Ghorepani Ghandruk Circuit Trek Distance, Highlight and Guide

Ghorepani Trek is a short, easy, popular Trek in the Annapurna Region. It offers scenic mountain views of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs as well as Gurung and Magar culture. This Trek is also known as the Ghorepani Ghandruk Circuit Trek, Annapurna Panorama Trek, Annapurna Sunrise Trek, and Poon Hill Trek Short Trek.

This classic easy Poon Hill Trek is the best option for those who have a short holiday in Nepal but would like a great experience in the Himalayas. Ghorepani Ghandruk is a model Trek for beginners, families, older people, and students from school and university without any past Trekking Experience.

The viewpoint Poon Hill offers Charming mountain glimpses such as Dhaulagiri, Tukuche, Nilgiri, Braha Shikhar, Annapurna South, Hunchuli, and Fishtail (Machhapuchchhre) with unblocking sunrise.

Poon Hill itself is examined as one of the best Hill Stations in the Annapurna Region. Sunrise and sunset over the Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna range from the top are some of the best views in the entire Trek.

This region's big Gurung village (Ghandruk) is also a Poon Hill Circuit Trek highlight. It looks magnificent with traditional architectural buildings. The locals' warm hospitality and cultural program captivate visitors to the second biggest village in Nepal.

View from Poon Hill

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Where to Begin the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trip?

The Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek begins in Pokhara, with a drive to Nayapul. The road to Nayapul is better than other roads in the area. It is about 45 KM from Pokhara and takes around an hour and a half to two hours.

Several transportation options connect Pokhara and Nayapul. Some local buses and vans leave the bus station every hour. In Pokhara, you can take a taxi or rent a private tourist car, van, or bus.

After the drive, the trek starts from Nayapul and leads to Ulleri, following the Bhurundgi River and passing Hile and Tikhedhunga villages. Then, the next day, trek to Ghorepani, where the famous viewpoint Poon Hill remains.

After enjoying the view from Poon Hill, the trek continues to Tadapani and Ghandruk, then ends in Nayapul.

Poon Hill Trekking Highlights

Beautiful lake city Pokhara
Poon Hill viewpoint with scenic mountain views and an unobstructed sunrise
Colorful rhododendron forest and cherry blossoms
History of the Brave Gurkhas, their culture, and Lifestyle
Vegetation, landscape, waterfall, wildlife, and more

Trek Facts

Trekking days	4-5
Difficulty level	Easy
Maximum elevation	3,210m
Best time to trek	Autumn and Spring (Winter is also doable)
Accommodation	Lodge/guesthouse
Per day walking hours	5-6
Individual option	Allowed

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Ghorepani Ghandruk Circuit Distance

You can cover the total distance of the Ghorepani Ghandruk Circuit in four or five days. From Nayapul, the hike to Ghandruk via Ghorepani and Tadapani is 4 km. You may drive from here and walk another 4 km to Kimche, then to Pokhara. So, this Circuit Trek from Nayapul to Kimche is 44km.

The road between Ghandruk and Kimche is bumpy and uncomfortable. An additional 10km from Kimche lets you trek to Nayapul, which is more than you can comfortably drive to Pokhara with private transportation.

Ghorepani Trekking Detailed Itinerary

Most trekkers complete the Ghorepani Trek on a five-day Itinerary. You can do the same circuit in four days if you can walk about 8 hrs plus a Poon Hill hike in one day.

Visiting Ghorepani and Poon Hill, then trekking back the same way without making a circuit, takes three days from Pokhara to Pokhara. Here's the regular itinerary most trekkers use.

Day – 1: Drive to Nayapul (1,070m) 1 ½ hrs to 2 hrs and Trek to Tikhedhunga (1,540m) 4 hrs

You will catch private or public transport from Pokhara and drive to Nayapul in the morning. After about an hour and a half to 2 hrs of driving, you reach Nayapul, passing Phedi, Naudanda, Kande, and Lumle. You will start your trek from here to Birethanti, where you will stop to show your conservation area permit and TIMS card. Then you follow the Bhurungdi River Valley to Tikhedhunga, enjoying the beautiful landscapes and farmland.

