Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek - 5 Days

Poon Hill Trip package | Complimentary Airport Transfer

Poon Hill Accommodation | Lodge & Tea House

Poon Hill Trek includes three nights of lodge to lodge stays in the finest lodges in trekking regions and two nights in Pokhara hotel. You will be staying in twin sharing rooms with attached bathrooms for two nights at Ghorepani, and Jhinu Danda, and one night twin sharing standard room at Tadapani.

You will spend two nights in a hotel in Pokhara. The room comes with an attached bathroom, TV, 24 hours hot water, power, and laundry facility.

Solo trekkers will be staying in a single private room with an attached bathroom wherever possible and in a single private room elsewhere. 

Two nights of Hotel stay in Kathmandu before and after the trek may be required but not included in the package. Kathmandu has a wide range of hotels for all budgets and tastes. 

The Meals during Poon Hill Trek Route

Ghorepani Poon Hill Hike takes you to high elevations in the Annapurna region, so you require nutritious food. We will provide you with healthy and nutritious food, but you will not have as many choices as you would get in the cities. 

We will provide you with 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 3 dinners during the trek.
Some of the popular menu items are -

Five breakfasts - Oatmeal, Corn Flakes, French toast with Jam, Butter, Cheese, Honey Tibetan bread or Chapati, Local Tsampa porridge, Eggs, Pancakes, Muesli Breads, fruits, Vegetables, Hot drinks (varieties of teas and coffees, hot chocolates, etc.)

Four lunches - Dhal, Bhat, Tarkari, Tibetan Bread, Various Soups, Sherpa Stew, Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (dumplings), Macaroni dishes, Tenduk Spaghetti Noodles, Thukpa, Pasta, Vegetable curry, Potatoes, Vegetables, Salad Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed), Snacks (Papad, Prawn), Desserts, (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), etc

Three dinners - Dhal, Bhat, Tarkari, Tibetan Bread, Various Soups, Sherpa Stew, Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (dumplings), Macaroni, Tenduk Spaghetti, Noodles Thukpa, Pasta, Vegetable curry, Potato items, Vegetable and salad Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed), Snacks (Papad, Prawn), Korean Raman, Desserts items (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), Hard Drinks Steaks, etc

We select the best tea houses/ lodges that serve fresh, hygienic, tasty, and nutritious food. The menu consists of traditional, Asian, and western food items. However, as we climb up menu gets shorter and shorter. 

We highly recommend you to take fresh vegetables and liquids (green tea, lemon tea, hot lemon, garlic soup (must), and ginger tea) at high altitudes. 

Though plenty of non-veg items will be available in the trekking regions, we do not recommend them because the meat at the hiking regions might not be hygienic. We also encourage you to avoid alcohol, caffeinated items, hot chocolates, and dairy items. 

Note- Lunch and dinner at Pokhara are not included in this package. 

Best Time For Poon hill trek

The best time to trek to Poon Hill is during spring (March-May) and autumn (September - November). During this time, the skies are clear, and the views are fantastic.

However, people trek to Ghorepani and Poon Hill throughout the year, and Discovery World Trekking conducts Poon Hill trek during all seasons.

The trek during winter gets challenging due to low temperature and snowfall, while in the summer the monsoon rains cause the trails to be wet and slippery. Some adventurous trekkers find these challenges exciting and trek to Ghorepani and Poon Hill during these seasons too.

The temperature in the mountains also depends on altitude - the higher the elevation - the colder it gets. Here are the weather conditions at the high altitudes of the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek.

March-May (spring)

Spring (March-May) is a perfect season to trek to Poon Hill, and trekkers all over the world come to visit these destinations during this time. In this season, the climate is mild, the rainfall is low, and the trekking conditions are perfect.

The mean daily spring temperatures in the Poon Hill high elevations are between 5°C to 15 °C. Lower regions are warmer. Trekking season begins after March, and by April, the trek route passes through rhododendron flower blooms that add red, pink, and white colors to the sub-tropical forest.

June - August (summer)

If you trek to Poon Hill between July and August, your trek falls in summer. Though summer temperatures are high in the trekking regions, it is also a monsoon period, which brings a lot of rain. Due to the rain, the trekking trails can be wet and slippery. 

