Ghorepani Poon Hill Regular Sunrise Trek

What does the Ghorepani Poon Hill Regular Sunrise Trek offer?

That one sunrise. Honestly, you’ll question your sanity when the alarm goes off at 4 AM in the freezing dark. But trust in this. The moment you’re standing on that hill and you watch the first light set the entire Annapurna range on fire with color. It’s a feeling that pictures will never do justice. It makes the whole trip worth it in about five minutes.

This isn't one of those hikes where you walk for days just for a single viewpoint at the end. The mountains are your buddies the whole way. You’ll be walking through a field and turn a corner, and boom, there’s the Fishtail peak, just hanging out. The views are constant, and they just keep getting better.

A real adventure you can do. If you're worried about being some super-fit mountaineer, don't be. This trek is the perfect sweet spot. It’s challenging enough to make you feel like you've accomplished something amazing, but you don't have to deal with any of the scary high-altitude stuff. It's a proper Himalayan journey for normal people.

It’s about the people, too. You’re not just passing through. You’re staying in these local mountain villages, eating food cooked in a family kitchen, and waking up to the sounds of local life. The warmth you feel from the Gurung and Magar people is just as memorable as the mountain views.

The teahouse feeling. There's no better feeling than walking all day, getting to your little teahouse, and finally peeling off your dusty hiking boots. Then you huddle up in the dining room around the wood stove with a hot lemon ginger tea. It’s simple, cozy, and perfect.

The fairytale forest. At one point, you’ll walk through this incredible, ancient-feeling rhododendron forest. It’s all mossy and green and quiet. If you go in the spring, it’s like walking through a tunnel of bright red and pink flowers. It’s just pure magic.

More time hiking, less time traveling. The best part is how easy it is to get to. You’re not wasting half your trip on a bone-rattling bus ride. You get to Pokhara, take a short drive, and you’re on the trail. It’s all about getting you into the good stuff as quickly as possible.

Why is the Ghorepani Poon Hill Regular Sunrise Trek a must-do?

You get a front-row seat to the best show on Earth. That sunrise from Poon Hill is no joke. Watching the light hit the Annapurnas will give you goosebumps. It’s a core memory you’ll have forever, and it’s worth the 4 AM wake-up call.

It’s a real adventure, without the scary stuff. This is the perfect first-timer's trek. You get all the epic views and the feeling of accomplishment without having to worry about extreme altitude or technical climbing.

A chance to see the real Nepal. These little mountain villages are special. Modern life is creeping in, so now is the time to go and see the traditional Gurung and Magar culture, eat the food, and just experience the warmth of the people.

On this trek, your money directly supports the local families who own the teahouses and work as guides. It feels good to know your trip is making a real difference.

Poon Hill Trek Difficulty

The best thing is that you don't have to worry about altitude sickness. The whole trip is designed to be gentle, topping out at just over 3,200 meters. That's high enough to give you those stunning, pinch-me-I-am-dreaming views of the giant Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountains, but low enough that you can breathe and enjoy it.

The walk itself is just beautiful. You spend your days passing through these magical forests of rhododendron trees and wandering through tiny stone villages that feel like they haven't changed in a hundred years. Let's be real, there are a lot of stone steps that climb to Ulleri that will have your legs talking to you! But you just take your time, and every day is a manageable walk, not a forced one.

You don’t need any special skills. If you can handle a long walk in the park, you can do this. And at the end of the day, you’re not shivering in a tent. You get to crash in a cozy little teahouse run by a local family, warming your hands around a mug of sweet tea.

It’s just the perfect first taste. You get that unforgettable moment of watching the sun rise and set, setting the highest peaks in the world on fire, all wrapped up in a short trip that feels like a real adventure, but one that’s totally and completely within your reach.

Best Season to Trek

If you want those classic, jaw-dropping pictures you see in magazines, where the mountains are so sharp they look like they could cut the sky, you have to go in the fall. We’re talking about October and November, autumn. The summer rains have cleared all the junk out of the air, and the sky is just this deep, perfect blue. The air is cool and crisp. It’s the most popular time, so you won’t be alone, but there’s a great energy on the trail and in the guesthouses.

