TREK HIGHLIGHTS
- Sunrise view from Poon Hill (3,210 m), the main viewpoint for the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges.
- Walk through Ghandruk, one of the largest Gurung villages in the Annapurna region.
- Pass through rhododendron and mixed jungle between Ghandruk and Tadapani, with streams and birdsong along the trail.
- Views of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), Hiunchuli, and Annapurna South from several points on the trek.
- Stay in standard lodges with hot showers and attached bathrooms at Ghandruk and Ghorepani.
- Visit an area with a long history of local Gorkha regiment service in the UK and Indian armies.
We start this trek in Kathmandu, since the Ghandruk Poon Hill Trek is arranged as a full round trip from the capital. After a day to settle in, you drive to Pokhara by private vehicle, then continue the next day by jeep to Ghandruk (1,950 m).
From Ghandruk, the trail climbs through forest to Tadapani (2,630 m), passing Bhaise Kharka on the way. This stretch runs through rhododendron trees mixed with other jungle types, and you can hear streams and birds through the trees as you walk.
From Tadapani, the trail continues toward Ghorepani (2,850 m) by way of Banthanti. This section drops gently for around 300 to 400 meters through forest and along a river, then climbs back up 600 to 700 meters toward Deurali before reaching Ghorepani. There are local tea houses along the way if you want to stop for tea, coffee, or a cold drink.
The next morning, you hike up to Poon Hill (3,210 m) before sunrise. Poon Hill is the main viewpoint for the Annapurna range and the Dhaulagiri range in this area, and the view takes in Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and other peaks from a single spot.
After Poon Hill, the trail continues down to Ulleri (2,070 m), and from there you drive down to Pokhara. The following day, you return to Kathmandu by private vehicle, which completes the loop.
Each day of walking runs around 5 to 6 hours, though the trek is best suited to trekkers with walking stamina for 6 to 8 hours, since trail conditions and pace can vary. Our team at HEN handles your permits, guide, porter, and lodge bookings along the way!
Why Trek Ghandruk Poon Hill with Himalayan Ecstasy Nepal?
- Local knowledge: We know the villages and lodges along this route, including where to stop for tea on the Tadapani to Deurali section.
- Experienced guides: Your guide is a licensed, English-speaking trekking professional familiar with the trail and its local history.
- Family-friendly pace: This trek suits families and first-time trekkers who want a cultural route without a technical climb.
- Comfortable lodges: We book standard lodges with hot showers and attached bathrooms at Ghandruk and Ghorepani where available.
- Safety and support: Your guide carries a first aid kit and watches for early signs of altitude discomfort, particularly on the way up to Poon Hill.
- Flexible logistics: We arrange your full trip from Kathmandu, including the private vehicle journeys to and from Pokhara and the jeep transfer to Ghandruk.
Main Attractions of the Ghandruk Poon Hill Trek
This trek is an extended form of Ghorepani Poon Hill trek, so its attractions are also more:
Poon Hill (3,210 m)
Poon Hill is the main destination of this trek and the focal viewpoint for the Annapurna range and the Dhaulagiri range. From the top, you get a panoramic view that takes in Annapurna South, Mt. Dhaulagiri, and several other peaks from one location.
The hill was once known as Lungtung Danda, a grazing area used by the Pun clan of Khiwang village. It was renamed and developed for tourism around the 1970s by a retired army major from the local Pun community, and it has since become one of the best-known sunrise viewpoints in the Annapurna region.
Ghandruk Village (1,950 m)
Ghandruk is one of the largest and most well-known Gurung villages in the Annapurna region. Its stone paved paths and established lodges reflect a longer history of tourism than some of the smaller villages further along the trail.
Many families in this area, including in Ghandruk, have a long connection to the Gorkha regiments of the UK and India, and this military history is part of the region's identity.
Moreover, the trail between Ghandruk and Tadapani runs through rhododendron forest mixed with other jungle types. You walk with the sound of streams and birdsong along much of this stretch, which stays shaded for most of the way.
Tadapani to Deurali and Ghorepani
This section, taken by way of Banthanti, is another forested stretch with a river running alongside part of the trail. The path drops gently for around 300 to 400 meters, then climbs 600 to 700 meters up to Deurali before continuing to Ghorepani.
Along the way, you pass local tea houses where you can stop for tea, coffee, or a cold drink, with views of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), Hiunchuli, and Annapurna South opening up on one side and a wider panoramic view on the other.