Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek – (Part 1) the ultimate hiking itinerary

Namaste! We have just completed our 14-day Nepal trip and are back in Malaysia. The highlight was, of course, our ABC trekking which also included the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek.

In this article, we will focus on our Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek from the starting point of our hike, that is, Hille, to Poon Hill and then back to Ghorepani. Other articles (Part 2 and onwards) will be on our ABC trek and places we have visited in Pokhara, Kathmandu, and Lumbini.

We arrived in Kathmandu a day before and spent another day in Pokhara yesterday. Today, after breakfast, we are all getting ready to start trekking.

1. From Pokhara to Hille to Ulleri

Day 01, April 10: Drive to Hille and trek to Ulleri (2,050m). Approx. Time: 3-4 hours. Approx distance: 7 KM, Overnight at Super Viewpoint Guest House

On the first day of our ABC trek, we began from our hotel, Mountain View Pokhara. After breakfast, we traveled by jeep to the starting point of our trek, Hille. Our jeep went through a dusty off-road journey, which took slightly more than two hours)

It took us about two hours to reach Hille from Pokhara. Along the way, we passed by Nayapul and continued along the Modi Khola to Birethanti. These two villages used to be the starting points of the trek, but as the road has now been extended to Hille, we will start from there rather than walking on the dusty road used by the jeep. 

Beneath the radiant sun and warm temperatures, we opted for minimal clothing, but we were already starting to sweat. It is an easy trek with some occasional high steps. 

Once we arrived at the starting point, our porter bundled the two duffle bags together. They are so strong that they are beyond our imagination. The total weight should be about 30kg, compared to our much smaller backpacks, which weigh around 8-10kg.

Tea houses dotted the path, and we stopped once we reached Tikhedhunga, a short trek that took us under half an hour.

At Tikhedhunga (1540m), we paused for lunch at the Chandra Guest House & Restaurant before pressing on towards Ulleri. The restaurant served a variety of local and Western food. This is our first meal along our trip, with expectations set for similar food offerings at subsequent tea houses along our route in the days ahead.

We soon traversed a suspension bridge and continued with our ascent along the trail. The hike was considered easy, although there were a few steep climbs. En route, we were treated to the sight of cascading waterfalls and Nepal’s national flower, the rhododendrons.

In the late afternoon, we reached the picturesque Magar village of Ulleri. Our accommodation for the night was at the Super Viewpoint Guest House, where we checked in and settled for the evening.

We had dinner and tried the country’s national dish, Dal Bhat, and other local delicacies.

2. Trek from Ulleri to Ghorepani

Day 02, Apr 09: Trek to Ghorepani (2860m), approx 4-5 hours, Approx distance: 8 KM, overnight at Fishtail Guess House

The following day, we continue the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek on a long hike towards Ghorepani. After having breakfast, we began our trek with full stomachs.

The trail we walked on was a gentle uphill climb that took us through various landscapes, such as cultivated fields, villages, and pastures. Along the way, we were treated to several captivating and stunning views, such as waterfalls, bridges, horses roaming, and locals carrying heavy stuff on their backs.

During our journey, we took a break and had lunch at Green View Guest House, which is located in Nangethant, a small village.

There are guest houses along the way, so finding a restroom is not an issue. This also means we can drink plenty of water without worrying about dehydration.

After lunch, we resumed our journey through the stunning forest trails decorated with blooming rhododendrons.

Finally, we reached our destination for the day, Ghorepani. Our tour guide assisted us in registering at the Tourist Police Office Checkpoint, and we spent the night at Hotel Fishtail and Restaurant.

3. Ascending to Poon Hill

Day 03, Apr 10: Early morning hike to Poon Hill and trek to Tadapani (2630m), 6-7 hours, Approx distance: 12 KM

The following day, we woke up early at 4.15 am as we wanted to hike up to Poon Hill before daybreak and witness the breathtaking sunrise. Aware that it was too early for the tea house to serve breakfast, we settled for a simple meal of bread.

We embarked on the ascent to Poon Hill with headlamps—a familiar experience reminiscent of our previous trek up Mount Kinabalu for the same purpose: sunrise viewing.

The trail predominantly comprised uphill stairs with minimal descents, demanding considerable effort from us. However, fueled by anticipation, we forged ahead eagerly.

After a trek lasting 1.5 hours, we finally reached the summit of Poon Hill just moments before the sunrise.

The famous view tower of Poon Hill is located at the height of 3210m, which bestows the jaw-dropping Himalayan panorama of the majestic Annapurna, Fishtail, Nilgiri, Hiunchuli, Annapurna South and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges.

There is a watchtower that offers a stunning 360° panoramic view of the mountain. 

There is a shop that sells hot tea and coffee on Top of Poon Hill. However, the queue was too long as now is the peak season, so we decided to skip it. 

We met a determined man with an amputated leg who took the challenge of the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek. His determination is an example for all of us to achieve our goals, no matter how difficult they may seem.

4. Descending back to Ghorepani

After taking multiple photos and video clips, we descended to Ghorpani, following the same path. The descent was demanding on the knees, as some steps were relatively high. 

The trail passes through the rhododendron forests, which are now in full bloom, making the journey even more scenic.

Finally, we return to Ghorepani and have breakfast at our tea house. 

5. What’s next after the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek?

This marks the end of our Poon Hill Trek, a journey filled with joy and shared passion for hiking. However, due to my wife’s recent meniscus tear injury, she made the prudent choice to conclude her trek at Poon Hill, opting out of the onward journey for the Annapurna Base Camp Trek. From this point, her itinerary will include visits to Ghandruk, followed by Sarangkot, before circling back to Pokhara,

The rest of us still have much work to push ourselves to the limit and reach ABC. Most of us are in our sixties, and we know that our physical strength is even more demanding than that of younger hikers. However, we are determined and will accomplish our dream hike to ABC! 

Stay tuned for our next article, where we will continue our hiking story through lush forests, rocky trails, hikes on snow, crossing avalanche areas, and more.

Videos

Please watch the video we made for our trip on YouTube. As below:

Related articles

• After we completed the ABC trek and returned to Kathmandu, we wrote an article based on our personal experience during the ten-day trek. This article provides valuable insights into what you need to know before embarking on the ABC trek.
• We have created a comprehensive packing list for individuals interested in embarking on an Annapurna Base Camp Trek in Nepal. This list includes essential information to help you prepare for the trek. 

VJ Tamang, owner and tour guide of Grande Adventure, expertly organized and made our trip enjoyable. VJ can be contacted at https://www.grandeadventure.com/contact-us/ or through https://web.facebook.com/GrandeAdventures.