The field notes
A journey with rhythm
Private guiding, thoughtful pacing, and enough room to absorb each place rather than simply pass through it.
PrivateThoughtfulLocal
Journey overview
The experience at a glance
The Poon Hill Trek 3 Days is a great short Himalayan trip for a tourist who wants to experience Nepal’s mountains without having to make a long trek. Starting and ending in Pokhara, this compact trip follows the classic route through Nayapul, Ulleri and Ghorepani to the landmark Poon Hill viewpoint at 3,210 metres.
Your adventure starts with a beautiful drive from Pokhara to Nayapul, followed by a walk through Birethanti, flat farmland and historic hillside villages. The hike is now gradually taking you to Ulleri, a Magar village at 2,070 metres high. The last part of the journey has the well-known stone staircase, so it is difficult but also interesting to go up on the first day. On a clear afternoon, Annapurna South and Hiunchuli might appear above the green hills.
The second day of the 'Poon Hill Trek 3 Days' takes you from Ulleri to Ghorepani. The trail continues to climb through beautiful oak, pine and rhododendron forests in the Annapurna Conservation Area. The spring colour of red and pink rhododendron blossoms gives it a lot of colour. You arrive in Ghorepani at 2,850 metres after around 4 hours of walking, which is a quiet mountain village and a good place to meet up with Poon Hill.
The highlight comes early on the last morning. You leave Ghorepani before sunrise and hike for around 45-60 minutes to reach Poon Hill. As daylight spreads through the Himalayas, you can see panoramic views of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre, also known as Fishtail Mountain. Seeing the peaks turn golden in the morning light is one of the most memorable experiences available on any short trek from Pokhara.
After the Poon Hill sunrise, you return to Ghorepani for breakfast and descend through Ulleri towards Hile. A private vehicle will take you back to Pokhara, and the trip ends.
This short Poon Hill trek from Pokhara is best suited to active travellers with limited time. Although it is an easy-to-moderate trek, participants should be prepared for stone steps, uphill walking and a long descent on the last day. No previous trekking experience is necessary, and the moderate maximum altitude makes it a suitable starting point for trekking in Nepal.
If you are looking for a '3-day Ghorepani trek', a great Annapurna sunrise or a nice Pokhara trekking package, this itinerary will provide Himalayan scenery, village culture and forest trails in just three rewarding days.
Trip highlights
What makes this journey
- 01
Poon Hill Sunrise at 3,210 m: A wonderful sunrise on a Himalayan mountain with crystal clear views of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), Annapurna South and Hiunchuli.
- 02
Short 3-day Poon Hill Trek from Pokhara: One of Nepal's most popular short Himalayan treks in three days is a good choice for the short time that you have.
- 03
The beautiful Annapurna Trekking Trail in the Himalayas: Trek through rhododendron forests, terraced farmland, traditional villages and mountain landscapes from Nayapul to Ulleri and Ghorepani.
- 04
Ghorepani Village & Himalayan Views: Stay overnight at Ghorepani (2,850 m) and experience the unique atmosphere of this famous mountain settlement on the Annapurna trekking route.
- 05
Easy Return via Hile to Pokhara: After the Poon Hill sunrise trek, descend through Ulleri to Hile and drive back to Pokhara, making this 3 Days Poon Hill Trek a compact and efficient itinerary.
Places covered
Destinations on this trip
The places this journey moves through, in the order they shape the experience.
Nayapul
Thikhedhunga
Ulleri
Ghorepani
Poonhill Viewpoint
Day by day
3 days
Walk the route one day at a time — meals, overnight stays, and the details that shape each stage.
After breakfast, drive from Pokhara to Nayapul, the starting point of your trek. From Nayapul, the trail follows the Modi Khola and continues through beautiful villages, terraced farmland and forested hills.
You will pass through settlements like Birethanti and Tikhedhunga before beginning the famous stone staircase climb toward Ulleri. The trail gets steeper as you approach Ulleri and thousands of stone steps are a good introduction to Himalayan trekking.
After about 5 hours walking, we arrive at Ulleri (2,070 m), a traditional Magar village with green hills and mountain views. You can see Annapurna South and Hiunchuli on a clear day.
Overnight at a lodge in Ulleri.
- Meals
- Full Board
- Overnight
- Lodge
- Distance
- 11 km
- Altitude
- 2,070m
NoteDriving Distance: 40 km. Driving Duration: 1.5-2 hours. Trekking Distance: 10-11 km. Walking Duration: Approx. 5 hours. Elevation Gain: Approx. 1,000 m.
After breakfast, start your trek from Ulleri towards Ghorepani along a beautiful forest trail through the Annapurna Conservation Area.
The trail gradually rises through dense rhododendron, oak and pine forests with occasional views of the surrounding mountains. In spring, the rhododendron forests are particularly beautiful when the flowers are in bloom.
The route passes through small settlements and teahouses before reaching Ghorepani (2,850 m), one of the most popular villages on the Annapurna trekking route.
Ghorepani is situated at a ridge with beautiful views of the surrounding Himalayan peaks. It is also the perfect overnight location for the following morning’s sunrise hike to Poon Hill.
We spend the night at the lodge relaxing and get ready for an early morning start.
Overnight at a lodge in Ghorepani.
- Meals
- Full Board
- Overnight
- Lodge
- Distance
- 8 km
- Altitude
- 2,850m
NoteWalking Time: approx. 4 hours. Elevation Gain: approx. 780 m. Overnight: Ghorepani
Wake up early, around 4:30–5:00 AM, and hike from Ghorepani to Poon Hill (3,210 m). The uphill walk takes about 45–60 minutes.
Poon Hill is one of Nepal’s most famous sunrise spots. From the summit, see the panoramic view of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges, including Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) and many other Himalayan peaks.
After sunrise and taking photographs, go back to Ghorepani for breakfast. You will then continue down the hill and follow along the Ulleri route, going through Ulleri and heading to Hile.
At Hile, meet your private vehicle and drive back to Pokhara, where your 3 Days Poon Hill Trek ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast and Lunch
- Distance
- 16 km
- Altitude
- 820m
NotePoon Hill Elevation: 3,210 m. Trekking Distance: 14-16 km. Walking Duration: 6-7 hours. Elevation Gain: Approx. 360 m to Poon Hill. Elevation Loss: Approx. 1,900 m+ to Hile. Driving Distance: Approx. 40 km from Hile to Pokhara. Driving Time: approx. 2-2.5 hour
Private vehicle & English-speaking guide throughout · Pokhara
Trip essentials
What your journey covers
A clear split between what we arrange and what you budget yourself.
- Private transportation from Pokhara to Nayapul and private pickup from Hile to Pokhara.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner during the trekking period
- Accommodation in tea house or lodges during trekking
- English speaking license holder trekking guide and his accommodation, meals, salary, insurance, and other related expenses.
- 1 Porter for every 2 trekkers, including the porter’s accommodation, meals, salary, insurance, and other related expenses. (A porter supplement applies for a single trekker)
- TIMS card, National Park/Conservation Area permit fees, and all applicable government taxes.
- For group treks: Experienced trekking guides, cooks, and porters, including their insurance, accommodation, meals, allowances, and salaries.
- Accommodation and Meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Flights or Ground Transportation Between Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Travel insurance that covers emergency evacuation.
- Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, battery recharge, extra porters, bottled water, etc.)
- Cost raised by cancellation, landslide, weather conditions, political instability, and illness will not be our responsibility since these factors are above and beyond our control.
- Gratuity (Tipping is expected but it is not mandatory)
Before you go
