- Length
- 5 days
- Highest point
- 3,210 m
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Best months
- Oct–May
- Starts
- Nayapul (drive from Pokhara)
- Group size
- 2–16 People
- Sleeping
- Tea House
Wake up above the clouds at Poon Hill for a sunrise panorama of Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas — a lifetime moment earned in just five days.
- Classic sunrise spectacle from Poon Hill (3,210 m): 30+ Himalayan peaks lit gold in one sweep
- Annapurna South, Dhaulagiri, Machapuchare, and Hiunchuli all above 6,000 m in the same frame
- Nepal's most famous rhododendron forest — at peak bloom (March–April) the trail turns crimson
- Charming Gurung village of Ghorepani for authentic mountain teahouse culture
- Easy enough for first-time trekkers with good fitness; rewarding far above its difficulty
- Day 1 through the famous Modi Khola valley terraced farmland and forest
- Short enough for a 5-day Nepal visit, but scenically punches well above its class
The climb, day by day
Day 1Drive Pokhara → Nayapul · Trek to Tikhedhunga (1,540 m)1,540 m
Short drive to Nayapul trailhead (1,070 m) then trek east through Modi Khola river valley farmland to Tikhedhunga.
- Distance
- 8 km
- Walking
- 3–4 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 2Tikhedhunga → Ulleri → Ghorepani (2,860 m)2,860 m
Climb 3,000 stone steps from Ulleri village through magnificent rhododendron and oak forest to the ridge settlement of Ghorepani.
- Distance
- 10 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 3Poon Hill Sunrise (3,210 m) → Trek to Tadapani (2,610 m)2,610 m
Pre-dawn climb to Poon Hill viewpoint for panoramic views of Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre. Descend and trek east through forest to Tadapani.
- Distance
- 12 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 4Tadapani → Ghandruk (1,940 m)1,940 m
Descend through rhododendron forest and farmland to the large Gurung village of Ghandruk, famous for its traditional stone houses and unobstructed Annapurna South views.
- Distance
- 8 km
- Walking
- 3–4 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 5Ghandruk → Nayapul → Drive Pokhara820 m
Descend through terraced fields via Kimche and Birethanti to Nayapul. Vehicle back to Pokhara for a lakeside farewell dinner.
- Distance
- 8 km + drive
- Walking
- 3 hours + drive
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Hotel
The price includes
- Government-registered English-speaking guide
- Porter (1 per 2 trekkers)
- ACAP permit and TIMS card
- Pokhara–Nayapul private jeep (both ways)
- All teahouse accommodation on trek (4 nights)
- 3 meals per day (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- All government taxes and service charges
You pay separately
- International flights
- Nepal visa
- Travel insurance
- Personal gear
- Tips
The 5-day Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is Nepal's most popular short trek — and for good reason. Poon Hill (3,210 m) at sunrise delivers one of the greatest mountain panoramas in the world: 30+ Himalayan peaks illuminated simultaneously by the first light, from Dhaulagiri (8,167 m) on the left to Manaslu (8,163 m) on the right, with Annapurna South and the sacred Machapuchare (Fishtail) dominant in the foreground. The approach through Nayapul, Tikhedhunga, Ulleri, and Ghorepani passes through dense rhododendron forest that at peak bloom (March–April) turns the entire hillside crimson and pink.
The 5-day itinerary is specifically designed to give the Poon Hill experience proper breathing room — two nights at Ghorepani rather than a rushed one-night version, with an optional second sunrise for trekkers who want different light conditions. The descent via Tadapani and Ghandruk adds a final day through the Gurung heartland and the finest cultural village on the route. Appropriate for any trekker with basic fitness; maximum altitude 3,210 m, stages of 4–6 hours.
Best seasons: October–November and March–May (rhododendron). Start: Pokhara (private jeep to Nayapul). Max altitude: Poon Hill 3,210 m.