Day – 2: Trek to Ghorepani (2,850m) 6-7 hrs

After breakfast at your lodge, you start your second-day journey to Ghorepani, which is pretty tough early in the morning. You will climb more than 3000 stone steps to Ulleri. Once you reach Ulleri, you'll feel like you're in heaven, with a great view of the valley, green hills, and snow-capped mountains. After shaking off your tiredness from the steps in a few minutes here, you trek further to Banthanti with a gradual ascent and stop for lunch. After Banthanti, you enter a dense forest of rhododendron, pine, oak, and other trees. After more than 2 hrs of walking, you reach Ghorepani, where you see many colorful buildings and guesthouses.

Day – 3: Hike to Poon Hill (3.210m) 1 hrs and trek to Tadapani (2,630m) 5 hrs

The early-morning hike is the highlight day, when you can see the magnificent view of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna massif, including the beautiful Fishtail peak, with an unobstructed sunrise from Poon Hill. You will start your hike to Poon Hill in the early morning with a flashlight. It takes about an hour to reach Poon Hill. If you walk fast, you can get there in 30 minutes. After enjoying the scenic views from Poon Hill, you hike back to your lodge in Ghorepani, pack your things, and have breakfast. Then you trek to Tadapani, following the opposite hill to Poon Hill. First, you ascend for about an hour and a half, then descend another 2 hrs to Banthanti and have lunch. After lunch, you will trek through the dense forest for another hour to Tadapani. The trail to the Annapurna Base Camp Trek branches off here.

Day – 4: Trek to Ghandruk (1,940m) 3 hrs

The walk to Ghandruk is a short day of trekking. Trek further down to Syauli Bazaar, have lunch in Ghandruk, and explore a traditional Gurung museum. Today, you will enjoy great views of the Himalayas from the Trekking trail. Ghandruk is the second-largest Gurung village in Nepal and the largest village in this area. Gurung people are famous as brave Gurkhas serving in the UK and India in their armed forces. If you stay in Syauli Bazar rather than Ghandruk, you will shorten the last day of the trek and have more time to explore Pokhara before returning to Kathmandu.

Day – 5: Trek to Nayapul and Drive to Pokhara

If you trek from Ghandruk this morning, it will take around 5 hours to reach Nayapul. Walking from Syauli Bazaar to Nayapul takes only about 2 hours. Then, you can catch a bus or private transport from Nayapul to Pokhara. If you don't want to walk from Ghandruk or Kimche, you can also drive directly to Pokhara from these places. You can celebrate your Trek in Pokhara this evening.

Alternatively, you can trek to Jhinu Danda and enjoy a natural hot spring, without following the trail to Ghandruk from Tadapani.

Adventure Annapurna Trek:

Best Time to Trek to Ghorepani Poon Hill

Autumn (September to November) and spring (March to May) are the best times to trek, but you can also walk in winter. Although summer trekking isn't recommended, some trekkers still go during this season.

Blooming cherry blossoms in November make the trail beautiful and offer clear visibility. The forest looks impressive, with colorful rhododendrons blooming in spring, and the visibility is also excellent and clear. Spring is warmer than autumn.

Winter trekking is not as freezing as base camp treks, but temperatures can drop into the minus degrees, so Ghorepani, Poon Hill, and Tadapani can be freezing.

Summer trekking is usually rainy, making the trail wet and slippery. Clouds can reduce visibility, and there are many leaks on the ground.

Ghorepani Trek Permits

This trek goes through the Annapurna Conservation Area, so you must have a Conservation Area Permit. You can get it from Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu, at the National Trust for Nature Conservation Project office, or at the Pokhara Branch, for 3000 NPR. They will arrange it for you if you are on an organized trek with a trekking company; for trekkers from India, it costs 1000 NPR.

You will also need the tourism board's Trekkers Information Management System Card (TIMS). You can get it from the Bhrikuti Mandap Kathmandu and Pokhara branches, or online through the Nepal Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) website. It costs 20 USD for the group trekker organized by the Trekking Company. It costs 1000 NPR for Indians.

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Lodge, Food, and Drinks in the Trek

Lodge on the trek

Poon Hill is a classic Trekking trail that has been running for many years. Lovely lodges offer clean bedrooms. In some places, you will have private rooms with indoor toilets and even an attached bathroom. The rooms are cheap during the trek, costing only 3 USD to 5 USD per night. But you must eat food where you stay. Rooms are usually available in most places, but getting a room in Tadapani is tricky because it has limited guesthouses. So you must book your trek during the main Trekking Seasons in advance.

