• Sun hat or scarf

• Winter hat or insulating hat or a wide-brimmed hat

• Headlight with extra batteries

• Sunscreen

• Sunglasses with UV protection

• Face/body wipes

• Lightweight gloves

• Heavyweight winter gloves

• Hiking shirts
• Long-sleeved shirt made of synthetic fiber
• Hooded rain jacket
• Fleece jacket
• Lightweight cotton pants
• T-Shirt (bring lightweight wool)
• Polypropylene underwear
• Down jacket (available for rent in Kathmandu)
• Sweater
• Waterproof jacket and pants

• Hiking Boots that have been worn in

• Thick wool socks (Take an extra pair of thick light socks)

• Backpack or daypack (size depends on whether you take porter or not)

• Thermal bottle

• Water purification

• Trekking pole

• Sleeping bag (-15 degree bag is best in the high altitude trekking)

•  Medium size drying towel
•  Tooth brush
•  Toothpaste
• Toilet paper
•  Deodorant/ floss
•  Bio degradable bar soap
•  Nail clippers
• Small mirror

• Money

• Watch

• Cell phone

• Camera

• First aid kit

• Extra passport photos and passport photocopies

• Notebook and pen

• Binoculars

Poon Hill Trekking Difficulty, Cost, Best Time & Info

Poon Hill Trip package | Complimentary Airport Transfer

Friendship World Trek representative will welcome you at Tribhuvan International Airport. They will be holding a pamphlet with your name on it, and as a welcome gesture, they will offer you a Marigold garland. After welcoming you, our representative will take you to your hotel in a private vehicle.

However, you need to arrive at Kathmandu by three pm at least one day before the trip departure date for last-minute preparations. If, in case, you missed the online trip briefing, it will also provide us time to conduct an in-person trip briefing. During the trip briefing, we will recheck if everyone is carrying the essentials or not. The trip leader will also brief you about the trek and conditions in the trekking regions.

The following day, we will take a bus to Pokhara, which is the gateway to the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek. The tourist bus departs around 7 a.m. every day from Chakrapath, Kathmandu.

Tourist bus for Kathmandu- Pokhara – Kathmandu is included in the package. You can choose to fly or take private transport for an extra cost. Overnight stay at Kathmandu is not included in the Ghorepani Poon hill trek package.

Poon Hill Accommodation | Lodge & Tea House

Poon Hill Trek includes three nights of lodge-to-lodge stays in the finest lodges in trekking regions and two nights in Pokhara. You will be staying in twin-sharing rooms with attached bathrooms for two nights at Ghorepani, and Jhinu Danda, and a one-night twin-sharing standard room at Tadapani.

You will spend two nights in a hotel in Pokhara. The room comes with an attached bathroom, TV, 24-hour hot water, power, and laundry facility.

Solo trekkers will be staying in a single private room with an attached bathroom wherever possible and in a single private room elsewhere.

Two nights of Hotel stay in Kathmandu before and after the trek may be required but not included in the package. Kathmandu has a wide range of hotels for all budgets and tastes.

Hot showers, Wi-Fi are available at lodges/hotels for an extra cost.

The Meals during Poon Hill Trek Route

Ghorepani Poon Hill Hike takes you to high elevations in the Annapurna region, so you require nutritious food. We will provide you with healthy and nutritious food, but you will not have as many choices as you would get in the cities.

We will provide you with 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 3 dinners during the trek.
Some of the popular menu items are –

Five breakfasts – Oatmeal, Corn Flakes, French toast with Jam, Butter, Cheese, Honey Tibetan bread or Chapati, Local Tsampa porridge, Eggs, Pancakes, Muesli Breads, fruits, Vegetables, Hot drinks (varieties of teas and coffees, hot chocolates, etc.)

Four lunches – Dhal, Bhat, Tarkari, Tibetan Bread, Various Soups, Sherpa Stew, Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (dumplings), Macaroni dishes, Tenduk Spaghetti Noodles, Thukpa, Pasta, Vegetable curry, Potatoes, Vegetables, Salad Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed), Snacks (Papad, Prawn), Desserts, (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), etc

Three dinners – Dhal, Bhat, Tarkari, Tibetan Bread, Various Soups, Sherpa Stew, Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (dumplings), Macaroni, Tenduk Spaghetti, Noodles Thukpa, Pasta, Vegetable curry, Potato items, Vegetable and salad Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed), Snacks (Papad, Prawn), Korean Raman, Desserts items (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), Hard Drinks Steaks, etc

We select the best tea houses/ lodges that serve fresh, hygienic, tasty, and nutritious food. The menu consists of traditional, Asian, and Western food items. However, as we climb up menu gets shorter and shorter.

