Overview
This Poon Hill trek is the easiest way to wake up to the Himalaya, a short two-day walk from Pokhara to a hilltop famous for its sunrise. You drive to the trailhead, climb through rhododendron forest and stone-stepped villages to the lodges at Ghorepani, and rise in the dark to reach Poon Hill at 3,210 metres for first light. From the top the sun comes up over a wall of giants, Dhaulagiri, the Annapurnas and the fishtail peak of Machhapuchhre, before you walk back down. It is the perfect first taste of trekking in Nepal.
The itinerary
- Drive by jeep from Pokhara to the trailhead at Banthanti
- Begin the walk up through forest and hillside villages
- Climb the long stone staircase towards Ghorepani
- Reach the lodge village of Ghorepani at around 2,860 metres
- Overnight in a teahouse at Ghorepani
- Early climb in the dark to Poon Hill at 3,210 metres
- Watch sunrise over Dhaulagiri, the Annapurnas and Machhapuchhre
- Descend to Ghorepani for breakfast
- Walk back down to the trailhead at Banthanti
- Drive back to Pokhara, where the trek ends
Things to carry
- Comfortable walking shoes or light boots
- Warm layers and a windproof jacket
- Hat, gloves and a headtorch for the dawn climb
- Sun protection and a refillable water bottle
- A light daypack
Good to know
A mountain sunrise in two days
The Poon Hill trek is the short, easy classic of the Annapurna foothills: two days from Pokhara to a hilltop viewpoint at 3,210 metres, famous across Nepal for its sunrise over the high peaks. You walk in through rhododendron forest and old stone villages to the lodges at Ghorepani, sleep the night, and climb in the dark to watch the sun come up over Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas. There is no altitude to worry about and nothing technical, which makes it a favourite first trek and a great short escape for anyone based in Pokhara.
What the Poon Hill trek covers
Over two days you drive to the trailhead, walk up to Ghorepani for the night, climb Poon Hill for sunrise, and descend back to Pokhara. The route is all on well-made stone trails through forest and villages, with comfortable teahouses, and your guide handles the permits, the lodge and the early start. It is short enough to fit into almost any trip. For a bigger Annapurna trek once you have the taste for it, our Annapurna Base Camp trek reaches the sanctuary under the peaks in five days.
The sunrise from Poon Hill
The whole trek is built around one moment: standing on Poon Hill in the cold and dark as the first light hits the mountains. On a clear morning the view runs from Dhaulagiri in the west across the Annapurna range to the unmistakable fishtail of Machhapuchhre, the snow turning pink and then gold. Nobody can promise a cloudless morning, and we will not pretend otherwise, but autumn and spring give the best odds, and even a partial view is worth the climb.
Who it suits and how hard it is
This is one of the most accessible treks in Nepal, well suited to families, beginners and anyone short on time. The effort is in the stone steps rather than any height or difficulty, and reasonable fitness makes it comfortable rather than hard. It can also be extended into a three-day loop through Tadapani and the Gurung village of Ghandruk if you would like more walking and more villages, which we are happy to arrange.
Best time to go and what it is like
Autumn, from October to November, is the clearest season and the best for the sunrise, while spring, from March to April, brings the rhododendron forests into bloom and is nearly as reliable. You stay in a teahouse at Ghorepani, a simple, warm lodge with hot food and a shared dining room, and make an early, cold start for the viewpoint. For a very different Himalayan experience, our Everest Base Camp trek is the big one when you are ready.