carry for potter?

  A porter can carry a maximum load of 30 Kg depending on the individual. Some will carry less but the weight of the load can vary as per the trekking route, destination, and the porter himself. Most porters carry loads around 15 to 20 Kg but make sure to have a talk with them beforehand and inform them about the weight they are supposed to carry. The official guideline given by Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN) is 25 Kg per porter. Making people carry more than 30 Kg, even if they are willing to, can be taken as rude or inconsiderate so, be mindful of this fact.

• What can I expect on a teahouse trek?

  Teahouse trek is one of the best ways to enjoy the ravishing nature along with the rich culture and traditions of the people in Nepal. The simple food and lodging on the teahouse treks allow travelers to experience a simple lifestyle. You also get a chance to witness the unique lifestyle of people living in and around the teahouses. These people offer genuine, down-to-earth, and surreal hospitality. All in all, teahouse treks are the best way to enjoy the natural beauty and remoteness of Nepal while gaining the best experiences in the world.

• Is a trekking permit needed?

  While most of the popular trekking sites do not need trekking permits, there are many trek destinations which require permits. Most of the protected sites like conservation areas, national parks, and wildlife reserves need permits to enter and travel through. Likewise, there are destinations which require restricted area permits to travel as well. A TIMS card is a must-have as a basic trekking permit for traveling in Nepal. You can get a TIMS card from the Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu after filling the necessary application form.