narchang

Annapurna Base Camp with Poonhill Trek

Trip Fact

5 Based on 1 Reviews
  • duration-icon
    Duration 13 Days
  • activities-icon
    Activities Trekking
  • tripgrade-icon
    Trip Grade Moderate
  • groupsize-icon
    Group Size 2-15
  • startendpoint-icon
    Start-End Point Kathmandu-Kathmandu
  • maxaltitude-icon
    Max-Altitude 4310m
  • besttime-icon
    Best Time March - April and Oct - Nov
  • accomodation-icon
    Accomodation Hotel/Lodge/Tea House

Trip Overview

The Annapurna Base Camp Trek through Poon Hill is an incredible journey that combines two different treks: Ghorepani Poon Hill and Annapurna Base Camp. This trek is perfect for those who want to witness breathtaking mountain views from a lower altitude and explore the high Himalayan glaciers, icefalls, diverse cultures, and countryside communities.

Your adventure starts in the picturesque city of Pokhara, following a scenic drive from Kathmandu. The trek takes you through charming rural villages like Nayapul, Birethanti, Hile, Thikhedhunda, Ulleri, and Banthanti before reaching Ghorepani. Ghorepani is like a piece of paradise, offering fantastic panoramic views from the north, stretching from the far west to the east. The local culture here is unique, with the majority of people belonging to the Pun Magar community, often mispronounced as Poon Hill.

The best times to embark on this trek are autumn when the skies are clear for excellent mountain views, and spring when the jungles come alive with colorful rhododendron blossoms against the backdrop of snow-capped peaks. The sunrise and sunset views from Poon Hill (3,210 meters) are simply breathtaking, with the Himalayan ranges gradually changing color from golden to dazzling white. You’ll get to see a stunning panorama of mountains from east to west, including Annapurna I, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, and many more.

Trip Highlight

  • Explore the charming Gurung villages in Ulleri, Ghorepani, and Chhomrong Village.
  • See the spectacular views of snowy Himalayan mountains like Mount Annapurna, Mount Hiuchuli, Mount Machhapuchre, Lamjung Himal, and more.
  • Experience the best sunrise and stunning mountain views early in the morning from Poonhill.
  • Get a close look at Annapurna I, which is the tenth-highest mountain in the world, from Annapurna Base Camp.
  • Walk through beautiful rhododendron forests and bamboo jungles where the rhododendron flowers add a special touch of color to the Annapurna Base Camp Trek.
  • Relax in the natural hot springs near Jhinu Danda and refresh yourself.
  • Learn about the diverse ethnic groups of Nepal and their unique cultures.
  • Enjoy delightful glimpses of the Annapurna mountain range right from the base camp.
  • Discover unusual plants and animals along the path.
  • Get closer to the remote way of life of the local people living in the mountains.

Itinerary

Expand All

When you arrive at the international airport, our friendly support team will be there to welcome you. They will help you and take you to the hotel. On this day, we will also get everything ready for the trek. We will make sure you have all the necessary permits.

Before you come, please make sure to check your insurance details. It’s important to have a copy of your travel medical insurance policy with you during the trip.

  • max-accomodation-icon
    Accomodation Hotel
  • place-icon
    Place Kathmandu

Our trekking guide will come to your hotel at six o’clock in the morning to pick you up using a private vehicle. We’ll take a drive to Pokhara, which is about 200 kilometers away. This journey will take us around 6 to 7 hours, but it’s a really scenic route.

During the drive, you’ll get to see some amazing views. There will be snow-capped mountains, lush green hills, rivers where people go rafting, and little villages along the way.

Pokhara itself is a beautiful place. It’s like a valley surrounded by tall mountains like Annapurna, Machapuchare (which looks like a fishtail), Dhaulagiri, Lamjung Himal, and Manaslu. The town of Pokhara is right by a lovely lake called Phewa Lake. It’s smaller and calmer than Kathmandu, which makes it a great place to start our trek.

We’ll spend the night at a hotel in Pokhara.

  • max-altitude-icon
    Max Altitude 950m
  • max-accomodation-icon
    Accomodation Hotel
  • place-icon
    Place Pokhara

This is the first day of our ABC Poon Hill Trek adventure! We start our trek in Ulleri (1,960 meters) after a 3 to 4-hour drive from Pokhara using either a private or public vehicle. Along the way, we pass through Nayapul (1,010 meters), Birethanti, Tikhedhunga (1,160 meters), and Hille (1,495 meters) village.

