Poon Hill Trek - 7 days

The trek begins from Pokhara, renowned for being the prime tourist hub of Nepal. You can unwind in some of the Lavish hotels with sophisticated services. As you proceed in the journey, you must adjust to the basic accommodations. You will find authentic teahouses built with stones and wood as you elevate higher. These teahouses comprise clean and comfortable resting rooms, fulfilling your basic requirements.

In most places, you will get two single beds in each room with clean bedsheets, soft pillows, and a blanket in each bed. You will get an extra blanket if you ask for it. Using wifi and charging your mobile will cost you a few extra bucks.

You will get comfortable rooms with attached bathrooms and hot showers in Ulleri, Ghorepani, and Ghandruk. You might need to pay extra if you need hot showers. When you reach Tadapani, most rooms are shared with two people. A lot of teahouses are designed to fulfill your necessities. We recommend you carry toilet paper for your convenience.

Wifi is available in most teahouses and guesthouses for around 100-200 Nepali rupees. However, it is limited to certain areas and is only partially reliable. There is a good connection of internet access in most places of the Poonhill trek. Some guesthouses and lodges offer free wifi and some charge extra.

A better alternative would be using sim cards for stable internet connections. It is also one of Nepal’s cheapest modes of internet access. Sim cards provide several cost-efficient data packages, making the internet easily accessible. You can easily purchase a sim card from the airport or phone shops. You need to show your passport to purchase the sim. However, the connection might be weak in higher elevations.

NTC is the only telecommunication company that operates in the Poonhill region. Overall the small villages and remote hiking trails also have a stable network connection. However, finding a good network in some remote regions is difficult. So be prepared to face poor or no network connections in remote regions.

The Poon Hill Trek starts from the appealing Pokhara valley, which is around 200 km North West of Kathmandu. Pokhara is only 200 kilometers from Kathmandu, but it still takes 5 to 7 hours by road due to traffic jams and rocky roads in some places. You can get to Pokhara by flight in about half an hour, but the bus is the most favored means of transportation.

We start the itineraries in Kathmandu and take you straight to Pokhara, where you will stay in a guesthouse. This will be your base camp for embarking on your journey to the Poon Hill Trek the day after. You can choose to travel via bus or by flight. It depends on you how you want to go to Pokhara however, traveling via flight is going to cost you more.

The food you get on the Poonhill trek is mostly organic and grown around the hills surrounding the local regions, So it is fresh and gives you the perfect nourishment for trekking.

Coming to the price: the price of the meals tends to increase the higher you elevate as transporting food to remote regions is expensive. You have to pay around NPR 500 for authentic Nepali Daal-Bhaat. You also get thukpas, Momo, and soup for similar prices depending on the place.

Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day. While on the trek to the Himalayas, a nourishing breakfast is a must-have, as you will be hiking for hours. Even on the days you want to relax, eating a delicious breakfast whilst enjoying the serenity in the lap of nature is always a good idea. So, what is the ideal time for breakfast on the PoonHill trek? To get the most out of the day, you should start trekking around 8 am. Clear morning skies and fresh air will be a perfect start to a hectic day, so breakfast around 7 would be ideal. However, on rest days, you can take your time with breakfast and be sure to enjoy it.

So, What is available for breakfast on my trek?

Here are some of the items available for breakfast on the Poonhill trek

• Bread and Chapatti
• Plain toast
• Plain toast with jam, honey, or peanut butter
• French toast
• Cheese toast
• Tibetan bread
• Plain chapatti
• Chapatti with honey, peanut butter, or jam

Eggs

• Boiled eggs
• Scrambled eggs
• Fried eggs
• Plain Omelet
• Vegetable omelet
• Cheese omelet

Pancakes

• Plain pancake
• Pancake with jam or honey
• Apple pancake
• Chocolate pancake

Porridge and Cereals

• Oat porridge
• Tsampa porridge
• Apple porridge
• Honey porridge
• Porridge with cinnamon and raisins
• Muesli with hot milk
• Cornflakes with hot milk
• Rice pudding
• Chocolate pudding

Soup

• Garlic soup
• Tomato soup
• Mushroom soup
• Mixed soup

Others

• Fried potatoes
• Baked beans

Lunch on the Ghorepani trek will be in one of the teahouses in that region. So, don’t worry about carrying stale and cold food from breakfast. Since breakfast was around 7 am, Lunch will be around 11 am, depending on the length of the day.

