If you have four days and want a genuine Himalayan trek rather than a day hike, this is the one. Poon Hill delivers a disproportionate reward for the effort involved.
The sunrise
You leave Ghorepani at 4:30 am and climb 45 minutes in the dark to a viewpoint at 3,210 m. As the light comes up you see the Annapurna range to the east and Dhaulagiri — an entire separate eight-thousander — to the west, with Machhapuchhre’s fishtail summit between them. It is the most accessible big-mountain sunrise in Nepal.
A typical itinerary
- Day 1: Drive from Pokhara to Nayapul, walk to Tikhedhunga or Ulleri.
- Day 2: The Ulleri stone staircase — around 3,000 steps — up to Ghorepani.
- Day 3: Poon Hill at dawn, then on to Tadapani through rhododendron forest.
- Day 4: Down to Ghandruk and drive back to Pokhara.
How hard is it?
Moderate. The Ulleri steps are the crux and they are genuinely tiring, but the trek tops out at 3,210 m so altitude is a minor concern. Lodges are comfortable, the trail is well maintained, and days are four to six hours.
Who it suits
First-time trekkers, families with children over about eight, travellers combining Nepal with India or Bhutan, and anyone testing whether they enjoy multi-day walking before committing to a longer trek.
When to go
March and April are exceptional — the rhododendron forest between Ghorepani and Tadapani is one of the great flowering displays anywhere, and the trail runs through the middle of it. October and November give the clearest views.