At the beginning of our trek, we walk through the village and farm terraces, slowly going up. We’ll pass through thick forests filled with oak and rhododendron trees on our way to Banthanti (2,250 meters). Sometimes, you might spot a Longgur, a monkey with a long tail, jumping around in the trees.

After that, we’ll keep walking and head towards Nangethanti (2,460 meters). About an hour later, we’ll finally reach Ghorepani (2,840 meters), where we’ll spend the night in a Teahouse.

  • max-altitude-icon
    Max Altitude 2,840m
  • place-icon
    Place Ghorepani

Early in the morning, we will hike up to Poon Hill, and it will take about 45 minutes. From Poon Hill (3,210 meters), you’ll get to see an amazing sunrise over the tall Himalayan mountains. You’ll have a panoramic view of giants like Dhaulagiri (8,167 meters), Annapurna (8,091 meters), Machhapuchere, Nilgiri, Hiuchuli, South Annapurna, and more. As the sun rises, other peaks will slowly appear like magic in front of your eyes.

After enjoying this breathtaking view, we’ll head back to Ghorepani for a hot breakfast. Then, we’ll start walking towards Tadapani. The trail goes up along ridges, passing through pine and rhododendron forests. We’ll reach a place called Deurali and then start descending, passing by beautiful waterfalls, streams, and dense forests until we reach Banthati.

Along the way, you’ll notice some clear pools next to the trail from the streams. Eventually, we’ll climb up to our final destination, Tadapani. The name Tadapani means ‘hot water,’ and it’s the water supply for a village far away.

  • max-altitude-icon
    Max Altitude 2,520m
  • place-icon
    Place Tadapani

After having breakfast, our trekking adventure continues. We begin by walking down a steep path through beautiful rhododendron forests and terraced fields. Along the way, we get to see some great views of the upper Modi valley.

Next, we cross a suspension bridge and start climbing up to reach a Gurung village. If you want, you can offer a donation to help the school kids and the school itself, which is a kind and thoughtful gesture.

From this village, the trail continues gradually upward through more forests. We’ll come across a large landslide area, but it’s quite easy to walk through. Finally, we’ll reach Chomrong (2,140 meters).

In Chomrong, we’ll have the chance to see some mighty peaks like Annapurna South, Hiuchuli, Gangapurna, and the stunning Fishtail Mountain, which touches the sky with its peak. We’ll spend the night at a lodge in Chomrong.

  • max-altitude-icon
    Max Altitude 2,140m
  • place-icon
    Place Chomrong

We start by walking down a stone staircase to reach the Chhomrong Khola, and then we continue climbing to a small village called Sinuwa (2,340 meters). As we move forward, we go through a dense forest.

Next, the path becomes quite steep as we descend down a rocky slope and pass through thick bamboo in the gorge. This part of the trail leads us to Bamboo. After having lunch, we’ll go up along the Modi Khola forest until we reach Dovan.

We’ll spend the night at a guesthouse in Dovan.

  • max-altitude-icon
    Max Altitude 2,500m
  • place-icon
    Place Dovan

Today is a shorter trek day because we have to be careful about the risk of snow avalanches in the area we’ll be crossing tomorrow. Along the way, we’ll be climbing up through peaceful forests where bamboo and rhododendron trees grow. These trees mix together to create a beautiful forest near the Himalayan Hotel.

In the past, this place, known as Hinko cave, was used by porters as a shelter. After a bit more walking, we’ll reach Deurali.

Above Hinko, there’s a part of the trail on a ridge that can sometimes have avalanches. So, we’ll spend the night at a guesthouse in Deurali, getting ready for the next part of our trek.

  • max-altitude-icon
    Max Altitude 3,200 m
  • place-icon
    Place Deurali

After breakfast, we’ll follow the trail that takes us into the heart of the Sanctuary, where we’ll reach the Annapurna Base Camp for our overnight stay. The path goes uphill for a few hours, passing some huts without roofs along the side of a big pile of rocks and ice called a moraine. This area is quite windy and often covered in snow.

We’ll keep going, passing by the Machhapuchre Base Camp (3,700 meters). Even though it’s called a base camp, people aren’t allowed to climb the mountain from here. From this point to Annapurna Base Camp, we’ll walk for about 2 more hours. Along the way, you’ll get to see amazing views of the Himalayas, with snowy mountains all around you.

