Poon Hill Circuit Trek, also known as the Annapurna panorama, is one of the shortest multi-day hikes in Nepal. Short, but sweet. The hike offers natural beauty, cultural diversity, rural village life and spectacular mountain views.
Ghorepani poon hill is famous for sunrise, sunset and all Mountains views from main view point, Poon Hill (3210m).
From Poon Hill, you will get amazing view of Himalayan ranges likes Dhaulagiri 8167m, Tukche peak, Nilgiri Himal 7061m, Annapurna south 7245m, Annapurna I 8095m, Himchuli peak 6450m and Machhapuchhere 6995m (fishtail) etc.
And Ghandruk Village is a famous for Gurung traditional Houses, ancient Monastery, school and Gurung old Museum.
This trek is comfortable for those who have tiny holidays time to spend in Nepal Himalayans.
While the Poon hill trek is still not a walk in the park, it is an easy hike for beginners. Perfect for families with children or if you are not that experienced.
Going through the lower foothills of the Annapurnas there is no risk of altitude sickness, yet there are plenty of views on the snow capped mountain peaks. 13 of them are well over 7000 meters high.
Major Attractions of Poon Hill Circuit (Poon Hill Ghorepani) Trek
Some of the major attractions of Poon Hill Circuit Trek are as follows
1. Panoramic view of snow capped mountains like Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Machhapuchhre from Ghorepani.
2. Beautiful view of sunrise over mountain peaks from the top of Poonhill.
3. Walking through beautiful rhododendron, oak and pine forests.
4. Experiencing the culture and tradition of the Gurung people.
5. Spotting endangered animals and birds at the Annapurna Conservation Area.
6. Climbing 3,200 stone steps to reach the beautiful Ulleri village.
Best Season for Poon Hill Circuit Trek
The most popular seasons for the Poon Hill Trek are Autumn, Spring, and Winter. Many trekkers want to go when there is heavy snowfall or rainfall. However, September through to November and March through to May are the best time to go for this trek.
During these months, you might enjoy the moderate temperature and the clear weather; though the mornings are chilly cold. You will have plenty of suns shines, clear views, and warmth during the days in these seasons.
The most interesting part of this trek is that you can go for this trek throughout the year. If you are not lucky enough, you might have to halt before reaching your destination if you are trekking during the snowy or rainy season. Since the weather becomes gloomy, you might not get the opportunity to witness the breathtaking views of mountains. If you love camping, you might not be able to do so in these extreme weather conditions. But despite these limitations, you can do the trek in any season.
Food and Accommodation on Poon Hill Circuit Trek
All kinds of meals are available in the tea houses and lodges of Annapurna region.
You can take pleasure in Nepalese traditional foods likes: Nepali Dal Bhat and many typical foods are available on this region (Momos, Thukpa, vegetable Noodle soup, Chicken Noodle soup, mushroom soup, fried veg. cheese potatoes, veg eggs fried noodles, eggs, etc.).
Also they have special menus; you can choose many different kinds of European, Italian, Chinese and Indians foods.
All accommodations during the trek are on the basic twin and sharing. Our local trekking guide team leader will be managing beautiful common room. If the possible he will try to manage the best room with attached bathrooms. About the attached bathrooms it’s very difficult to get in the Himalayas regions, most of the mountains area they have just common room and we must to share the toilet and bathroom with others clients. The single rooms are available in the lower altitude Himalayas regions. But it is not possible to get single room in the higher elevations; you must to share with others peoples.
Required Documents
Whether you choose to trek Poon Hill solo or with a group, you’ll need to have both a Trekking Information Managements System (TIMS) permit, and an Annapurna National Park Permit (sometimes also known as the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit).
If you’re hiking with an organised tour group, the cost of these will be incorporated into your trekking fee and the whole process (organising them and carrying them through the trek) will be managed by your guide.
For trekkers going it alone, the permits will set you back about USD $40-50.
The ACAP Permit is USD $3,000 / NPR 3,000 per person, while the TIMS Permit is USD $20 / NPR 2,000 per person. You’ll need to carry these permits with you at all times on the trail, as they’ll be checked at various checkpoints along the way.
Trekking permits can be organised either at the Nepal Tourism office (map here) based in Kathmandu, or the Pokhara tourist office (Map here) before you begin the trek.
Make sure you bring a minimum of 4 passport photos for the trekking permit too!
