Trekking · Packages
Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek Package — 5 Days
The complete 5-day guided Poon Hill trek package from Pokhara — day-by-day, with cost, inclusions and booking.
This Ghorepani Poon Hill trek package is the classic first Himalayan trek — a guided 5-day loop from Pokhara that climbs through Gurung and Magar villages and rhododendron forest to the Poon Hill viewpoint at 3,210 m, where dawn breaks over Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), the Annapurna range and Machhapuchhre. It is the most popular short trek in Nepal for good reason: a genuine high-mountain sunrise, comfortable teahouses every night, and a maximum altitude low enough that altitude sickness is rarely a concern.
This page lays out the full Pokhara-to-Pokhara itinerary, what the package includes, a realistic cost range and the best months to go, so you can compare it properly and book.
At a glance
| Duration | 5 days, Pokhara to Pokhara (≈4 days trekking) |
| Highest point | Poon Hill, 3,210 m |
| Start / end | Pokhara, via a short drive to the Nayapul trailhead |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate — Nepal's standard beginner trek |
| Best seasons | Spring (Mar–Apr, rhododendron bloom) and autumn (Oct–Nov) |
| Nights | 3 in trail teahouses + 1 in Pokhara, with day 5 as buffer/departure |
The 5-day itinerary, day by day
| Day | Plan | Approx. altitude |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drive Pokhara to Nayapul, trek to Ulleri | 1,960 m |
| 2 | Ulleri to Ghorepani through rhododendron forest | 2,860 m |
| 3 | Pre-dawn climb to Poon Hill for sunrise, trek to Tadapani | 3,210 m / 2,630 m |
| 4 | Tadapani to Ghandruk, drive back to Pokhara | 1,940 m / 820 m |
| 5 | Buffer or departure day in Pokhara | 820 m |
Day one ends with the route's hardest work — the long stone staircase up to Ulleri — done early, and day two is a gentler forest climb to Ghorepani. Day three is the payoff: a 45–60 minute headlamp climb to Poon Hill for one of the best sunrises in Nepal, then breakfast back in Ghorepani before the ridge walk to Tadapani. Day four descends to Ghandruk, a stone-built Gurung village with its own grandstand Annapurna views and a small museum of Gurung culture, before the drive back to Pokhara. Day five is a deliberate buffer — some operators compress the same loop into 4 days, but the spare day absorbs weather, a slower family pace, or an optional detour to the Jhinu Danda hot springs. For the route in full trail detail, see our Ghorepani Poon Hill trek guide.
What's included
A standard guided package covers:
- Private transport from Pokhara to the Nayapul trailhead and back from Ghandruk.
- A licensed English-speaking guide, and a porter (typically one per two trekkers).
- Teahouse accommodation on the trail, on a twin-sharing basis.
- Most meals on the trek (usually breakfast, lunch and dinner on trail days).
- Both trekking permits — the ACAP entry permit and the TIMS card.
Not included: flights or transport to Pokhara, your Nepal visa, travel insurance, drinks and snacks, hot showers and device charging in teahouses, personal gear, and tips for your guide and porter. Pokhara hotel nights are bundled in some packages and excluded from others — check before comparing prices.
Ghorepani Poon Hill trek package cost
A guided 5-day Poon Hill package typically runs from around US$450 for a budget group departure to US$800 or more for private, family or premium trips. What moves the price is group size, whether Pokhara hotel nights are included, private jeep versus local transport, and the porter arrangement. It is still one of the Himalaya's most affordable trips — trekking the same loop independently costs roughly US$100–150 in on-trail food and lodging plus permits, a guide and transport, and the package premium buys you a fixed price with everything arranged; see the cost notes in our Ghorepani Poon Hill trek guide for the breakdown.
Private and family options
Because the route is short, low and lined with comfortable teahouses, it is the standard choice for families and private groups. Private departures run on any date in season, let the guide set a child's pace, and can add an extra night — in Ghandruk, or via Jhinu Danda for the hot springs — without straining anyone. Couples and small groups usually pay only a modest premium over group rates for a fully private trip.