Once we arrive at the base camp, you’ll have the rest of the day to explore and relax as you like. There’s a lot to see and do here!

  • max-altitude-icon
    Max Altitude 3,700m

After our breakfast, we start our descent towards Bamboo, carrying with us countless memories. This morning, we get to witness both the sunrise and the sunset over Mt. Annapurna I and the Annapurna Fangs. The views of the mountains are absolutely breathtaking because we are completely surrounded by them. It’s easy to see why this place is called the Annapurna Sanctuary.

After spending some wonderful moments here, we begin our journey back to Bamboo, where we’ll spend the night. In the evening, you can rest and relax while enjoying an unforgettable view of the many snow-capped peaks, and then have dinner.

  • max-altitude-icon
    Max Altitude 2,345 m

The path we walk on today is the same one we took until we reach Chomrong. After we pass Khuldighar, there’s something interesting – an experimental sheep farm! As we keep going, we’ll walk through forests filled with rhododendron flowers and bamboo trees, and we’ll see amazing mountains, especially Mt. Machhapuchhre (6,997 meters).

Once we reach the old Gurung village of Chomrong, the trail starts going downhill very steeply. It leads us to the Jhinu hot springs, where you can take a bath in natural hot water that comes from the earth. It’s only a 20-minute walk from our hotel.

For the rest of the day, you can relax and enjoy yourself. We’ll spend the night here.

  • max-altitude-icon
    Max Altitude 1,780 m
  • place-icon
    Place Jhinu Danda

In the morning, you’ll get to visit the Hot Spring at Tatopani, right next to the Modi Khola river. You can take a bath in the natural hot springs, and it’s only a 20-minute walk from Jhinu Danda. After that, we’ll head back to the tea house for breakfast.

The trail for today starts by going downhill to the Komrong Khola and reaching the New Bridge. Then, we follow the river and walk through the forest to get to Siwa (1,230 meters) via Kyum.

From Siwa or Syauli Bazaar, we’ll take a Jeep or Taxi to drive to Pokhara, and it will take us 3 to 4 hours. In Pokhara, you’ll also see many other trekkers who have just come from Ghandruk after visiting Ghorepani Poon Hill. We’ll spend the night in Pokhara.

Please be prepared by 6:00 in the morning in the hotel lobby for breakfast or to get advice from your trekking guide. We will ride back to Kathmandu on the main road, passing by terraces, streams, rivers, local villages, and tall hills. It will take approximately 7 hours (depending on conditions) to arrive at your hotel in Kathmandu.

Depending on your flight schedule, we typically schedule a ride to the airport approximately three hours before your departure time. If you have some extra time, we can organize some enjoyable activities for you, or you are welcome to explore on your own.

Includes/Excludes

  • Cost of necessary trekking permits, including the ACAP permit and the TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management System) card.
  • Airport transfers to and from the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.
  • Accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara (usually at a three-star hotel) before and after the trek. Accommodations during the trek in teahouses or lodges.
  • Meals during the trek, such as breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Meals are usually provided at teahouses along the route.
  • A licensed trekking guide and porter to carry a portion of your gear. The guide provides information, ensures your safety, and helps with logistics.
  • Essential equipment like sleeping bags, down jackets, and trekking poles.
  • Kathmandu to Pokhara tourist bus tickets.
  • Basic first aid supplies and emergency evacuation arrangements
  • Detailed trekking itinerary with information about daily distances, altitudes, and schedules.
  • The cost of international flights to and from Nepal.
  • Travel insurance, including emergency medical and evacuation coverage.
  • Expenses for items like personal snacks, beverages (other than water), souvenirs, and additional meals in Kathmandu.
  • Additional Gear: you need to rent or purchase additional equipment like trekking boots, warm clothing, and a daypack.
  • Tips for the guide, porter, and teahouse staff.
  • Any optional activities, such as helicopter tours or side treks.
  • The cost of obtaining a visa for Nepal.
  • Personal Medications

Reviews

Prash (India)

Amazing experience!!!

Great Views and Amazing experience. Trek was strenuous, Guides made it easier. They provided us with great guidance, clean water and amazing food. They helped us organize the trip and provided great support. Get Nepal Treksand Tour is the best!!!

Add a Review

Book Now Customize Trip
Make an Inquiry
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.