The Poon Hill Trek is a 5-day trip in Pokhara, rated easy to moderate (beginner friendly) difficulty, reaching a maximum elevation of Poon Hill - 3,210m (10,531 ft). The best time to do this trip is All year - best in Autumn (Sep - Nov) and Spring (Mar - May). The package includes group sizes of 1–12 people, teahouses on trail / hotel in pokhara accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner included daily on trail.
| Country | Pokhara |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy to Moderate (Beginner Friendly) |
| Max Elevation | Poon Hill - 3,210m (10,531 ft) |
| Duration | 5 |
| Best Time | All year - best in Autumn (Sep - Nov) and Spring (Mar - May) |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner included daily on trail |
| Accommodation | Teahouses on trail / hotel in Pokhara |
| Group Size | 1–12 people |
Is the Poon Hill trek suitable for complete beginners?
The Poon Hill trek is the shortest, most accessible way to experience genuine Himalayan trekking from Pokhara, reaching the celebrated Poon Hill sunrise viewpoint at 3,210 metres in just five days without requiring a domestic flight, restricted-area permit, or extensive prior trekking experience. The panorama from Poon Hill takes in Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre, and a wide sweep of the Annapurna range, widely considered one of the finest sunrise viewpoints reachable on a short trek anywhere in Nepal.
The route passes through Gurung and Magar villages, terraced farmland, and dense rhododendron forest, offering a genuine taste of Annapurna region culture and scenery within a timeframe suited to travellers with limited holiday time. It is frequently chosen by first-time trekkers, families, and those looking for a shorter complement to time spent in Pokhara or Kathmandu.
Rated easy to moderate and considered beginner friendly, this trek is well suited to first-time trekkers, families with older children, and travellers with a reasonable but not exceptional level of fitness. The main physical challenge is the stone staircase climb between Tikhedhunga and Ghorepani, along with the pre-dawn ascent of Poon Hill itself, both manageable with a steady pace.
Poon Hill can be trekked year-round given its comparatively low maximum altitude. Autumn (September to November) and spring (March to May) offer the clearest views and most stable weather, with spring also bringing spectacular rhododendron blooms along the trail. Winter is generally quiet and still offers good visibility, while the summer monsoon brings cloud cover that can obscure the sunrise views the trek is built around.
Two documents are required: the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and a TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management System) card, both arranged by View Himalaya as part of the package. No restricted-area permit or minimum group size applies, keeping this among the most affordable and flexible multi-day treks available in the Annapurna region.
Comfortable teahouse lodges line the entire route, offering private or twin-share rooms with shared bathroom facilities. All trail meals are included, typically dal bhat, noodles, soup, and simple Western dishes, while Pokhara nights are spent in a comfortable hotel with private facilities.
A three-season sleeping bag, a light down or fleece jacket for cool mornings and evenings, a waterproof shell, comfortable broken-in walking shoes, and a headlamp for the pre-dawn Poon Hill climb are the key items needed for this shorter, lower-altitude route.
Trekkers with additional time available often extend this itinerary into the full Annapurna Base Camp trek, following much of the same initial route before continuing deeper into the Annapurna Sanctuary, or consider the nearby Mardi Himal trek for an alternative viewpoint-focused route.
Poon Hill is an excellent fit for first-time trekkers, families with children old enough to walk 5 to 6 hours a day, and travellers with limited holiday time who still want a genuine Himalayan sunrise experience. It suits those seeking a short, achievable introduction to trekking without a domestic flight or restricted-area permit, and is less suited to trekkers specifically seeking high-altitude challenge or multi-day wilderness isolation, given its comparatively low maximum altitude and busy peak-season trail.
| Trek | Duration | Max Altitude | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poon Hill | 5 days | 3,210m | Easy to Moderate |
| Mardi Himal | 7 days | 4,500m | Moderate to Challenging |
| Annapurna Base Camp | 11 days | 4,130m | Moderate to Challenging |
Poon Hill is the shortest and lowest-altitude of the three, making it the natural choice for trekkers with under a week available or those wanting a lower-risk first Himalayan trek before attempting ABC or Mardi Himal on a future trip.
View Himalaya's Poon Hill packages start from USD 399 per person for groups of 5 to 12, USD 449 for groups of 2 to 4, and USD 520 for solo trekkers, including permits, guide, porter, accommodation, and all trail meals. Contact View Himalaya for a current, itemized quote for your travel dates.
Given a maximum altitude of just 3,210 metres, altitude sickness risk on the Poon Hill trek is low compared to routes crossing 4,000 or 5,000 metres, though mild symptoms such as headache are still possible for trekkers unaccustomed to elevation. The trek's short duration and comparatively gentle daily ascent profile make it one of the safest introductory routes in the Annapurna region.
Poon Hill trek in one sentence: A 5-day teahouse trek from Pokhara to the 3,210m Poon Hill viewpoint, Nepal's most accessible Himalayan sunrise panorama over Annapurna and Dhaulagiri.
Poon Hill altitude: 3,210 metres (10,531 feet) - the highest point of the trek, reached on a predawn climb from Ghorepani.
Poon Hill trek difficulty: Easy to Moderate, beginner-friendly, and one of the shortest genuine teahouse treks in the Annapurna region.
Best time for the Poon Hill trek: Year-round, with Autumn (September - November) and Spring (March - May, rhododendron season) offering the clearest sunrise views.
Poon Hill trek cost: View Himalaya packages start from USD 349 per person, including teahouse accommodation, all trail meals, licensed guide, porter, and the ACAP permit.
How to reach Poon Hill: Drive from Pokhara to Nayapul, trek 2 days via Tikhedhunga and Ulleri to Ghorepani, then climb Poon Hill before dawn on day 3.
Could not have asked for a smoother experience. The support crew were fantastic throughout, always checking in on us. A particular highlight for us was perfect first Himalayan trek - culturally rich, scenically spectacular, and achievable by first-timers. Thank you to the whole View Himalaya team for making this happen.
A trip we will be talking about for years. Having such an experienced guide made a huge difference, especially at altitude. A particular highlight for us was dhaulagiri (8,167m), Annapurna I (8,091m), Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre - all visible simultaneously from a single summit. If you're considering this trip, just book it - you won't regret it.
A genuinely well organised and memorable trip. Our guide's English was excellent and he explained the local culture in real depth. A particular highlight for us was the terraced village of Ghandruk - one of the largest Gurung settlements in the Annapurna region with direct Annapurna South views. Booking through View Himalaya made all the logistics completely stress-free.
A genuinely well organised and memorable trip. Our guide went above and beyond to make sure everyone in the group was comfortable. A particular highlight for us was sunrise panorama from Poon Hill (3,210m) - one of the finest mountain viewpoints in Nepal, accessible to all fitness levels. If you're considering this trip, just book it - you won't regret it.
