Completing The Scenic Poon Hill Trek In 4 Days- Everything You Need To Know

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Thousands of hiking enthusiasts head to Annapurna in Nepal every year searching for adventure. Trekking around this region that has become a Mecca for hikers in recent years covers a fascinating range of cultural and geographical varieties that makes trekking here an experience of a lifetime. Most trekkers that visit follow the standard route to the Annapurna circuit but there are also a lot of other alternate treks that you can take if you can’t complete the circuit. One such trip that doesn’t require intense preparation is the Poon Hill Trek (it usually takes four days to complete).

It’s one of the easier treks in Nepal that you can complete without a guide even if you’re visiting Nepal for the first time.

Essential Preparations For Poon Hill Trek

Budgeting for the Trek: On average, the cost for a 4-day Poon Hill trek is quite affordable compared to other treks in Nepal. Your daily expenses will cover accommodation, food, and the guide’s fee, with accommodations and meals being significantly cheaper along the trek than in urban centers. Carrying cash is advisable as ATMs may not be reliable on the route​​.

Permits and TIMS: Before starting the trek, you’ll need to secure a TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System) card and an Annapurna Sanctuary permit, both of which can be obtained in Pokhara. These are crucial for accessing the trekking routes within the Annapurna Sanctuary​​.

Packing Essentials: Key items include a good pair of hiking boots, trekking poles, a rain cover for your backpack, and layers to adapt to changing temperatures. Also, don’t forget a water purification system because the number of stores up there is limited and needless to say, you will need clean water (and a lot of it).

Insurance: Securing travel insurance that covers high-altitude trekking is highly recommended in case of unforseen events and medical emergencies that you may come across​​.

Trekking Experience: The journey from Hille to Ulleri introduces you to the trek’s physical demands with a steep incline and stone stairs, balanced by the breathtaking vistas that unfold as you ascend. The trek continues through rhododendron forests and past beautiful waterfalls, with each day bringing new elevations and stunning views of the Himalayas.

Best Time To Visit

To sum it up, the best time to take the Poon Hill trek is during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) months. This time of the year is known for clear and mild weather; it’s not too hot, it’s not too cold, doesn’t rain a lot and the visibility from the top is at its peak and you can clearly see the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountains. During the winters, the snow reduces visibility drastically and during the summer, the rain mist reduces it even more.

Trek Route And Difficulty

The Poon Hill Trek offers is classified as a moderate trail and is reccomended for experienced and not-so-experienced trekkers alike. The trek covers 40 km (25 miles) and on average, it can be completed in 3-4 days. Just don’t forget to get the TIMS card and the Annapurna Sanctuary permit because they’re mandatory for entering this part of Nepal.

Accommodation And Meals

Accommodations along the Poon Hill Trek consist of quaint, cozy teahouses with small rooms, usually big enough to accommodate two people. Don’t expect luxury or boutique hotel accommodation. Most teahouses have shared bathrooms and kitchens but some offer private ones too (but they’re kind of a luxury). As for food, the options are limited- it basically boils down to traditional Nepali food like dal bhat and simple breakfasts like boiled eggs, porridge, pancakes, and soups.

Health And Safety

Now before we get to the complete itinerary of this trek, let’s cover some basic health and safety things you need to pay attention to.

Altitude Sickness Prevention: Although the highest point of Poon Hill Trek reaches around 3,210 meters, where the risk of altitude sickness is minimal, it’s crucial to acclimatize properly.

Physical Fitness: The trek is considered moderate and suitable for both beginners and experienced trekkers. However, a good level of physical fitness is required.

Trekking in Groups: Nepal is known for its friendly and welcoming locals, but there have been instances of people trekking solo facing difficulties or even ending up missing on trails; not on this trek per se but still, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Guides and Porters: Hiring a local guide or porter not only enriches your trekking experience (because they know the terrain and local culture) but also allows you to be safer.

Packing Essentials: Ensure to carry a comprehensive first aid kit, including essential medications.

A Complete Itinerary

Now that we covered the basics of taking the Poon Hill Trek, let’s also quickly go through the detailed itinerary- how to get from Nayapul to the top of the hill in 4 days.

Day 1: Nayapul- Thikhedunga

The starting point for most treks in the Annapurna region is Nayapul, a small mountain town near the popular tourist destination- Pokhara. If you’re leaving from Kathmandu, you will need the whole day to reach Nayapul since the roads in Nepal are in a pretty bad condition. However, if you’re starting from Pokhara you can reach Nayapul in around 2 hours. The walk to Thikhedhunga passes through Birethanti and Ramghai and is relatively easy. This shouldn’t take more than 4-5 hours walking unless you’re in a pretty bad shape.

Thikhedhunga is a great first stop and the views are simply amazing even though the altitude isn’t really high (1,500 meters). The accommodation options here aren’t great but the beauty of this charming village surely makes up for it.

Related: Guide to trekking Tsum Valley in Nepal

Day 2: Thikhedunga- Ghorepani

The trek from Thikhedunga to Ghorepani is probably the hardest part of the trek that requires the most Stamina. To reach Ghorepani, you have to pass through Ulleri and more than 3,000 stairs. Even after you pass the stairs part you have to continue going up. On the second day, you will experience the biggest change in altitude: from 1,500 to 2,900 meters. You’ll be extremely tired by the time you reach Ghorepani but once you reach this divine mountain paradise you’ll forget all about your muscle soreness and fatigue.

Enjoying this post? Then you may also like this guide to reaching Everest base camp by helicopter and our guide to the Mount Everest death zone.

Ghorepani is amazing, especially in the monsoon, once the thick layers of mist surround the small mountainous town, adding another layer of beauty to this already gorgeous place. Keep a note that unless you’re in a good shape, you’ll need a porter to carry your bag. This was the day I was cursing myself for not getting one because I had to carry two backpacks (mine and my girlfriend’s) through 3,000 stairs and 1,500 meters of elevation.

If you’re planning to take the Poon Hill Trek or just go trekking in general, you’ll need a good backpack. Check out our list of the best hiking backpacks.

Day 3: Ghorepani- Poon Hill- Gandruk

The third day is the one that requires the most walking. This is the day when the trek reaches its highest peak: Poon Hill at 3,200 meters above sea level. The hike from Ghorepani to the top takes approximately one hour and the best time to do it is at the sunset. You get to see how high you climbed as the sun rises above the distant mountains. Seeing where you reached and what you accomplished gives you an amazing feeling and the view is even better. Unless it’s the monsoon season. If that’s the case you probably won’t see anything but clouds and mist.

After coming back down from the top, the terrain is much easier. There’s not much climbing left to do as you only need to complete the circle and go back to Nayapul. By the end of the day, you should be able to reach Gandruk, the biggest town you’ll encounter during this trek. It’s a beautiful town with amazing views of the Annapurna Circuit and many great accommodation options.

Related: Hiking in Kashmir

Day 4: Gandruk- Nayapul

The last day includes a relatively easy walk from Gandruk back to Nayapul. However, don’t think that climbing down is easy. You might not feel it right away but your body sure will by the end of the day. For me, climbing down turned out to give more muscle soreness than climbing up. If you don’t think you can complete the walk, you can ask your guide to get a bus or a jeep in the Khimchi village (not too sure about the spelling).

If I go back in time, I would probably tell myself to bring a few more things. If you don’t want to make the same travel mistake, check out my Nepal packing list that will tell you what all you need to bring along for your Nepal trip. Additionally, if you’re interested in a more challenging trip, check out this post where I break down the costs of Annapurna base camp trek.

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