But then there’s the spring, from about March into April. This is the magic season. The rhododendron forests. They’re not just a few trees; they're entire hillsides that just explode with color. You’ll be walking through these tunnels of brilliant red and pink flowers, and now and then, the snow-covered peaks of the Annapurnas will just appear through the branches. It’s unreal. The views might be a little softer than in the fall, but walking through that much color is something you’ll never forget

You can pretty much forget about going during the summer monsoon unless you have a real love for leeches, mud, and walking in the clouds with zero view. 

And winter is for the hardcore folks who don't mind the cold and want the whole place to themselves. For a first-timer, stick to fall or spring. You can’t go wrong with either.

Accommodation and Meals on Trek

Accommodation

First off, you can ditch any ideas about freezing in a tent. The whole Poon Hill route is lined with what everyone calls "teahouses," but they’re just small, family-run guesthouses. They're the backbone of the whole trek.

The rooms themselves are bare-bones, no doubt. Think of a simple wooden box with a bed, a window, and a door that locks. The beds are firm; after walking for six hours, they feel like a five-star luxury mattress. You'll get a pillow and a blanket, but here’s my pro tip: bring your sleeping bag. Not just for warmth, but for the comfort of having your stuff. 

Bathrooms are shared, and a hot shower is sometimes an option, but you'll likely have to pay a little extra for it. Don’t expect a power-washer stream; it’s more of a warm trickle, but it feels incredible.

Meal

You eat dinner and breakfast where you sleep. The room costs next to nothing because they make their money on the food. It's the unwritten rule, and everyone follows it.

And you will eat like a king. The star of the show, the thing you’ll learn to live on, is dal bhat. It’s a mountain of rice, a bowl of lentil soup, some veggie curry, and maybe some spicy pickle. And here’s the magic part: it’s bottomless. As soon as your plate gets low, they’ll come around and heap more on until you beg them to stop. It’s the fuel that gets everyone up those hills. You’ll hear guides chanting, "Dal Bhat power, 24 hours!" and it's 100% true. If you get tired of that, the menus are surprisingly huge. You can get fried noodles, big bowls of soup, and Tibetan dumplings called momo, which are fantastic. 

For breakfast, you'll find porridge, eggs cooked however you want, and Tibetan bread. You'll also drink gallons of tea: black tea, milk tea, and the trekker's best friend: hot lemon ginger honey tea. It cures everything from a sore throat to sore legs.

Permits for Ghorepani Poon Hill Regular Sunrise Trek

You're going to need two main things:

1. The Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
2. The TIMS Card (Trekkers’ Information Management System)

ACAP charges NPR 3000 for all other nationals and NPR 1000 for SAARC citizens.

To get a TIMS card, all foreign nationals must pay NPR 2000.

Packing Essentials for Trek

Here is the packing list for the Ghorepani Poon Hill Regular Sunrise Trek:

Clothing:

• Lightweight, moisture-wicking base layers
• Warm fleece or down jacket for chilly mornings and evenings
• Waterproof and windproof jacket and pants
• Comfortable trekking pants and shirts
• Thermal underwear (especially for spring and autumn)
• Hat, gloves, and scarf or buff
• Good-quality trekking socks (preferably wool or synthetic)
• Comfortable trekking boots with a good grip
• Sandals or flip-flops for evenings in teahouses

Backpack & Accessories:

• Daypack (20-30 liters) for daily essentials
• A rain cover for your backpack
• Sleeping bag (warm enough for 0°C or below, depending on season)
• Trekking poles (optional but helpful on steep paths)

Health & Hygiene:

• Personal medications and a basic first aid kit
• Sunscreen and lip balm with SPF
• Insect repellent
• Hand sanitizer and wet wipes
• Quick-dry towel
• Water bottle or hydration system (2-3 liters capacity)
• Water purification tablets or a filter

Other Essentials:

• Headlamp or flashlight with extra batteries
• Sunglasses with UV protection
• A camera or a smartphone for photos
• Power bank and charging cables
• Travel documents, permits, and cash (Nepalese rupees)
• Snacks like energy bars or nuts