Will you believe it if we tell you that you will get a large variety of options on the food menu during the Poonhill trek? From the authentic Nepali Daal bhaat to western food like pasta, spaghetti, noodles, pizza, and many more. We recommend you try authentic Nepali Daal Bhaat for lunch, as it is compact with all the nourishment you require during the trek. And if you are traveling in large groups, it is better to order similar food items as it will be time efficient; you dont have to waste precious hours to get your order as you have a long day ahead. Here is the lunch menu available in the Poonhill trek

Rice

• Dal bhat (vegetarian )
• Dal bhat (non-vegetarian)
• Rice with chicken curry
• Rice with vegetable curry
• Cheese fried rice
• Vegetable fried rice
• Egg fried rice
• Tuna fried rice
• Mixed fried rice

Noodles

• Vegetable fried noodles
• Egg fried noodles
• Fried noodles with cheese
• Mixed fried noodles

Pasta and Macaroni

• Vegetable fried pasta
• Cheese fried pasta
• Pasta with cheese and tomato sauce
• Macaroni with vegetables, cheese, and egg
• Mixed macaroni

Spaghetti

• Spaghetti with tuna, cheese, and tomato sauce
• Cheese spaghetti with tomato sauce
• Spaghetti with tomato sauce
• Spaghetti with vegetables and tomato sauce

Momos

• Vegetable momos
• Buff momos
• Chicken momos
• Cheese momos
• Potato momos

Pizza

• Chicken Pizza
• Mushroom pizza
• Mixed pizza

You can also ask for vegan options if you want.

After an enticing yet tiresome day of trekking, on entering your teahouse for a good night’s sleep, delicious dinner meals await you. Dinner is usually served around 6pm till 7:30 pm as early nights is practical in the teahouses in trekking trails. The dinner menu is similar to the Lunch menu in the Poonhill trek. Even so, you can refer to the menu for dinner below:

Rice

• Dal bhat (vegetarian )
• Dal bhat (non-vegetarian)
• Rice with chicken curry
• Rice with vegetable curry
• Cheese fried rice
• Vegetable fried rice
• Egg fried rice
• Tuna fried rice
• Mixed fried rice

Noodles

• Vegetable fried noodles
• Egg fried noodles
• Fried noodles with cheese
• Mixed fried noodles

Pasta and Macaroni

• Vegetable fried pasta
• Cheese fried pasta
• Pasta with cheese and tomato sauce
• Macaroni with vegetables, cheese, and egg
• Mixed macaroni

Spaghetti

• Spaghetti with tuna, cheese, and tomato sauce
• Cheese spaghetti with tomato sauce
• Spaghetti with tomato sauce
• Spaghetti with vegetables and tomato sauce

Momos

• Vegetable momos
• Buff momos
• Chicken momos
• Cheese momos
• Potato momos

Pizza

• Chicken Pizza
• Mushroom pizza
• Mixed pizza

Dessert

• Pancakes
• Apple pie
• Chocolate pudding
• Rice pudding

Also, you can enjoy warm tea and coffee. Or beer and other alcoholic or soft drinks before, after, or during dinner.

You will need two permits for the Ghorepani Poonhill trek; the Annapurna Conservation permit and the TIMS Trekkers permit.

The Annapurna Conservation Permit

The Annapurna Conservation permit costs around Nrs.3000 per person. But why do we need this permit to trek to the Annapurna region?

Annapurna Conservation area is the largest preserved area in Nepal. This area houses diverse flora and fauna and around 100,000 residents of several cultural and linguistic groups. The richness in biodiversity and cultural attributes aids in the flourishing tourism in this region.

The expanding tourism has been both boon and a curse to this region. With the increasing traffic, this area has to face numerous difficulties regarding waste management and environmental conservation. So, to manage these problems and preserve the environment, The Annapurna Conservation Area Project(ACAP) was established.

