Poon Hill Sunrise Trek
The Annapurna Sunrise Trek, otherwise known as Ghandruk Poon Hill Trek in Nepal, is a relatively easy hike meandering through ethnic villages and rhododendron forests. This invigorating trek showcases some of the best views of Annapurna and the neighboring Himalayas, especially from the vantage point of Poon Hill. The added presence of rice terraces completes the picture making vantage point a photographer’s paradise. The trek begins with sightseeing of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu. Then, we take a flight to Pokhara and drive to Hile, the new trailhead. We then trek to Ulleri treading upon the thousands of stairs crossing Bhurungdi Khola and the village of Tikhedhunga. Trekking through the rhododendron forests that bloom with red flowers during the springtime, we ascend to Ghorepani, an interesting place. From here, we head towards Tadapani, but only after a short hike up to Poon Hill early in the morning. We walk further back to Ghandruk and enjoy the ethnic hospitality along with the cultural magnificence of Gurung Museum. In the final phase, we drive back from Ghandruk to Pokhara on a 2-hour drive on a private vehicle.
Itinerary
On arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, we will be greeted by a representative from Ganesh Tours who will escort us till our hotel. After checking in, we take rest or visit Ganesh Touru2019s office. We may also stroll on the streets of Thamel, a tourist hub in Kathmandu for some souvenir shopping. In the evening, there will be a welcome dinner hosted by Himalayan Glacier. For dinner, you will be served excellent authentic Nepalese cuisine, which will introduce you to the Nepalese food culture. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Today after breakfast, we start a guided tour to several historical and spiritual attractions in Kathmandu. Some of these landmarks are considered World Heritage Sites including the historic Durbar Square, the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, the famous u2018Monkey Templeu2019 (Swayambhunath) and Buddhist shrine (Bouddhanath) which is one of the largest stupas in the world. At noon, there will be a pre-trip discussion where we can meet our trek leader and other team members. Himalayan Glacier briefs us regarding our trek as well as provides us an opportunity to ask any questions we may have regarding our upcoming adventure. Overnight in Kathmandu.
We take an early morning flight to Pokhara and enjoy amazing views of the Himalayas; opt to sit on the right side of the plane. On arrival in Pokhara, we are rewarded with magnificent views of the Himalayas including Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machhapuchhre, the five peaks of Annapurna and several others. After a short rest, we drive to Hile, which is our trailhead. We pass through sub-tropical valley forests, sometimes on the carved trail on the side of the cliff. After lunch, we cross the Bhurungdi Khola via a bridge to the village of Tikhedhunga. The Ulleri Hill with thousands of steps and boulders that continually go upward will really prove a test of our stamina. We reach Ulleri by afternoon. Overnight in Ulleri.
After breakfast, we make our way ascending towards Ghorepani. The name Ghorepani in Nepali means u2018horse-wateru2019 due to it being an important campsite for traders before it became a trekkeru2019s stop. Ghorepani is an interesting place with small shops and stalls for selling local products and crafts. The town has two parts: one in a saddle and the other a few hundred feet lower. We stop at the higher part of the Ghorepani village that offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains including Annapurna South and Nilgiri mountains. Since Ghorepani lies quite higher than our previous stop, we begin to feel the chilly weather especially in the evenings. Overnight in Ghorepani.
Today is a big day for us, so we make an early morning climb along the steep trail to Poon Hill viewpoint (3,210m/10,529ft.) to witness the most amazing sunrise views over the Himalayas. Poon Hill is the most popular trekking destination of the Annapurna region. It is also a great vantage point to enjoy the amazing views of Mustang, Pokhara and more than 20 of the highest mountains, including the close-up views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. After spending some time taking pictures and having coffee, tea or hot chocolate, we return to Ghorepani for breakfast. Then we head east and climb a nearby ridge. We descend through rhododendron forests, pass by spectacular waterfalls along the way and reach Tadapani to spend the night. Overnight in Tadapani.
Today, we leave Tadapani making a steep descent through the dense forests of old rhododendron trees. When the rhododendron trees are in bloom, these forests actually turn into amazing gardens. Depending on the travel season, by afternoon we get to enjoy cherry blossoms in bloom on the slopes on the other side of the ravine. After hiking for some more time, we enter the village of Ghandruk, which is a slope settlement comprising stone houses, mostly inhabited by the Gurung community. Enjoying the stunningly close-up towering views of Fishtail, Annapurna South, and Hiunchuli mountains, we also acquaint ourselves with the simple but rich cultural traditions of the Gurung people at the Gurung Museum in Ghandruk. Overnight in Ghandruk.
Today, after breakfast in Ghandruk, we board on our private vehicle that will drive us to Pokhara in about two hours. On arrival in Pokhara, we will check into our designated hotel and rest for a while. In the afternoon, we will do a half-day sightseeing tour in and around Pokhara. Overnight in Pokhara.
In the afternoon, we catch a flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu. Donu2019t miss out to sit on the left side of the plane to see some amazing views of the Himalayas. On arrival in Kathmandu, we check in at our designated hotel. We enjoy the remaining day in leisure or catch up on some last-minute shopping or explore any landmarks, which we might have missed during our first day in Kathmandu. To celebrate the successful completion of our journey, we will enjoy a farewell dinner in the evening. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Our adventure in Nepal comes to an end today! A Ganesh Tour representative will escort us to the airport approximately 3 hours before our scheduled flight. If you wish to extend your stay in Nepal and make up your mind to partake some other activities, then Himalayan Glacier will be more than happy to make all arrangements for you.
Included / Excluded
- Permits & Registrations: National park entries, conservation area permits (ACAP/MCAP), restricted area permits, and TIMS cards.
- Transport: Standard ground transportation (private jeep/tourist bus) or domestic flights as specified in the specific trek itinerary.
- Accommodation: Twin-sharing tea houses/lodges during the trek and standard hotel accommodation during city transits.
- Meals: Full-board meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner) featuring local, Indian, and Western alpine options during the trek.
- Guiding Team: Government-licensed, first-aid trained local English-speaking guide and experienced baggage porters.
- Safety Net: Emergency first-aid kit, high-altitude pulse oximeter, and arrangement coordination for emergency helicopter evacuations.
- Visas & Flights: International airfare and Nepal entry visa fees.
- Insurance: Comprehensive travel, medical, high-altitude rescue, and helicopter evacuation insurance (Mandatory).
- City Dining: Lunches and dinners in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
- Trail Conveniences: Hot showers, electronic device charging fees, Wi-Fi access, and satellite communication use.
- Beverages: Bottled mineral water, specialty coffees, soft drinks, and all alcoholic beverages.
- Personal Gear: Trekking equipment (boots, down jackets, sleeping bags) and personal medical kits.
- Gratitude: Tips for the trekking guides, drivers, and porters.
Ganesh Pandey
Tour Guide