Ghorepani Poonhill Trek

Difficulty level of the trek

The difficulty level of the Ghorepani Poonhill trekking is graded as moderate. Both novice and experienced trekker’s can go for the trek. There are various aspects that make trekking moderately difficult. 

You have to trek up to 4 days, covering about 50 km, with average daily walking hours ranging from 6 to 7 hours. The maximum altitude level that you will reach during the trek is 3210 m at Poon Hill. 

The Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek route goes through the rugged sections and narrow trails with steep ascents and descents. On the way to Ulleri, there are approximately 3200 stone steps. 

Permits required for the trek

The permits required for the trek are the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and the Trekker’s Information Management System (TIMS) card. The cost of ACAP is NPR 3000 per person and can be obtained from the Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu and Pokhara. 

While the cost of the TIMS card is NPR 2000. You can obtain the TIMS card from the Nepal Tourism Board, Pokhara, or Kathmandu, or through the registered trekking agency. 

Note: The expenses of the permits are included in the ghorepani poon hill trek cost inclusions. 

Travel insurance required for the trek

When going up to 3210 meters altitude, generally the travel insurance is not mandatory. But as a travel and trekking agency, we recommended having one. Because the uncertainties and accidents don’t come preinforming. 

Having travel insurance will help you to avoid extra financial burdens when there are medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost luggage, personal liabilities, and so on. 

Note: The expenses of the travel insurance are not included in the Ghorepani Poonhill trekking cost inclusions. 

Best time to go  

The best time to go for the Ghorepani Poon Hill Sunrise Trek is during the spring and autumn seasons. During these seasons, the skies are clear, and the temperatures are mild. 

The mornings and evenings can be chilly. Besides it, sunrise and sunset views look awesome due to the clear weather conditions. However, the Ghorepani Poonhill Trek cost becomes high as it is the peak trekking season. 

For the alternatives, you can go trekking during the winter and summer seasons by following precautions. It is because winter nights can be quite cold and summer days can be rainy, leading to slippery trails. 

Food and accommodation

During the trekking Ghorepani Poon Hill, you can find a variety of food options and accommodations along the route, primarily in teahouses. Most of the teahouses offer twin beds, with some having attached bathrooms. The facilities are on a shared basis. 

The meal options in the teahouses include oatmeal, pancakes, eggs, Dhal Bhat (a staple Nepalese meal), noodles, dumplings (mo:mo), soups, etc. The meals are served in the communal setting. 

Altitude sickness issues and acclimatization

The altitude sickness usually occurs when the trekkers trek above the 2500 meters without allowing adequate time for their bodies to acclimatize. This condition arises because, as you ascend, the availability of oxygen becomes less. 

Some of the common symptoms seen during the trek to Ghorepani Poonhill are headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, fatigue and weakness, shortness of breath, insomnia, and swelling of extremities (hands, feet, and face), and so on. 

Some of the acclimatization strategies or prevention strategies include ascending gradually, staying hydrated, limiting physical exertion, monitoring symptoms, and many more. 

Transportation and luggage

The transportation for you is mostly via public bus, taxi, or Jeep. You must have planned transportation, pre-booked flights, and packed luggage when coming from your homeland to Nepal. 

You can carry luggage weighing only 23 kg and a handbag on your international flight to Nepal. If you wish to travel to Pokhara via plane, then your luggage must be within 15 kg. 

As soon as you arrive in the airport, we will start helping you. We will provide transportation (mainly buses) while going from Kathmandu to Pokhara and back. The transportation option from the Pokhara to the starting point of the trek and back will be by Jeep. 

Toilet and shower facility

The toilet and shower facilities are free in cities like Kathmandu and Pokhara and are free in the hotel rooms. The toilet style is modern style attached to rooms. The hot showers are also available.

In most of the teahouses on the way to Poonhill ghorepani, the toilet facilities are free, include squat toilets, and are on a shared basis. However, you have to pay for the hot shower with bucket systems. The prices may vary on the teahouses. 

Telephone, Internet facility and electricity

When you are in the city, there are no issues of telephone facilities, internet facilities, or electricity. In the areas like ghandruk and ghorepani, the electricity facilities are available through the various hydroprojects. You can ask the tea house owner and charge a small fee. 

There is also good coverage of mobile networks in ghandruk and Ghorepani areas if you are using the local network providers like NCELL and NTC. In the case of internet facilities, several teahouses offer the wifi facilities for a small fee. 

Trekking equipment and essentials

Trekking equipment and essentials needed for the trek to Ghorepani Poon Hill are listed below. 

• Clothing like hiking pants, thermal shirts and trousers, fleece jackets or down jackets, waterproof jackets, socks, underwear, sun protection gear, woolen caps, gloves, and so on. 
• Trekking gear like trekking poles, sleeping bags, water bottles, headlamps, and more.
• Toiletries like toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, and wet wipes.
• Personal items and documents like journals/books, cash, first aid, cash, medications, and many more. 
• Miscellanous items like a power bank, camera, ghorepani poon hill trek map, snacks, travel insurance documents, etc. . 

Customize itineraries and Trip Extensions

If your work schedule prevents you from booking an available trekking package for Ghorepani Poonhill, we will organize or customize a trip to the Ghorepani Poon hill Trek according to your free schedule. Some customized Ghorepani Poonhill trek itinerary are given below.

• ghorepani poon hill trek 3 days
• ghorepani poon hill trek 6 days

We, Mystic Adventure Holidays, also provide tailor-made trip packages for Langtang Trekking, Everest Trekking, Manaslu Trekking, Upper Mustang Trekking, Mountain Flight, water rafting, jungle safari, city tour (Kathmandu, Pokhara, or Lumbini), homestay tour, Nepal Cultural Tour, Tibet tour, Bhutan tour or India tour, etc. extension as per your time frame.

Tips to make the journey smooth

• Engage in regular cardiovascular exercises to build stamina before your trip.
• Spend a day acclimatizing to Pokhara or Nayapul to help your body adjust to the altitude. 
• Invest in comfortable gear and equipment. 
• Layer your clothes to adapt to the changing temperatures.
• Carry a power bank and extra camera batteries to reduce the charging expenses. 
• Start early in the morning to enjoy the cooler temperatures.
• Maintain a steady pace and take regular breaks to enjoy the scenery and prevent fatigue.
• Drink plenty of water throughout the trek
• Be prepared for steep stone steps when ascending from Ulleri to Ghorepani.
• Interact with the local communities along the trail.
• Take permissions before taking pictures of locals or any objects.
• Respect the local culture and customs.
• Use the Ghorepani Trek map to know about the trails.
• If you get confused about tipping, then follow this advice: USD 100 to the guide & porter, USD 5 to the tour guide, and USD 2 to the driver (for each member of the group).