Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek - 7 Days

Day 1: Welcome to Kathmandu!

It's a beautiful flight into the Kathmandu Valley with views of the Himalaya and terraced valley floor. Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, one of our representatives will greet you and transport you to your hotel.

Depending on your arrival time, you'll have time to explore the city. Some popular sights include Kathmandu’s Durbar Square and its narrow alleyways teeming with small shops, ancient temples, and local restaurants. There's also Swayambhunath temple, where you can watch the sunset over the valley and the Himalaya to your north.

The tourist hub of Thamel is a good place to grab your first meal, with a variety of restaurants to chose from offering both Western and local Nepali dishes. Then, if it's not too late, head to the busiest bazaar in the city, Asan Tole, which offers an authentic display of spice, fish, and vegetable stands that make for great photo ops. Practice some basic Nepali phrases and chat with friendly locals!

Accommodation: Hotel

Day 2: Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara, Trek to Tikhedhunga (5,170 feet / 1,570 m)

You'll be picked up by private car from your hotel in the morning and driven to Kathmandu domestic airport for a short flight to Pokhara. Upon arriving Pokhara, you'll be picked up at the airport and driven to Nayapul, from where the trek begins!

Your first trail will head uphill through fertile farms of rice, maize, and millet fields. Following the main trail of Birethanti, pass by a small waterfall and continue until you reach Sudami where you will stop and have lunch.

Get back on your feet after this midday break and climb steadily along the side of the valley until you reach Tikhedhunga Teahouse for your overnight stay.

Trekking time: 4-5 hours (5.7 miles / 9.2 km)
Accommodation: Teahouse

Day 3: Trek from Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani (9,318 feet / 2,840 m)

Wake up for an early breakfast at your teahouse in preparation for your big climb to Ulleri. The trek begins with a steep stone stairway—3,767 steps to be exact—up the ridgeline, eventually leading you through cultivated fields. Once you've completed this section, the rest of trail continues through a scenic area of blooming rhododendron blossoms and old oak forests.

Keep climbing uphill until you reach Nangethanti, which is your stop for lunch. Thanti is a Nepali word that means "rest house"; keep in mind that during winter months, the trail can be covered with snow. Work off your lunch and continue the climb until you get to Ghorepani, a village surrounded by spectacular scenery that's popular with trekkers.

Trekking time: 6-7 hours (8 mi / 12.9 km)
Accommodation: Teahouse

Day 4: Trek from Ghorepani to Tadapani (8,562 feet / 2,610 m), Sunrise at Poon Hill

Today is a highlight of your trek!

Sunrise from Poon Hill
Start off with an early morning wake up call and begin your pre-dawn climb to Poon Hill (10,500 ft) in just about an hour. This is a spiritual place that provides majestic scenery, especially when the rising sun casts golden light on the nearby snow-covered peaks like Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Fishtail, and Singa Chuli, to name a few. Grab a masala tea from the coffee shack and enjoy the sublime views with your fellow trekkers.

You'll then return downhill to Ghorepani for a hearty breakfast before continuing a full-day of trekking towards the small village of Tadapani. This trail works itself uphill and downhill through a range of landscapes and microclimates, so keep your camera (and warm layers) close.

Trekking time: 7-8 hours
Trekking distance: 8.3 miles (13.4 km)
Accommodation: Teahouse

Day 5: Trek from Tadapani to Nayapul, Drive to Pokhara

Today after breakfast in Tadapani, the trail continues to descend steeply until you get to Syauli Bazar through amazing hillside landscapes, forests, and terraced rice fields. Your trek will end at Nayapul where you'll be transferred to your hotel in Pokhara. Even from this urban environment, you'll be rewarded with magnificent views of the Himalayas including Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machhapuchhre, the peaks of Annapurna, and others. 

Upon arrival in Pokhara, settle in your hotel and enjoy the afternoon and evening on your own. This relaxed lakeside town is the gateway to the Himalayas, so there are plenty of cool cafés, restaurants, funky shops, and yoga studios that cater to expats and adventure travelers.

Suggested activities: 

• Visit the Gurkha Museum with multimedia displays dedicated to Nepal's former soldiers in the British and Indian armies, or the Regional Museum—an exhibit preserving the history of the region's ethnic groups.

• Take a taxi and walk up one of three paths to visit the World Peace Pagoda, constructed by Buddhist monks. Have coffee, tea, or a meal at one of the site's small cafés.

• Go stand-up paddleboarding or kayaking in Pokhara's freshwater Phewa Lake. There are numerous rentals on the north shore, commonly called Lake-Side. While paddling around, get up close to the two-storied pagoda Tal Barahi Temple lying in the center of Phewa Lake, the most important religious monument in Pokhara. 

Trekking time: 4-5 hours
Overnight: Pokhara 
Accommodation: Hotel

Day 6: Fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu, Afternoon to Explore

After breakfast, you may have time to do more sightseeing, relax, or check out one of the Pokhara's coffee shops. About 1.5 hours before your flight, you'll be picked up from your hotel and taken to the domestic airport to catch your flight back to Kathmandu.

In Kathmandu, you'll be transferred to your hotel and can enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening at your leisure. Explore Kathmandu's streets on foot, bicycle, or rickshaw, perhaps shopping for souvenirs or seeing anything you may have missed at the beginning of your trip.

In the evening, choose from a selection of Nepali, French, Vietnamese, and Middle Eastern dishes in Kathmandu.
 
Accommodation: Hotel

Day 7: Depart Kathmandu

It's time to say farewell to Nepal.

Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu with breakfast in a café, a city stroll, and/or souvenir shopping. A representative will meet you at your hotel and drive you to the airport for your return flight home. It's good to be at the airport at least 2 hours prior to departure.