Ghorepani Poonhill Trekking that lies in the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) is famous for the splendid sunrise view and the beautiful rhododendron forests. This is a relatively easy trek as it doesnt require high altitude trekking. The beautiful landscape, the snowcapped mountain ranges, the deep valleys and the gorges, the thick forests embellished with rhododendrons and the fascinating villages of the Gurungs and the Magars settlements will embrace you as you follow the trails all along with the backdrop of the spectacular mountain ranges including Machhapuchhre, Dhaulagiri range, Hiuchuli, Nilgiri, South Annapurna and others. This trek gives you the wonderful opportunity to get the glimpse of the panoramic Himalayan views and to interconnect with the local ethnic communities and their culture and tradition. The phenomenal view of the morning sunrise and the colorful forests covered in more than five varieties of rhododendron makes the trip colorful and worth every penny and takes you to paradise on earth. No wonder, this trekking route attracts and drags a large number of travelers to its foothill.
Trip Highlights
- The phenomenal sunrise view from Poonhill.
- Impressive panoramic views of the Annapurna ranges, Dhaulagiri, Lamjung Himal, Gangapurna, Nilgiri, and Hiuchuli.
- The colorful and vibrant forests covered with rhododendrons.
- Explore the beautiful villages of the ethnic groups of Nepal; Magar and the Gurung and an opportunity to blend with their lifestyle and culture.
- Sightseeing city of Pokhara and Kathmandu
Day By day Itinerary
Day 1:
Upon arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, our representative will be there to receive you and transfer you to the hotel. The rest of the day is for you to rest and recover yourself from jetlag.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2:
Early morning breakfast and off to explore Kathmandu city and the culture and heritage of ancient Nepal preserved in the form of art and architecture. Visit Pashupatinath, the holiest Hindu temple and Boudhanath within a radius of 3.5 km. Quick visit to Swyambhunath popularly known as The Monkey Temple and then Patan Durbar Square in Lalitpur, which is about 25 minutes drive from Swyambhunath. Get fascinated with the art and artifact, handicrafts and sculptures, stone baths, numerous temples and monasteries of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and then transfer to Bhaktapur Durbar Square. The beauty of the artistry and the craftsmanship that you see is just marvelous. Drive back to Kathmandu early in the evening and explore Kathmandu Durbar Square, another UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 3:
Early morning flight to Pokhara. Our staff will be there to take you to the hotel upon your arrival at the Pokhara airport. After lunch, a city tour to Pokhara. Visit Devis Falls, Gupteshwor Gufa, and Mahendra Gufa, some of the popular areas in Pokhara. Seti Gorge is another remarkable gift of nature that one should not miss to visit. Seti means white and the exotic view of the white water flowing from the gorge is quite tempting. If time allows, visit World Peace Pagoda, an emblem of peace and harmony situated on the hilltop in the southern shore of the Fewa Lake.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 4:Pokhara to Tikhedhunga
Take an early morning drive 42 km away to Nayapul from Pokhara. About one and half an hour and you reach Nayapul from where you start your trek. En route, treat your eyes to the looming views of Annapurna and Machhapuchhre in the horizon. Walk past the beautiful villages, the rhododendron forest, the flowing streams, and the muddy trails with little shops and houses lined up along the way until you reach Birethati which is the checkpoint for you to get the permit to trek in this region. Ascend the trail to Tikhedhunga.
Overnight at a lodge in Tikhedhunga.
Day 5:Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani
Today, we continue our journey from Tikhedhunga via Ulleri and Nangethati village. Ascend the trails for about two hours and you reach Ulleri, a village of the Magar settlement. Continue walking for about four hours from Ulleri via Nagethati until you reach Ghorepani, the base for Poonhill trek. Along the trail, you will come across rivers, rivulets and streams and the colorful blooming rhododendrons in the month of March and April.
Overnight at a lodge in Ghorepani.
Day 6:Ghorepani to Poonhill to Tadapani
Since Poonhill is famous for the exceptional sunrise view, we start our trek early morning today. It takes about an hour to climb the steep uphill to the summit of the Poonhill. Marvel at the magnificent landscape as the first ray of the sunlight hit the mountains. Experience the encompassing views of the Annapurna Himalayan ranges including Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I and Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre, Nilgiri and the enticing sight of the blooming rhododendrons making the forests all lively and colorful. Follow the trails back to Ghorepani to your lodge for breakfast and continue descending downhill trails passing the damp forest for about 6 hours until you reach Tadapani.
Overnight at a lodge in Tadapani.
Day 7:Tadapani to Ghandruk
The road to Ghandruk is easy and mostly downhill through the dense forest of oaks and rhododendrons and variety of birds. It takes about 3 hours to reach the beautiful village of Ghandruk, the second largest Gurung village in Nepal. This village gives you a good view of the Gangapurna, Annapurna III, Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre.
Overnight at a lodge in Ghandruk.
Day 8:Ghandruk to Nayapul
Follow the trails leading to the staircase and then navigate towards the trails leading to the stone pavement above the river crossing the stream at Chane and then continue downhill along Syauli Bazaar across the Modi Khola. Walk along the rocky trails for about two hours via Birethati and then you reach Nayapul. Drive back to Pokhara from Nayapul once again enjoying the scenic views of Annapurna and Machhapuchhre.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 9:
City tour the remaining of Pokhara and board an afternoon flight to Kathmandu. Upon arrival at the hotel, our representative will be there to assist you at the airport. We leave the rest of the day for yourself.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 10:
Breakfast at the hotel. Since this is the last day, we leave this day all to yourself for you to take a stroll around and buy some souvenirs if you would like. Drive off to the airport for your departure.