Monsoon generally begins around the end of June and continues up to the second week of August. The daytime temperatures, at high altitudes, during the summer range from 15°C to 25°C. The nights are colder, with temperatures in between 5°C to 15°C.

Though the rain may cause some problems, it also provides much-needed water for plants that makes them bloom. If you enjoy the lush vegetations, this is the trekking season for you.

September - November (autumn)

Autumn is also a favorable season for the Poon Hill trek. Moderate temperatures, mild wind, and low precipitation make trekking in autumn pleasurable.

During this season, the sun shines brightly, the skies are clear, and you get a superb view of mountains. The nights are also cloud-free, providing you with great views of night skies.

The monsoons will be over by early September, and the temperatures are mild. Daytime temperatures can reach up to 20°C in high altitudes. The nights are colder at temperatures around 5°C. 

In this season, the greens that grew during the monsoon fade to golden/amber providing a spectacular contrast against the crystal blue skies. The grains in terraced fields are ripe and ready for harvesting.

The environment is clean, and the lowlands are lush. 

The biggest Nepali festivals -Dashain, Tihar - fall during this season. This brings in a festive mood in the trekking regions and all over Nepal.

December - February (winter)

Winter treks in the Annapurna region are not as popular as the spring or autumn treks. The Ghorepani trek regions are cold during winter with snowfalls, but it excites some trekkers.

The coldest time is from late December through early February. After late February, the climate gradually gets warmer. Daytime temperatures can get as low as -5 °C at high altitudes. 

Despite being cold, the winter skies are usually very clear, and mountain views are at their best with snow caps. The trails are the least busy during this time. While new trekkers might find this trek very challenging, experienced trekkers will find no problem completing this trek in winter. 

Physical Condition & Experience Requirements

Poonhill Trek is an easy grade trek in the Annapurna region. The hiking is generally 4 to 5 hrs a day, taking regular breaks to enjoy and appreciate the stunning mountain views. 

Ghorepani trek trails are not very steep but ascend and descend fairly. Trekking at higher altitudes is physically demanding than trekking in the lower altitudes. So you need to have average physical fitness and strong determination. 

Trekkers who can hike 4 to 5 hours a day at a reasonable pace with a light day pack can complete this trek. Some days may require longer waking hours.  

 Participants with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung, and blood disease should inform us before booking the trek.

Trekking in Nepal | Group Trekking | Private & Single Treks

We organize group as well as private treks. The bigger your team, the more discount you can get. We handle all group sizes and assign one assistant guide for a group with 12 or more trekkers. Each group will have a guide/team lead and porters. 

We assign one porter for every two trekkers. The luggage weight limit is 9kg per trekker. Hence, a porter will not carry more than 18kg of combined weight.

A typical Poon Hill Trek Day

A typical day at Poon Hill trek brings in a unique trekking experience that comes along with stunning landscape views, opportunities to learn and explore new places, chances to interact with local people and know their culture. You can also capture the pristine landscapes in pictures. 

During the trek, our experienced and qualified guides and porters will inform you about the places you will be visiting. 

Each morning after breakfast, we set off on the day's walk-in between 7 to 8 am based on trek distance and the nature of the trek. You will have lunch around noon and rest for an hour. After rest, we continue on the trek. Most afternoon treks will be short.

Once we reach our day's destination, we will enjoy our snacks. Before it gets dark, you will have the opportunity to explore the village/settlements/towns. You will be having dinner between 7 to 8 pm. 

Before going to bed, we will socialize. Your trek leader will inform you about the next day's trekking plans. After this trek briefing, you can enjoy games like cards or monopoly, read books or watch mountaineering videos. Most of our guests prefer to learn common Nepali words from our crew.

Communication during the trek

During the Poon Hill Trek, you can use the internet at lodges/tea houses for an extra cost. However, at high altitudes, we will communicate using the phone. Discovery World Trekking will be in contact with trekking teams via trek team leader at least once a day. 

Depending on the kind of network you use, you might get signals at trekking regions, but they might not be strong enough. If you wish, you can buy a local sim card in Kathmandu.

