Overview
The Ghorepani Poon Hill Circuit is one of the most popular short treks in Nepal, and for good reason. The pre-dawn climb to Poon Hill at 3,210 meters rewards you with a 360-degree panorama that includes Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Machapuchare, and Hiunchuli — all glowing in the first light of day. The circuit route through Ghorepani and Tadapani takes you through some of the most beautiful rhododendron forests in the country, which explode with color from March to May.
The trek passes through Magar and Gurung villages where traditional stone homes sit on hillside terraces surrounded by fields of millet and rice. At moderate difficulty, the circuit is accessible to most reasonably fit trekkers and can be done in about 8 days. The well-maintained trail and comfortable teahouses make this an excellent choice for first-time visitors to Nepal who want a genuine mountain experience without extreme altitude.
Itinerary
On the first day, we take a scenic drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara via a private car. It takes about 6-7 hours to reach Pokhara. You can enjoy rivers, mountains and forests during the drive. After you arrive at Pokhara, you will be heading towards your hotel or take a look around Pokhara city.
Today, you will take a private car from Pokhara to Nayapul which takes about 2 hours. From Nayapul, you start your trek to Ulleri. In between the route, you can explore tons of forests decorated with different species of floras and rivers situated in the side or middle of the forests. You will first reach Birethanti village and then walk towards Bhurung Khola from where you ascend towards Tikhedhunga. You will then climb steep stone steps towards Magar village named Ulleri.
Overnight at lodge in Ulleri
After having your breakfast, you will begin to trek from Ulleri towards Ghorepani Poon Hill. You can explore breathtaking views of snow-capped Annapurnas, Machhapuchhare, and Hiunchuli. As you reach rhododendron forest, you start climbing upwards from there. You first reach Nanghethani and then Ghorepani after an hour of your walk. You can observe eight different species of rhododendron in the hillside below Ghorepani.
Overnight at lodge in Ghorepani
Today you will be waking up early in the morning in order to view the sunrise. You head upward to the direction of Poon Hill. There you can explore the beautiful range of mountains comprising Mt. Dhaulagiri, Mt. Annapurna and Mt. Machhapuchhre. After walking for a few hours you will trek towards Chuile. You will find rivers, forests and birds along the way.
Overnight at lodge in Chuile
After having your breakfast, you can trek towards Jhinu Danda. After a few hours of trekking, you reach Jhinu Danda where you can enjoy a relaxing bath in a natural hot spring. Resting there for about 1 hour, you go to a teahouse there. You will be served with typical Nepali food and then you can rest after having dinner.
Overnight at lodge in Jhinu Danda Hot spring
Situated at the height of 2100m, Pothana contains a number of breathtaking snow-capped mountains and green hills. In order to reach the scenic village of Pothana you should walk for about 6 hrs. After you reach Pothana, you can enjoy traditional villages or you can look at the sunset in the mountains.
Overnight at lodge in Pothana
From Pothana, you can reach Phedi after a steady walk for 2 and half hours. The path is steep downwards and follows the beautiful scenery of mountains and rivers. Once you reach Phedi, you will take a private car to reach Pokhara. On the way, different mountains, villages and forests can be seen.
Overnight at lodge in Pokhara.
You can take a private car to reach Kathmandu from Pokhara with an amazing countryside view. It will take about 6-7 hours. You can enjoy the drive with the view of green hills, rivers and terrace farming. After your arrival, you can head to your hotel and take some rest.