Overview
The Poon Hill Trek is a popular short trek in the Annapurna region of Nepal. Which is located on the west side of Nepal. This 6-day short trek takes you to discover the unique culture and natural beauties of Poon Hill. The place is renowned for breathtaking mountain views, sunrise and sunset, and experiencing the cultural diversity of the Gurung and Magar community people. Poon Hill offers stunning views of the surrounding world’s 10th-highest mountain, Annapurna (8,091 m/26,545 ft), the world’s 7th-highest mountain, Dhaulagiri (8,167 m/26,790 ft), and the Machhapuchhre Himal (6,993 m/22,943 ft), Nilgiri (7,061 m/23,166 ft), Himchuli (6,441 m/21,126 ft), and the beautiful national flower, rhododendron.
Highlights
- The highlight of the trek is the sunrise view from Poon Hill, where trekkers can witness a panoramic view of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, including peaks like Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre (fishtail), and Nilgiri.
- The trek offers a glimpse into the traditional Gurung culture, especially in the village of Ganduruk, where trekkers can explore local museums and interact with the villagers.
- The trail passes through stone steps trail, lush oaks, and rhododendron forests, waterfalls, especially beautiful in spring when the flowers are in full bloom. The region is also home to various species of birds and wildlife.
- The trek, trekkers can enjoy traditional Nepali food such as dal Bhat (rice and lentil soup), local dido with gunduruk pickles, Thukpa (noodle soup), and momos (dumplings) along with the unique hospitality of the tea house and lodges.
Poon Hill Short Trek
The Poon Hill Trek is a rewarding experience, offering a combination of natural beauty, cultural exposure, and relatively easy trekking conditions, making it the perfect choice for trekkers of all levels. The Poon Hill trek is a perfect destination for beginners who are interested in trekking for the first time. This trek is easy and moderate, where anyone can trek. The overall elevation of Poon Hill is 3,210 m/10,531 feet, and it is an amazing spot from where you can experience sunrise and sunset majesties views. It is located on the border of Myagdi District and Kaski District of Gandaki Province, Nepal.
Poon Hill is situated 270 km west of the capital city, Kathmandu, of Nepal. The Poon Hill trek takes 5 to 6 days from Kathmandu. This destination is one of the best trekking spots near Pokhara City, and the trek provides breathtaking views of surrounding areas, including the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, although these areas are tourist areas and one of the most famous places among Nepal’s tourism destinations.
The trek goes through the beautiful city of Pokhara and the authentic villages of the Gurung and Magar ethnic groups’ people, and it interacts with local people and their cultural norms, values, and rules. The trek starts from Nayapul across the suspension bridge and local people-made wooden bridges and sees the farmlands. This trek provides you with so many memories of your trekking life experience.
The trek will continue through lush rhododendron forests and engage with local weather. As you start to gain altitude, the vegetation zone changes, and you will enter the subtropical zone, such as sal forests, giving way to more cold-tolerant species, including the distinctive chir pine, and in lower temperature zones, as you climb 1,700 m up, evergreen oaks start to appear, although, in upper-temperature zones, the brown oaks are joined by dozens of species of rhododendron, the most distinctive plant of the Himalaya, and pine forests at this elevation are made up of blue pines, spruces, firs, and hemlocks.
Why Do the Poon Hill 6-Day Short Trek?
First of all, we have designed the Poon Hill short trek of 6 days for trekkers who are looking to trek for a short period of time. This itinerary is good for you, and it is not rushed or fast; you get enough time to enjoy the mountain's panoramic views.
Even though it is a short trekking package, you will spend great days at the Poon Hill viewpoint. Most of the short trek packages in the market are either 3 or 4 days, which is exactly not plenty of time to explore and enjoy the mountain views.
However, following our 6-day itinerary, you will spend 4 full days on the Poon Hill Trek, and the remaining 2 days are used for travel back and forth from the trail and arriving/departing Kathmandu. You will spend the night in Pokhara, Ulleri, Ghorepani, and Ghanduruk lodges and teahouses. This area is mainly inhabited by Gurung and Magar ethnic groups, although they interact with people and experience their cultural way of life.
Similarly, during the Poon Hill short trek, you will observe the stunning mountain spectacle of the world’s 10th highest mountain, Annapurna I (8,091 m/26,545 ft), the world's 7th highest mountain, Dhaulagiri (8,167 m/26,795 ft), Machhapuchhare Himal (6,993 m/22,943 ft), Nilgiri (7,061 m/23,166 ft), Mountain Himachuli (6,441 m/21,132 ft), and other peaks.
The landscapes also change throughout the route while trekking from rice and cornfields towards forests, crossing rivers and suspension bridges, and ascending along with dense, lush rhododendron forests. Explore locally available authentic goods and museums, as well as try their local foods and drinks. Likewise, visit homestays and experience Gurung and Magar culture and tradition, and buy their local handicraft stuff.
