Day 1
Nayapul to Tikhedhunga
4 hrs / 9 km / sleep 1,540 m
Drive from Pokhara to Nayapul (1.5 hours), then trek along the Modi Khola through Birethanti to Tikhedhunga.
Annapurna
Poon Hill Trek
The perfect short trek for beginners and families. Climb to Poon Hill for one of Nepal's most famous sunrise views - a panorama from Dhaulagiri (8,167m) to Annapurna South across the entire range.
Easy5 days3,210 mMar - May, Sep - Dec
Photo: Wikimedia CommonsOverview
Trek overview
Long-form route context for planning, pacing, and realistic expectations.
Key Highlights & Takeaways
- Poon Hill sunrise (3,210m)
- Dhaulagiri panorama
- Gurung village of Ghandruk
- Rhododendron forests (spring)
The perfect short trek for beginners and families. Climb to Poon Hill for one of Nepal's most famous sunrise views - a panorama from Dhaulagiri (8,167m) to Annapurna South across the entire range.
This itinerary is synced from TrekGuard mobile app data and includes 5 planned days, 45 km of walking, and 2,400 m of total elevation gain.
Highlights include Poon Hill sunrise (3,210m), Dhaulagiri panorama, Gurung village of Ghandruk, Rhododendron forests (spring).
Itinerary
Daily route plan
Day 2
Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani
6 hrs / 12 km / sleep 2,860 m
The toughest day - climb over 3,000 stone steps through Ulleri and rhododendron forests to Ghorepani. Stunning if rhododendrons are blooming (March - April).
Day 3
Ghorepani to Tadapani
6 hrs / 12 km / sleep 2,630 m
Pre-dawn hike to Poon Hill (3,210m) for the famous sunrise over Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre, and the entire range. Return to Ghorepani for breakfast, then trek to Tadapani.
Day 4
Tadapani to Ghandruk
4 hrs / 10 km / sleep 2,020 m
Descend through beautiful forests to Ghandruk, a traditional Gurung village with annapurna views and a cultural museum.
Day 5
Ghandruk to Nayapul
4 hrs / 10 km / sleep 1,070 m
Final descent to Nayapul through terraced fields. Drive back to Pokhara.
Altitude profile
How high you sleep, night by night
The single biggest safety factor on a high trek is how fast your sleeping altitude rises. Here's the shape of this itinerary.
1,070 m
Start
2,860 m
Highest sleep
3,210 m
Max altitude
5
Nights
See which days climb too fast and add rest days to build a safer schedule.
Check acclimatization →Map
Interactive route preview
Leaflet route rendering with checkpoints, altitude markers, and GPX geometry where published.
Route preview
Route map not published yet
Day-by-day itinerary is available below. GPX/KML for this trek will appear here when published - always verify the trail locally before walking.
GPX and KML downloads
Static route references for offline planning.
GPX/KML files are not published for this route yet. Itinerary data is available now.
- Duration
- 5 days
- Altitude
- 3,210 m
- Updated
- 2026
Route files are planning references only. Always follow current trail conditions, local notices, and guide advice.
Packing checklist
Use a mobile-friendly checklist for clothing, electronics, medicine, documents, and trail gear.
Altitude and safety
Prepare before pushing higher.
Climb gradually and take acclimatization seriously.
Check weather, wind, and daylight before long days.
Descend and seek help if altitude symptoms worsen.
Poon Hill Trek FAQ
Straight answers on length, altitude, permits, season and cost for the Poon Hill Trek, generated from the same route data the TrekGuard app uses.
How many days does the Poon Hill Trek take?
The TrekGuard planning itinerary for the Poon Hill Trek runs 5 days and covers 45 km of walking. Treat it as a baseline: weather, flight delays and how you acclimatize can add days, so build slack into your schedule.
How high does the Poon Hill Trek go?
The Poon Hill Trek tops out at 3,210 m. The highest place you sleep on this itinerary is about 2,860 m, which matters more for altitude illness than the daytime high point.
What permits do you need for the Poon Hill Trek?
The Poon Hill Trek normally requires: Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), TIMS Card. Permit rules, fees and issuing offices change between seasons - confirm the current requirements with the Nepal Tourism Board or a registered agency before you travel.
When is the best time to trek the Poon Hill Trek?
Mar - May, Sep - Dec is the usual window for the Poon Hill Trek. Outside it you are trading stable weather for either monsoon cloud and leeches or deep winter cold and snow-blocked passes.
How difficult is the Poon Hill Trek?
The Poon Hill Trek is rated easy, with 2,400 m of total ascent over 45 km. Walking days are roughly 4-6 hours. No technical climbing skills are required on the standard route.
Can you get altitude sickness on the Poon Hill Trek?
Yes. The Poon Hill Trek reaches 3,210 m, well above the 2,500 m mark where acute mountain sickness (AMS) becomes possible for anyone, regardless of fitness or age. Keep sleeping-altitude gains gradual, take the built-in rest days, and descend if headache, nausea or breathlessness get worse rather than better. This is general information, not medical advice - see a travel-medicine clinician before the trip.
Where does the Poon Hill Trek start and finish?
The Poon Hill Trek starts and finishes at Nayapul, in the Annapurna region.
Is there phone signal on the Poon Hill Trek?
Coverage on the Poon Hill Trek is: variable by village and carrier. Assume you will lose data for long stretches - download map packs, the GPX track and the forecast before you leave the last town, and carry a power bank.
Read next
Guides for the Poon Hill Trek
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Nepal Trekking Permits Guide 2026: TIMS, National Parks, Restricted Areas, and Costs
Up-to-date 2026 guide to Nepal trekking permits: Sagarmatha, Annapurna (ACAP), Manaslu, Upper Mustang, TIMS cards, office locations, required photos, and exact fees in NPR/USD.
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Planning aid - not a guide or rescue service. GPX lines, checklists, forecasts, and altitude readouts support your judgment. Trails, weather, permits, and illness can change faster than any app. Download offline map packs before signal ends; live map tiles and fresh weather need network. SMS SOS sharing needs cellular texting - not satellite.
Get it on Google Play
Ready for your next Nepal & mountain adventure?
Download map packs on Wi‑Fi, pull weather while online, then use GPS altitude, planner & safety tools on trail - free on Google Play. Not a guide or rescue service.
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