4 or 5 days — which length?
The walking is the same loop; the difference is cushion. A 4-day version drives back to Pokhara straight from Ghandruk and suits confident hikers on a tight schedule. The 5-day package adds a buffer day that makes the trip genuinely relaxed — cover for cloudy dawns (you can wait a morning for a clearer sunrise), tired legs or a hot-springs detour. For first-timers and families, five days is the version to book.
Best time to go
Spring (March–April) is the signature season: the rhododendron forests between Ulleri, Ghorepani and Tadapani bloom red and pink, peaking roughly mid-March to April. Autumn (October–November) brings the crispest, clearest sunrises. Winter is quiet and cold but feasible at these modest altitudes, while the summer monsoon brings cloud, leeches and obscured views — the one window to avoid.
Difficulty and fitness
This is an easy to moderate trek and the classic first Himalayan trip: 4–6 hours of walking a day on well-maintained trails, comfortable lodges with hot food every night, and a 3,210 m high point that keeps altitude risk minimal. The toughest stretch is the stone staircase to Ulleri on day one. If you can walk uphill for a few hours with a daypack, you can do this trek — no previous trekking experience needed.
Book this trek
Ready to go, or want to tweak the dates, group size or pace? Departures run through both trekking seasons, and the itinerary can be customised — private family trips, a 4-day version, or an extra night via the Jhinu Danda hot springs.
Enquire about this trek
Tell us your dates and group size and we'll come back with departures and a firm price.
Prefer to browse first? See the rest of our Nepal trekking packages.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difficulty level of the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek?+
Easy to moderate — the gentlest of Nepal's classic treks. Days are 4 to 6 hours of walking on well-maintained trails, and the highest point is Poon Hill at 3,210 m, low enough that altitude sickness is rarely an issue. The toughest section is the long stone staircase up to Ulleri on day one; anyone with a reasonable fitness level can complete the loop, which is why it is the standard first Himalayan trek.
How much does the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek cost?+
A guided 5-day package typically runs from around US$450 for a budget group departure to US$800 or more for private or premium trips, covering your guide, permits, teahouse nights, most meals and trailhead transport from Pokhara. Trekking independently is cheaper — on-trail food and lodging run about US$20–35 a day, so roughly US$100–150 plus permits, a guide and transport — but the package removes all the arranging.
How long does it take to climb Poon Hill?+
About 45 to 60 minutes. From the lodges in Ghorepani (2,860 m) you climb a stone staircase by headlamp to the 3,210 m viewpoint, leaving roughly an hour before sunrise so you arrive as the first light hits Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas. The walk back down to breakfast in Ghorepani is quicker.
Is Poon Hill worth it?+
For most trekkers, absolutely. Few viewpoints anywhere deliver a 360-degree sunrise over Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), the Annapurna range and Machhapuchhre for just four to five days of gentle walking and no serious altitude. The viewpoint is busy at dawn in peak season — that is the price of the best effort-to-reward ratio in the Himalaya.
Can children do the Poon Hill trek?+
Yes — this is the most family-friendly of Nepal's classic treks. The maximum altitude of 3,210 m keeps altitude risk minimal, stages are short, and comfortable teahouses with hot food line the whole route. Children who can happily walk a few hours a day manage it well; a private family departure lets the guide set a child's pace and add an extra night if needed.
When is the rhododendron season on the Poon Hill trek?+
The bloom peaks roughly mid-March to April, when the forests between Ulleri, Ghorepani and Tadapani turn red and pink with Nepal's national flower. Lower slopes colour earlier and higher ridges later, so the season stretches across several weeks of spring — the signature time to walk this route.
What permits do you need for the Poon Hill trek?+
Two documents: the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) permit, around US$25, and a TIMS card, around US$17–20, plus a licensed guide, which is required on the route. A package handles all of this for you — both permits are quick to arrange in Pokhara before the trek starts.
