Situated at an altitude of 3210m, Poon Hill is a small hill that is famous for a spectacular sunrise. The view of the mountains Machhapuchhre, Himchuli, Annapurna South, Annapurna Ist, Nilgiri, and Dhaulagiri range in a series is a sight worth cherishing.
But, is this experience possible in a short period of time?
Well, all credits to Mr. Tek Bahadur Pun, an ex Gurkha who sponsored and donated the view tower at Poon Hill, the experience multiplies.
And, yes, Poon Hill is quite close to Pokhara and short treks are definitely possible and also highly suggested.
Relax and let us take care of you. We do arrange Poon Hill 5 days trek and even shorter if requested.
Why take the 5-day Poon Hill trek?
Poon Hill is a popular spot that you will be suggested and be tempted to reach on your way to the Annapurna Base Camp in the Annapurna Region.
When hiking to the base camp you will come across Ghorepani at 2,840m. From here, you can take a short hike to reach Poon Hill. It is a viewpoint worth reaching. Yes, you will then walk down to Ghorepani again to continue with your base camp trek.
So, this hill managed to carve itself into this trekking map because of its undoubted beauty.
No wonder it has become a famous tourist destination that gives you impeccable views of the mountain vistas with a negligible amount of labor.
In a matter of 5 days time, you get to enjoy the country life, mingle with the locals and learn an absolute different setting from home. A relaxing and rejuvenating time worth spending.
During the 5-days Poon Hill trek, you will not only be bound to enjoy this particular hillock. It will take you to one of the most popular cities of Nepal, Pokhara. It is a preview of what awaits.
Beaming in natural beauty and modern luxuries, Pokhara will strike all the right notes.
Believe me, you will enjoy Pokhara a lot more on your way back.
Ghandruk is another popular tourist destination, especially for the national tourists. This place is known as the biggest Gurung settlement in Nepal. A Hint of the culture and the lifestyle of this ethnic group will be evidently seen throughout your trip.
Also, Ghandruk also offers spectacular views of the Himalayan vistas and is a historic ethnic village.
Detailed Itinerary
Given below is a detailed Itinerary that gives you an overview of this trek.
Day 01: Drive from Pokhara -Nayapul and trek to Hile.
Altitude: 1430m
Distance: 43.1 km
Time Taken: 1.5 hours drive to Nayapul, 3 hours hike to Hile
The first day of the itinerary begins at Pokhara. After an early breakfast, we will take about 1.5 hrs bus ride to the west to reach Nayapul. The ride will be a pleasant one because you are already in Pokhara and the views just get better.
If you please, you can also plan your schedule in hiring a private jeep depending on your group. This is a lot more comfortable than the local buses.
By the time you reach Nayapul, you should be all prepared for your hike. After about 3 hours of hiking, you will get to Hile. It is a pleasant village, take your time to enjoy the local setting and the beauty of the hustling Modi Khola.
We will rest at a local tea house at Hile.
Day 02: Trek to Ghorepani
Altitude: 2840 m
Distance: 12.9 km
After a hearty local breakfast on day-2, we are all set to hike to Ghorepani. We will pass through Tikhedhunga (1,577m) and Ulleri (2,070m) and Banthanti (2,250m) before we reach Ghorepani.
These are small villages inhabited by the Magar people. Oak trees and the rhododendron forests add into the ambiance of this place. The surrounding and the nature is at its best.
More awaits as you reach Ghorepani. The picturesque view of this place is absolutely satisfying. Later in the evening, we will eat in the tea house we stop to rest.
A spectacular day awaits. You will need to sleep early because our hike starts before dawn.
Day 03: Early morning hike up to Poon Hill and continue trek to Tadapani.
Altitude: 3200m
Day-3 begins before dawn and before breakfast. We will be hiking to the top of Poon Hill (3210m) before dawn so that we can wait for the sunrise and be showered by the musky yellow sunrise. The walk should be for about 45 minutes.
No doubt, the sunrise from this spot is so popular. It is absolutely enchanting.
After about an hour or two here, we will further walk down to Ghorepani. Here, during breakfast, you will either keep talking about the mesmerizing beauty you just witnessed or you will be absolutely calm and will be within yourself.
After breakfast, we head towards Tadapani (2610m). After passing through a beautiful rhododendron and pine forest we will reach Deurali (2690m). From here, we will take a slight downhill to reach the destination of the day.
The walk should take about 5-6 hours from Poon Hill until we reach Tadapani.
At Tadapani, we will relax and rest for the day in a local tea house and enjoy dinner in the same place.
Day 04: Trek to Ghandruk
Altitude:1940m
Distance: 9.5km
On day-4, we will trek to Ghandruk. It takes about 2-3 hours. We will be descending as we pass through beautiful forest, ridges and small streams. When we come to a long flight of stone stairs, we are almost there.
After the stairs, we reach Ghandruk, a beautiful Gurung village. Enjoy the nature along relish in the hospitality served by the locals. The traditional attire, houses, kitchen and the food that you eat can only be taken back with you in photographs.
We will rest in one of the local tea houses.
Day 05: Trek down to Nayapul and drive to Pokhara
Finally, the last day of our packaged trip. Today, we will be descending most of the time. Take all the time in the world to enjoy the time on your scheduled trip. The views of the mountains while hiking and descending is a different experience. Enjoy your time.
You will pass through the villages of Syauli Bazar, Birethani and then finally to Nayapul.
From Nayapul we will take a ride back to Pokhara.
At Pokhara, you can enjoy the pubs, restaurants, and spas. The places you saw and missed out at the beginning of the trek. Or, you can choose to rest in the lakeside.
We end our package here. You can choose to opt for a connecting package from Pokhara or head back to Kathmandu and finally back home.
Lastly,
Poon Hill 5-days trek is possible any time of the year and is considered as an easy trek. With us, this trek starts and ends at Pokhara. Pokhara is a beautiful city and deserves a day or two, here. Take your time to enjoy this gifted city.
This 5-day trek is designed to facilitate new trekkers looking to enjoy a close glimpse of the mysterious mountains without having to sweat.
And so it does.
It gives you a chance to rejuvenate and relax in the mountains without putting in a lot of work or pre-planning. But peak season does witness a lot of tourists here. Because it is short, easy and quite affordable.
If you seek to make this trip a bit longer so that you can explore other nearby places or make it shorter to fit your schedule, do contact us. We will be happy to plan your trips.