Poon hill trek is a short-interval trekking package, famous for the spectacular sunrise over the snow cladded peaks from the Poon Hill. After setting off on a trek from Nayapul along the gravel road, you will ascend gradually with few sheer ups until you reach a Tikhedhunga, a beautiful village in the heart of green forests. People here are very friendly and welcoming. With a series of beautiful landscapes on the way, you traverse across a few bridges and settlements. But this beauty is nothing in front of what you are heading to see. As you go closer and closer to your destination, the trail becomes rocky and snowy making it more difficult to climb. But, by the time you rise over the Poonhills, the pain and discomfort abscond all of a sudden. The spell-binding glimpse of the sun rising over the Annapurna massif, Machhapuchre, and other snowy giants makes the sight breathtaking. You will witness the snow turning golden as the sun rises above its horizon. Spending quality time there, you begin to descend steadily along the Ghandruk to make an appearance at Nayapool. However, going downhill while nice on the heart is much harder on the knees than going up. At the end of the day, you realize that booking the tip to Poon Hill was worth more than what you have imagined.
Day to Day Itinerary
As soon as you enter the Nepalese Airspace, you’ll be greeted by the exquisite aerial outlooks of Kathmandu Valley, lush greenery, and snow-covered summits. Following your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, you’ll meet one of our representatives waiting to escort you to your hotel. Once checked-in, you can freshen-up and repose in your living space enjoying the amenities offered along with accommodation. Explore the time-honoured valley of Kathmandu, a UNESCO cultural world heritage site since 1979 in order to witness its glorious history and cultural vividness. In the evening, stroll around the tourist hub of Thamel and find your delight in this dramatic marketplace.
This morning, we’ll get on a tourist bus and make a comfortable journey via the serpentine highway across the scenic countryside. Constantly chased by Trishuli River at first, we’ll then accompanied by the Masryangdi River throughout this 7-8 hours long drive. We can observe rustic villages, crowded local markets, terraced fields, lush valley, green hills, and a handful of snowy peaks on our way to Pokhara. Well-renowned as the ‘Lake city of Nepal’ because of its beautiful lakes and numerous water bodies, Pokhara is also surrounded by majestic mountaintops. Moreover, travellers and sightseers can spend a pleasant time embracing the splendour of the city that is indeed blessed with many prepossessing landmark sites (natural or man-made) within its territory.
A short car ride will take us past the lovely Lumle village to Nayapul (1,050m), from where our trekking venture sets in motion. Beyond the cultivated farmlands of rice, millet, and maize, we’ll advance along the Modi River to navigate through blooming rhododendron woodland and cross a small stream to reach Birethanti (1,015m). Here at the TIMS checkpoint, we are needed to present our TIMS and trekking permit to the authorities. Thereafter, we’ll gradually climb by the side of the valley till Tikhedhunga. We’ll then set off for a back-breaking ascend that initially unveils steep steps (precisely 3,767) leading up to the ridgeline, followed by the fairly easy path negotiating the fertile farms and rhododendron woodland to Ulleri (1,960m).
Today, we’ll push further to Banthanti, a Magar settlement extending the sublime outlooks of Annapurna South (7,219m), Machhapuchhre (6,993m), and Hiunchuli (6,441m). We’ll now continue our ascent up and cross a stream to Nangethanti (2,460m). Afterwards, we’ll stay on the trail, which proceeds uphill to Ghorepani, a scenic village situated on the other side of verdant woodland. Trekkers bound to the top of Poonhill consider Ghorepani as an ideal resting place for overnight accommodations. Besides that, the village bestows spectacular vistas including surrounding mountain summits such as Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Annapurna I.
Before the daybreak, we’ll direct our steps towards the Poonhill. Positioned at the altitude of 3210m asl, Poonhill is greatly admired by travellers for awe-inspiring sunrise vistas. Succeeding an hour of a hike, we’ll reach our ultimate destination to witness the heavenly moment when the mystical morning sun appears from behind the snow-clad mountains. The vivid colours and lights visible in the sparsely illuminated sky on an occasion of the sun's first appearance put together a soul-stirring panorama. Towering peaks of Annapurna Massifs, Nilgiri (7,040m), Himchuli (6,441m), Lamjung Himal (6,986m), Machhapuchhre (6,997m) simply glitters in front of very eyes. After spending some quality time there, we’ll make our way back to Ghorepani. Before our advancement in the direction of Tadapani (2,700m), we’ll provide rest to our tired feet while having some healthy breakfast. Discover a diversity of exotic flora and fauna on during this part of the trek which will reveal many ups and downs through picturesque terrain as it progresses further.
With an easy segment of the trail ahead of us, we’ll trek beyond the forest of oak, rhododendron and other alpine flowers to Ghandruk (1,940m), which is the largest Gurung settlement in the region. Inside this adorable village; we’ll get an insight into the culture and traditional lifestyle of the native Gurung communities. A brief tour of this village is followed by the steep descent to Syauli Bazaar through phenomenal landscapes, woods, and terraced rice fields. Along the way, we can catch the sight of ivory mountain ranges. Eventually, we’ll end up at Nayapul. From this point onwards, we’ll drive all the way to Pokhara. Here, you can have a walk down the blissful Lakeside Area and enjoy the pleasant evening on your own.
Cost Information
Includes
Airport pick and drop to hotel.
One night hotel in Kathmandu.
Two night hotel in Pokhara.
Kathmandu to Pokhara by tourist bus.
Transfer Pokhara-Nayapul-Pokhara by Private car/jeep
Teahouse accommodation during the trek
All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the trek
Seasonal fruits during treks
An experienced, English-speaking and government-licensed trekking guide including their salary, insurance, equipment, domestic airfare, food and accommodation.
An experienced porter (one porter for two people) including their salary, insurance, equipment, domestic airfare, food and accommodation.
Annapurna conservation area permit (ACAP) with one photo
Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) with one photo
First aid Medical kit box
All government and local taxes (including 13% VAT and 10 % service charge)
Transportation on private vehicle as agreed on the itinerary
Excludes
Your Nepal entry visa fee
Travel insurance and emergency evacuation expenses
International airfare
Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu/Pokhara because of early arrival, late departure, early return from mountain (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary
Lunch and dinners in Kathmandu and Pokhara
All personal expenses (including the gears and clothing taken on hire by the travelers, phone calls, battery charge, hot shower, etc)
