Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek 7 Days

Today we head by bus to Pokhara Valley and its striking Phewa Tal (lake), and on arrival we will check in to our hotel near to Phewa Tal. On the bus you can relax and admire the changing countryside of rivers, valleys and terraced farmlands on the adjacent hillsides. There are loads to see and do at ‘Lakeside’ with its many shops, bars and restaurants. You will enjoy sitting by the lake while watching the sunset over the mountains in the distance.

This morning we have a short 1.5 hour drive from Pokhara to Nayapul from where we start trekking. We first have to ascend through rice, millet and maze fields and then climb the 3,500 stone steps to Ulleri (2073m) where we will stay the night. Climbing these steps will definitely get your lungs working overtime!

Today we follow the trail to Ghorepani which is one of the most well-liked towns in the Annapurna region (2856m). First off we trek up to Banthanti through oak and rhododendron forests before arriving at Ghorepani where we will stay overnight.

Poon Hill is known throughout Nepal for offering some of the greatest views of the Annapurna Ranges – especially at sunrise and sunset. A very early morning (in darkness) start will have us arrive at Poon Hill viewpoint in time to watch the sunrise and the constantly changing colors reflecting off the mountains, such as: Dhaulagiri (8167m), Annapurna I (8091m), Annapurna II (7937m), Annapurna III (7855m), Annapurna IV (7525m), Annapurna South (729m), Nilgiri (6940m), Tukuche (6920m), Varaha Shikhar (7847m) & Lamjung Himal (6931m). After madly taking photos we will return for breakfast at Ghorepani and then continue on to Tadapani via the scenic trail through Deurali.

We have an easy day on the trail as we head through an oak and rhododendron forest with wildflowers present alongside the trail that add to the remarkable beauty of this region. We then arrive at the mainly Gurung village of Ghandruk with its magnificent views of Annapurna South, Gangapurna, (7455m), Machapuchare, Annapurna III and Hiunchuli. Ghandruk is the 2nd largest Gurung village in Nepal and has a population of 4748 people. It has a rich and interesting culture, a museum and a Buddhist monastery. It has a distinctive style of architecture with most of the houses having slate tiled roofs and stone walls.

On our last day on the trail we descend passing the teahouses at Ghandruk and then follow a stony trail with terraced farmland nearby. We then follow the trail next to the Modi Khola (river – 50km in length) before arriving at Birethanti from where we drive to Pokhara.

Today we head back to Kathmandu, either by bus or private vehicle depending on the size of the group. Upon our arrival at Kathmandu, we will be taken back to our hotels in the main tourist hub – Thamel.