We highly recommend you take fresh vegetables and liquids (green tea, lemon tea, hot lemon, garlic soup (must), and ginger tea) at high altitudes.

Though plenty of non-veg items will be available in the trekking regions, we do not recommend them because the meat in the hiking regions might not be hygienic. We also encourage you to avoid alcohol, caffeinated items, hot chocolates, and dairy items.

Note- Lunch and dinner at Pokhara are not included in this package.

All personal bills (alcoholic drinks, hot (tea, coffee), and cold drinks) in tea houses/ Lodges/cafes except standard meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner with seasonal fruits) are excluded from the package.

Best Time For Poon hill trek

The best time to trek to Poon Hill is during spring (March-May) and autumn (September – November). During this time, the skies are clear, and the views are fantastic.

However, people trek to Ghorepani and Poon Hill throughout the year, and Friendship World Trek conducts the Poon Hill trek during all seasons.

The trek during winter gets challenging due to low temperature and snowfall, while in the summer the monsoon rains cause the trails to be wet and slippery. Some adventurous trekkers find these challenges exciting and trek to Ghorepani and Poon Hill during these seasons too.

The temperature in the mountains also depends on altitude – the higher the elevation – the colder it gets. Here are the weather conditions at the high altitudes of the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek.

March-May (spring)

Spring (March-May) is a perfect season to trek to Poon Hill, and trekkers from all over the world come to visit these destinations during this time. In this season, the climate is mild, the rainfall is low, and the trekking conditions are perfect.

The mean daily spring temperatures in the Poon Hill high elevations are between 5°C to 15 °C. Lower regions are warmer. The trekking season begins after March, and by April, the trek route passes through rhododendron flower blooms that add red, pink, and white colors to the sub-tropical forest.

June – August (summer)

If you trek to Poon Hill between July and August, your trek falls in summer. Though summer temperatures are high in the trekking regions, it is also a monsoon period, which brings a lot of rain. Due to the rain, the trekking trails can be wet and slippery.

Monsoon generally begins around the end of June and continues up to the second week of August. The daytime temperatures, at high altitudes, during the summer range from 15°C to 25°C. The nights are colder, with temperatures in between 5°C to 15°C.

Though the rain may cause some problems, it also provides much-needed water for plants that makes them bloom. If you enjoy the lush vegetation, this is the trekking season for you.

September – November (autumn)

Autumn is also a favorable season for the Poon Hill trek. Moderate temperatures, mild wind, and low precipitation make trekking in autumn pleasurable.

During this season, the sun shines brightly, the skies are clear, and you get a superb view of the mountains. The nights are also cloud-free, providing you with great views of night skies.

The monsoons will be over by early September, and the temperatures are mild. Daytime temperatures can reach up to 20°C in high altitudes. The nights are colder at temperatures around 5°C.

In this season, the greens that grew during the monsoon fade to golden/amber providing a spectacular contrast against the crystal blue skies. The grains in terraced fields are ripe and ready for harvesting.

The environment is clean, and the lowlands are lush.

The biggest Nepali festivals –Dashain, and Tihar – fall during this season. This brings in a festive mood to the trekking regions and all over Nepal.

December – February (winter)

Winter treks in the Annapurna region are not as popular as the spring or autumn treks. The Ghorepani trek regions are cold during winter with snowfalls, but it excites some trekkers.

The coldest time is from late December through early February. After late February, the climate gradually gets warmer. Daytime temperatures can get as low as -5 °C at high altitudes.

Despite being cold, the winter skies are usually very clear, and mountain views are at their best with snow caps. The trails are the least busy during this time. While new trekkers might find this trek very challenging, experienced trekkers will find no problem completing this trek in winter.

The weather in the Himalayas is unpredictable and changes quickly.

Physical Condition & Experience Requirements

Poonhill Trek is an easy-grade trek in the Annapurna region. The hiking is generally 4 to 5 hrs a day, taking regular breaks to enjoy and appreciate the stunning mountain views.

Ghorepani trek trails are not very steep but ascend and descend fairly. Trekking at higher altitudes is more physically demanding than trekking at lower altitudes. So you need to have average physical fitness and strong determination.

Trekkers who can hike 4 to 5 hours a day at a reasonable pace with a light day pack can complete this trek. Some days may require longer waking hours.