You can choose food from a food menu for the Whole Trek. The menu has the same items cooked by the primary trained cooks. The family runs some guest houses without hiring any staff. But the food is hygienic and delicious. They make delicious local Nepalese food (Dal Bhat), so you can try it on this trek.

You can buy mineral water bottles on the first and last two days of the trek, but they don't sell bottled water on the second and third days because they are minimizing the number of plastic bottles around here. So you must buy refilled water from a big barrel or boiled water.

You can also drink regular tap water, using purification tablets, drops, or sterilizers to kill bacteria. However, it is best to ensure the water is dust-free.

Internet and Communication

You can buy a Nepalese SIM card at the airport or from the service centers in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Two leading companies, NCELL and NTC, offer service, so either is fine. You can buy the data package for the internet and use it during the trek.

You also have Wi-Fi service in the mountains, which might be slow sometimes. You must pay for internet access via Wi-Fi at the guest house.

Ghorepani Trek Gear

Bag for trekking equipment

Suitable trekking equipment plays a vital role in a successful trip. This trek is not at a very high elevation, but it will still be cold. Here's a shortlist of what you must pack for Ghorepani Poon Hill.

Thermal Layer
Trekking Shirts
Fleece Jacket
Down Jacket (Feather Jacket)- provided by us
Hiking Trousers
Sun Hat
Woollen Hat
Buff
Windproof Gloves
Hiking Boots
Sandals
Trekking Socks
Daypack
Duffel Bag or Rucksack- we give this if you don't have one
Sleeping Bag- we provide this if you don't have one
Head Torch
Sunglass
Lip Balm and Moisturizing Cold Cream
Quick-dry towel
Rain Cover and Bag Cover
Soap and Shampoo
Swimming Costume (if you would like to go to the hot spring)

Hiring Guide, Porter for Ghorepani Poon Hill

Hundreds of Trekking and tour companies offer the Poon Hill trek. Some organize from overseas, and some are based in Nepal. Booking this trek with a local company is safe and well managed. We also offer this trip, and you will feel secure with us. We will satisfy you with a lifetime Himalayan experience in Nepal. So, book your Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek with a local company.

Our guides are government-licensed and speak English. We may also provide Chinese-speaking, Spanish-speaking, French-speaking, German-speaking, Japanese-speaking, Korean-speaking, Russian-speaking, and other guides. The porters who carry your equipment are robust, friendly, and helpful.

The cost of the trek depends on the service level and group size. The deal ranges from 350 USD to 700 USD online.

Altitude Sickness in Poon Hill

You don't need to worry about altitude sickness during this trek. The maximum elevation is 3,210m (Poon Hill), so the risk of altitude sickness is low. You will start your tour below a thousand meters and gradually trek to this height; your body will already be acclimatized. But sometimes, you may have other problems such as a cold, flu, and stomach. You better have some medicine for these things.

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Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek FAQs

Ghandruk village

Raise a few questions before planning any trek. You might have questions about the Poon Hill Trek.

The Ghorepani Trek is short and easy, so first-time trekkers can do it. You don't need to be in great physical shape. If you can walk about 5-6 hours each day, you should be fine.

How challenging is the trek?

Poon Hill is an easy Trek, but the second day might be difficult because of the many steps. But strolling and taking several rests can make it possible. Walking in the dark to Poon Hill with a flashlight can be a bit nerve-wracking.

Where can I leave the stuff I am not using during the trek?

You can leave the stuff and city clothes you won't use during the trek at the hotel in Pokhara. After the tour, you will be back in Pokhara. The hotel has a storeroom where they keep your stuff safely. After you leave your things, you will get a baggage tag, which you must keep and show when you pick them up.

Do I need travel insurance for the trek?

Ghorepani Poon Hill is a relatively short, easy Trek without serious mountain challenges. However, having insurance while traveling elsewhere is also advisable for this trek. You can trek the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek with basic insurance.

Adventure Annapurna Trek:

Conclusion

The Ghorepani Ghandruk Circuit Trek is a short and easy trip through a rhododendron forest that offers panoramic Himalayan views and landscapes. A short early-morning hike to Poon Hill for a magnificent sunrise over Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna massif is a fantastic view.

The Ghorepani trek offers scenic mountain views, beautiful landscapes, vegetation, and the culture and traditions of the Gurung and Magar people.

Book your trek now.