Your contribution through the Annapurna conservation permit helps achieve the goal of this huge project, and the goals include:

• Preserving the natural assets of Annapurna Conservation Area to benefit the present and future generations.
• Bring sustainable social and economic development to the people residing in this region.
• Prospering tourism in a way that has minimal negative impact on the natural, socio-cultural and economic environment of the Annapurna region.

Tims Trekkers Permit

While The Annapurna Conservation permit was for the betterment of the Annapurna Conservation area, the Trekkers Information Management Systems (TIMS) Permit is for your security. Showing your TIMS card at the checkpoints along the trails, the system registers your information, which is crucial if you go missing on the trail.

Note:

1. Both the Annapurna conservation permit and the TIMS are for a single entry.
2. Permits are non-refundable and non-transferable on issuance.
3. The validity of your permit depends on the application, so be sure to read the application form carefully.
4. The permit price remains the same regardless of your time in this region, whether 5 days or 15 days.
5. Entering the permit details at all counters along the trail is essential. This is vital for your safety on the trail, so please do not miss any counter.

You can do the Poonhill trek successfully during all four seasons. However, the best time for the Poonhill trek is spring (March, April, or May) and Fall (September, October, and November), respectively.

Spring season is the most favorable time for the Poonhill trek. The temperature is pleasant, serving the best views of the sunrise, Himalayas, Rhododendrons, and greenery. The peak season for the Poonhill trek is in April.

Monsoons accompany the summer season in Nepal, which invites bugs, leeches, wet trails, and even snowfall in some regions. So if you plan to take the Poonhill trek during the summer, you must be prepared to walk on slippery trails and be immune to all the bugs. Besides that, the Poonhill trek is also doable in the summer.

Fall is another favorable time to trek in the Manaslu circuit. This season is considered the best trekking time as it provides the best views with favorable weather conditions.

Winter season is considered the hardest time to trek in Nepal. It is difficult to get accustomed to a frosty climate. In addition, trails in the winter are relatively dangerous as it gets slippery with the snowfall. However, if you are determined and prepared to face the frosty temperature and slippery trails, you can trek to the Poonhill trek during winter. The pros of traveling this season can be easy accommodations.

Here we present to you the essential equipment checklist for your Poonhill trek.

Body Essentials

• Hiking Shorts
• Comfortable Hiking Trousers
• Wind Stopper Jackets
• Non-cotton innerwear
• Water-Proof Fabric Jackets, Pants
• Light-Weight Thermal Tops & Bottoms
• Woolen Trousers
• Water Proof GoreTex Jackets

• Light Weight Socks
• Comfortable Hiking Shoes And Extra Shoelaces
• Heavy Woolen Socks
• Training Or Running Shoes
• Cotton Socks Gaiters

• Sunglasses With UV Protection
• Woolen Caps
• Prescribed Sunglasses(if any)
• Woolen Scarf
• Headlamp Along With Extra Batteries And Bulbs

Medical Equipment

• Simple And Light Medical Kit
• Band-Aids
• Pain Killers
• Skin-Blister Repair Kit
• Anti-Diarrhoea Pills
• Anti-Altitude Sickness Pills
• Cough And Cold Medicines
• Water Purifying Tablets
• Stomach Antibiotic
• Prescribed Medicines(If Any)

Essential Toiletries

• Toothbrush And Toothpaste
• Toilet Papers And Wet Wipes
• Towel
• Anti-Bacterial Handwash
• Soap
• Deodorants
• Nail Cutter

Essential Documents

• Passport
• Trekking Permits
• Travel Insurance

Tech Essentials

• Camera, along with extra Batteries
• Headphone
• Power Banks
• Oximeters
• Phone & Chargers
• Maps
• Adapter Plugs
• Kindle
• Smartphone

Essentials Gear:-

• Trekking pole
• Towels
• Raincoat
• Water bottle
• Backpack or Day pack

Face Essentials:-

• Sunglasses with UV protection
• Sunscreen
• Dust Masks
• Lip Balm
• Face /Body wipe

Extra:-

• Diary & Pen
• Books
• Extra Passport copy and Photos
• Binocular

Note: The above list can be customized per the trekkers’ seasons and necessities. You can follow through with the packing list above to have a smooth trekking experience.