Participants with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung, and blood disease should inform us before booking the trek.

Trekking in Nepal | Group Trekking | Private & Single Treks

We organize group as well as private treks. The bigger your team, the more discount you can get. We handle all group sizes and assign one assistant guide for a group with 12 or more trekkers. Each group will have a guide/team lead and porters.

We assign one porter for every two trekkers. The luggage weight limit is 9kg per trekker. Hence, a porter will not carry more than 18kg of combined weight.

A typical Poon Hill Trek Day

A typical day at Poon Hill trek brings in a unique trekking experience that comes along with stunning landscape views, opportunities to learn and explore new places, and chances to interact with local people and know their culture. You can also capture the pristine landscapes in pictures.

During the trek, our experienced and qualified guides and porters will inform you about the places you will be visiting.

Each morning after breakfast, we set off on the day’s walk-in between 7 to 8 am based on the trek distance and the nature of the trek. You will have lunch around noon and rest for an hour. After rest, we continue on the trek. Most afternoon treks will be short.

Once we reach our day’s destination, we will enjoy our snacks. Before it gets dark, you will have the opportunity to explore the villages/settlements/towns. You will be having dinner between 7 to 8 pm.

Before going to bed, we will socialize. Your trek leader will inform you about the next day’s trekking plans. After this trek briefing, you can enjoy games like cards or Monopoly, read books, or watch mountaineering videos. Most of our guests prefer to learn common Nepali words from our crew.

Communication during the trek

During the Poon Hill Trek, you can use the internet at lodges/tea houses for an extra cost. However, at high altitudes, we will communicate using the phone. Friendship World Trek will be in contact with trekking teams via the trek team leader at least once a day.

Depending on the kind of network you use, you might get signals at trekking regions, but they might not be strong enough. If you wish, you can buy a local sim card in Kathmandu.

Wi-Fi is available in tea houses /lodges but comes with an extra service charge.

Battery recharge, water on the trek

Throughout the lodges at Poon Hill trekking regions, electricity for the camera and mobile battery recharge is available at an extra cost.

You can buy either packed mineral water from local lodges and en-route shops or fill your water bottle with boiled water at an extra cost. If you require, we can provide you with water purification pills.

You shouldn’t drink water from rivers, taps, or wells in trek regions as the water might not be drinkable.

Extra personal expenses during the trek

All trekking members need to have spending money for various things. Our package does not include meal and accommodation costs in Kathmandu.Moreover, all our valuable clients need to bring personal spending money to cover the visa application, travel insurance policy purchase, beverages, snacks for the trek, hot (tea/coffee) and cold drinks, tips to the trekking crew members, souvenirs, and so on.

We recommend you to bring cash (major currencies), which you can easily exchange for rupees in Nepal. Trekking regions accept only Nepalese currency.

Travel Insurance for Poon Hill Trek

Poon Hill Trek trip grade is easy, without the risk of high altitude sickness. However, this mountain journey is not a normal visit due to the possibility of unforeseen or unexpected events such as injury, illness, flood, landslide, sudden climate changes, etc.

Travel insurance for Poonhill Trek is compulsory. All trekkers must provide a copy of their comprehensive travel insurance policy certificate to Friendship World Trek. The policy must cover medical and emergency repatriation – including helicopter rescue and evacuation expenses at high altitudes.

Trekking members are kindly requested to send their detailed insurance information once they book trekking. In case of emergencies, we will use the documents you sent us for rescue. It will help us arrange a quick and effective rescue operation, transfer for emergency medical help, etc.

Please call the insurance company and ensure that they cover helicopter evacuation at the highest trek elevations along with medical costs. 

Nepal Tourist Visa | Passport and Visa

All foreigners except Indian nationals need a visa to enter Nepal. You can get an on-arrival visa at Tribhuvan International Airport or Nepal border regional offices. For a visa application, you need a passport valid for at least six months, a passport-size photo, and visa application fees.

The current visa cost for 30 days is US$50(to be paid in cash).

Children under the age of 10 will get a free visa. Nepal government can change visa rules without notice, so please check https://www.immigration.gov.np/ for the latest information

Chinese citizens and citizens of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) get a free visa.

Some countries may not be entitled to get an on-arrival visa. So if you are from Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, and Afghanistan, please contact your local Nepalese embassy for visa details.

We recommend you allocate at least 1-2 days extra at the end of the trip just in case there is a delay. If there are no delays, we can arrange additional activities during your stay in Nepal – including sightseeing, Chitwan jungle safari, rafting, canyoning, etc.