Battery recharge, water on the trek

Throughout the lodges at Poon Hill trekking regions, electricity for the camera and mobile battery recharge is available at an extra cost. 

You can buy either packed mineral water from local lodges and en route shop or fill your water bottle with boiled water at an extra cost. If you require, we can provide you with water purification pills. 

Extra personal expenses during the trek

All trekking members need to have spending money for various things. Our package does not include meal and accommodation costs in Kathmandu.Moreover, all our valuable clients need to bring personal spending money to cover the visa application, travel insurance policy purchase, beverages, snacks for the trek, hot (tea/coffee) and cold drinks, tips to the trekking crew members, souvenirs, and so on.

We recommend you to bring cash (major currencies), which you can easily exchange for rupees in Nepal. Trekking regions accept only Nepalese currency.

Travel Insurance for Poon Hill Trek

Poon Hill Trek trip grade is easy, without the risk of high altitude sickness. However, this mountain journey is not a normal visit due to the possibility of unforeseen or unexpected events such as injury, illness, flood, landslide, or sudden climate changes, etc.

Travel insurance for Poonhill Trek is compulsory. All trekkers must provide a copy of their comprehensive travel insurance policy certificate to Discovery World Trekking. The policy must cover medical and emergency repatriation - including helicopter rescue and evacuation expenses at high altitudes.

Trekking members are kindly requested to send their detailed insurance information once they book trekking. In case of emergencies, we will use the documents you sent us for rescue. It will help us arrange a quick and effective rescue operation, transfer for emergency medical help, etc.

Please call the insurance company and ensure that they cover helicopter evacuation at the highest trek elevations along with medical costs. 

Nepal Tourist Visa | Passport and Visa

All foreigners except Indian nationals need a visa to enter Nepal. You can get an on-arrival visa at Tribhuvan International Airport or Nepal border regional offices. For a visa application, you need a passport valid for at least six months, a passport size photo, and visa application fees.

The current visa cost for 30 days is US$50(to be paid in cash). 

Children under the age of 10 will get a free visa. Nepal government can change visa rules without notice, so please check https://www.immigration.gov.np/ for the latest information

Chinese citizens and citizens of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) get a free visa.

Some countries may not be entitled to get an on-arrival visa. So if you are from Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, and Afghanistan, please contact your local Nepalese embassy for visa details.

We recommend you to allocate at least 1-2 days extra at the end of the trip just in case there is a delay. If there are no delays, we can arrange additional activities during your stay in Nepal - including sightseeing, Chitwan jungle safari, rafting, canyoning, etc.

Currency Exchange in Nepal | USD to NPR

Nepali Rupees (NPR/Rs) is the local currency.

(1 USD = ~ Rs.120 NPR).

You can exchange most foreign currencies in banks and other financial institutions or money exchanges in Kathmandu or Pokhara. Money exchanges display exchange rates visibly for the public.

Please note that only Indian Rupee Notes (INR) of 100 and 2000 denominations are legal in Nepal. We recommend you to bring cash and exchange them for Nepali Rupees at money exchanges instead of traveler's cheques.

You can also withdraw cash in Nepalese Rupees using your credit/debit card from ATMs in Kathmandu or Pokhara. You can withdraw up to Rs. 35,000 for a fee of Rs 500. 

How much luggage can I take during Poon Hill Trek?

For every two trekkers, we will assign one porter. Porters will not carry more than 18kg of combined luggage. Hence, your luggage limit for a trekker is 9kg. We also expect you to bring with you a small backpack containing your valuables and essential documents. You can leave your non-essentials at the Discovery World Trekking store for free.

Poon Hill Trek Safety

Discovery World Trekking guarantees our valuable clients' safety and security. Safety is the utmost concern for us. Here are some of the ways we conduct safe treks.

• We carry all necessary gears, equipment, and first aid kits.
• Our crew has taken extensive first aid training.
• If someone falls sick, the trek guide (leader) has the authority to continue or descend- keeping in mind the interest of the whole trekking team.
• Our team consists of people from remote high Himalayas who have tremendous endurance.
• We will be trekking in a group.
• In case of emergencies, we will deploy a helicopter for rescue (funded by insurance)