Extend Your Poon Hill Trek to the Khopra Danda and Khayer Lake
If you want to extend your Poon Hill trek to Khopra Danda and Khayer Lake, this destination also gives you closer, breathtaking Himalayan scenery, as this spot is a newly developed trekking destination where only a few trekkers have been. Likewise, trails are not more developed, but they give you an authentic experience of the trails.
On the one hand, the Khopra Danda trek continues on from Poon Hill to Aparchesta Boom Trail, taking you down through cornfields and farmlands with a spectacular view of Mt. Dhaulagiri and continuing down toward the forest area on the way down to the valley floor. From here you can see the cliffside of the Khopra ranges. The trek continues through forests, crossing small river bridges, and ascending. You will experience lovely pastureland, kharkas. After an 8-hour trek, you will reach Aparchesta Boom for an overnight stay here at the lodge.
On the other side the next day, you will reach your final destination, Khopra Danda. From here, you can see the close, spectacular view of the Annapurna ranges, including Nilgiri and Dhaulagiri Mountains. After a 2-day trek, you will reach Khopra Dand, and for Khayer Lake, you need one more day to hike and explore the alpine lake where only a few people have been. While hiking to Khayer Lake from Khopra, you have to take a packed lunch; on the way, there are no teahouses, and it is located at an altitude of 4660 m, which provides closer views of snow-capped mountains, including Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Nilgiri. The hike leads you through the beautiful landscapes of valleys, alpine meadows, and mountainsides, experiencing close snow-capped mountain vistas from Khopra Danda and Khayer Lake, as well as returning to Pokhara from the same route.
Are You Ready to Trek Poon Hill Short Trek? What to Prepare for the Trek?
The Poon Hill short trek is for beginners, and to trek at Poon Hill, no trekking experience is needed; you can easily trek within a short time. This trek is relatively easy, and anyone can trek it; no need to worry about altitude sickness. This trek is a 6-day trek, so you can spend enough time exploring the Poon Hill areas and experiencing local culture by engaging with local communities. As well, per day, you have to hike for around 5 to 6 hours.
Poon Hill Short Trek Packing List
- Headwear: Woolen hat, buff mask, cap, UV-protected sunglasses
- Handwear: thin pair of gloves, warm pair of gloves, Gore-Tex (1 to 2 pairs)
- Upper Body wears: Thermal layers and fleece, quick-dry T-shirt, Gore-Tex jacket, down jacket, soft-shell jacket
- Lower body wear: Trekking pants, Gore-Tex pants, trekking socks, comfortable trekking boots, slippers
- Miscellaneous: Sun lotion, sun cream, lip balm, headlamp, batteries, reusable water bottles, water purification tablets, thermos, trekking pole, map, compass, trekking bag, day backpack, personal first aid kit, toiletries, adapter, charger, power bank, dry fruits, nuts, chocolates, and sun protection camera
Which mountains can you see from Poon Hill?
You can see a panoramic view of more than 10 peaks from Poon Hill viewpoints, including the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Himalayan ranges at a 180-degree angle. They are as follows:
- Annapurna South 7,219 m
- Annapurna Fang, 7,647 m
- Nilgiri 7,061 m
- Hiunchuli 6,441 m
- Gangapurna 7.454m
- Machhapuchhare (Fishtail) 6,997 m
- Dhampus Peak 6,012m, Dhampus Pass 5,258m
- Tukuche Peak 6,920 m
- Dhaulagiri I 8,167m, Dhaulagiri II 7,751m, Dhaulagiri III 7,715m, Dhaulagiri IV 7,661m, Dhaulagiri V 7,618m
- Gurja Peak, 7,193 m
Get the best Poon Hill short trek service with Sherpa Summits.
We, Sherpa Summits, organize treks for both foreigners and domestic tourists in Nepal. Our team supports the trekkers throughout their trek and expedition. We arrange permits, transportation, and all other logistics. You will get good quality services as per your requirements with us as well as at a reasonable Poon Hill short trek cost.
Whether you are trekking solo or with your team, family, friends, and your partner, you will enjoy a free and safe trek with us. Our guides and porters are reliable and trustworthy. They can speak English and other languages, so you will have no issues with communication because we provide you only experienced and good communicators’ guides.
Additionally, you can customize the Poon Hill short trek itinerary. Choose your preferred departure date, group size, day-to-day, and other factors of the trip. We do not have any age limit if the participants are physically and mentally fit enough for the trek. There are no hidden charges involved in our trip, and you will get an actual Poon Hill short trek cost.
Bookings for the Poon Hill short trek 2025 and 2026 are open. If you have any questions or queries, feel free to contact us.