About GHOREPANI - POON HILL TREK (9 DAYS)

Set in the central foothills of the Annapurna range, the Ghorepani-Poon Hill trek is a gentle ascent through terraced fields, subtropical forests, and traditional villages, all set against the backdrop of towering Himalayan peaks that gradually become more visible as you gain altitude.

Starting from Nayapul, a village near the end of a dirt road from Pokhara, the trail immediately begins to weave through small farming villages. The Gurung and Magar communities here live in houses made from stone and wood, blending seamlessly into the landscape. Their daily lives revolve around the land, and much of the trek passes through terraced fields where rice, millet, and vegetables are cultivated. The journey steadily moves through dense forests, where rhododendron trees, bamboo groves, and oak forests form a canopy above the trail. This section feels like a quiet immersion into nature, where the sounds of rushing water and distant birdcalls are the only distractions from the rhythmic pace of walking. The trail passes through settlements like Ghandruk and Tadapani, where life remains deeply tied to the surrounding environment. These villages are not just resting places for trekkers but living communities where people carry on traditional practices, farming, and crafting goods in the same manner as their ancestors. You might encounter villagers weaving carpets, cutting wood, or tending livestock, offering a glimpse into a way of life that has been largely unaffected by modernity.

As you reach Ghorepani, the landscape begins to open up. Here, the rhododendron forests give way to alpine meadows and higher-altitude vegetation. This marks the beginning of a more expansive view, with the peaks of the Annapurna range slowly revealing themselves as you approach Poon Hill, the trek’s highest point. The view from Poon Hill (3193 meters) is broad and sweeping—far more than a simple viewpoint, it is a panorama of towering snow-capped peaks that stretch from Dhaulagiri in the west to Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna massif in the east. The clarity and scale of the view are staggering, with the morning light casting the mountains in a soft, golden glow. The view from Poon Hill is the highlight of this trek.

Overall, the Ghorepani-Poon Hill Trek is a short and sweet trek that stands as an experience that offers both the grandeur of the Himalayan peaks and the intimacy of the cultures that have lived with them for centuries.

Note: You can choose to drive or to fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara and from Pokhara to Kathmandu.