• Our professional and experienced team of over one decade has accomplished treks in the Poonhill trek.
• Our government-licensed guides are fluent in English, Nepali, and Sherpa dialects. They know the terrain, culture, people, and the Poonhill region through & through.
• HST provides you with the best value services for your money. No hidden cost, every step with HST is transparent and clear. We value our clients over profit any day.
• Your safety is the top priority while trekking with the HST team. Thus, in case of an emergency first-aid kit or provision of rescue teams as a requirement.
• We are a government-registered company providing you with real care services at the best reasonable rate.
• Our company also has 70% of repetitive clients over the years, which shows their trust in us.
• We go the extra mile to assure you of a complete trekking experience in Nepal. HST is your ideal choice for trekking in Nepal.

The Poon Hill trek’s difficulty is moderate to easy due to its steep terrain, ascending routes, and basic facilities. This trail does not demand prior trekking experience. However, the trekker needs to be physically fit and passionate about the walk. The Poon Hill trekking trails accompany the easy route through spectacular mountain views, flourishing rhododendron forest, the cascade waterfall, and Gurung villages with cultural richness.

The PoonHill trek is one of the most reasonable, short, and easiest trekking routes in the Annapurna Region. Hence, Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is flourishing among beginners, solo, family, and group trekkers. However, you want to experience the beauty of the Himalayas, the diverse flora and fauna, and enjoy the serene nature without having any prior trekking experience. In that case, this is the best-suited option for you. Of course, it is a trekking route, so it will not be a walk in the park. However, you will forget all the hassle and pain once you see the breathtaking views of the majestic mountains, breathe the fresh mountain air, and experience the serene ambiance.

The Poonhill viewpoint is blissful and paradisiacal for photographers, serving alluring and appealing views of the sunrise falling upon the Himalayas. Poon Hill gives a refreshing view of Annapurna I, II, III, and IV along with Dhaulagiri ranges, Lamjung Himal, Gangapurna, Manaslu, and other 7,000m+ snowcapped mountains.

Now talking about the challenges the trekkers might face during their trek to Poonhill:

• Flight delays are one of the most common issues in this region due to unfavorable climates.
• You must hike for about 5-6 hours daily in the steep and rocky terrain, including ascending points.
• If you are traveling in the peak season, i.e., autumn and spring, you must book hotels in advance. Otherwise, you will face problems regarding the accommodations due to heavy traffic.
• If you travel here during the winter, you have to face the frosty climates and lack of accommodations in higher altitudes.
• Facilities of The teahouses and guest houses are not very sophisticated.
• You must carry the necessary cash during your trek to the Poonhill region, as ATMs and scan pay options are unavailable in higher elevations.
• You need to be well-prepared to face unforeseen climates, as the weather in this region can be uncertain.
• Being one of Nepal’s most popular trekking trails, you might face traffic jams on the narrow trails during the peak season.
• You might face some language barriers if unfamiliar with the local language.
• The most prevalent threat to trekkers is Acute mountain sickness(AMS). So to avoid this, must take enough rest and proper acclimatization.

The Poon Hill Trek is considered one of the easiest trekking trails in the entire Annapurna region. It is also one of the easiest treks in Nepal. This trek is family-friendly, and it is quite safe for solo travelers as well. This trek is compatible with beginners, groups, and individual trekkers, which explains its growing popularity. Even though the Poonhill trek is renowned for being easy, you must be physically fit and active. You are still trekking through steep, remote, and elevated trails.

Even though the Poon hill trek is at an altitude of 3193 meters, you might still face altitude sickness so, Some key points to avoid altitude sickness are:

• Do warm-up hikes and stretching before starting the journey for the day.
• Drink an adequate amount of water. Keep rehydrating at regular intervals. It is best to drink a liter every hour you’ve walked then. Set yourself to urinate further throughout the day and night.
• Get plenty of rest & sleep. Don’t push yourself too much while walking. The key is to ascend slowly and gradually. You should trek slowly and gradually.
• You need to have an applicable balanced diet throughout the journey. Avoid too-much salty food and alcohol throughout the trek.
• If necessary, take the capsules for Altitude sickness by consulting your guide. If you feel too uncomfortable, descend immediately.